title: Study of B-cell subpopulations in lung transplant recipients with posttransplant infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posttransplant infection after lung transplantation is a common feature due to the immunodeficiency induced by the immunosuppressive load.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess B-cell subsets in lung transplant recipients suffering at least one episode of infection within the first year posttransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight lung transplant recipients were enrolled in the study. Their overall mean age was 56.6 ± 10.7 years and 10 were women (35.7%). All recipients were treated with steroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. B-cell subset levels were measured in peripheral blood before as well as 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days posttransplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference in the absolute number of B-cell subsets was observed within the first year of follow-up. However, pre-germinal center-activated naïve B cells (Bm2'), defined as IgD(+)CD38(++), were increased among patients displaying infections within the first year. The increased Bm2' subset was accompanied by a decrease in the double negative (CD27(-)IgD(-)) B-cell population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infections in lung transplant recipients were associated with an increase in the Bm2' subset even before transplantation. It is possible that Bm2' cells have a role in response to infection in lung transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Service, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: San Segundo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: San Martín
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zurbano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miñambres
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Hoyos
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D013256:Steroids; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus