Role of α/β and γ/δ T cells in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

T cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). To date existing data about the role of the T cell receptor (Tcr) are contradictory. We hypothesize that the Tcr plays a prominent role in the late phase of renal IRI. Therefore, renal IRI was induced in α/β, γ/δ T cell-deficient and wild-type mice by clamping renal pedicles for 30 min and reperfusing for 24, 48, 72, and 120 h. Serum creatinine increased equally in all three groups 24 h after ischemia but significantly improved in Tcr-deficient animals compared with wild-type controls after 72 h. A significant reduction in renal tubular injury and infiltration of CD4 + T-cells in both Tcr-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls was detected. Infiltration of α/β T cells into the kidney was reduced in γ/δ T cell-deficient mice until 72 h after ischemia. In contrast, γ/δ T cell infiltration was equal in wild-type and α/β T cell-deficient mice, suggesting an interaction between α/β and γ/δ T cells. Data from γ/δ T cell-deficient mice were confirmed by in vivo depletion of γ/δ T cells in C57BL/6 mice. Whereas α/β T cell-deficient mice were still protected after 120 h, γ/δ T cell-deficient mice showed a “delayed wild-type phenotype” with a dramatic increase in kidney-infiltrating α/β, Tcr-expressing CD4 + T-cells. This report provides further evidence that α/β T cells are major effector cells in renal IRI, whereas γ/δ T cells play a role as mediator cells in the first 72 h of renal IRI.