[Quantitative chimerism analysis of regulatory T cell subsets based on immunomagnetic sorting]

The aim of study was to explore the feasibility of quantitative chimerism analysis of regulatory T (Treg) cells using immune sorting coupling short tandem repeat (STR) method. 14 sets of artificial chimera samples were prepared by mixed lymphocytes according to different proportion. The CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells were harvested by negative and positive selection of immunomagnetic beads, then the STR polymorphisms of 16 loci in sorted Treg cells was analyzed. The results showed that the DNA amount extracted from sorted Treg cells was fit for STR detection. All STR alleles specific for recipient or donor could be detected and the quantitative results were consistent with theoretic values in over 10% recipient chimeras. But only partial recipient alleles could be detected and the quantitative results were different from theoretic values in less then 1% recipient chimeras. It is concluded that a quantitative chimerism analysis of Treg cell based on immune sorting is established. The sensitivity and accuracy for chimera detection are 1% to 10%, and this method can be used to monitoring hematopoietic chimerism following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.