title: An effective immune-monitoring protocol based on gene expression profiles in the peripheral T-cell fraction reactive to graft antigens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability to induce tolerance, or at least minimize the need for immunosuppressive therapy, is a high priority in organ transplantation. Accomplishing this goal requires a novel method for determining when a patient has become tolerant to or is rejecting their graft. Here, we sought to develop an efficient monitoring protocol based on gene expression profiles of recipient T cells in murine skin and islet allograft models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unlike previous studies, here, gene expression analysis was focused on donor antigen-reactive T cells, which were prepared by collecting CD69(+) T cells from cocultures of recipient peripheral T cells and donor antigen-presenting cells. Candidate tolerance and rejection biomarker genes were selected from a CD69(+) T-cell microarray analysis, and their expression levels were measured in the recipient CD69(+) T-cell fraction using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our new monitoring protocol was capable of precisely detecting the immune status of recipients relative to their graft regardless of the organ received, whether they were taking immunosuppressive drugs, or different strains of origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gene expression analysis focusing on recipient CD69(+) T cells as the donor antigen-reactive T-cell population could be used as an effective and sensitive method for monitoring transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Gyun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Youn-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seong-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Hyangsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chan-Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Duck-Jong
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Song-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006084:Graft Rejection; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens