title: Rejection quantity in kidney transplant recipients is associated with increasing intracellular interleukin-2 in CD8+ T-cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD8+ T-cells and interleukin-2 play an important role during organ rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Numerous studies showed increased interleukin-2 levels during acute rejection. The aim of our study is to show an association between intracellular interleukin-2 in CD8+ T-cells and the incidence of those who underwent organ rejection in kidney transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  407 transplant recipients were included into this study. The rejection incidence was investigated from the patient records. White blood cells from recipients were separated using a ficoll gradient. The cells were double-gated (CD3+ and CD8+) for the analysis of cellular percentage for intracellular interleukin-2 with a flow cytometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of CD8+ cells with detectable intracellular interleukin-2 was significantly higher in renal transplant recipients with a documented rejection compared to recipients without any history of rejection (9.06±0.50, N=133 vs. 4.28±0.24, N=274, p<0.0001, t-test). Further, there was a significant increase in patients with one (8.02±0.54, N=80, p<0.0001, t-test), two (10.40±1.17, N=33, p<0.0001, t-test) or three (11.82±1.58, N=18, p<0.0001, t-test) rejection events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Past studies showed, that during acute organ rejection intracellular interleukin-2 is increased in cytotoxic T-cells, supposed to be a marker for this event. We were able to show, that intracellular interleukin-2 in CD8+ T-cells is also increased after organ rejection. Furthermore it seems to depend on the quantity of rejection events. Further studies in recipients with increased intracellular interleukin-2 in cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells and documented history of organ rejection are needed to identify this as a possible risk factor for further rejection events.
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Klinik Langen, Medizinische Klinik 2, Röntgenstrasse 20, Langen, Germany. Electronic address: boraakoglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akoglu
authors.affiliation: Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Medizinische Klinik 1, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lafferton
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Klinik Langen, Medizinische Klinik 2, Röntgenstrasse 20, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: Shara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalb
authors.affiliation: Johann Wolfang Goethe-Universität, Fachbereich Medizin, Institut für Biostatistik und mathematische Modellierung, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Said Emal
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Yosuf
authors.affiliation: Johann Wolfang Goethe-Universität, Fachbereich Medizin, Institut für Biostatistik und mathematische Modellierung, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Medizinische Klinik 1, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
authors.affiliation: Praxis & Dialyse Langen im Fachärztezentrum, Röntgenstr. 6-8, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goßmann
authors.affiliation: KfH Nierenzentrum, Schleusenweg 22, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kachel
authors.affiliation: KfH Nierenzentrum, Schleusenweg 22, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst-H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Scheuermann
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Klinik Langen, Medizinische Klinik 2, Röntgenstrasse 20, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faust
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508594:IL2 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2
keywords: Interleukin-2; Kidney transplantation; Rejection