[Phenotype and function of cells infiltrating rat renal allograft]

Phenotype and function of graft infiltrating cells (GIC) from rat renal allografts were investigated in comparison with those of spleen (SP) cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and regional lymph node (LN) cells of the recipient. Relative proportions of all T cell, suppressor/cytotoxic T cell, helper T cell, and antigen-activated cell displayed significant increases in GIC during ongoing rejection assessed by flow cytometry. Cytolytic activity (using 51Cr release assay) of GIC on day 3 was much higher (20.2%) than those of SP (6.0%), PBMC (3.8%), and LN (3.2%) on BN target cells and this activity gradually increased during ongoing rejection up to 53.1% (GIC), on day 6. In vitro production of cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, gamma-IFN, and BSF-2) from these groups of cells were investigated. GIC demonstrated the most remarkable increases of cytokine production from day 3 to day 6. Especially, GIC on day 6 produced higher amount of BSF-2 compared with SP cells, PBMC and LN cells. These results demonstrated that alloactivated Th cells as well as Tc cells accumulated within the allografts and that the subtype of Th cells which produce BSF-2 preferentially assembled to the allograft.