Kosmaczewska A, Magott-Procelewska M, Frydecka I, Ciszak L, Bocko D, Szteblich A, Kusnierczyk P, Patrzalek D, Szyber P, Klinger M. CD40L, CD28, and CTLA-4 expression on CD4+ T cells in kidney graft recipients: A relationship with post-transplantation clinical course.
Transpl Immunol 2006;
16:32-40. [PMID:
16701174 DOI:
10.1016/j.trim.2006.03.007]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2006] [Accepted: 03/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Experimental studies have demonstrated that the intensity of alloreactivity against a transplanted organ results from an interaction of positive (CD40/CD40L and B.7/CD28) and inhibitory (B.7/CTLA-4) signals between antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T lymphocytes.
METHODS
We examined the CD40L, CD28, and both surface (s) and intracellular (i) CTLA-4 expressions on freshly drawn and anti-CD3+rIL-2-stimulated peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in groups of kidney transplant recipients in relation to distinct clinical course using the tri-color immunofluorescence method.
RESULTS
The median proportions of freshly isolated CD3+/CD4+/CTLA-4+ and CD3+/CD4+/CD40L+ cells in all groups of graft recipients were higher than in control subjects. In patients with stable graft function (SGF), non-significantly higher sCTLA-4, significantly higher iCTLA-4 expression, and significantly lower CD40L expression on freshly drawn CD4+ T cells compared with recipients with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) were found. Moreover, CD4+ T cells from SGF patients showed a higher potential to express sCTLA-4 and CD40L molecules and to down-regulate the CD28 molecule in response to ex vivo stimulation than those from patients with CAN. In patients without acute graft rejection (NAGR), a markedly higher proportion of freshly drawn CD3+/CD4+/iCTLA-4+ cells compared with patients with acute graft rejection (AGR) and an up-regulation of the median percentage of CD3+/CD4+/CD40L+ cells after ex vivo stimulation was found.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with SGF, peripheral blood CD4+ T cells exhibited a higher potential to express surface CTLA-4 and CD40L and to down-regulate CD28 costimulatory molecules in response to ex vivo stimulation, indicating a relationship between the expression patterns of both costimulatory and inhibitory molecules in CD4+ T cells and clinical course after renal transplantation.
Collapse