title: T cell immunohistochemistry refines lung transplant acute rejection diagnosis and grading.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung transplant volume has been increasing. However, inaccurate and uncertain diagnosis for lung transplant rejection hurdles long-term outcome due to, in part, interobserver variability in rejection grading. Therefore, a more reliable method to facilitate diagnosing and grading rejection is warranted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat lung grafts were harvested on day 3, 7, 14 and 28 post transplant for histological and immunohistochemical assessment. No immunosuppressive treatment was administered. We explored the value of interstitial T lymphocytes quantification by immunohistochemistry and compared the role of T cell immunohistochemistry with H&E staining in diagnosing and grading lung transplant rejection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typical acute rejection from grade A1 to A4 was found. Rejection severity was heterogeneously distributed in one-third transplanted lungs (14/40): lesions in apex and center were more augmented than in the base and periphery of the grafts, respectively. Immunohistochemistry showed profound difference in T lymphocyte infiltration among grade A1 to A4 rejections. The coincidence rate of H&E and immunohistochemistry was 77.5%. The amount of interstitial T lymphocyte infiltration increased gradually with the upgrading of rejection. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the difference in the amount of interstitial T lymphocytes between grade A2 and A3 was not obvious. However, T lymphocytes in lung tissue of grade A4 were significantly more abundant than in other grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rejection severity was heterogeneously distributed within lung grafts. Immunohistochemistry improves the sensitivity and specificity of rejection diagnosis, and interstitial T lymphocyte quantitation has potential value in diagnosing and monitoring lung allograft rejection.
  The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1536075282108217.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Cheng
authors: Haizhou
authors: H
authors: Guo
authors: Xinwei
authors: X
authors: Qiao
authors: Quan
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Nie
authors: Jinsong
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Jianjun
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers