Production of cytokines by monocytes in kidney transplant recipients.

<p>Production of cytokines was tested after stimulation of freshly isolated PBMCs of healthy controls, recipients at the time of Tx and recipients at 3 months after Tx with IFN-γ and LPS in the presence of golgiplug. The entire monocyte population was determined based on forward/sideward scatter, lack of expression of CD3, CD20 and CD56 and expression of CD14 and CD16. The percentage of (A) TNF-α and (B) IFN-γ producing monocytes was significantly higher in patients both at the time of Tx and at 3 months after Tx compared to healthy controls (p = <0.03). (C) IL-6 production was not different between the groups tested. (D) The production of IL-1β was significantly increased in patients at the time of Tx compared to healthy controls. (E) The percentage of IL-10 producing monocytes was significantly higher 3 months after Tx compared to both healthy controls and recipients at the time of Tx. Healthy controls (n = 14; n = 9 for IL-10), recipients at Tx (n = 15; n = 10 for IL-10), and 3 months post-Tx (n = 11; n = 7 for IL-10).