Identification of T-lymphocytes in human renal allografts and urine by the fluorescent antibody technique using anti-human T-lymphocyte serum (AHTS).

Immunopathological investigations of the small round cells infiltrating into the tissues of human renal allografts and also those in urinary sediments were performed, using anti-human T-lymphocyte serum (AHTS). AHTS made from ALS is highly specific for T cells, but not for B cells. Tissues obtained by needle biopsy were examined by immunofluorescent staining and conventional histopathological methods. Urinary sediments were obtained from centrifugated fresh urine. Sediments were checked by immunofluorescent and Giemsa staining. Fluorescent positive cells were seen in the interstitial tissues and occasionally in renal glomeruli. Clustered cell-debris in the lumen of renal tubules was also stained by AHTS. In the urinary sediments, about a half of the lymphoic cells were stained by AHTS. The relationship between lymphocyturia and numerous infiltrating cells in the grafts during the rejection crisis has not been clarified. In this experiments, we tried to identify the detailed process of excretion of T cells to urine from renal tissues, using immunopathological methods.