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van den Heuvel H, Heutinck KM, van der Meer-Prins EMW, Franke-van Dijk MEI, van Miert PPMC, Zhang X, Ten Berge IJM, Claas FHJ. The avidity of cross-reactive virus-specific T cells for their viral and allogeneic epitopes is variable and depends on epitope expression. Hum Immunol 2017; 79:39-50. [PMID: 29100943 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2017.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Virus-specific T cells can recognize allogeneic HLA (allo-HLA) through cross-reactivity of their T-cell receptor (TCR). In a transplantation setting, such allo-HLA cross-reactivity may contribute to harmful immune responses towards the allograft, provided that the cross-reactive T cells get sufficiently activated upon recognition of the allo-HLA. An important determinant of T-cell activation is TCR avidity, which to date, has remained largely unexplored for allo-HLA-cross-reactive virus-specific T cells. For this purpose, cold target inhibition assays were performed using allo-HLA-cross-reactive virus-specific memory CD8+ T-cell clones as responders, and syngeneic cells loaded with viral peptide and allogeneic cells as hot (radioactively-labeled) and cold (non-radioactively-labeled) targets. CD8 dependency of the T-cell responses was assessed using interferon γ (IFNγ) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the presence and absence of CD8-blocking antibodies. At high viral-peptide loading concentrations, T-cell clones consistently demonstrated lower avidity for allogeneic versus viral epitopes, but at suboptimal concentrations the opposite was observed. In line, anti-viral reactivity was CD8 independent at high, but not at suboptimal viral-peptide-loading concentrations. The avidity of allo-HLA-cross-reactive virus-specific memory CD8+ T cells is therefore highly dependent on epitope expression, and as a consequence, can be both higher and lower for allogeneic versus viral targets under different (patho)physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen van den Heuvel
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Kirstin M Heutinck
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Renal Transplant Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen M W van der Meer-Prins
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marry E I Franke-van Dijk
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Paula P M C van Miert
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaoqian Zhang
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke J M Ten Berge
- Renal Transplant Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans H J Claas
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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2
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Fu H, Ward EJ, Marelli-Berg FM. Mechanisms of T cell organotropism. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:3009-33. [PMID: 27038487 PMCID: PMC4951510 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2211-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protective immunity relies upon T cell differentiation and subsequent migration to target tissues. Similarly, immune homeostasis requires the localization of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to the sites where immunity takes place. While naïve T lymphocytes recirculate predominantly in secondary lymphoid tissue, primed T cells and activated Tregs must traffic to the antigen rich non-lymphoid tissue to exert effector and regulatory responses, respectively. Following priming in draining lymph nodes, T cells acquire the 'homing receptors' to facilitate their access to specific tissues and organs. An additional level of topographic specificity is provided by T cells receptor recognition of antigen displayed by the endothelium. Furthermore, co-stimulatory signals (such as those induced by CD28) have been shown not only to regulate T cell activation and differentiation, but also to orchestrate the anatomy of the ensuing T cell response. We here review the molecular mechanisms supporting trafficking of both effector and regulatory T cells to specific antigen-rich tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Fu
- William Harvey Research Institute, Heart Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Eleanor Jayne Ward
- William Harvey Research Institute, Heart Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Federica M Marelli-Berg
- William Harvey Research Institute, Heart Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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3
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Predicting alloreactivity in transplantation. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:159479. [PMID: 24868561 PMCID: PMC4020392 DOI: 10.1155/2014/159479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte Antigen (HLA) mismatching leads to severe complications after solid-organ transplantation and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. The alloreactive responses underlying the posttransplantation complications include both direct recognition of allogeneic HLA by HLA-specific alloantibodies and T cells and indirect T-cell recognition. However, the immunogenicity of HLA mismatches is highly variable; some HLA mismatches lead to severe clinical B-cell- and T-cell-mediated alloreactivity, whereas others are well tolerated. Definition of the permissibility of HLA mismatches prior to transplantation allows selection of donor-recipient combinations that will have a reduced chance to develop deleterious host-versus-graft responses after solid-organ transplantation and graft-versus-host responses after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Therefore, several methods have been developed to predict permissible HLA-mismatch combinations. In this review we aim to give a comprehensive overview about the current knowledge regarding HLA-directed alloreactivity and several developed in vitro and in silico tools that aim to predict direct and indirect alloreactivity.
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4
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Dijke IE, Caliskan K, Klepper M, de Kuiper R, Balk AHMM, Maat APWM, Weimar W, Baan CC. Donor-specific immune regulation by CD8 lymphocytes expanded from rejecting human cardiac allografts. Am J Transplant 2009; 9:397-403. [PMID: 19120075 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02498.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
To assess whether regulatory T cells are present in rejecting human cardiac allografts, we performed functional analyses of graft lymphocytes (GLs) expanded from endomyocardial biopsies (EMB; n = 5) with histological signs of acute cellular rejection. The GL cultures were tested for their proliferative capacity and regulatory activity on allogeneic-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the patient (ratio PBMC:GLs = 5:1). Three of these GL cultures were hyporesponsive to donor antigens and suppressed the antidonor proliferative T-cell response of PBMC, but not the anti-third-party response. Interestingly, it was the CD8(+) GL subset of these cultures that inhibited the antidonor response (65-91% inhibition of the proportion of proliferating cells); the CD4(+) GLs of the expanded GL cultures were not suppressive. In conclusion, CD8(+) GLs expanded from rejecting human cardiac allografts can exhibit donor-specific immune regulatory activities in vitro. We suggest that during acute cellular rejection, GLs may not only consist of graft-destructing effector T cells, but also of cells of the CD8(+) type with the potential to specifically inhibit antidonor immune reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I E Dijke
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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5
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Dijke IE, Weimar W, Baan CC. Regulatory T cells after organ transplantation: where does their action take place? Hum Immunol 2008; 69:389-98. [PMID: 18638654 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2008.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2008] [Revised: 04/16/2008] [Accepted: 05/15/2008] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells are considered to be pivotal for the induction of tolerance to donor antigens. In the past decades, several regulatory T-cell subsets have been identified, such as CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and the CD8(+)CD28(-) suppressor T cells. Although many studies have investigated the role of these regulators in transplant tolerance, relatively little attention has focused on the exact place where these cells suppress immune responses directed to donor antigens. The localization of regulatory T cells may influence their effect on allogeneic immune responses. More insight into the localization and migration of regulatory T cells in transplant recipients is therefore important, especially when these cells are to be used for monitoring purposes and for cellular immune therapy. In the present review we summarize current knowledge about the presence of functional donor-directed regulatory T cells in the secondary lymphoid organs, peripheral blood, and the transplanted organ itself. In addition, we discuss the importance of the appropriate localization for the control of anti-donor immune reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Esmé Dijke
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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6
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Johnsson C, Lorant T, Quach M, Tufveson G. Phenotyping of ex vivo propagated graft-infiltrating cells—A tool to monitor rejection in the early post-operative period. Transpl Immunol 2006; 16:81-7. [PMID: 16860709 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2006.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2006] [Accepted: 03/28/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Objective and fast methods to diagnose rejection after organ transplantation are needed. In the present study, the ex vivo propagation technique was evaluated for its ability to detect rejection at two different time-points after experimental heart transplantation. Syngeneic and allogeneic heterotopic heart transplantations were performed using inbred rat strains. After 6 or 15 days, cardiac graft biopsies were put in culture and infiltrating cells isolated by the ex vivo propagation technique. The isolated cells were counted and phenotyped by flow cytometry. In parallel, graft sections were analysed with regard to morphology and the presence of infiltrating cells as determined by immunohistochemical stainings. On day 15 after transplantation, the number of cells possible to isolate through ex vivo propagation reflected the morphological changes of the graft, i.e. considerably more cells were obtained from allogeneic transplants undergoing rejection (1052 +/- 205) than from allogeneic grafts under cyclosporine protection (513 +/- 135; p < 0.05) or from syngeneic grafts (378 +/- 87; p < 0.01). Six days after transplantation the allogeneic grafts were strongly rejected with massive cellular infiltration, still there was no difference between allogeneic and syngeneic grafts as to the number of ex vivo propagated cells. However, the proportion of IL-2-receptor expressing T lymphocytes was increased (15.4 +/- 1.8% vs. 9.5 +/- 1.4%; p < 0.05) and the CD4/CD8 ratio reduced (1.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.2; p < 0.001) in the allogeneic group as compared with the syngeneic. We conclude that the ex vivo propagation technique can be used to distinguish rejection from non-rejection both early and later after transplantation, provided that not just cell counting but also phenotyping of the graft-infiltrating cells is performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Johnsson
- Department of Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Ouyang W, Xue J, Liu J, Jia W, Li Z, Xie X, Liu X, Jian J, Li Q, Zhu Y, Yang A, Jin B. Establishment of an ELISA system for determining soluble LAIR-1 levels in sera of patients with HFRS and kidney transplant. J Immunol Methods 2004; 292:109-17. [PMID: 15350516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2004.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2003] [Revised: 06/03/2004] [Accepted: 06/08/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
LAIR-1, the leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-1, is a trans-membrane molecule that functions as an inhibitory receptor on natural killer cells, T lymphocytes and monocytes. It has been well known that many trans-membrane receptors can shed from the cell surface and be released into the circulation in soluble form when lymphocytes, endothelials and other immune cells are activated. In many cases, the levels of soluble receptors in the circulation can be used as markers of lymphocyte activation in transplant patients and virus infection patients. To investigate whether LAIR-1 is able to be released into the sera, we developed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system based on two anti-LAIR-1 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) with different epitope specificities. Using this ELISA, we found that sLAIR-1 existed in the supernatants collected from PMA, PHA or CD3 MAb-stimulated lymphocytes cultures in vitro for the first time. Moreover, we found that LAIR-1 level in serum samples from healthy individuals was 6.2 +/- 3.3 ng/ml, whereas the levels in sera of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and patients 3-7 days after kidney transplant increased to 47.2 +/- 35.9 and 24.4 +/- 16.0 ng/ml, respectively. Furthermore, HFRS patients in oliguric phase showed higher serum sLAIR-1 levels than those in other phases, and transplant patients with rejection showed higher serum sLAIR-1 level than those without rejection. These findings demonstrated that LAIR-1 can be released when lymphocytes are activated, suggesting sLAIR-1 may be used as a predictor for monitoring immune reaction in some virus infections and organ transplants which may be useful in clinical treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Ouyang
- Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Chang Le West Road 17, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710032, China
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8
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Jeras M. The role of in vitro alloreactive T-cell functional tests in the selection of HLA matched and mismatched haematopoietic stem cell donors. Transpl Immunol 2002; 10:205-14. [PMID: 12216951 DOI: 10.1016/s0966-3274(02)00067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Acute graft vs. host (GVH) disease and graft rejection are most frequently caused by undetected or disregarded genetically based disparities between the donor and recipient of bone marrow derived haematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Incompatibilities in extremely polymorphic human leukocyte antigens (HLA), and in certain cases also minor histocompatibility antigens, represent the most important driving force of such unwanted events, threatening the successful outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The complexity of HLA polymorphism can be precisely and elegantly detected at the genomic level by several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques that have strongly backed up its predecessor, the far less informative classical serological typing. By applying these modern technologies, we gain the deepest insight into HLA allelic specificities and thus the possibility to, for example, trace and recruit unrelated histocompatible donors for a given patient. In the case when exclusively related intrafamilial HSC donors are being considered, we are confined to the fact that only 25-30% of patients can expect a completely HLA identical donor to be found within core or extended family members. The number of related as well as unrelated donors can be increased if certain HLA mismatches are accepted. When doing so, the precise definition of disparate histocompatibilty antigens between the patient and a possible donor should be carried out. But this does not give us the information about the functional immunogenicity of such differences. Therefore, in vitro functional assays, quantitating the alloreactive potential of lymphocyte T subsets, the central immunocompetent cells, are more than necessary. By evaluating mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), the analysis of helper T cell precursor (HTLp) and cytotoxic T cell precursor (CTLp) frequencies, the allogeneic impact of class II and class I HLA mismatches between a donor and graft recipient can be assessed and permissive disparities defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaz Jeras
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Tissue Typing Center, Ljubljana.
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9
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Zhang JL, Yamaguchi Y, Mori K, Okabe K, Hidaka H, Ohshiro H, Uchino S, Ishihara K, Furuhashi T, Yamada S, Ogawa M. A serine protease inhibitor, N-alpha-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone, prolongs rat hepatic allograft survival. J Surg Res 2001; 96:296-303. [PMID: 11266287 DOI: 10.1006/jsre.2000.6065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serine protease inhibitors have profound suppressive effects on cellular and humoral immune responses. We investigated the effect of a serine protease inhibitor, N-alpha-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), on hepatic allograft survival in rats. Methods. Orthotopic hepatic transplantation was performed in an ACI (RT1(a))-to-LEW (RT1(1)) rat combination. TLCK was administered continuously at a dose of 4.4 mg/kg/day using an osmotic subcutaneous infusion minipump. RESULTS TLCK prolonged hepatic allograft survival. Histologic staging of acute rejection based on Banff criteria in TLCK-treated hepatic allografts was significantly lower than in untreated allografts. TLCK significantly reduced serum concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha in allograft recipients. TNF-alpha mRNA levels in TLCK-treated allografts were significantly lower than in untreated allografts. TLCK also decreased perforin mRNA levels in hepatic allografts. Hepatic infiltrates eluted from TLCK-treated allografts showed significantly lower cell-mediated lympholytic activity against donor Con A blast cervical lymph node cells than those from untreated allografts. In vitro, TLCK suppressed interleukin-2 production and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. CONCLUSION TLCK suppressed acute allograft rejection, suggesting a novel immunosuppressive strategy for therapy of acute organ rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Zhang
- Department of Surgery II, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto, Japan
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10
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Okano S, Eto M, Tomita Y, Yoshizumi T, Yamada H, Minagawa R, Nomoto K, Sugimachi K, Nomoto K. Cyclophosphamide-induced tolerance in rat orthotopic liver transplantation. Transplantation 2001; 71:447-56. [PMID: 11233909 DOI: 10.1097/00007890-200102150-00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously established a cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced tolerance system in rodent skin graft models. In this study, we applied this system to rat liver transplantation. METHODS Lewis recipients were inoculated on day -2 with spleen and bone marrow cells (SC+BMC) from Dark Agouti (DA) donors, followed by 100 mg/kg CP on day 0. On day 25, DA livers were orthotopically grafted. We assessed the alloresponses to the donors of the long-term surviving recipients, using the second skin grafting and in vitro assay. RESULTS The recipients that had been treated with SC+BMC and CP survived for more than 165 days. None of control group that received SC+BMC alone (mean survival times [MST]=13.8 days), CP alone (MST=40.0), SC+BMC from third-party PVG rats and CP (MST=45.0), or no treatment (MST=13.8) survived over 50 days. The donor-specific tolerance was confirmed by second skin grafts onto recipients with permanent DA liver grafts, which accepted DA skins (MST>75) but not PVG (MST=8.3). However, the lymphocytes from the tolerant recipients showed alloresponse to DA in vitro. To investigate whether the T helper type 2 deviation contributed to this "split tolerance," we assessed the production of cytokines in mixed lymphocyte reaction. Interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma were detected but interleukin 4 was not. CONCLUSIONS These data showed that this protocol induced split tolerance in rat liver transplantation and, furthermore, the mechanism of split tolerance was not due to T helper 2 deviation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Okano
- Department of Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Japan.
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11
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Abstract
Abstract
Persistence of donor leukocytes in the circulation of recipients of intrauterine transfusion (IUT) has been observed up to 5 years after birth. The aim of this study was to determine whether transfusions with nonirradiated, nonleukocyte-depleted donor blood during the fetal period resulted in long-term immunomodulation of the recipient. Twenty-four surviving IUT recipients between 1966 and 1976 were tested for autoimmune disease and autoantibodies at follow-up. Ten had sex-mismatched donors and were therefore informative for chimerism studies using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Seven female recipients could be tested for chimerism using a Y- chromosome–specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) because they received at least 1 IUT from a male donor. Nine recipients could be studied for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) and helper T-lymphocyte precursor (HTLp) frequencies because the original donors were available for testing. All surviving IUT recipients were in good health at the time of the examination, and routine laboratory testing revealed no abnormalities. None of the IUT recipients were chimeric as determined by FISH analysis, but Y-chromosome–specific sequences were detected by PCR in 6 of the 7 women. However, the CTLp and HTLp frequencies of the IUT recipients against the donors were comparable to those of the controls. The current study provides evidence that IUT can result in the persistence of donor cells in the recipient for a period longer than 20 years but that it is not associated with immunotolerance or with signs of chronic antigenic stimulation.
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12
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Survival of donor cells 25 years after intrauterine transfusion. Blood 2000. [DOI: 10.1182/blood.v95.8.2709.008k10_2709_2714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistence of donor leukocytes in the circulation of recipients of intrauterine transfusion (IUT) has been observed up to 5 years after birth. The aim of this study was to determine whether transfusions with nonirradiated, nonleukocyte-depleted donor blood during the fetal period resulted in long-term immunomodulation of the recipient. Twenty-four surviving IUT recipients between 1966 and 1976 were tested for autoimmune disease and autoantibodies at follow-up. Ten had sex-mismatched donors and were therefore informative for chimerism studies using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Seven female recipients could be tested for chimerism using a Y- chromosome–specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) because they received at least 1 IUT from a male donor. Nine recipients could be studied for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) and helper T-lymphocyte precursor (HTLp) frequencies because the original donors were available for testing. All surviving IUT recipients were in good health at the time of the examination, and routine laboratory testing revealed no abnormalities. None of the IUT recipients were chimeric as determined by FISH analysis, but Y-chromosome–specific sequences were detected by PCR in 6 of the 7 women. However, the CTLp and HTLp frequencies of the IUT recipients against the donors were comparable to those of the controls. The current study provides evidence that IUT can result in the persistence of donor cells in the recipient for a period longer than 20 years but that it is not associated with immunotolerance or with signs of chronic antigenic stimulation.
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13
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Engstrand M, Johnsson C, Korsgren O, Tufveson G. Ex vivo propagation and characterization of lymphocytes from rejecting rat-kidney allografts. Transpl Immunol 1999; 7:189-96. [PMID: 10638830 DOI: 10.1016/s0966-3274(99)80001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Today, most clinically used methods for analysis of alloreactivity in organ transplantation are based on humoral immunity. In order to study the cellular alloresponse, a rat kidney transplantation model with culturing of graft infiltrating lymphocytes was developed. Kidney transplantations between inbred rat strains were performed with the animals initially immunosuppressed with cyclosporine. In order to initiate acute cellular rejection, immunosuppression was withdrawn after 10 days. Infiltrating lymphocytes were analysed using an in vitro culture system, allowing cells to propagate from the biopsies to culture medium. The propagated cells were counted and analysed for subtype activation markers and donor-specificity using flow cytometry and a proliferation assay. Syngeneically transplanted animals and animals given constant immunosuppression upon transplantation were used as controls. During rejection, significantly more T lymphocytes were propagating from the biopsies compared to controls. A higher percentage of the propagated T lymphocytes in the rejection group expressed activation markers [CD25 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen] compared to spleen- and peripheral blood T lymphocytes from the same individuals. Propagated mononuclear cells from biopsies in the rejection group were proliferating and showed donor-specific reactivity whereas mononuclear spleen cells from animals in the same group did not show this donor specificity. In conclusion, we have presented a rat kidney allotransplantation model with in vitro propagation of graft-infiltrating, activated and donor-specific T lymphocytes. This technique offers a possibility to study cellular reactivity in allotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Engstrand
- Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
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14
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van Emmerik NE, Vaessen LM, Knoop CJ, Daane CR, Balk AH, Mochtar B, Claas FH, Weimar W. Kinetics of circulating cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors that have a high avidity for donor antigens: correlation with the rejection status of the human cardiac allograft. Transpl Immunol 1998; 6:153-60. [PMID: 9848221 DOI: 10.1016/s0966-3274(98)80040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Studies on graft infiltrating cells demonstrated that accumulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with high avidity for donor antigens (Ag) coincided with acute cardiac rejection. In the present study, we analyse whether such high-avidity CTL are present within the peripheral blood of cardiac transplant recipients and whether their kinetics correspond with the rejection status of the allograft. Using limiting dilution analysis (LDA), donor-specific CTL were enumerated in serial blood samples of seven patients. From each patient, 7-11 samples were obtained during the first year after transplantation and up to three samples were obtained at a later date. Enumerated donor-specific CTL were divided into CTL with high or low avidity for donor Ag, depending on their sensitivity to CD8-blocking. In contrast to the situation in the graft, the donor-specific CTL present within the peripheral blood were CTL precursors (pCTL) and not fully mature CTL (cCTL). The number of donor-specific pCTL among peripheral blood cells fluctuated irrespective of the rejection grade of the allograft, indicating that the frequency of circulating donor-specific CTL does not reflect the immunological status of the allograft. During acute cardiac rejection, 66% (median) of the circulating donor-specific pCTL had a high avidity for donor Ag. This percentage significantly exceeded pre- and postrejection values obtained during the first year post-transplantation (median, 39% and 37%, respectively). The disparity in avidity increased even further more than 1 year after transplantation, when stable engraftment was achieved. Among donor-specific pCTL in peripheral blood, those with a high avidity were absent (median, 0%). Hence the avidity of circulating donor-specific CTL might inform us about the immune status of the cardiac allograft.
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Affiliation(s)
- N E van Emmerik
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital-Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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van Emmerik NE, Knoop CJ, Vaessen LM, Balk AH, Mochtar B, Claas FH, Weimar W. C1.7 monoclonal antibody designates high-avidity CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes involved in clinical heart rejection. Transplantation 1998; 66:135-8. [PMID: 9679837 DOI: 10.1097/00007890-199807150-00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is assumed that not all donor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but only those with a high avidity for donor antigens, can function as terminal effector cells in transplant rejection. METHODS In the present study, we searched for markers that would exclusively designate these high-avidity CTL. RESULTS FACS analysis of donor-specific CTL clones obtained from heart transplant patients revealed that high- and low-avidity CTL varied in their expression of p38, a surface molecule involved in signal transduction, which is stained by the antibody C1.7. High- and low-avidity CD8+ CTL and high-avidity CD4+ CTL expressed p38, whereas low-avidity CD4+ CTL did not. Noncytotoxic and naive CD4+ lymphocytes also lacked p38 surface expression. CONCLUSION Therefore, we conclude that p38 is a marker for CD4+ lymphocytes with the potency to damage the transplanted heart. Accordingly, p38 might be used to analyze the contribution of CD4+ CTL in immune responses, such as transplant rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- N E van Emmerik
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Thorax Centre, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt and Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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