Recent evidence suggests that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) affect immune responses, including those to alloantigens in organ transplants. We have followed a group of liver allograft recipients with good liver graft function who have been weaned off immunosuppression (IS). The purpose of this study was to determine whether Tregs contributed functionally to the mechanisms of graft acceptance.
Material and methods: The functional assay used peripheral blood obtained from LTx recipients free of immunosuppression. The Whole population of CD4+ T cells and the CD4+ T cells depleted of CD4+CD25 high cells were tested for proliferation against donor versus third party stimulators. Moreover to determine the antigen-specificity of the Tregs, serially diluted numbering of CD4+CD25+ T cells were co-cultured with CD4+CD25- T cells. The proliferation responses were examined toward donor versus third party stimulators.
Result: CD4+ T cells from all LTx recipients off immunosuppression showed hyporesponsiveness to the donor but not to third party stimulators. However, even after depletion of the CD4+CD25 high population, the cells continued to be hyporesponsive toward the donor. In four out of five cases, the suppression exhibited by CD4+CD25+ T cells was more specific for the donor.
Discussion: These findings suggest that donor alloantigen specific regulation by Tregs is one of multiple mechanisms that may contribute to the maintenance of liver graft survival in the absence of immunosuppression.