T γ/δ lymphocytes in renal transplant recipients

T γ/δ lymphocytes are able to perform allospecific cytotoxicity and natural killer cytotoxicity in vitro. However, very little is known about their function in vivo. To investigate the possible involvement of T γ/δ lymphocytes in the immune response to renal allografts, fine-needle aspiration biopsies and peripheral blood of 15 renal transplant recipients were studied during the first 4 weeks after transplantation. In addition peripheral blood of patients before transplantation, half a year and one year after transplantation was studied. No increase in the percentage of T γ/δ lymphocytes in the fine-needle aspiration biopsies, including those taken during acute rejection episodes, was found. A significant decrease in the percentage of T γ/δ lymphocytes was observed in peripheral blood after transplantation. We conclude that T γ/δ lymphocytes seem to play no major role in the immune response to renal allografts