Abstract: Introduction: Studies on biomarkers of tolerance in organ transplantation have been widely performed during the last decade.
Aim: To assess biomarkers in relation to evolution of the immune response among lung transplant recipients.
Methods: This multicenter study included 27 lung transplant recipients followed before as well as at 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days posttransplantation. Biomarkers of the immune response based on flow cytometry technology were validated in each center. They included intracellular cytokine expression, regulatory T-cell level, as well as lymphocyte surface antigen and CD28 expressions.
Results: The 13 patients who developed acute rejection episodes showed increased numbers of regulatory T cells at 12 months posttransplant. Sixteen patients experiencing infections displayed decreased expression of CD69 on CD8 T cells within the first year of follow-up.
Conclusion: High Treg levels in the peripheral blood of lung transplant recipients were associated with an increased risk of rejection but not infection. Inversely, we observed low levels of activated CD8 T cells in infected patients.
