Frequencies of CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T Cells in Long-Term Follow-Up of Sirolimus-Converted Kidney Transplant Recipients
1Comprehensive Transplant Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
2Medicine-Nephrology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
3Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C260
Keywords: Calcineurin, Kidney transplantation, Sirolimus (SLR)
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Translational Biomarkers and Immune Monitoring
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Monday, May 4, 2015
Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm
Location: Exhibit Hall E
Background: Tacrolimus(TAC) and Sirolimus(SRL) are commonly used immunosuppressive drugs in kidney transplantation. SRL has been shown to induce the expansion of regulatory T cells in post-transplant recipients converted from TAC to SRL.
Methods: This study included 59 renal transplant recipients from a randomized trial of Sirolimus conversion (n=37) or Tacrolimus maintenance (n=22). The conversion started at 12 months post-transplant. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected at baseline, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months post-randomization. T cell subpopulations including intracellular cytokine & transcriptional factor staining were analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results: At baseline, the frequencies of CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T cells were similar in both groups (0.63±0.06 (SRL) VS 0.66±0.12 (TAC) % of Lymphocytes, p=0.79). SRL conversion led to a significant increase in CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T cells at 6, 12 and 24 months post-conversion with highest frequencies observed at 12 months (2.23±0.23 (SRL) VS 0.68±0.12 (TAC) % of Lymphocytes, p<0.01). However, we observed a decline of CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T cells started at 24 months and the differences were no longer significant compared to the TAC group at 36 and 48 months post-conversion (1.41±0.17 (SRL) VS 1.07±0.18 (TAC) % of Lymphocytes, p=0.24). The MFI of foxp3 in CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T cells was comparable in both groups from baseline to 48 months post-conversion. Furthermore, We also observed that CD4+CD5hiFoxp3+ T cells in SRL-converted group had more percentage of cells that co-expressed ROR-gt and IL-17 which are Th17 markers at 24 and 48 months post-conversion.
Conclusion: Switching from TAC to SRL results in an expansion of CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T cells which peaked at 12 months post-conversion. no significant frequency differences were observed in longer-trem follow-up and we observed more percentage of cells that co-expressed Th17 markers in the SRL group.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Traitanon O, Alvarado A, Tantisattamo E, Shetty A, Ansari M, Mathew J, Leventhal J, Mas V, Gallon L. Frequencies of CD4+25hiFoxp3+ T Cells in Long-Term Follow-Up of Sirolimus-Converted Kidney Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/frequencies-of-cd425hifoxp3-t-cells-in-long-term-follow-up-of-sirolimus-converted-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed October 10, 2024.« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress