Roles of M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration in post-renal transplant antibody-mediated rejection

Background

We aimed to analyze the roles of M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration in post-renal transplant antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).

Methods

A total of 102 recipients who underwent renal allotransplant from January 2020 to February 2023 were divided into an immune tolerance group (n = 56) and a rejection group (n = 46). The transplant renal biopsy specimens were harvested by ultrasound-guided puncture. The M1 and M2 macrophages in renal tissues were counted, and the M1/M2 ratio was calculated. The numbers of M1 and M2 macrophages and M1/M2 ratios in patients with different severities of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) and different degrees of tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration were compared. The predictive values of M1 and M2 macrophages and M1/M2 ratio for post-renal transplant AMR were clarified.

Results

The rejection group had significantly more M1 and M2 macrophages and higher M1/M2 ratio than those of the immune tolerance group (P < 0.05). In the rejection group, infiltrating macrophages were mainly distributed in the glomerular and interstitial capillaries, with M1 macrophages being the predominant type. With increasing severity of IF/TA, the numbers of M1 and M2 macrophages and M1/M2 ratio rose in patients with post-renal transplant AMR (P < 0.05). The numbers and ratio had significant positive correlations with the levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (P < 0.05). The areas under the curves (AUCs) of numbers and M1 and M2 macrophages and M1/M2 ratio for predicting post-renal transplant AMR were 0.856, 0.839 and 0.887, respectively. The combined detection had AUC of 0.911 (95% CI: 0.802–0.986), sensitivity of 90.43% and specificity of 83.42%.

Conclusions

Significant macrophage infiltration is present in the case of post-renal transplant AMR, and closely related to the severity of IF/TA and the degree of tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration.