Natural Killer (NK) Cells: The Missing Link between Antibody-Mediated Rejection (ABMR) and Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD)?

Abstract

PURPOSE: The long-term success of lung transplantation (LTx) is limited by CLAD. The complement-independent pathway of ABMR, driven by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) may contribute to CLAD. ADCC is mediated through the CD16 Fc receptor expressed on NK cells, however a role for different NK cell subsets in mediating ABMR is yet to be elucidated. In this pilot study, we investigated whether the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) following LTx effects NK cell ADCC and whether particular NK cell subsets exhibited superior ADCC activity. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from LTx recipients at 3 and 12-months post-LTx. NK cell ADCC activity..