The Significance of Intragraft CD138+ Lymphocytes and p-S6RP in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Biopsies

摘要

BackgroundWe have previously shown that intragraft CD20+ B cells are associated with acute cellular rejection (ACR) and and allograft loss. Phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein, a downstream target of the PI3K/Akt/mTor pathway, promotes growth and proliferation of cells and could identify metabolically active cells such as alloantibody secreting plasma cells. Since CD20+ lymphocytes can differentiate into CD138+ plasma cells, we aimed to identify functionally active plasma cells by using intragraft CD138 quantification and p-S6RP staining and correlate these results with allograft rejection, function, and survival.