Phenotypic definition of primed T cells in human renal allografts. Use of the CD45R marker
Stein-Oakley, A.N.; Kerr, P.G.; Kraft, N.E.; Atkins, R.C.; Thomson, N.M.
Transplantation 48(5): 787-790
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1337 PMID: 2479131 Document Number: 344631
Immunohistological studies indicate that T cells and macrophages are the major compnents of human kidney allograft infiltrates. Recent work has demonstrated a division of T lymphocytes into 2 subpopulations with distinct functions on the basis of their expression of the CD45R antigen (CD45R+ "naive" and CD45R- "memory" T cells). This study analyzes CD45R expression on circulating T cells and T cells infiltrating renal allografts in patients undergoing rejection and/or cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. The percentage of circulating T cells that expressed CD45R in patients with rejecting (63 .+-. 4) or stable grafts (66 .+-. 3) was not different from values obtained for normal donors (62 .+-. 3). In contrast, the percentage of T cells expressing CD45R infiltrating rejecting grafts was 21 .+-. 2 and was not affected by the stage of rejection; in patients with CsA toxicity the value was 22 .+-. 6. The reduced proportion of T cells that expressed CD45R in the allograft may reflect a change in status from the naive state due to alloantigeneic stimulation (which can be demonstrated in vitro) and/or a propensity of memory T cells to enter or be retained in an allograft.