Cellular chimerism of the lung after transplantation. An interphase cytogenetic study.

The present study evaluated the origin of endothelial and epithelial cells, as well as of lymphocytes and macrophages, after lung transplantation. Biopsy specimens from patients who underwent lung and heart-lung transplantation and received organs of sex-mismatched donors were studied by means of nonisotopic in situ hybridization with DNA probes of the X and Y chromosome. By means of monoclonal antibodies against leukocytes, T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages, the various infiltrating cell types were analyzed. In all allografted lungs, the endothelial cells and bronchial and alveolar epithelium retained the donor sex type. The lymphocytes of the donor were almost completely replaced by recipient cells 1 month after transplantation. Low numbers of alveolar macrophages of the donor were present during the entire period under study. Low numbers of donor lymphocytes and high numbers of donor alveolar macrophages in the allografted lung seem to be correlated with a worse clinical course.