Detection of T suppressor cells in patients with organ allografts

• Published in: Human immunology Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 15 - 20
• Main Authors: Ciubotariu, Rodica, Vasilescu, Rodica, Ho, Eric, Cinti, Paola, Cancedda, Corrado, Poli, Luca, Late, Maurizio, Liu, Zhuoru, Berloco, Pasquale, Cortesini, Raffaello, Suciu-Foca Cortesini, Nicole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2001
• Subjects: Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigen-Presenting Cells - metabolism; CD40 Antigens - immunology; CD40 Antigens - metabolism; CD8 + CD28; CD80; CD86; Cell Line; Coculture Techniques; Flow Cytometry; Heart Transplantation - immunology; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - analysis; Humans; Jurkat Cells; Kidney Transplantation - immunology; Liver Transplantation - immunology; Organ Transplantation; T suppressors cells; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; transplant patient monitoring; Transplantation, Homologous - immunology; Tumor Cells, Cultured; CD86; MCF; transplant patient monitoring; APC; Th; CD80; CD8 + CD28; T suppressors cells; HLA; TCL; PBMC; Ts
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/S0198-8859(00)00226-3

Specific immunosuppression of host’s immune response to donor HLA antigens has been a major goal to clinical transplantation. Recent evidence has been accumulating to show that a distinct population of T cells expressing the CD8 + CD28 − phenotype display suppressor function and inhibit Th activation and proliferation by modulating the APC function. To assess the presence of Ts in transplant recipient’s circulation, we have developed a flow cytometry method that measures the expression of costimulatory molecules on donor APC exposed to recipient Th and Ts. Our results demonstrate that quantitation of the capacity of CD8 + CD28 − T cells from patient circulation to suppress the activation of costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86) on donor APC offers a reliable tool for monitoring specific immunosuppression against the graft in solid organ transplantation.