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Diminished integrin expression on granulocytes from renal allograft recipients
A Górski1, H Kardasiewicz, J Wyzgał
1Department of Immunology, Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland.
Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae Experimentalis
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Renal transplant patients show reduced CD18 integrin expression on urinary granulocytes, increasing infection risk. This deficit is linked to transplantation, not solely immunosuppression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Integrins, specifically the beta 2 subunit (CD18) of the LEU-CAM family, play a crucial role in immune cell function.
- Renal allograft recipients are susceptible to infections, particularly urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Understanding immune cell function in transplant patients is vital for managing post-transplant complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD18 integrins on peripheral blood and urinary granulocytes in renal allograft recipients.
- To determine if CD18 expression is altered in these patients, especially in relation to infections and immunosuppression.
- To explore potential factors contributing to altered integrin expression.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood and urine samples were collected from renal allograft recipients.
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze CD18 integrin expression on granulocytes.
- Comparisons were made between infected and non-infected recipients, transplant and non-transplant patients, and patients with different conditions.
Main Results:
- Circulating granulocyte CD18 expression was generally normal, except in patients with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
- A significant reduction in CD18+ cells was observed in the urine of most patients with UTIs.
- This urinary CD18 deficiency was also present in approximately 50% of non-infected recipients and was associated with transplantation.
- Short-term culture with immunosuppressants did not affect integrin expression.
Conclusions:
- Deficient granulocyte CD18 integrin expression, particularly in the urinary tract, may contribute to increased susceptibility to infections in renal transplant recipients.
- While transplantation is a factor, immunosuppression alone does not appear to be the sole cause of this deficit.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms behind reduced CD18 expression and its clinical implications in transplant patients.