Effects of Immunosuppression and Sun Exposure on Immune Cell Populations in Skin and Blood of Kidney Transplant Recipients.
1Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
2University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
3Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
4Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
Meeting: 2016 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 458
Keywords: Immunosuppression, Kidney transplantation, Sirolimus (SLR), T cells
Session Information
Session Name: Concurrent Session: PTLD and Malignancies
Session Type: Concurrent Session
Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Session Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:18pm-3:30pm
Location: Room 206
Background
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) receiving sirolimus accrue fewer skin cancers than KTR receiving calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) based immunosuppression, potentially due to effects of sirolimus and CNI on skin-infiltrating T cells.
Methods
Peripheral blood samples and skin biopsies from sun exposed and non sun exposed areas of the arm were collected from three groups of patients (all n=15): 1) KTR receiving sirolimus (2) KTR receiving CNI and (3) non-immunosuppressed patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The immunophenotype of T-cells in skin and blood were characterised by multicolor flow cytometry.
Results
The absolute number of CD8 memory cells (CD45RO+RA–) was greater in sun exposed skin in sirolimus and CNI treated KTRs compared to CKD patients (p <0.01 and <0.05 respectively) 
The proportion of CD4+ T cells with a T-reg phenotype (CD127loCD25hi) was higher in non sun-exposed skin in sirolimus compared to CNI treated KTRs (<0.05) 
In sirolimus treated patients Treg and memory CD8 T-cells showed poor correlation between blood and sun exposed skin (r=-0.22, 0.21 respectively). Treg and memory CD8 T-cells in CNI treated patients had better correlation between blood and sun exposed skin (r=0.8 and 0.35 respectively)
Conclusion
Type of immunosuppressive treatment and sun exposure modify the frequency of Treg and memory CD8+T cells in the skin of KTRs and influence correlation in immune cell numbers between blood and skin.
CITATION INFORMATION: Burke M, Nahum L, Isbel N, Carroll R, Soyer H, Francis R, Bridge J, Staatz C, Wells J. Effects of Immunosuppression and Sun Exposure on Immune Cell Populations in Skin and Blood of Kidney Transplant Recipients. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Burke M, Nahum L, Isbel N, Carroll R, Soyer H, Francis R, Bridge J, Staatz C, Wells J. Effects of Immunosuppression and Sun Exposure on Immune Cell Populations in Skin and Blood of Kidney Transplant Recipients. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2016; 16 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/effects-of-immunosuppression-and-sun-exposure-on-immune-cell-populations-in-skin-and-blood-of-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed July 12, 2025.« Back to 2016 American Transplant Congress