Implication of CD4+ NKG2D+ T cells in the outcome of graft after kidney transplantation. (126.20)

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2012-05, Vol.188 (1_Supplement), p.126-126.20
• Main Authors: López-Larrea, Carlos, Schlangen, Karin, Fernandez-Sanchez, Alba, Carbajal Palo, Reyes, Garcia-Melendreras, Susana, Gómez-Huertas, Ernesto, Ortega-Suarez, Francisco, Aransay Bañares, Ana, Suarez-Alvarez, Beatriz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.188.Supp.126.20

The activating receptor NKG2D is mainly expressed on γδ T, αβ CD8+ T, NKT and NK cells but an unusual NKG2D+ CD4+ T subset has been detected in certain pathologies. In this work, we analyzed the presence of CD4+ NKG2D+ T cells in peripheral blood samples from kidney transplanted patients and healthy donors by flow cytometry. Furthermore, whole genome microarray expression studies (Human HT-12 v3, Illumina) and TCR Vβ repertory (TCR Landscape technology) were performed in order to determinate its phenotypic and functional characteristics. We showed that 41% of the patients have a subset of CD4+ NKG2D+ T lymphocytes, which maintains stable during time. These cells presented a phenotype of memory cells with downregulation of costimulatory molecules and an increased expression of cytotoxic markers specific of NK cells. Several pathways associated with immune response, apoptosis, inflammatory response and cellular catabolic process were significant affected. CD4+ NKG2D+ T cells showed resistance to apoptosis and restricted TCR repertoire with oligoclonal expansion of one or two Vβ families, suggesting a limited capacity to respond to different antigens. In short, presence of this subset in kidney transplanted patients could be favorable for the graft acceptance but compromise the immune response against diverse antigens. It could be used as a biomarker to determine the outcome of the allograft and predict the immune response in these patients.