title: Lung function early after lung transplantation is correlated with the frequency of regulatory T cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Outcomes following lung transplantation are limited by bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). As the number of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg) is lower in lung recipients with BOS than in stable lung recipients, we hypothesized that Treg is also correlated with lung function in the early post-transplantation period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 18 consecutive patients whose lung function parameters were recorded 3 weeks and 3 months after transplantation, between February and July 2007. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with anti-CD3, -CD4, -CD8, -CD19, -CD25, -CD28, -CD45RA, -CD45RO, -CD69, -CD127, -CTLA4, and -Foxp3 antibodies and FACS assays were performed. In addition, intracellular cytokines were stained for FACS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treg-specific markers (Foxp3, CD127(lo), and CTLA4) in the CD25+ CD4+ population were correlated with both forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity. Th1-cytokine secretion was more dominant in CD4+ CD25+ T cells than in CD4+ CD25- T cells. In contrast, Th2 and Treg cytokine secretion was the dominant response in stable recipients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of Treg cells was positively correlated with good lung function in the early period after lung transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagiri
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Warnecke
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avsar
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thissen
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ziehme
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Knöfel
authors.forename: Nodir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madrahimov
authors.forename: Meinoshin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: André R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haverich
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strüber
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors