Opposing Immune Cell Responses to Viral Infections in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Infections remain a significant concern in kidney transplant recipients, affecting both graft and patient survival. Understanding the immune cell responses to various pathogens is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to analyze research trends in kidney transplantation infection literature and characterize differential immune cell responses to common posttransplant infections.

METHODS

A comprehensive analysis of 4277 English language articles on kidney transplantation and infection from the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted. Research output, international collaboration, and keyword trends were analyzed. Immune cell responses to various infections in kidney transplant recipients were systematically evaluated.

RESULTS

The United States (3845 articles), France (1819 articles), and China (1342 articles) were the leading contributors to research in this field. Key research clusters included immunosuppression management, viral infections, and treatment strategies. Most significantly, analysis of immune cell populations revealed distinct patterns of response to different infections. Cytomegalovirus infection increased CD3 + CD8 + midCD56+ NK-T cells and CD3 + CD8+ T cells, while BK polyomavirus reactivation decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Under immunosuppressive conditions, NK cell numbers were reduced. Kidney transplant infections directly caused decreases in CD4 + CD25+/CD4+ T cells, CD8 + CD25+/CD8+ T cells, and HLA-DR+ monocytes, reflecting differential immune modulation based on infection type.

CONCLUSION

Different pathogens elicit distinct immune cell responses in kidney transplant recipients, with some infections enhancing specific immune cell populations while others suppress them. These differential patterns of immune modulation reflect the complex interplay between immunosuppressive therapy and infectious agents. Understanding these specific immune responses provides valuable insights for developing targeted infection management strategies and improving monitoring protocols in transplant recipients.