[Characteristics of cellular infiltration in rejected renal grafts]

The composition of the cellular infiltrate in 42 needle and wedge biopsies of transplanted kidneys was investigated immunohistochemically. The various inflammatory cell populations were examined in different rejection types and cyclosporin-A nephrotoxicity (CsAN) as well as in different locations in the graft (perivascular and intertubular area, tubular epithelium, glomeruli) separately. There was generally a Th cell predominance except the most unfavorable rejection type, the acute vascular rejection (AVR), where the Tc cells outnumbered all other infiltrating cell populations. The most macrophages too were detected in AVR. The high proportion of plasma cells in chronic rejection indicate an important role of the humoral immune response in this type of rejection, and could also be used as a differential diagnostic sign versus CsAN.