协同信号途径阻断和供体脾细胞输注诱导预存同种记忆性T淋巴细胞大鼠心脏移植物的耐受

目的 联合阻断OX40/OX40L和CD28/B7双协同信号途径和供体特异性脾细胞输注,诱导预存同种反应性记忆T淋巴细胞大鼠对同种心脏移植物的耐受.方法 建立大鼠预存同种反应性记忆T淋巴细胞的移植模型,采用免疫磁珠法分选CD8+CD44-记忆性T细胞;对过继转移供体特异性CD8+记忆性T细胞3 d的Lewis大鼠分别/合并输注AdCTLA4Ig、AdOX40Ig、供体脾细胞(DST),同时移植来至DA大鼠的心脏;48 h后取出心脏进行组织学分析、细胞因子表达分析,同时观察不同处理移植心脏存活时间.结果 AdCTLA4Ig+AdOX40Ig+DST组分别与AdCT-LA4Ig,AdOX40Ig和DST比较,心脏组织病理级别较低,白细胞介素(IL)-2及干扰素(IFN)-γ的表达水平也明显比其他组低很多,而心脏存活时间显著延长.结论 联合阻断OX40/OX40L和CD28/B7和供体特异性脾细胞输注能较好地诱导大鼠心脏移植物耐受.     

白细胞介素-15在心脏移植排斥反应中的表达及意义

目的 探讨白细胞介素-15（IL-15）在心脏移植排斥反应中的表达及其与排斥反应的关系。方法 采用小鼠颈部心脏移植模型，随机分为2组：同基因移植组，供、受体均为C57BL／6小鼠；异基因移植组，供、受体分别为BALB／C、C57BL／6小鼠。以pactin作内参照，分别于术后第1、3、5、7天取移植心脏，用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应（RT—PCR）法观察IL-15的表达情况。结果 随着术后天数的增加，异基因移植组IL-15表达逐渐升高，第5天达高峰（与同基因移植组相比，P〈0．01）。结论 IL-15的表达与心脏移植急性排斥反应的发生发展密切相关，可作为心脏移植急性排斥反应的监测指标，对急性排斥反应的早期诊断和移植物的预后估计具有重要的临床意义。     

环孢菌素A抑制大鼠同种心脏移植急性排斥反应中趋化因子受体CCR5表达的研究

目的观察大鼠同种心脏移植急性排斥反应中趋化因子受体CCID的表达及环孢菌素A（CsA）的抑制作用。方法分两组建立同种大鼠颈部心脏移植模型：对照组（n=25）和新山地明组（CsA组，n=25），各5例观察移植心脏存活时间。于移植术后第1、5、7、14天分别取移植心组织各5例，逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）检测移植心组织内趋化因子受体CCR5mRNA不同时间点的表达水平，免疫组织化学方法检测移植心组织内趋化因子受体CCR5分子的表达差异。结果对照组移植心存活时间为（11．6±1．5）d，CsA组移植心存活时间为（22．4±5．1）d，两组问移植心存活时间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。急性排斥组和CsA处理组大鼠移植心脏在术后第5、7、14天都可检测到趋化因子受体CCR5mRNA阳性表达，但CsA处理组趋化因子受体CCRSmRNA的表达明显弱于急性排斥组。同样急性排斥组和CsA处理组大鼠移植心脏在术后第5、7、14天都可检测到趋化因子受体CCR5分子的表达，CsA处理组趋化因子受体CCR5分子的表达相对较弱。结论趋化因子受体CCR5在早期移植免疫事件中具有重要的作用，CsA能部分抑制趋化因子受体CCR5的表达，并与移植物存活时间延长有一定的关系。     

排斥反应中移植心脏局部白细胞介素1βmRNA的表达状态

目的 探讨白细胞介素（IL）-1βmRNA在移植心脏局部表达状态与移植心脏自然生存时间的关系。方法 建立大鼠异位心脏移植模型,不同品系大鼠之间的移植供、受体分别为SD大鼠和Wistar大鼠（共66只）;同品系大鼠之间的移植供受体均为Wistar大鼠（共66只）。于术后第1、3、5、7、9、11天,分别切取移植心脏各6只,提取总RNA,将目的引物和对照引物在同一管中扩增,以两者象素值比值均数做曲线图,观察排斥反应时IL－1βmRNA的动态表达情况。结果 不同品系移植心脏的停跳高峰在术后第6－10天。排斥反应时移植心脏局部IL－1βmRNA的表达水平明显增高,峰值在术后第1天。结论 IL－1β在心脏移植排斥反应中可能起着重要作用,IL－1β mRNA的动态检测可望成为早期诊断排斥反应的指标。     

CD44在大鼠肾移植急性排斥反应中的表达

目的:探讨移植肾组织CD44的表达及血清中可溶性CD44的含量与急性排斥反应的关系。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠和SD大鼠分别作为供体和受体,共分为四组,采用改进的Blom法大鼠原位肾移植模型。免疫组织化学染色法检测移植肾组织CD44分子的表达;酶联免疫吸附试验测定术后血清中可溶性CD44水平的变化。结果:移植肾组织CD44分子的表达在同种异体移植组显著高于同品系移植组、手术对照组及药物治疗组(均P<0.05);移植肾组织CD44分子的表达与急性排斥反应呈正相关(皮质:r=0.734,髓质:r=0.670,均P<0.01);发生急性排斥反应的移植肾组织CD44分子的表达与Banff急性排斥反应指数无相关性(P>0.05);血清中可溶性CD44分子各组间差异无统计学意义,与急性排斥反应及Banff指数均无相关性(均P>0.05)。结论:CD44分子在肾移植急性排斥反应的发病机制中起着重要作用,为进一步提高移植排斥反应防治水平提供理论依据。     

靶向CD40的shRNA干扰抗大鼠异体肢体移植急性排斥反应的实验研究

目的 探讨靶向CD40的RNA干扰对大鼠异体肢体移植急性排斥反应的影响. 方法以纯系SD大鼠为供体,纯系Wistar大鼠为受体,行同种异体右后肢移植.27只大鼠肢体移植后随机分为三组,A组:注射入梭华.Sofast.siCD40-2/pSilencer载体复合物600 μL;B组:注射Sofast-pSilencer4.1-CMV neo空载体复合物600 μL;C组:注射生理盐水600μL,以上均通过阴茎背静脉注射.观察移植物排斥反应征象及存活情况,并于第7天对产生免疫耐受大鼠进行混合淋巴细胞反应,同时进行组织学检查. 结果与B、C组相比,A组移植物发生排斥反应的时间及存活时间均显著延长,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01)(＞13 d),未见排斥反应征象;B、C组均于术后近期发牛排斥反应.A组大鼠对供体的淋巴细胞呈现低反应性,移植的供体同系大鼠的肢体得以存活. 结论术后不应用免疫抑制剂的情况下,靶向CD40的shRNA干扰可以抗大鼠异体肢体移植急性排斥反应.     

CD25单克隆抗体影响心脏移植排斥反应及细胞因子表达的实验研究

目的研究抗白细胞介素-2受体(CD25)单克隆抗体参与大鼠心脏移植排斥反应及调节细胞因子(CK)表达的作用及其机制.方法建立大鼠颈部心脏移植动物试验模型,实验动物随机分为4组,分别单独或联合应用环孢霉素A(CysA)及CD25单克隆抗体(舒莱)来干预心脏移植排斥反应,观察其供心存活时间,并应用RT-PCR的方法检测移植物局部CK如白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-2、CD25、IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α、干扰素(IFN)-γ在移植术后1、3、5、7、9、11和14d 动态表达水平的动态变化.结果 B、C、D组移植心存活时间显著延长,分别为(26.4±5.7)、(29.2±7.1)、(55.0±11.6)d,尤以CysA+舒莱组最显著(P<0.05).CD25的表达在各组中的变化较为明显,在用药组明显降低(P<0.05);IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-10的表达在移植心延长组较强,而IL-2、CD25、IFN-γ、TNF-α的表达则相对较弱.各组细胞因子(CK)表达的高峰时期均与移植物的存活时间及病理变化有一定的关系.结论CK表达在移植排斥反应中发生了相应的变化,并与干预的因素及移植物存活时间有密切的关系,其作用机制多样.二联用药对整个CK网络的作用方式是TH1类CK向TH1类CK整体偏离,而这是这种免疫偏离的机制使本组移植心存活时间延长最显著.     

阻断B7/CD28共刺激通路抑制大鼠肝移植急性排斥反应的研究

目的:建立大鼠原位肝移植(ROLT)急性排斥反应模型,观察细胞毒淋巴细胞抗原4免疫球蛋白(CTLA-4Ig)在大鼠肝移植术后对共刺激分子B7-1/B7-2的影响及其抗排斥反应的作用。方法:采用"二袖套管"法先行建立DA-Lewis大鼠组合肝移植急性排斥反应模型,随机分为对照组(A组)与实验组(B组)两组,于肝移植术后48h每只受体大鼠腹腔内一次性注射CTLA-4Ig 75μg,分别于术后3、5、7和10d采用RT-PCR检测B7-1和B7-2 mRNA在两组肝脏组织中的表达情况,并同时观察其肝功能变化。结果:1)B7-1和B7-2 mRNA在A组高水平表达,而在B组表达明显降低(P<0.01);2)B组动物术后未见明显排斥反应,血清ALT、TBIL和DBIL水平明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:移植术后应用CTLA-4Ig可以降低肝组织中B7-1和B7-2的表达;动态检测B7分子的表达有助于观察肝移植排斥反应的进程。     

大鼠小肠移植排斥反应时外周血T淋巴细胞上CD2分子的表达

目的探讨大鼠小肠移植急性排斥反应时外周血T淋巴细胞上CD2分子的表达。方法实验分3组进行,A组为假手术对照组(n=18),给予普通饲料喂养;B组(n=18)行SD大鼠到SD大鼠的同系小肠移植,术后常规补液,给予抗生素;C组(n=18)行SD大鼠到Wistar大鼠的小肠移植,术后处理同B组。各组于术后3、5、7d取肝素抗凝血,行流式细胞术检测,同时取移植肠组织,进行病理学检查。结果术后C组动物的存活时间为(7.0±2.1)d,B组为(33.3±2.3)d,A组>90d,C组与A、B组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后3、5、7d的外周血CD2阳性T淋巴细胞,A组分别为70.2%、69.8%和70.3%;B组为71.3%、69.7%和70.2%;C组为95.6%、88.1%和81.2%,C组各时点的CD2阳性细胞均高于A、B组相应时点(P<0.05);C组移植肠可见排斥反应的病理改变,且随术后时间的延长逐渐加重。结论小肠移植术后发生急性排斥反应时外周血CD2阳性T淋巴细胞表达率升高;术后早期CD2表达率的突然增高,提示可能发生急性排斥反应。     

骨髓细胞胸腺内注射对移植肠CD4、 CD8和CD25的影响

目的 探讨异基因骨髓注射在大鼠小肠移植中的免疫耐受作用和意义.方法 选用近交系大鼠F344/N和Wistar/A进行全小肠异位移植,实验组在异基因移植前7d取供体BMC行受体胸腺内注入,对照单纯同基因及异基因大鼠移植模型了解异基因供体骨髓在受体胸腺内注射能否减少移植后急性排斥反应的发生,观察其生存时间、病理结果及CD4、CD8、CD25的变化.结果 (1)A组移植大鼠平均存活时间为(7.33±1.03) d;B组为(43.76 ±4.57) d;C组为(55.28±7.48)d.(2)异基因大鼠异位全小肠移植术后3、7、15 d可出现典型的轻、中、重度排斥反应,而同基因组和实验组中未出现排斥反应.(3)异基因移植组术后CD4、CD25+,高于其他组(P＜0.05).而CD8的变化差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 移植术前7d异基因供体骨髓在受体胸腺内注射能显著减少小肠移植后急性排斥反应的发生,并可以抑制移植肠CD4、CD25细胞的表达.     

CD40L, CD28, and CTLA-4 expression on CD4+ T cells in kidney graft recipients: a relationship with post-transplantation clinical course

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have demonstrated that the intensity of alloreactivity against a transplanted organ results from an interaction of positive (CD40/CD40L and B.7/CD28) and inhibitory (B.7/CTLA-4) signals between antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T lymphocytes. METHODS: We examined the CD40L, CD28, and both surface (s) and intracellular (i) CTLA-4 expressions on freshly drawn and anti-CD3+rIL-2-stimulated peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in groups of kidney transplant recipients in relation to distinct clinical course using the tri-color immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: The median proportions of freshly isolated CD3+/CD4+/CTLA-4+ and CD3+/CD4+/CD40L+ cells in all groups of graft recipients were higher than in control subjects. In patients with stable graft function (SGF), non-significantly higher sCTLA-4, significantly higher iCTLA-4 expression, and significantly lower CD40L expression on freshly drawn CD4+ T cells compared with recipients with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) were found. Moreover, CD4+ T cells from SGF patients showed a higher potential to express sCTLA-4 and CD40L molecules and to down-regulate the CD28 molecule in response to ex vivo stimulation than those from patients with CAN. In patients without acute graft rejection (NAGR), a markedly higher proportion of freshly drawn CD3+/CD4+/iCTLA-4+ cells compared with patients with acute graft rejection (AGR) and an up-regulation of the median percentage of CD3+/CD4+/CD40L+ cells after ex vivo stimulation was found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SGF, peripheral blood CD4+ T cells exhibited a higher potential to express surface CTLA-4 and CD40L and to down-regulate CD28 costimulatory molecules in response to ex vivo stimulation, indicating a relationship between the expression patterns of both costimulatory and inhibitory molecules in CD4+ T cells and clinical course after renal transplantation.     

OX40 (CD134) blockade inhibits the co-stimulatory cascade and promotes heart allograft survival

BACKGROUND: CD134 (OX40) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily that is expressed as a late event in T-cell activation and contributes to the generation of immunologic memory. CD134 blockade effectively ameliorates inflammation in models of autoimmune disease, but its role in transplantation has been less well studied. METHODS: The authors used an OX40-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein to examine the contribution of this co-stimulatory molecule to the in vitro alloimmune response and studied the ability of CD134 blockade to prevent cardiac allograft rejection in mouse models of heart transplantation using strains representing both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (BALB/c to CBA/Ca) and minor histocompatibility complex (mHC) (B10.BR to CBA/Ca) antigen mismatches. RESULTS: CD134 upregulation on in vitro alloactivated T cells was delayed compared with CD69 and CD25, and inhibition of T-cell proliferation was critically dependent on the timing of OX40-Ig administration. Heart allograft survival in a fully allogeneic, MHC-mismatched strain combination was not influenced by CD134 blockade alone, but OX40-Ig treatment in the mHC-mismatched model resulted in long-term graft survival (median survival time extended from 14 days to >100 days). Early mononuclear cell infiltration of the graft was similar in both rejecting and long-surviving heart grafts, but OX40-Ig treatment appeared to delay cellular infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that CD134-CD134L interaction plays an important role in the co-stimulatory cascade and that blockade of this molecular interaction may be of therapeutic value in helping to prevent allograft rejection.     

Aggressive skin allograft rejection in CD28-/- mice independent of the CD40/CD40L costimulatory pathway.

CD28-/- mice have been utilized to study the role of B7/CD28 and B7-CTLA4 interactions. There is evidence that CTLA4 ligation may be critical for tolerance induction. The aim of the current study is to further investigate rejection responses of CD28-/- mice and to define the role of B7-CTLA4 interactions in the absence of the CD40 and CD28 pathways. Balb/c skin allografts were transplanted onto C57BL/6 (B6) wild type or CD28-/- mice treated with anti-CD40L, CTLA4-Ig, or combination blockade. To investigate the cellular mechanism of rejection in CD28-/- recipients, mice were treated with anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibodies prior to treatment with costimulation blockade. The fluoroscein dye CFSE was utilized to study T cell expansion in vivo. Surprisingly, treatment of B6 CD28-/- mice with CTLA4-Ig alone (MST 12d), anti-CD40L alone (MST 13d), or combined blockade (MST 13d) had no effect on allograft survival compared to untreated B6 CD28 mice (MST 11d). CD28-/- recipients depleted of CD4+ cells and treated with CTLA4-Ig, anti-CD40L, or combination blockade also did not have prolonged survival compared with untreated mice (MST 10d). In contrast, CD28-/- recipients depleted of CD8+ cells had markedly prolonged allograft survival when treated with either anti-CD40L alone (MST 49d) or with combination blockade (MST 57d). Studies utilizing CFSE demonstrated that CD28-/- CD8+ T cells are not defective in in vivo proliferation responses compared with wild type CD8 cells. Thus, CD28-/- CD8+ T cells are responsible for aggressive rejection responses of CD28-/- mice independent of the CD40 pathway. In addition, CD40L blockade does not result in CD4+ T cell tolerance in CD28 recipients, despite an intact B7-CTLA4 pathway.     

Evaluation of peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets,CD69 expression and histologic rejection grade as diagnostic markers for the presence of cardiac allograft rejection

We investigated the dynamics of the CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets, and the expression of activation markers in cardiac transplant recipients. We tested 132 peripheral blood samples from 62 cardiac transplant recipients using fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis. The results were correlated with histological rejection grade of concurrently taken biopsies, and 5-year survival of the recipients. A decrease in the total T lymphocyte subset, and in CD4+ lymphocytes was associated with higher rejection grade and lesser survival. An increase (5-11%) of double positive CD4+ CD8+ lymphocytes was observed; these were mostly CD4brightCD8dim. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly (P < 0.00) lower in the transplant recipients than in normal individuals. CD69 expression was higher than CD54 and CD154 expression on CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes of cardiac transplant recipients; correlation between these activation markers was excellent (P < 0.001). Fluorescent staining for CD69 was often of low intensity. Multiple regression for % CD8+ CD69+ cells and survival, and for % CD69+ T cells and rejection grade yielded a significant correlation (P < 0.050). Both % CD8+ CD69+ and % CD69+ T cells were significantly higher in samples with severe and moderate rejection grade (grades 3A, 3B and 4) than in samples which showed no, minimal or mild rejection (grades < or = 2); P-values were 0.052 and 0.003, respectively. Preliminary results indicated that false negative results could be contributed to increased immunosuppression. We conclude that CD69 expression on circulating CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes is a useful parameter for the diagnosis of moderate and severe rejection.     

Analysis of the CD40 and CD28 pathways on alloimmune responses by CD4+ T cells in vivo

BACKGROUND: Blockade of the CD40 and CD28 pathways is a powerful strategy to inhibit CD4-mediated alloimmune responses. In this study, we examine the relative roles of the CD40 and CD28 pathways on CD4-mediated allograft rejection responses, and further characterize the role of these pathways on CD4+ T-cell activation, priming for cytokine production, and cell proliferation in response to alloantigen in vivo. METHODS: BALB/c skin allografts were transplanted onto C57BL/6 Rag 1-/- recipients reconstituted with CD4 cells from CD28-/- or CD40L-/- donors. The popliteal lymph node assay was used to study the role of these pathways on CD4-cell activation and priming in vivo. To investigate the role of CD40 and CD28 blockade on CD4-cell proliferation, the fluorescein dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester was used. We performed heterotopic cardiac transplantation using CD40-/- mice to evaluate the role of CD40 on donor versus recipient cells in CD4-mediated rejection. RESULTS: B6 Rag 1-/- recipients reconstituted with CD28-/- CD4+ T cells acutely rejected allografts (median survival time 15 days), whereas recipients reconstituted with CD40L-/- CD4+ T cells had significantly prolonged survival of BALB/c skin grafts (MST 71 days). CD40L blockade was equivalent to or inferior to CD28 blockade in inhibition of in vivo CD4-cell activation, priming for cytokine production, and proliferation responses to alloantigen. BALB/c recipients depleted of CD8 cells promptly rejected donor B6 CD40-/- cardiac allografts, whereas B6 CD40-/- recipients depleted of CD8 cells had significantly prolonged survival of BALB/c wild-type cardiac allografts. CONCLUSIONS: The CD40/CD40L pathway, but not the CD28/B7 pathway, is critical for CD4-mediated rejection responses, however, the responsible mechanisms remain unclear.     

CD40 ligation induced phenotypic and functional expression of CD80 by human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: CD40/CD40L (gp39) interactions are known to play a central role in the function of the immune system (1). CD40 is constitutively expressed on professional antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as at low levels on other cell lineages, including human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). On antigen-presenting cells, ligation of CD40 causes expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80 (B7-1). Similar ligation of CD40 on HUVECs, however, leads to up-regulation of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin, but not CD80. METHODS: In efforts to provide evidence that microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) are distinct from HUVECs and that the distinguishing features play a role in allograft rejection, MEC cultures were prepared from the explanted hearts of human heart transplant recipients and primary cell lines were established. These MECs were induced to express higher levels of CD40 with interferon-gamma pretreatment, co-cultured with CD40L-transfected HeLa cells, and fluorescence-activated cell sorter-assisted phenotypic studies, in addition to functional allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction and accessory-cell dependent mitogen induced proliferation assays were performed. RESULTS: CD40-CD40L interactions induced the expression of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and E-selectin and the costimulatory molecule CD80 but not CD86 (B7-2) on the MECs. The expressed CD80 proved functional in both allo-MLR assays and accessory-cell dependent mitogen proliferation assays. CONCLUSIONS: MECs are distinct from HUVECs by their potential to express VCAM-1 after interferon-gamma pretreatment and CD80 after CD40 ligation, properties which enable this cell lineage to play a central role in initiating and maintaining allograft rejection in human cardiac transplants.     

Tolerance to rat heart grafts induced by intrathymic immunomodulation is mediated by indirect recognition primed CD4+CD25+ Treg cells

BACKGROUND: In a rat model (PVG.R8-to-PVG.1U) disparate for one class I antigen, RT.1Aa, we previously demonstrated that intrathymic immunomodulation with donor antigens resulted in prolonged survival of cardiac allografts that underwent chronic rejection. However, long-term survivors developed a regulatory cell population that prevented both acute and chronic rejection when adoptively transferred into secondary graft recipients. The purpose of this study was to characterize these regulatory cells with particular emphasis on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. METHODS: Spleens, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes of secondary tolerant recipients were characterized using antibodies to various T cell markers in flow cytometry. In vitro MLR and in vivo adoptive transfer experiments were conducted to investigate the involvement of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the observed tolerance. The presence of various cytokines in the sera of graft recipients and MLR culture supernatants was tested using ELISA. RESULTS: Tolerant recipients compared with naive rats had substantially higher percentages of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the spleen (28+/-3% vs. 11+/-5%) and blood (23+/-6% vs. 9+/-4%). Tolerant animals also had higher levels of serum IL-10 than naive and rejecting animals. CD4+CD25+ T cells from secondary long-term graft survivors inhibited donor-specific proliferative responses in vitro that was associated with high IL-10 production. Importantly, depletion of CD4+CD25+ T cells from splenocytes of tolerant rats abrogated their ability to transfer tolerance to tertiary graft recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that cardiac allograft tolerance in this model is mediated by CD4+CD25+ Treg cells primed by indirect recognition and is associated with high levels of IL-10.     

B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD 86) expression in human tubular epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND: Tubulointerstitial inflammation with infiltration of mononuclear cells plays an important role in acute allograft rejection and in the progression of renal diseases. We therefore investigated in vivo the expression of the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 on proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) under normal and pathologic conditions and analyzed the regulation and functional role of these molecules after cytokine and CD40 activation in vitro. METHODS: Immunohistological staining for B7-1 and B7-2 on cryostat sections of core needle biopsies from patients with different renal diseases was examined. Patients were divided into three groups: group A: diffuse interstitial inflammation; group B: minor interstitial inflammation; group C: no interstitial inflammation. In addition, the expression of B7-1 and B7-2 protein and mRNA of cultured PTEC that had been stimulated with cytokine-combinations in absence or presence of a stimulatory anti-CD40 antibody was investigated by means of FACS analysis and RT-PCR. The functional role was analyzed in MKLCs with cytokine and anti-CD40 prestimulated PTEC by measuring IFN-gamma and IL-2 expression in absence or presence of CTLA4-Ig by ELISA. RESULTS: Group A patients showed intense tubular staining for B7-1 and B7-2, group B patients showed mild staining, whereas in group C patients B7-1 and B7-2 staining was negative or only weakly positive. In vitro, the presence of B7-1 and B7-2 on PTEC was increased after stimulation with combinations of IL-1alpha, IL-4, IFN-gamma or IL-13 instead of IL-4 and CD40 activation. B7-1 and B7-2 mRNA could be detected in PTEC as well. In MKLCs only cytokine and anti-CD40 prestimulated PTEC were able to stimulate IFN-gamma and IL-2 production by purified T cells, which could be blocked dose-dependently by CTLA4-Ig. CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly shows that B7-1 and B7-2 can be induced on PTEC in vivo and in vitro. After B7-1 and B7-2 induction, PTEC costimulate CD28 on T lymphocytes resulting in cytokine production. This might be of relevance in allograft rejection and in various kidney diseases.