Ultrastructure of cells infiltrating human kidney allografts

Cell infiltration is commonly observed in human renal allograft biopsies. This infiltration was investigated using electron microscopy for a more precise assessment of the nature of these cells. More than 3000 cells infiltrating twenty-five renal allograft biopsies were studied. Six cellular types were distinguished and a mean percentage of each type was calculated. Only one-half of these cells were normal or transformed lymphocytes (including small lymphocytes: 22-3 +/- 3-8%, 'intermediary' cells: 22 +/- 3-6%, blast-like cells similar to MLC transformed lymphocytes: 8-1 +/- 2-4%. A relatively high number of plasmocytes (12-4 +/- 2-5%) and a still higher percentage of macrophages (28-5 +/- 4-6%) were found. Granulocytes represented only 2 +/- 0-8%of the cell population. Variations of the mean percentage of these cellular types were studied in various clinical situations.