Effects of Antibodies on Natural Killer Cells in Transplantation
Author Information
Author(s): Diana Stauch, Annelie Dernier, Elizabeth Sarmiento Marchese, Kristina Kunert, Hans-Dieter Volk, Johann Pratschke, Katja Kotsch
Primary Institution: Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
How do rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) and alemtuzumab affect Natural Killer (NK) cells during kidney/pancreas transplantation?
Conclusion
Both rATG and alemtuzumab significantly deplete NK cells and impair their function, which may have implications for post-transplant infection and tumor clearance.
Supporting Evidence
- rATG treatment led to a significant decrease in NK cell counts post-transplant.
- Both rATG and alemtuzumab impaired NK cell cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis.
- CD16 ligation was sufficient to induce degranulation and cytokine release in NK cells.
Takeaway
This study shows that certain treatments can make special immune cells called NK cells less effective, which might make it harder for patients to fight infections after a transplant.
Methodology
The study involved eight kidney/pancreas transplant patients treated with rATG and nine control patients treated with basiliximab, with NK cell function assessed through various assays.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the specific treatment protocols and patient selection.
Limitations
The study is limited by the small sample size and the specific patient population, which may not be generalizable.
Participant Demographics
8 patients treated with rATG (2 females, 6 males) and 9 control patients (7 females, 2 males), aged 48±13 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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