T cell subsets in renal transplanted XXXX defined by theophylline sensitivity and monoclonal antibodies.

@entity1 @entity2544 @entity1619
Peripheral T cell subsets were determined in 26 @entity1 after renal transplantation. Thirteen @entity1 were undergoing acute rejection episodes at the time of blood sampling. Two methods were used for the determinations: the @entity2544 sensitivity test (THST) and the monoclonal antibodies method OKT8 and OKT4. In both rejecting and non-rejecting groups, the percentages of @entity1619 ( @entity1619 ) was found to be higher by the OKT8 method than by the THST. Furthermore, no significant difference in @entity1619 percentages could be revealed by the OKT8 method between the two groups. However, with the THST the differences were significant with a mean value of 13.5 +/- 7.9 per cent in the rejecting group and 21 +/- 5.9 per cent in the non-rejecting group (p less than 0.01). The different results between the two methods could be attributed to the fact that by THST only @entity1619 cells are defined while the OKT8 conjugates also with cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The measuring of T helper cells (TH) revealed much higher percentages of TH in the rejecting group than in the non-rejecting group, 51 +/- 9.5 per cent mean value and 29 +/- 13 per cent mean value, respectively (p less than 0.05). The ratio OKT4+/OKT8+ was below one in the non-rejecting group and above 1.5 in the rejecting group. We concluded that the THST as well as OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio may be a helpful laboratory test to confirm a clinically suspected acute rejection episode.
