Regulatory T Cell Subtypes and TGF- beta 1 Gene Expression in Chronic Allograft Dysfunction

This article aims to evaluate the frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127- and CD3+CD8+CD28- regulatory T cells in chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) and to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF- beta 1) in renal allografts. Thirty biopsy-proven CAD patients were pair-matched with 30 stable graft function patients and a third group of healthy volunteers. Flow cytometry was performed on PBMCs to determine the frequency of CD3+CD8+CD28- and CD4+CD25+CD127- regulatory T cells in lymphocyt population. TGF- beta 1 gene expression was assessed by Real Time PCR. The percentage of CD3+CD8+CD28- Tregs among renal allograft recipients was higher than healthy controls since stable graft patients showed the most rates. The frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs was lower in CAD patients than stable recipients and healthy group. TGF- beta 1 gene expression was greater in CAD patients compared to healthy group but there was no significant difference between gene expression of stable graft patients and healthy volunteers.