CHARACTERIZATION, QUANTIFICATION, AND LOCALIZATION OLF PASSENGER T-LYMPHOCYTES AND NK CELLS IN HUMAN LIVER BEFORE TRANSPLANTATION

Quantification and localization of the main lymphocyte populations wer e studied in;the livers of normal (n = 8) and brain dead (n = 8) subje cts. Cytometric analysis performed on mononuclear cell suspensions obt ained from liver biopsies was compared to an automatic image analysis of immunostained sections. The overall number of liver associated lymp hocytes was in the usual range of peripheral blood content (2 to 9 . 1 0(9) cells). Phenotypic analysis showed predominant NK and CD8+ cells that highly expressed class II antigen and CD25 and CD69 activation ma rkers. Quantitative mapping of these activated lymphocytes revealed th eir preferential localization. in the portal tract and the perisinusoi dal area as compared to the pericentrolobular zone, especially in dono r livers. This strategic localization could suggest a possible early c ooperation between donor lymphocytes and initial infiltrating cells fr om the recipient and could explain the special immunological status of allografted livers.