Negative immunohistochemical detection of CD103 (alpha(E)beta(7) integrin)in the infiltrates of acute rejection in liver and kidney transplantation

Background The infiltration of epithelium by CD8(+) T lymphocytes in human renal or liver allografts is a critical feature of acute rejection, CD103 e xpression can be acquired in vitro by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes in res ponse to allogeneic renal epithelial cells and promotes their adhesion to e pithelium and subsequent lysis of epithelial cells. We investigated the exp ression of CD103 in T-cell infiltrates during acute renal or liver rejectio n (grade < III). Methods. Immunohistochemical detection of CD103 in 11 liver and 10 kidney t ransplant biopsies with histopathological diagnosis of acute rejection. Results. None of the infiltrates expressed detectable CD103, although posit ive controls were stained under our conditions. Conclusions. Failure to detect CD103 in renal biopsies can be related to th e early posttransplantation interval (<6 months) corresponding to a first r ejection episode. In our hands, immunohistological detection of CD103 was n ot possible in the infiltrates of acute rejection in liver or kidney transp lantation.