We designed a study to identify skin bacterial strains producing most intensive changes in lymphoid tissue of the draining nodes and analyse the node cell phenotypes reacting to bacterial antigens. The obtained results were expected to help in establishing rational therapy in recipients of hand allografts. The highest level of activation of lymphoid tissue was found after inoculation with S.epidermidis, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Aerococcus. There was an increase in weight and cell concentration of nodes, intense expression of W3/25+ (CD4), OX6+(class II), ED1+(CD14), CD54+ and OX62+ cells in the paracortex and medulla 7 days after bacterial inoculation. The most advanced changes were seen after recall bacterial stimulation. Taken together, evident differences in the intensity of response to the investigated bacterial strains were found. The obtained information can be useful for establishing rational antibiotic therapy after composite graft transplantation.

Keywords: Hand Transplantation, Bacteria, Lymph Nodes, Recall Antigens