Decrease in the percentage of peripheral blood CXCR3highCD4+ lymphocytes after renal transplantation.

Abstract Introduction Previous studies suggest that infiltration into the graft of active T cells following kidney transplantation depends on the expression of chemokines and their interaction with their T-cell receptors. However, little is known about the natural history of the expression of these molecules during the early post-transplantation phase. Aim To evaluate the percentage of CXCR3 high CD4 + and CCR4 high CD4 + cells, as markers of the Th1 and Th2 populations, in peripheral blood from uremic patients before transplantation and six months after maintaining an acceptable kidney graft function. Material and methods Flow cytometry was used to measure CXCR3 high CD4 + and CCR4 high CD4 + cells from 44 consecutive patients who received a kidney transplant at our center. Measurements were made at the time of transplantation and six months later. Results There was a significant reduction after transplantation in the CXCR3 high CD4 + /CCR4 high CD4 + balance (10.68 ± 20.28 vs. 2.01 ± 3.15, p = 0.001). Separate analysis of each subset showed a significant reduction after transplantation in CXCR3 high CD4 + (2.37 ± 2.75 vs. 1.49 ± 2.66, p = 0.010) but no difference in CCR4 high CD4 + (0.83 ± 1.01 vs. 1.01 ± 1.12, p = 0.812). Conclusion Prior to kidney transplantation uremic patients have an immunologic activation with Th1 polarization (studied by analyzing the CXCR3 high CD4 + and CCR4 high CD4 + populations) that falls after transplantation. This can be monitored with the CXCR3 high CD4 + lymphocyte subset. This may help understand the pathologic mechanisms intervening in immunologic dysfunction of kidney grafts.