Immune monitoring after renal transplantation. II. Post-transplant disturbances in the CD3 complex expression may be caused by immunosuppression.

The in vitro effect of major immunosuppressive agents on the CD3-TCR complex expression on T cells was studied. Cyclosporine and azathioprine caused a marked diminution of alpha/beta, but not gamma/delta and CD3 chains detectability. Prednisolone effect was less manifested. Our data suggest that the reported decrease in alpha/beta chains expression on T cells from renal allograft recipients may be caused by post-transplant immunosuppression.