Regulatory T-cell subset analysis and profile of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17 and interferon-gamma cytokine-producing cells in kidney allograft recipients with donor cells infusion.

Ranjbar, Moslem; Solgi, Ghasem; Mohammadnia, Mousa; Nikbin, Behrouz; Pourmand, Gholamreza; Ansaripour, Bita; Amirzargar, Aliakbar

Background: This pilot study aimed to assess whether the perioperative infusion of donor bone marrow cells (DBMC) in renal allograft recipients can affect the appearance of peripheral regulatory T-cell subsets and the profile of cytokine-producing cells [interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-10] 2 years after transplantation. Methods: Fresh blood samples were collected from 14 kidney recipients who received infusion and from 13 kidney recipients without infusion who served as controls at the end of the second post-transplantation year. Initially the percentages of CD4CD25FoxP3 T cells and CD3CD8CD28 T cells were quantified using flowcytometry. Thereafter, the frequencies of IL-10-, IL-17- and IFN-γ-producing cells were determined separately using the ELISPOT technique with peptides corresponding to mismatched donor HLA-DR molecules and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Results: The mean numbers of IFN-γ- and IL-17-producing cells in response to PHA were lower in infused patients than in controls ( P = 0.02 and P = 0.18, respectively); however, an increased frequency of IL-10-producing cells was observed compared to controls ( P = 0.07). Furthermore, the ratio of IL-10/IFN-γ-producing cells was significantly higher in the DBMC-infused group versus controls ( P = 0.01). There was a negative correlation between the percentage of CD3CD8CD28T cells and IL-17-producing cells in the infused group ( r = −0.539, P = 0.04). The mean levels and the frequency of microchimerism within the first post-transplantation year were also significantly higher in infused patients than in controls ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that DBMC infusion could partially stimulate the regulatory mechanisms against alloimmune responses in kidney allograft recipients.

T cells; INTERLEUKIN-10; INTERLEUKIN-17; INTERFERONS; CYTOKINES; PILOT projects; BONE marrow cells; FLOW cytometry

Clinical & Experimental Nephrology, 2012, Vol 16, Issue 4, p636

1342-1751

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10157-012-0591-9