Application of immune cell functional assay in monitoring immune status in renal transplant recipients

Objective To evaluate the value of immune cell functional assay (ImmuKnow CD4+ T cell ATP assay) in monitoring immune status in renal recipients. Methods A total of 131 adult renal transplant recipients who received transplantation for the first time were under investigation. According to the dynamic monitoring ATP concentration before operation, 2 week, 1, 3, 6 months after operation and during infect or rejection, samples were divided into the following groups: health control group (HC), pretransplant (Pre-Tx) group, stable (Tx) group, infect group, acute rejection (AR) group, acute kidney injury (AKI) group. Immune cell functions were detected by ImmuKnow CD4+ T cell ATP assay. Lymphocyte subsets (CD4+/CD8+) were analysed and serum concentrations of FK506 were tested. Mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR) was analysed. Results The ATP concentration was no significant difference between Pre-Tx and HC group. The ATP concentration of 2 weeks, 1 months after operation were significantly higher than Pre-Tx group (P＜0.01). After 3 months, 6 months follow-up, the ATP concentration stabilized with time. The ATP concentration of AR group was significantly higher than other three groups (Tx, infect and AKI group, all P＜0.05). The correlation coefficient between the ATP concentration and MLR, CD4+/CD8+, FK506 level were R2＝0.0072, R2＝10-6, R2＝0.004 respectively (all P﹥0.05). Conclusions The cell-mediated immunity of recipients is relatively strongger during the first month after transplantation. The ATP concentration is not related to the levels of MLR, CD4+/ CD8+, FK506. ImmuKnow ATP assay is a valuable predictor in acute rejection diagnosis.