title: Transitional B Cells Predominantly Reconstituted After a Desensitization Therapy Using Rituximab Before Kidney Transplantation.
abstract: The role of B cells in graft rejection and tolerance has aroused great interest. We previously reported that rituximab (RIT) induction prior to kidney transplantation (KTx) reduced the incidence rate of chronic rejection. Here, we performed a cross sectional investigation to determine the characteristics of B cells after RIT induction for KTx. We sampled blood from 29 patients with (N = 16) and without (N = 13) RIT induction 3 to 18 months after KTx. In the RIT group, the majority of repopulating B cells was the transitional type, while memory B cells were scarce. Although transitional B cells are believed to have immune-regulatory functions by producing IL-10, transcriptional levels of IL-10 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were similar in both groups. In contrast, transcription levels of BAFF-receptor relatively increased in patients with RIT induction. In conclusion, BAFF-receptor expressing highly proliferating transitional B cell was the major subset after RIT induction for KTx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikemiyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyairi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Desensitization; Donor specific antibody; Kidney transplantation; Rituximab; Transitional B cells