Clinical value of the flow cytometric method for measuring lymphocyte subset activation: spontaneous activation of T-cell subpopulations is associated with acute GvHD

Transplant Proc. 2003 Jun;35(4):1559-62. doi: 10.1016/s0041-1345(03)00512-8.

Abstract

Thymidine ((3)H-TdR) incorporation remains the most commonly used method to quantifying T-cell proliferation. This method, however, does not provide information about specific lymphocyte subpopulations responding to different stimuli. In our study, we modified previously described nonradioactive flow-cytometric T-cell activation assay measuring the expression of a CD69+ antigen on T-cell subsets and applied it to analysis of lymphocyte subsets activation/proliferation in children after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We compared the percentage of spontaneously activated lymphocyte subpopulations (background) and the percentage of PHA-P, PWM, and SEB-stimulated cell subsets from two groups of patients: group 1, children with Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) and group 2, children without any signs of GvHD at the time of analysis. High rate of spontaneous T-cell subset activation was found in group 1 with CD3+CD8+Ts cells being the most affected cell population. High background activation of Th and B cells correlated with the occurrence of autoimmune phenomena posttransplant. Rapid quantification of CD69+ expression on unstimulated and stimulated T-cell subsets proved to be a valuable method for monitoring children after allogeneic HCT. High proportion of activated, unstimulated Ts cells observed in the GvHD group may underline the critical role of CD3+CD8+ cells in the pathogenesis of GvHD. Thus in future immunosuppressive therapy may be adjusted according to the proportion of activated Ts cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology
  • Child
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / classification
  • Leukemia / surgery
  • Leukemia / therapy
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / surgery
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Thymidine / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology*
  • Tritium

Substances

  • Tritium
  • Thymidine