标题：CD56+CD57+ infiltrates as the most predominant subset of intragraft natural killer cells in renal transplant biopsies with antibody-mediated rejection
摘要：Little is known about the characteristics and clinical implications of specific subsets of intragraft natural killer (NK) cells in kidney transplant recipients. We analyzed 39 for-cause renal transplant biopsies performed at our center from May 2015 to July 2017. According to histopathologic reports, 8 patients (20.5%) had no rejection (NR), 11 (28.2%) had T cell-mediated rejections (TCMR) only, and 20 (51.3%) had antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). NK cells were defined as CD3 - CD56 + lymphocytes that are positive for CD57, CD49b, NKG2A, or KIR. The density of NK cells was significantly higher in the ABMR group (2.57 ± 2.58/mm 2 ) than in the NR (0.12 ± 0.22/mm 2 ) or the TCMR (0.25 ± 0.34/mm 2 ) group (P = 0.002). Notably, CD56 + CD57 + infiltrates (2.16 ± 1.89) were the most frequently observed compared with CD56 + CD49b + (0.05 ± 0.13), CD56 + NKG2A + (0.21 ± 0.69), and CD56 + KIR + (0.15 ± 0.42) cells in the ABMR group (P < 0.001). Death-censored graft failure was significantly higher in patients with NK cell infiltration than those without (Log-rank test, P = 0.025). In conclusion, CD56 + CD57 + infiltrates are a major subset of NK cells in kidney transplant recipients with ABMR and NK cell infiltration is significantly associated with graft failure post-transplant.
