T-cell subsets in a cyclosporin-A treated recipient of cadaveric kidney allograft as defined by theophylline sensitivity and monoclonal antibodies.

Three different methods (theophylline sensitivity, monoclonal antibodies and a local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction) were used to study the T-cell subsets in two renal allograft recipients, one who was treated with cyclosporin-A + prednisone after having received preoperative gradual lymphoid irradiation and one who was treated by conventional methods following transplantation. In the patient treated with cyclosporin-A, who experienced no clinical rejection and has been in good condition during four months of follow-up, the percentage of theophylline-sensitive TS cells rose from 3% following irradiation to 38% one week after transplantation and treatment; T suppressor cells tested by OKT8 antibodies ranged from 60% to 100% whereas the helper cells tested by OKT4 ranged from 10% to 40%, with a ratio of OKT4/OKT8 below 0.6. In the patient receiving conventional treatment, who underwent unresponsive acute renal rejection 21 days after transplantation, the level of suppressor cells was much lower, ranging from 12% to 42%, with the OKT4/OKT8 ratio ranging from 1.47 to 2.5.