title: Monitoring B cell subsets and alloreactivity in kidney transplantation.
abstract: B cells are the precursors of antibody producing plasma cells that can give rise to the formation of donor-specific antibodies. However, recent data suggest that besides their role in antibody production, B cells participate in antibody-independent responses, potentially leading to allograft rejection or allograft tolerance. The presence of CD20(+) B cells in kidney graft biopsies has been shown during severe acute rejection episodes and during chronic rejection. Furthermore, operationally tolerant kidney transplant recipients showed a clear B cell dominated fingerprint of tolerance. Several techniques exist to study B cells on different levels. Numerous classification schemes allow for the distinction of many different B cell subsets using flow cytometry. Regardless, data on B cell subsets during stable graft function, rejection or tolerance remain scarce. To obtain a complete picture of the role of B cells during transplantation, antigen specific B cell assays may be required. Therefore, techniques have now been developed that allow for studying the specificity and frequency of HLA specific B cells. Here, we present an overview of the existent assays, panels and techniques intended to characterize peripheral B cells, and the currently available HLA specific B cell functional assays that may allow for monitoring the humoral alloimmune response in transplant recipients.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mcrespo@parcdesalutmar.cat.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Crespo
authors: Dept. of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Sebastiaan
authors: S
authors: Heidt
authors: Department of Nephrology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: Redondo
authors: Department of Nephrology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Pascual
mesh_terms: D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000502:physiology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies