The Transcription Factor, T-bet, Primes Intestine Transplantation Rejection and Is Associated With Disrupted Mucosal Homeostasis

The transcription factor, t-bet, promotes inflammatory polarization and intestinal homing of many inflammatory cells. In previous studies, the t-bet and granulysin genes were upregulated in peripheral blood before and after intestine transplantation (ITx) rejection, but not during rejection, possibly because of sequestration in allograft mucosa. Mucosal sequestration of t-bet and granulysin may also explain the presence of inflammatory CD14 monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and immunoglobulin G B-cell lineage cells, and loss of mature non-inflammatory CD138 plasma cells in allograft mucosa during ITx rejection in these previous studies.