Investigation of the relationship between B cell subgroups and organ survival in renal transplant patients

Our aim was to examine 6 different subgroups of B cell, namely CD19+CD24+CD38+ (transitional B cells), CD5+CD27+CD138+ (GzmB+ B cells), CD19+CD25+, CD20+CD27+CD43+CD11b+ (B1 cells), CD19+CD25+CD71+CD73- (BR1 cells) and CD19+IgDloCD38+CD24loCD27- B cells, which we think can regulate organ survival in kidney transplant patients with humoral rejection and to obtain findings that can create a prediction regarding to rejection, by comparing the levels of these cells in stable and healthy groups. In accordance with this purpose, the participant groups were determined among the kidney tranpslant patients followed in the medical faculty hospital of our university. A total of 48 participants (%68,8 male, %31,2 female) consisting of 23 with rejection, 10 without rejection and 15 healthy individuals were included in the study. Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral venous blood samples of the participants and stained with 6 antibody panels representing B cell subgroups. After staining, they were evaluated in FACS Canto II flow cytometry device. Saved data were comparatively analyzed with gender, age, graft lifespan and PRA values. According to the results, it was observed that CD19+CD25+ cells increased at a similar rate as age increased in the healthy group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of gender, graft lifespan and PRA levels. It was determined that CD19+CD25+ ve BR1 cells existed more intensely in patients without rejection than patients with rejection and healthy individuals, and there was a direct and strong correlation between them (p<0.05). No significant difference was determined between the participant groups in terms of transitional B cells, GzmB+ B cells, B1 cells and CD19+IgDloCD38+CD24loCD27- B cells (p>0.05), however, moderate correlations were observed in the comparison of cells among themselves. The significant increase of BR1 and CD19+CD25+ B cells in patients without rejection and the strong correlation between them indicate that these cells may have a positive effect on organ survival with their anti-inflammatory functions.