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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients
Published on: August 12, 2017
Donor B cells in splenic follicles of experimental pulmonary allograft recipients
Veronika Grau1, Gabriele Fuchs-Moll, Gabriela Krasteva
1Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University of Giessen Lung Center, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Rudolf Buchheim Str. 7, 35385, Giessen, Germany. Veronika.Grau@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
Background:
After transplantation, passenger leukocytes move to lymphoid organs of the recipient. These cells appear to initiate allograft rejection, but they also might be involved in tolerance induction.
Materials And Methods:
Orthotopic left lung transplantation was performed in the Dark Agouti to Lewis rat strain combination with no immunosuppression. Recipient spleens were removed at intervals of 24 h until day 6 after transplantation. For comparison, spleens from renal allograft recipients were analysed. Donor-derived major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens were detected by monoclonal antibody OX76. In double-staining experiments with antibodies specific for leukocyte subpopulations, their localisation and identity was analysed.
Results:
OX76-positive leukocytes were already detected in recipient spleens on day 1 post-transplantation. They increased in number until day 3 and decreased in number thereafter. Most of them were localised in splenic follicles and expressed the B cell variant of CD45R and IgG. Cell surface antigens typical for other leukocyte subpopulations were not detected. In the spleens of renal allograft recipients, only few donor-derived cells were seen.
Conclusion:
After lung transplantation, numerous MHC class II-positive B cells migrate to the splenic follicles of the recipient. These cells might, in part, be responsible for immunologic differences observed between renal and pulmonary allografts.
