FoxP3 positive T cells in graft biopsies from living donor kidney transplants after donor-specific transfusions.

Donor-specific transfusions (DST) induce allograft tolerance in animals. Evidence is growing that FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are associated with tolerance in humans. Forty-four biopsies from 69 living donor kidney transplant recipients (LDT) after DST, 53 biopsies from 69 matched deceased donor transplant recipients (DDT), obtained for graft dysfunction, and 12 biopsies from LDT without DST were retrospectively analyzed.