CD52-Negative NK Cells Are Abundant in the Liver and Less Susceptible to Alemtuzumab Treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

T-cell depleting strategies have become an integral part of immunosuppressive regimens in organ transplantation. Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52, a cell-surface antigen on several immune cells. It has been suggested that lymphocyte depletion increases the risk of serious infections. However, this has not been observed with short-term alemtuzumab treatment in an organ transplant setting. For induction therapy using alemtuzumab following liver transplantation, we found that T- and B-cell numbers declined rapidly after alemtuzumab therapy; however, the natural killer (NK) cell number was sustained. NK cells are important effectors of innate immunity. Since the effects of alemtuzumab on NK cell functions, especially those of liver NK cells, are un

SUBMITTER: Hotta R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4999148 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature