Dynamic changes in Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ T cells in patients with acute cellular rejection after cardiac transplantation

Wang S, Li J, Xie A, Wang G, Xia N, Ye P, Rui L, Xia J. Dynamic changes in Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ T cells in patients with acute cellular rejection after cardiac transplantation. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E177–E186. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Previously, studies suggest that CD4+ effector T‐cell subsets participate in allograft rejection. However, the dynamic changes and relative roles of these CD4+ effector T‐cell subsets, especially Th17 cells, have not been systemically examined in patients with acute rejection after cardiac transplantation. In this study, we have studied and compared these CD4+ T‐cell subsets in peripheral blood and endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) in patients with stable‐graft and acute cellular rejection. We observed that the gene expressions including T‐bet, IFN‐γ, RORγt, IL‐17, IL‐23, and FoxP3, the functional marker of Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells, were elevated in EMB samples from patients with acute graft rejection. Accordingly, the percentages of circulating Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells were also significantly increased. The data suggest that Th1, Th17, and FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells are associated with acute graft rejection in patients with cardiac transplantation.