Pretransplant CD28 Biomarker (Levels of Expression and Quantification of Molecules per Cell) in Peripheral CD4+ T Cells Predicts Acute Rejection Episodes in Liver and Kidney Recipients

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 48; no. 9; pp. 2987 - 2989
• Main Authors: Boix, F, Bolarín, J.M, Eguía, J, Gonzalez-Martinez, G, De La Peña, J, Galian, J.A, Hernández-Martínez, A.M, Moya-Quiles, M.R, Legaz, I, Campillo, J.A, Ramirez, P, Sanchez-Bueno, F, García-Alonso, A.M, Pons, J.A, Minguela, A, Llorente, S, Muro, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - blood; CD28 Antigens - blood; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; End Stage Liver Disease - blood; End Stage Liver Disease - etiology; End Stage Liver Disease - surgery; Female; Flow Cytometry; Graft Rejection - blood; Graft Rejection - etiology; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - blood; Kidney Failure, Chronic - etiology; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Transplantation; Liver Transplantation; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surgery
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2016.09.028

Abstract Background Acute rejection (AR) remains a significant cause of graft loss. Better approaches to predict AR are being investigated. Surface CD28 protein is essential for T-cell proliferation and survival as well as cytokine production. Patients and Methods Pretransplant CD4+ CD28+ peripheral T cells were examined in 30 liver recipients (LRs) and 31 kidney recipients (KRs) by flow cytometry. Results Pretransplant CD4+ CD28+ T cells in LRs were significantly lower in rejectors than nonrejectors ( P  = .002). Furthermore, the total number of CD28 molecules per cell in LRs ( P  = .02) as well as KRs ( P  = .047) was significantly lower in rejectors than nonrejectors. The healthy group did not display differences when compared with patients with end-stage liver disease or renal failure; however, stratification analysis displayed higher levels of CD4+ CD28+ when compared with rejected LRs ( P  = .04) but not KRs. CD28 levels <41.94% were able to discriminate LRs at high risk of AR ( P  = .003). Similarly, a total number of CD28 molecules ≤8359 ( P  = .031) in LRs and ≤7669 ( P  = .046) in KRs correlated with high risk of AR. Conclusion The preliminary results presented herein exhibit a fast and noninvasive method that assists clinicians to prevent AR by monitoring CD4+ CD28+ peripheral T cells.