BACKGROUND: Stem and progenitor cells are of great interest in all medical procedures involving tissue regeneration. There is a consensus that the use of stem cells after solid organ transplantation may play a role in tissue repair and in immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to determine possible relations between stem cell count and the immune response in a group of patients after kidney transplantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on a group of 100 patients who underwent kidney transplantation. The following phenotypic markers of the studied cell subpopulations were adopted: Treg cells (CD3+CD4+CD25high), circulating hematopoietic cells (CD34+CD133+CD45+CD38–), and non-hematopoietic cells (Lin–CXCR4+CD133–CD45–). Cell subpopulations were assessed using LSRII flow cytometer (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA).

RESULTS: Positive correlation was observed between non-hematopoietic stem cells percentage and recipient’s platelets count (P=0.04). Moreover, a higher percentage of non-hematopoietic cells was accompanied by lower numbers of B lymphocytes (P=0.03) and Treg cells (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed significant associations between the intensity of ongoing immune response processes and tissue damage, and the release of stem and progenitor cells into circulation. These findings suggest their role in the stimulation of protective processes in terms of graft regeneration.

Keywords: Kidney Transplantation, Renal Insufficiency, Chronic, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory