Increased numbers of circulating CD8 effector memory T cells before transplantation enhance the risk of acute rejection in lung transplant recipients.
The effector and regulatory T cell subpopulations involved in the development of acute rejection episodes in lung transplantation remain to be elucidated. Twenty-seven lung transplant candidates were prospectively monitored before transplantation and within the first year post-transplantation. Regulatory, Th17, memory and naïve T cells were measured in peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients by flow cytometry. No association of acute rejection with number of peripheral regulatory T cells and Th17 cells was found. However, effector memory subsets in acute rejection patients were increased during the first two months post-transplant. Interestingly, patients waiting for lung transplant with levels of CD8(+) effector memory T cells over 185 cells/mm(3) had a significant increased risk of rejection [OR: 5.62 (95% CI: 1.08-29.37), p=0.04]. In multivariate analysis adjusted for age and gender the odds ratio for rejection was: OR: 5.89 (95% CI: 1.08-32.24), p=0.04. These data suggest a correlation between acute rejection and effector memory T cells in lung transplant recipients. The measurement of peripheral blood CD8(+) effector memory T cells prior to lung transplant may define patients at high risk of acute lung rejection.
Immunology Service. Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital, Santander, Spain.
David
D
San Segundo
María Ángeles
MÁ
Ballesteros
Sara
S
Naranjo
Felipe
F
Zurbano
Eduardo
E
Miñambres
Marcos
M
López-Hoyos
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult