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[Alloreactive helper T cell responses in kidney transplant patients]
1Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China. Lweng@yahoo.com
Objective:
To study allo-specific immune responses of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes (Th) in patients with long-term and well-functioning renal grafts.
Methods:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 16 patients with long-term (3-15 years) and well-functioning live-related renal grafts. Donor-specific Th precursor (Th-p) frequencies in the PBMC were determined by limiting dilution analysis(LDA).
Results:
Eight out of the 16 patients showed donor-specific hyporesponsiveness. Donor-specific Th-p from the other 8 patients was susceptible to anti-CD4 inhibition.
Conclusion:
Some of the patients carrying long-term and well-functioning renal grafts had become immunologic tolerant to donor cells. Donor-specific Th-p from patients who did not show donor-specific hyporesponsiveness were of low avidity type.