Korean J Pathol.  2008 Oct;42(5):260-269.

The Expression of C4d and HLA-DR in Renal Allografts with the Histologic Features of Antibody-Mediated Rejection

• Song YS
• Park MH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Deposition of C4d along the peritubular capillaries is generally associated with an antibody-mediated response. We evaluated, with performing C4d immunostaining, the diagnostic accuracy of the cases that were previously diagnosed as antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) when based only on the histologic findings, and we examined possible correlation of C4d with HLA-DR. METHODS: Forty-five renal transplantation biopsies, which showed ABMR-like histology, were obtained. The expressions of C4d and HLA-DR in the transplant rejection cases were investigated using immunofluorescent and/or immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There were 14 discordant cases among a total of 45 cases when C4d was used as a diagnostic marker and the original slides were reviewed. These total cases consisted of the C4d negative cases in two cases of hyperacute rejection and all the cases of ABMR and ABMR with chronic/sclerosing allograft nephropathy (CAN) and two C4d positive cases (one each of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and CAN according to their original diagnosis) and all these cases were then revised according to Banff 07. The expression of HLA-DR tended to be correlated with the log-transformed duration of grafts until three years after the transplantation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that C4d together with the histologic findings should be used for making the diagnosis of ABMR. The tubular HLA-DR expression over time should be studied to further understand the mechanism of graft rejection.

Keyword

Graft rejection; Complement C4d; HLA-DR; Kidney