Does endothelial chimerism correlate with renal allograft rejection?
BACKGROUND: The blood vessels of a transplanted organ are an interface between the donor and the recipient. The endothelium is believed to be a major target for graft rejection. After transplantation endothelial cells of a transplanted organ may be of recipient origin. OBJECTIVES: In this study we sought to determine whether endothelial chimerism correlates with graft rejection. METHODS: Biopsy samples from 34 renal transplants of female recipients who received kidneys from male donors were studied for the presence of endothelial cells of recipient origin. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of renal biopsy samples were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the presence of endothelial cells containing two X chromosomes, using a biotinylated Y-chromosome probe and digoxigenin-labeled X-chromosome probe. RESULTS: The FISH methods identified endothelial cells of recipient origin. Endothelial chimerism was common, irrespective of rejection. Its presence was focal with these elements, coexisting in the biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no correlation between the percentage of recipient endothelial cells among vascular elements and the type of graft rejection (P > .05).