Given the uncertainty regarding the relationship between donor cells at microchimeric levels and its influence on graft function and clinical outcome, we explored the extent and importance of donor microchimerism in kidney transplantation. Twenty patients with chronic kidney disease who had received allografts from living donors were studied. We examined peripheral whole blood samples from the recipients one month after the transplant, applying mitochondrial DNA variant‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and quantify donor cells in relation to allograft function and survival during three years of follow‐up. Higher quantities of donor‐derived cell microchimerism in the peripheral blood correlated with better graft function in the early postoperative period at 1 month (R2 = .536, p = .001) and predicted improved graft function 1 year following the transplant (R2 = .430, p = .008). Furthermore, early post‐transplant quantities of donor cell microchimerism were an important predictor of improved kidney function 3 years after transplantation (R2 = .397, p = .021). However, donor cell microchimerism failed to predict patient and graft survival after 3 years (odds ratio = 0.536, p = .860). Our findings suggest that donor cell microchimerism plays an immunoregulatory role in kidney transplantation and contributes to donor‐specific immune hypo‐responsiveness and graft acceptance.

中文翻译：

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肾移植中的供体细胞微嵌合体：对移植物功能的影响

鉴于微嵌合水平供体细胞之间的关系及其对移植物功能和临床结果的影响的不确定性，我们探讨了供体微嵌合体在肾移植中的程度和重要性。研究了 20 名接受活体捐赠者同种异体移植的慢性肾病患者。我们在移植后一个月检查了受者的外周全血样本，应用线粒体 DNA 变异特异性聚合酶链反应 (PCR) 来鉴定和量化与同种异体移植功能和三年随访期间存活率相关的供体细胞。外周血中较高数量的供体来源细胞微嵌合体与术后 1 个月早期移植物功能更好相关（R2 = .536，p = . 001）并预测移植后 1 年移植物功能改善（R2 = .430，p = .008）。此外，移植后早期供体细胞微嵌合体的数量是移植后 3 年肾功能改善的重要预测因素（R2 = .397，p = .021）。然而，供体细胞微嵌合体无法预测 3 年后患者和移植物的存活率（优势比 = 0.536，p = .860）。我们的研究结果表明，供体细胞微嵌合体在肾移植中发挥免疫调节作用，并有助于供体特异性免疫低反应性和移植物接受。供体细胞微嵌合体无法预测 3 年后患者和移植物的存活率（优势比 = 0.536，p = .860）。我们的研究结果表明，供体细胞微嵌合体在肾移植中发挥免疫调节作用，并有助于供体特异性免疫低反应性和移植物接受。供体细胞微嵌合体无法预测 3 年后患者和移植物的存活率（优势比 = 0.536，p = .860）。我们的研究结果表明，供体细胞微嵌合体在肾移植中发挥免疫调节作用，并有助于供体特异性免疫低反应性和移植物接受。