title: Characterisation of Tertiary Lymphoid Organs in Explanted Rejected Donor Kidneys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) have been described within organ allografts, but whether they promote destructive or beneficial alloimmune responses remains controversial. This study aimed to characterize TLO distribution in human chronically rejected renal allografts and to explore their functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 explanted chronically rejected and 12 acutely rejected renal allografts were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The distribution of TLOs, T cells, follicular dendritic cells, B cells, and follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells, as well as Ki67, peripheral lymph node addressin (PNAd), podoplanin, AID, IL-17, IL-21, IL-10, and C4d expression were detected by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between lymphoid neogenesis and the expression of IL-17, IL-21, C4d, podoplanin, IL-10, and Foxp3 were evaluated. In addition, the duration of graft function was compared between allografts that harbored or lacked TLOs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLOs were detected in 27.6% of chronically rejected renal grafts, but they rarely had germinal centers. Lymphoid neogenesis negatively correlated with CXCR5 expression, and almost completely correlated with IL-17 expression. Those grafts that harbored a TLO functioned for an average of 5.98 years and those without a TLO lasted only about half as long with an average of 2.91 years. However, in grafts that harbored a TLO, Foxp3(+) cells were comparitively less than those without a TLO. Foxp3(+)CXCR5(+) Tfr cells and IL-10(+) cells were rare in grafts, irrespective of the presence of a TLO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLOs in chronically rejected kidney allografts may be an epiphenomenon of the inflammatory process that is related to graft duration.
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Yeyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: a Beijing Key Laboratory of Organ Transplant and Immune Regulation , 309th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Organ Transplantation Institute , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Bingyi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D006680:HLA Antigens; D020381:Interleukin-17; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D016753:Interleukin-10
keywords: Chronic allograft rejection; kidney transplantation; lymphoid neogenesis; tertiary lymphoid organ