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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004; 52(1): 16-22
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815799
Original Cardiovascular

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Role of B Cells and Macrophages in Microvascular Disease After Heart Transplantation[*]

N. E. Hiemann 1 , R. Meyer 1 , M. Hummel 1 , E. Wellnhofer 2 , S. Thomann 1 , R. Hetzer 1
  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum, Berlin, Germany
  • 2Department of Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum, Berlin, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received February 27, 2003

Publication Date:
04 March 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Background: The role of B cells and macrophages in microvascular disease after heart transplantation remains controversial. Methods: Out of a total of 809 endomyocardial biopsies without evidence of acute cellular rejection (n = 422, 72 females and 350 males, median age 46 years), 393 without evidence of the quilty phenomenon were investigated zero to ten years after heart transplantation. Vascular reaction (endothelial cell swelling and vessel wall thickening) was graded by H&E staining, and immunohistochemistry was performed for T cells (clone UCHL1), B cells (clone L26) and macrophages (clone KP1) and evaluated semi-quantitatively (light microscopy × 200). Results: Positive reaction for T cells and macrophages as well as evidence of endothelial cell swelling decreased with time after heart transplantation. Positive reactions for B cells were less frequent and increased slightly during the observation time, while vessel wall thickening dominated the last observation interval between the fourth and tenth years. Severity of vascular reaction was independent of immunohistochemical evidence of B cells or macrophages. Conclusions: While activation of the humoral and the non-specific immunological system is common after heart transplantation, microvascular alterations seem to develop independently of these findings.

Key words

Smooth muscle cells - heart transplantation - graft vessel disease - complications - histology

1 Presented at the Annual Meeting of The German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Leipzig, February 22 - 26, 2003

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1 Presented at the Annual Meeting of The German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Leipzig, February 22 - 26, 2003

Dr. med. Nicola E. Hiemann

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin

Augustenburger Platz 1

13353 Berlin

Germany

Phone: + 493045930

Fax: + 49 30 45 93 22 02

Email: hiemann@dhzb.de