CD4+ CD25+ Tr细胞与大鼠肝移植自发免疫耐受关系的研究

目的研究CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞及其相关基因Foxp3与大鼠肝移植自发免疫耐受的关系。方法双袖套法建立大鼠原位肝移植模型;密度梯度离心法分离肝内淋巴细胞;免疫磁性分离法（MACS）分选CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞,流式细胞术（FCM）检测所得细胞纯度。体外细胞增殖试验研究CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞的免疫抑制作用。Western蛋白印迹法检测CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞Scurfin蛋白表达。结果自发耐受组大鼠移植肝内CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞含量显著高于急性排斥组。混合淋巴细胞反应中,LEW大鼠的脾细胞比DA大鼠自身的脾细胞更能刺激CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞的增殖。CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞能抑制CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞的增殖,当加入外源性IL-2（200U／ml）时,该抑制作用被逆转。结论转录因子Foxp3介导的CD4^＋CD25^＋Tr细胞的免疫抑制作用可能是诱导大鼠肝脏移植自发免疫耐受的机制之一。     

CD80mAb协同imDC诱导同种异体大鼠胰十二指肠移植免疫耐受

目的 观察共刺激分子阻断剂CD80单克隆抗体（CD80mAb）在协同未成熟树突细胞（imDC）诱导同种异体大鼠胰十二指肠移植免疫耐受中的作用。方法 建立糖尿病大鼠胰十二指肠移植动物模型；4E5杂交瘤细胞株BABIMC小鼠腹腔注射，抽取腹水，分离纯化后获得CD80mAb；分离供体大鼠骨髓来源DC细胞前体，经GM—CSF、IL-4体外刺激后。再加入IL-10共培养，鉴定为imDC；移植前7d，将2×10^6imDC经静脉途径注射至受体体内，同时分别给予生理盐水1ml、CD80mAb5mg连续14d。结果 四组受体大鼠移植后中位生存时间分别为12．7d、32．4d、50．2d、92．0d，实验组存活时间明显延长；组织学观察发现移植后7dCD80mAb＋imDC组移植物形态尚完整，淋巴细胞浸润减少；混合淋巴细胞反应证实移植后7dCD80mAb＋imDC组供受体间呈低反应性。结论 共刺激分子阻断剂CD80mAb能够协同imDC诱导受体T细胞对移植物的免疫耐受，降低宿主对移植物的急、慢性排斥反应，延长移植物的存活时间。     

辅助性T细胞和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞双表位修饰的树突状细胞肿瘤疫苗治疗胃癌的实验研究

目的研究辅助性T细胞（Th）表位和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）双表位修饰的树突状细胞（DCs）肿瘤疫苗用于胃癌免疫治疗的效果。方法用CTL表位MAGE-341-49和Th表位MAGE-322-36混合多肽冲击DCs，每周刺激脾脏T细胞1次，4周后收集多肽特异性T细胞。流式仪分析T细胞亚群分布，测定CD4^＋T细胞识别抗原细胞因子分泌及CD8^＋T细胞杀伤肿瘤细胞效能，观察双表位修饰的DCs肿瘤疫苗治疗胃癌的保护性免疫效应。结果双表位致敏的DCs体外可同时活化CD4^＋和CD8^＋T细胞，其中CD4^＋T细胞识别肿瘤细胞小鼠前胃癌细胞株MFC后分泌大量Th1型细胞因子[干扰素（IFN）-γ，白介素（IL）-2]，CD8^＋T细胞强效杀伤MFC。双表位修饰的DCs肿瘤疫苗小鼠体内免疫治疗获得抵抗后继胃癌细胞MFC的免疫保护能力，并显著高于单一表位（CTL或Th）修饰的DC8疫苗。结论Th和CTL双表位修饰的DCs肿瘤疫苗可同时激活CD4^＋Th1细胞和CD8^＋CTL抗肿瘤免疫，有效清除胃癌细胞。     

CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞在维持小鼠肝脏移植自发性免疫耐受状态中的作用

目的 探讨CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞在维持小鼠肝脏移植免疫耐受状态中的作用。方法 进行小鼠原位肝脏移植,诱导出移植免疫耐受后,向受体注射抗CD25抗体（PC61）以去除CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,检测受体内CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞数量及叉状头／翅膀状螺旋转录因子（Foxp3）的表达以确定CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞完全被清除,同时观察受体生存时间。结果与同种同系小鼠肝脏移植结果相似,同种异系肝脏移植小鼠的生存时间亦均超过70d。移植免疫耐受诱导后,PC61不同注射方案均能完全去除受体小鼠肝脏、脾脏及血液中的CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,且移植肝脏中Foxp3mRNA的表达也明显降低,表明完全去除了CD4^＋CD25。调节性T细胞,但肝脏移植动物生存时间并未受到影响。结论CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞对于小鼠肝脏移植自发性免疫耐受的维持并非必需。     

移植物中CD4+CD25+T细胞的表达与异基因造血干细胞移植后移植物抗宿主病的相关性

异基因造血干细胞移植是治疗恶性血液病的有效手段之一，而其并发症移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）严重影响患者的预后和生存质量。近年来已有研究表明，去除移植物中的CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞，移植后aGVHD的发生率上升。这说明移植物中CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞表达水平与GVHD的发生相关。因此，我们对移植物中CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞亚群比例与受者GVHD的发生进行了初步研究。报告如下。     

CTLA4-Ig和抗CD40L单克隆抗体抑制大鼠胰腺移植急性排斥反应的机制

目的探讨细胞毒T淋巴细胞相关抗原4免疫球蛋白（CTLA4-Ig）和抗CD40L单克隆抗体对异基因大鼠胰腺移植后急性排斥反应的作用及其相关机制。方法建立大鼠的胰十二指肠移植模型，供者为F344大鼠，受者为经链尿佐菌素诱导为糖尿病模型的Lewis大鼠，受者移植后分为4组，每组12只。A组：为应用生理盐水对照组；B组：应用CTLA4-Ig200μg；C组：应用抗CD40L单克隆抗体200μg；D组：联合应用CTLA4-Ig和抗CD40L单克隆抗体各200μg。各组分别于术后第2d腹腔注射相应的药物。术后1、4、7、10d分别取各组的移植胰腺，进行常规病理检测；采用逆转录聚合酶链（RT-PCR）法检测移植物白细胞介素2（IL-2）、白细胞介素4（IL-4）、白细胞介素10（IL-10）、γ干扰素（IFN-γ）的表达；术后第1、4、7、10d取受者外周血，采用流式细胞术计数T细胞亚群CD3^＋、CD4^＋和CD8^＋；术后第4d取移植胰计数CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞。结果病理检测显示：与A组相比，B、C组排斥反应明显减弱，D组几乎未发生排斥反应；B、C、D组IL-2的表达高峰延迟，且表达水平较A组有不同程度的降低，D组又较B、C组表达水平下降，差异有统计学意义；B、C、D组IFN-γ的表达水平较A组有不同程度的降低，但D组与B、C组的差异不显著；B、C组IL-4的表达水平较A组有不同程度的升高，D组较A、B、C组表达水平下降，差异有统计学意义；B、C组IL-10的表达水平较A组有不同程度的升高，D组与A组差异不显著；B、C、D组CD3^＋、CD4^＋和CD8^＋T细胞数均相对减少，CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞数有不同程度升高，与A组比较，D组的差异最为显著。结论联合应用CTLA4-Ig和抗CD40L单克隆抗体能更有效地抑制大鼠胰腺移植后排斥反应，其机制可能与Th1／Th2型细胞因子偏移及CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞增多等有关。     

他克莫司对肝移植受者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及共刺激分子表达的影响

目的 探讨他克莫司（FK506）对肝移植受者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及其表面共刺激分子表达的影响。方法 采用荧光标记单克隆抗体和流式细胞技术，测定术后采用FK506治疗的肝移植受者（FK506治疗组）在用FK506后1、2、3、4周时的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及其表面共刺激分子CD28、CD152和ICOS分子的表达情况，以健康志愿者（健康对照组）和患终末期肝脏疾病拟行肝移植者（肝病对照组）为对照。结果 CD3^＋T淋巴细胞在各组间的差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。经FK506治疗后，肝移植患者的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞逐渐减少，CD8^＋T淋巴细胞逐渐增加，并恢复至健康对照组水平（P〉0．05）。FK506治疗组T淋巴细胞亚群表面CD28分子和ICOS分子表达逐渐下降，并明显低于健康对照组（P〈0．05），而CD152分子表达增加，且明显高于健康对照组（P〈0．05）；其ICOS分子表达水平的下降晚于CD28分子，CD4^＋CD28^＋T淋巴细胞、CD8^＋CD28^＋T淋巴细胞和CD4^＋ICOS^＋T淋巴细胞均呈现相近的变化规律。结论 FK506能迅速纠正移植受者T淋巴细胞亚群紊乱，并抑制正性共刺激分子CD28和ICOS的表达，促进负性共刺激分子CD152的表达。     

肾移植患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞的变化及临床意义

目的观察肾移植患者外周血中CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平的变化，探讨其在诊断移植肾急性排斥反应中的作用。方法采用流式细胞仪检测26例肾移植患者及30例正常对照组外周血中CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平。结果①慢性肾衰竭患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平与对照组比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。②非排斥组移植后1、2、4、8周CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平明显高于移植前（P〈0．01）。③急性排斥组排斥反应主要发生在术后第7～21d，其CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平明显低于同期的非排斥组（P〈0．01）。结论CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞水平的测定可以作为肾移植患者移植后急性排斥反应诊断和预测预后的重要指标。     

可诱导性共刺激分子单抗联合细胞毒T淋巴细胞4Ig在大鼠胰腺移植中的作用

目的 探讨可诱导性共刺激分子（ICOS）单抗、细胞毒T淋巴细胞4ig（CTLA41g）阻断共刺激通路对于异基因大鼠胰腺移植的作用及其机制。方法 建立胰腺移植模型，分A组（对照组），B组（CTLA4Ig组），C组（抗ICOS单抗组），D组（联合CTLA4Ig和抗ICOS单抗组）。术后1、4,7d监测血糖，第7天取胰腺做苏木素-伊红染色，脾脏做流式细胞检测CD3^＋CD8^＋T细胞、CD4^＋T细胞、CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞。结果 与A组比较：B、C、D组排斥反应较A组明显减弱，显著延长了移植物的存活时间。CD3^＋CD8^＋T细胞计数B、C、D与A组比较均有减少，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。CD4^＋T细胞B、D与A组的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞各组间逐渐升高，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论 抗ICOS单抗和CTLA4Ig能有效地抑制大鼠胰腺移植排斥反应，延长移植物存活时间，且联合应用比单一应用更有效。其可能机制为诱导了CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞的产生。     

联合应用CTLA-4Ig及抗ICOS单克隆抗体延长小鼠移植胰岛存活时间

目的探讨共刺激信号阻断剂细胞毒T淋巴细胞相关抗原4免疫球蛋白（CTLA-4Ig）及抗共同刺激分子ICOS单克隆抗体（ICOSmAb）对移植胰岛功能的影响。方法以BALB／c小鼠为供者，C57BL／6糖尿病小鼠为受者，进行同种胰岛细胞移植。将移植后的小鼠随机分成4组，每组10只。ICOS组：移植后1、3、5d腹腔内注射ICOSmAb 100μg／kg；CTLA4组：移植后0、2、4d腹腔内注射CTLA-4Ig50μg／kg；联合阻断组：移植后腹腔注射CTLA-4Ig和ICOSmAb，用法同CTLA4组和ICOS组；对照组：单纯胰岛移植，不注射CTLA-4Ig和ICOSmAb。观察术后移植物存活时间和移植胰岛的病理改变；逆转录聚合酶链法（RT-PCR）检测移植胰岛组织中白细胞介素2（IL-2）、白细胞介素10（IL-10）mRNA的表达情况；应用流式细胞仪检测CD4^＋、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞表达情况。结果联合阻断组的小鼠移植胰岛存活时间较其它3组明显延长，移植胰岛的细胞形态经光镜检查接近正常。联合阻断组与其它3组比较，IL-2mRNA表达减少，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），IL-10mRNA的表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；移植术后21d，CD4^＋、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞表达上调不明显。结论应用CTLA-4Ig和ICOSmAb联合阻断CD28和共同刺激分子ICOS，可以明显的抑制排斥反应，延长移植胰岛的存活时间及存活率。     

The role of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in liver transplant tolerance

The liver has long been considered a tolerogenic organ that favors the induction of peripheral tolerance. The mechanisms underlying liver tolerogenicity remain largely undefined. In this study, we characterized Foxp3-expressing CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in liver allograft recipients and examined the role of Treg in inherent liver tolerogenicity by employing the mouse spontaneous liver transplant tolerance model. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed from C57BL/10 (H2b) to C3H/HeJ (H2k) mice. The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Treg was expanded in the liver grafts and recipient spleens from day 5 up to day 100 posttransplantation, associated with high intracellular Foxp3 and CTLA4 expression. Immunohistochemistry further demonstrated significant numbers of Foxp3+ cells in the liver grafts and recipient spleens and increased transforming growth factor beta expression in the recipient spleens throughout the time courses. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from the long-term liver allograft survivors significantly prolonged donor heart graft survival. Depletion of recipient CD4+ CD25+ Treg using anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (250 microg/d) induced acute liver allograft rejection, associated with elevated anti-donor T-cell proliferative responses, CTL and natural killer activities, enhanced interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-gamma, IL-10, and decreased IL-4 production, and decreased T-cell apoptotic activity in anti-CD25-treated recipients. Moreover, CTLA4 blockade by anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody administration exacerbated liver graft rejection when combined with anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody. Thus, Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ Treg appear to underpin spontaneous acceptance of major histocompatability complex- mismatched liver allografts in mice. CTLA4, IL-4, and apoptosis of alloreactive T cells appear to contribute to the function of Treg and regulation of graft outcome.     

CD4 T-Cell Regulation of Cytotoxic T Cells During the Induction Phase of Liver-Induced Spontaneous Tolerance in Rats

Purpose To check for in vivo CD4 T-cell-mediated inhibition of the immune response in rats with spontaneously accepted liver transplants.Methods Using the Lewis to Wistar Furth rat strain combination, we performed transient in vivo depletion of CD4 T-cells by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) after liver transplantation. We used the CTL assay to detect primed T cells. We also retransplanted a grafted donor liver, parked for 3 days, into a secondary naive recipient rat.Results When Lewis rat livers were transplanted into the recipient Wistar Furth rats, the grafts suffered an early immune attack, followed by spontaneous acceptance without immunosuppression. However, giving anti-CD4 mAb to the recipients at the time of grafting prolonged the acute rejection reaction. Furthermore, giving anti-CD4 therapy on postoperative days (PODs) 21 and 35, but not on PODs 56 and 100, induced transient liver damage in recipients overcoming acute rejection. No primed T cells were detected by the CTL assay in the recipient rats within 2 months after transplantation. Meanwhile, the retransplanted liver had no ability to elicit an immune attack.Conclusions CD4 T cells seemed to downregulate the effector function of T cells, but not T-cell proliferation in this model.     

全身照射预处理供体对异基因大鼠肝移植的作用及对受体内CD4~+CD25~+调节性T细胞的影响

目的 探讨全身照射(TBI)预处理诱导大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应的发生机制,及CD4~+ CD25~+调节性T细胞的变化在诱导免疫耐受中的作用.方法 以雄性Lewis、DA大鼠为供、受体,随机分为正常对照组、同种肝移植组、自发免疫耐受组、急性排斥反应组.观察各组受体的生存时间及生存率,检测受体术后外周血中ALT、TB含量、Foxp3~+ CD4~+ CD25~+ 调节性T细胞和T细胞亚群上GITR的表达,检测受体术后第14天移植肝的病理变化和受体脾脏CTL杀伤活性.结果 自发免疫耐受组,术后经历短暂排斥反应最终获得免疫耐受并长期存活.急性排斥反应组,在术后第17～21天死亡,与其他组相比,外周血血清中ALT、TB含量明显升高,而Foxp3~+ CD4~+ CD25~+调节性T细胞比例明显降低.TBI预处理大鼠供肝致受体外周血中CD3~+ CD4~+ T细胞上GITR表达降低,CD3~+CD8~+T细胞上GITR表达增加,提高CTL的杀伤活性.结论 通过TBI清除供体大鼠肝移植物中携带的旁路淋巴细胞,致受体外周血中Foxp3~+ CD4~+ CD25~+调节性T细胞表达降低,而使CD3~+ CD8~+T细胞上GITR表达增加,共同诱导大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应发生和耐受障碍.     

Increased apoptosis of immunoreactive host cells and augmented donor leukocyte chimerism, not sustained inhibition of B7 molecule expression are associated with prolonged cardiac allograft survival in mice preconditioned with immature donor dendritic cells plus anti-CD40L mAb.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the association among donor leukocyte chimerism, apoptosis of presumedly IL-2-deficient graft-infiltrating host cells, and the spontaneous donor-specific tolerance induced by liver but not heart allografts in mice. Survival of the rejection-prone heart allografts in the same strain combination is modestly prolonged by the pretransplant infusion of immature, costimulatory molecule-(CM) deficient donor dendritic cells (DC), an effect that is markedly potentiated by concomitant CM blockade with anti-CD40L (CD154) monoclonal antibody (mAb). We investigated whether the long survival of the heart allografts in the pretreated mice was associated with donor leukocyte chimerism and apoptosis of graft-infiltrating cells, if these end points were similar to those in the spontaneously tolerant liver transplant model, and whether the pretreatment effect was dependent on sustained inhibition of CM expression of the infused immature donor DC. In addition, apoptosis was assessed in the host spleen and lymph nodes, a critical determination not reported in previous studies of either spontaneous or "treatment-aided" organ tolerance models. METHODS: Seven days before transplantation of hearts from B10 (H-2b) donors, 2x10(6) donor-derived immature DC were infused i.v. into C3H (H-2k) recipient mice with or without a concomitant i.p. injection of anti-CD40L mAb. Donor cells were detected posttransplantation by immunohistochemical staining for major histocompatibility complex class II (I-Ab) in the cells of recipient lymphoid tissue. CM expression was determined by two-color labeling. Host responses to donor alloantigen were quantified by mixed leukocyte reaction, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays. Apoptotic death in graft-infiltrating cells and in areas of T-dependent lymphoid tissue was visualized by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-catalyzed dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling and quantitative spectrofluorometry. Interleukin-2 production and localization were estimated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with control heart transplantation or heart transplantation after only DC administration, concomitant pretreatment with immature donor DC and anti-CD40L mAb caused sustained elevation of donor (I-Ab+) cells (microchimerism) in the spleen including T cell areas. More than 80% of the I-Ab+ cells in combined treatment animals also were CD86+, reflecting failure of the mAb to inhibit CD40/ CD80/CD86 up-regulation on immature DC in vitro after their interaction with host T cells. Donor-specific CTL activity in graft-infiltrating cells and spleen cell populations of these animals was present on day 8, but decreased strikingly to normal control levels by day 14. The decrease was associated with enhanced apoptosis of graft-infiltrating cells and of cells in the spleen where interleukin-2 production was inhibited. The highest levels of splenic microchimerism were found in mice with long surviving grafts (>100 days). In contrast, CTL activity was persistently elevated in control heart graft recipients with comparatively low levels of apoptotic activity and high levels of interleukin-2. CONCLUSION: The donor-specific acceptance of rejection-prone heart allografts by recipients pretreated with immature donor DC and anti-CD40L mAb is not dependent on sustained inhibition of donor DC CM (CD86) expression. Instead, the pretreatment facilitates a tolerogenic cascade similar to that in spontaneously tolerant liver recipients that involves: (1) chimerism-driven immune activation, succeeded by deletion of host immune responder cells by apoptosis in the spleen and allograft that is linked to interleukin-2 deficiency in both locations and (2) persistence of comparatively large numbers of donor-derived leukocytes. These tolerogenic mechanisms are thought to be generic, explaining the tolerance induced by allografts spontaneously, or with the aid of various kinds of immunosuppression.     

Spleen plays an important role in maintaining tolerance after removal of the vascularized heart graft

BACKGROUND: This study addresses the question of the mechanism for maintaining tolerance to donor alloantigen in the absence of antigen and the role of secondary lymphoid tissues. METHODS: Depleting anti-CD4 antibody administration in conjunction with allogeneic heart transplantation generates donor-specific operational tolerance. Primary C57BL/6 heart grafts were transplanted into the neck cavity of the anti-CD4 antibody pretreated C3H/He mice. At day 50, functioning heart grafts were removed from tolerant mice. At day 100, a secondary C57BL/6 or a third-party heart was transplanted into the abdomen. RESULTS: Anti-CD4 antibody therapy induced CD4CD25 regulatory T cells by 50 days after transplantation, as depleting anti-CD25 treatment in tolerant mice abrogated graft prolongation when spleen leukocytes were adoptively transferred to syngeneic mice. Tolerance was maintained by CD4CD25 regulatory T cells via a CTLA-4 signal at 100 days, even after removal of the primary graft at day 50. Administration of anti-CD25 antibody immediately after removal of the primary graft did not break tolerance, as five out of six second allografts transplanted at day 100 were accepted. Anti-CD25 antibody therapy in conjunction with splenectomy, but not thymectomy, immediately after removal of primary heart grafts at day 50 broke tolerance at day 100; all allografts were rejected. CONCLUSION: The spleen is important in maintaining CD4CD25 regulatory T cells after primary allograft removal.     

Evaluation of donor-specific transfusion sources: unique failure of bone marrow cells to induce prolonged skin allograft survival with anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody

BACKGROUND: Treatment with anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus a donor-specific transfusion (DST) of spleen cells prolongs skin allograft survival in mice through a mechanism involving deletion of host alloreactive CD8(+) T cells. It is unknown if other lymphohematopoietic cell populations can be used as a DST. METHODS: Murine recipients of allogeneic skin grafts on day 0 were either untreated or given a DST on day -7 plus 4 doses of anti-CD154 mAb on days -7, -4, 0, and +4. Deletion of CD8(+) alloreactive cells was measured using "synchimeric" CBA recipients, which circulate trace populations of TCR transgenic alloreactive CD8(+) T cells. RESULTS: Transfusion of splenocytes, thymocytes, lymph node cells, or buffy coat cells led to prolonged skin allograft survival in recipients treated with anti-CD154 mAb. In contrast, bone marrow DST failed to delete host alloreactive CD8(+) T cells and was associated with brief skin allograft survival. Transfusions consisting of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells or a mixture of splenocytes and bone marrow cells were also ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: Donor-specific transfusions of splenocytes, thymocytes, lymph node cells, or buffy coat cells can prolong skin allograft survival in recipients treated with costimulation blockade. Bone marrow cells fail to serve this function, in part by failing to delete host alloreactive CD8(+) T cells, and they may actively interfere with the function of a spleen cell DST. The data suggest that transplantation tolerance induction protocols that incorporate bone marrow cells to serve as a DST may not be effective.     

Anti-CD25 mAb administration prevents spontaneous liver transplant tolerance

Liver allografts are accepted spontaneously in all mouse strain combinations without immunosuppressive therapy. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely undefined. In this study, we examined the effect of CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg) on the induction of mouse liver transplant tolerance. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed from B10 (H2b) to C3H (H2k) mice. Depleting rat anti-mouse CD25 mAb (PC61) was given to the donors or recipients (250 microg/d IP) pretransplant or to the recipients postoperatively. At day 5 posttransplantation, both effector T cells (mainly CD8) and CD4+ CD25+ Treg were increased in the liver allografts and host spleens compared to na?ve mice. Anti-CD25 mAb administration, either pretransplantation or posttransplantation, reduced the ratio of CD4+ CD25+ Treg to the CD3 T cells of liver grafts and recipient spleens and induced liver allograft acute rejection compared to IgG treatment. Anti-CD25 mAb administration elevated anti-donor T-cell proliferative responses and CTL and NK activities of graft infiltrates and host splenocytes; reduced CTLA4, Foxp3, and IDO mRNA levels; increased IL-10 and IFN-gamma; and decreased IL-4 mRNA levels in the livers or host spleens. The number of apoptotic T cells was reduced significantly in the liver grafts and treated host spleens. Therefore, anti-CD25 mAb administration changed the balance of CD4+ CD25+ Treg to activated T cells of liver graft recipients, preventing liver transplant tolerance. This was associated with enhanced anti-donor immune reactivity, downregulated Treg gene expression, and reduced T cell apoptosis in the grafts and host spleens.     

The presence of donor-reactive CD4 T cells in early-phase liver-induced tolerance in rats: analysis using donor passenger leukocytes from the recipient

In previous studies, we showed that the recipient spleen 12 h after liver transplantation included highly immunogenic donor passenger leukocytes (PLs) in the non-rejector rat strain combination (Lewis: LEW-->Wistar Furth: WF). Furthermore, we noted that giving anti-CD4 mAb to WF recipients at the time of liver grafting prolonged the liver damage due to primary rejection reaction, suggesting that CD4 T-cell regulation but not the deletional mechanism played a dominant role during the induction phase of tolerance in this combination. We proposed that in vitro CD4 T-cell response to the donor PLs from the recipient lymphoid organ may be observed in the early phase of tolerance induction. We initially observed donor-specific acceptance by 10 days after liver transplantation from the result of secondary heart transplantation, and showed that donor (LEW) PLs in recipient WF spleen 12 h after grafting were able to prime cytotoxic CD8 T cells in vivo. We then isolated functional donor PLs from the recipient WF spleen and established in vitro proliferation assay. When the enriched donor PLs were used as stimulator cells in the proliferation assay, a powerful alloimmunostimulatory ability was observed. Moreover, a potent response of recipient splenocytes to the PLs was observed on postoperative day 14. From these observations, we confirmed that clonal deletion of donor-reactive CD4 T cells did not participate in early phase of tolerance induction in this setting.     

Mobilization of T lymphocytes following cardiac transplantation. Evidence that CD4-positive cells are required for cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation, inflammatory endothelial development, graft infiltration, and acute allograft rejection.

Modified limiting dilution analysis (LDA) techniques were used to evaluate the mobilization of antigen-stimulated helper T lymphocytes (HTL) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) following allogeneic heterotopic cardiac transplantation. These modified LDA techniques allow a quantitative comparison of T cells that have been stimulated by antigen in vivo versus unstimulated precursor T cells of the same antigen specificity. Endothelial changes associated with mononuclear cell infiltration of the transplant were studied using endothelia-specific monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemistry. Early (day 3) infiltration of cardiac allografts was characterized by a prevalence of donor alloantigen-specific HTL over CTL. Immunohistology revealed that the day-3 infiltrate was associated with areas of differentiated vascular endothelium, located primarily in the subepicardial region. Though donor-specific precursor HTL and CTL were present in the peripheral lymphoid tissues and blood, very few of them had been stimulated at this early time. During the latter phases of the response (days 6-9), antigen-stimulated HTL and CTL were present in the rejecting heart with CTL dominating the response. Accumulation of large numbers of donor-specific CTL in the allograft correlated with extensive inflammatory endothelial development, myocyte destruction, and loss of graft function by day 9. Stimulated HTL and CTL were detectable in peripheral lymphoid tissues at days 6 and 9. In addition, a marked increase in the number of donor-specific precursor CTL, but not precursor HTL, was observed in the lymphoid tissues at the peak of the response. Depletion of class II MHC-restricted T cells by in vivo treatment with anti-CD4 mAb eliminated HTL activity in all lymphoid compartments assessed and markedly reduced the number of CTL infiltrating the allograft. In addition, no stimulated CTL were detectable in lymphoid tissues, and the number of precursor CTL was not increased. In anti-CD4-treated recipients, cardiac allografts remained functional with minimal histological evidence of rejection for at least 21 days. Though graft-associated inflammatory endothelia were absent in anti-CD4-treated recipients at day 6, endothelial differentiation was observed in day 21 allografts in anti-CD4-treated recipients. These observations indicate that inflammatory endothelial development may precede T cell infiltration and subsequent loss of the cardiac allograft function. Thus, CD4-positive HTL are required for (1) graft-associated inflammatory endothelial development; (2) CTL activation in peripheral lymphoid tissues; (3) CTL accumulation in allografted tissues; and (4) acute cardiac allograft rejection.