Divergences in KIR2D+ natural killer and KIR2D+CD8+ T-cell reconstitution following liver transplantation |
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Authors: | López-Álvarez M R Campillo J A Legaz I Blanco-García R M Salgado-Cecilia G Bolarín J M Gimeno L Gil J García-Alonso A M Muro M Alvarez-López M R Miras M Minguela A |
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Affiliation: | Immunology Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. |
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Abstract: | Natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cells may be active elements in the allograft response, but little is known about their role in liver transplantation. Some of these cells express killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), which after binding specific ligands may transmit inhibitory/activating signals. In this study, circulating NK and CD8(+) T cells expressing CD158a/h (KIR2DL1/S1) or CD158b/j (KIR2DL2/3/S(2)) receptors were analyzed in 142 liver recipients by flow cytometry. They were underrepresented in patients before transplantation, but following transplantation, whereas the KIR2D(+) NK subsets experienced a late recuperation (day 365) mainly in C2-homozygous patients developing early acute rejection, recovery of the 2 CD8(+)KIR2D(+) T cells started earlier, showing significant differences on day 365 between patients without acute rejection and those suffering from it (p = 0.004 and p < 0.0001, respectively). These differences were also evident when the human leukocute antigen-C genotypes of the recipient were considered. In conclusion, whereas the late recovery of KIR2D(+) NK cells in C2/C2 patients appears to be linked to acute rejection, the increase in early CD8(+)KIR2D(+) T cells in overall liver recipients correlates with a most successful early graft outcome. Therefore, monitoring of KIR2D(+) cells appears to be a useful tool for liver transplant follow-up. |
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Keywords: | NK cells CD8 T lymphocytes KIR2D receptors Liver transplantation Tolerance |
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