Identification of a Highly Functional Effector CD8 T Cell Program after Transplantation in Mice and Humans.

Acute T cell mediated rejection of allografts remains a significant risk factor for early graft loss. Our prior work defined a population of graft-specific CD8 T cells positive for the activated receptor CD43 (expressing the 1B11 epitope) that form during acute rejection, leading us to further understand the in vivo fate and clinical relevance of this population. We found that during acute rejection, the CD43 ICOS phenotype was sensitive for proliferative graft-specific CD8 T cells.