Abstract
We studied the presence of donor-specific T lymphocytes in explanted human cardiac valve allografts in vivo. From five of seven explants we propagated lymphocyte cultures in an interleukin-2 conditioned medium. Phenotyping revealed the presence of T-cell receptors in more than 95% of the lymphocytes obtained in each culture. Donor-specific cytotoxicity was demonstrated in three patients with known HLA status of the donor. Cytotoxicity was directed against only HLA class I in one patient, and against class I and/or class II in the others. These results indicate that donor-specific cellular reactivity can be induced by transplantation of human cardiac valve allografts.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aortic Valve / immunology
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Aortic Valve / transplantation*
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Cells, Cultured
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Culture Media
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
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Humans
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Immunity, Cellular
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Infant
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Interleukin-2
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Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / immunology
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Middle Aged
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Phenotype
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Pulmonary Valve / immunology
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Pulmonary Valve / transplantation*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / analysis
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Species Specificity
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Tissue Donors
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Transplantation Immunology*
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Transplantation, Homologous
Substances
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Culture Media
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
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Interleukin-2
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell