ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CELLS INFILTRATING HUMAN KIDNEY ALLOGRAFTS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (2) , 300-309
Abstract
Cell infiltration is commonly observed in human renal allograft biopsies. This infiltration was investigated using EM for a more precise assessment of the nature of these cells. More than 3000 cells infiltrating 25 renal allograft biopsies were studied. Six cellular types were distinguished, and a mean percentage of each type was calculated. Only 1/2 of these cells were normal or transformed lymphocytes (including small lymphocytes, 22.3 .+-. 3.8%; intermediary cells, 22 .+-. 3.6%; blast-like cells similar to MLC [mixed lymphocyte culture] transformed lymphocytes, 8.1 .+-. 2.4%). A relatively high number of plasmocytes (12.4 .+-. 2.5%) and a still higher percentage of macrophages (28.5 .+-. 4.6%) were found. Granulocytes represented only 2 .+-. 0.8% of the cell population. Variations of the mean percentage of these cellular types were studied in various clinical situations.