Nr. 4 -4. Quartal 1998

Cellular Immune Monitoring after Liver Transplantation and Immunosuppression with a Murine Anti-Interleukin-2-Receptor Antibody
S. Weber, R.A. Blaheta, C. Allers, C. Seidl, A. Encke, B.H. Markus

The liver transplantation is an ideal system for the investigation of immune modulation of host immune system. 17 liver transplant recipients transplanted in 1997, treated with Tacrolimus, Steroids and a murine mAb against anti-interleukin-2-receptor (BT563), were evaluated prospectively. Liver biopsies, peripheral blood lymphocytes of liver transplant recipients and DNA were sampled at various stages. Donors spleen cells were obtained during organ procurement. Immune histostaining of liver biopsies showed infiltration of donor leukocytes and hematopoetic stem cells in all transplanted organs. HLA-PCR analysis demonstrated a stable pattern of microchimerism in 66% of the patients. Microchimerism was seen about now 7 weeks after transplantation. Lymphocyte proliferation, determined by single-way-"mixed-lymphocyte-culture" (MLC) was reduced by 42-56 % (n=5) in cases of stable microchimerism. Otherwise reduction was lower (0%-8%; n=3). The results from these studies of microchimerism and lymphocyte activity after liver transplantation suggest that the co-transplantation of donor cells under protection of the murine IL-2R mAb may play an important role in modulation of host immune system. Furthermore, cellular immune monitoring may give evidence for the establishment of microchimerism and possibly later on for transplant tolerance.

Key words:
Cellular monitoring, immune modulation, microchimerism

Diplom-Chemiker S. Weber
Klinik für Allgemein- und Gefäßchirurgie
Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität
Theodor-Stern-Kai 7
D-60590 Frankfurt

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