Figure 4. DSA-positive recipients have lower ratio of peripheral blood IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺ T cells or CXCR5⁺IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺ T cells to combined Th1/Th2 CD4⁺ T cells than DSA-negative recipients.

Peripheral blood from DSA-positive recipients (n=23) and DSA-negative recipients (n=72) was analyzed using flow cytometry to determine the quantity of IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells (Th1), IL-4⁺CD4⁺ T cells (Th2), IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺T cells, and CXCR5⁺IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺ T cells. Ratios of both CD8⁺ T cell subsets to the combined Th1 and Th2 CD4⁺ T cells were then calculated. A) Ratio of the quantity of IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺T cells to the combined quantity of Th1 and Th2 CD4⁺ T cell subsets and B) Ratio of the quantity of CXCR5⁺IFN-γ⁺CD8⁺ T cells to the combined quantity of Th1 and Th2 CD4⁺ T cell subsets were significantly lower in DSA-positive recipients compared to DSA-negative recipients over the first year posttransplant (1.8- to 3.4-fold and 1.8- to 4.8-fold, respectively; p<0.0001 and p=0.0001, respectively). Graphed data represents geometric mean ± standard error.