Two-year follow-up of a prospective study of circulating regulatory T cells in renal transplant patients.

CD4(+)CD25(high)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in alloreactivity and may be associated with protection from rejection. Their quantification in peripheral blood could guide clinicians in the management of renal transplant patients. Thus, we prospectively monitored the levels and in vitro suppression of circulating Tregs in 33 renal transplant patients from deceased donors within the first two yr of transplantation.

Association between serum soluble CD30 and serum creatinine before and after renal transplantation.

Objective: There is increasing evidence that circulating levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) may represent a biomarker for outcome in kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to measure the pre- and posttransplantation serum levels of sCD30 in cadaveric kidney transplant recipients and correlate them with serum creatinine.

Patients And Methods: Serum sCD30 was measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from prospective samples of 38 kidney allograft recipients serially transplanted at our center.

Changes in the expression of the immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT3) and ILT4 receptors in renal allograft recipients: effect of donor and recipient aging.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the number and phenotype of pre- and posttransplant peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) in kidney graft recipients to correlate with CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg and CD8(+)CD28(-) cells. Data were analyzed according to the age of the donor-recipient pairs.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 49 cadaveric kidney transplant recipients was prospectively studied pretransplant and 6 months posttransplant by three-color flow cytometry with specific monoclonal antibodies.

Reduced numbers of blood natural regulatory T cells in stable liver transplant recipients with high levels of calcineurin inhibitors.

Introduction: In solid organ transplantation, most efforts are directed to achieve a state of tolerance and reduce the immunosuppressive load. Since the liver is thought to be more tolerogenic than other grafts, we examined the impact of various immunosuppressant regimens on induction of CD4+CD25(high)FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs).

Materials And Methods: We divided 35 liver transplant recipients with stable function and free of rejection episodes for at least 8 years into two main groups according to the blood levels of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) at the time of the study: 15 patients showing high concentrations of either cyclosporine or FK506 (high CNI: cyclosporine >80 ng/mL or FK506 >6 ng/mL) and another 20 patients with low levels (low CNI).

Sirolimus as an alternative to anticalcineurin therapy in heart transplantation: experience of a single center.

We report a series of 26 heart transplant recipients with renal impairment in which sirolimus was used as the basic immunosuppresive drug (without associated calcineurin inhibitors) to avoid further nephrotoxicity. Sirolimus (trough levels 10 to 12 ng/mL, average daily dose 3 mg) was used in two settings: de novo in 7 patients with significant preexistent renal impairment and as a chronic conversion in 19 stable patients with established renal failure (creatinine level >2 mg/dL). In all de novo patients (n = 7), the renal function significantly improved.