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PubMed1990

[Ovarian sex cord stromal tumors with annular tubules: a report of 6 cases].

Six patients with ovarian sex cord stromal tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT) were diagnosed and treated from 1968 through 1988, accounting for 6% of a total of 99 cases of ovarian sex cord stromal tumors admitted during the same period. Of these, 3 were operated on for the first time and 3 were recurrent cases referred from other hospitals. The menstrual disturbance was characterized by menometrorrhagia followed by sustained amenorrhea. Glandular atrophy and decidual change of stromal were observed in 3 of the 4 endometrial samples available for histologic examination. Serum hormone assays carried out in 2 cases revealed elevated levels of both estradiol and progesterone. The primary tumor was unilateral in 5 cases and bilateral in one the recurrent tumors were exclusively retroperitoneal and ipsilateral to the primary ovarian tumors. In these cases, lymphatic metastasis was also observed in the ipsilateral pelvic lymph nodes. Complete and sustained remission has been achieved in all 3 patients receiving primary surgery by unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. After removal of the metastatic tumors in 3 recurrent cases, 2 have survived with residual diseases for 2 and 9 years respectively and one died 4 years after the secondary surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical significance of serum NCC-ST 439 as a tumor marker for colorectal cancer].

Clinical significance of preoperative serum NCC-ST 439 level was studied in 119 cases of colorectal cancer (90 of primary, 29 cases of recurrent). The positive rates for serum NCC-ST 439 were 28.9% in primary and 65.5% in recurrent cases. The false positive rates for benign disease were 5.6%. These rates were low when compared with those for other tumor markers. The positive rates for serum NCC-ST 439 exhibited a strong correlation with wall invasion, lymph node and liver metastases. A combination assay of NCC-ST 439, CEA and CA 19-9 produced a high positive rates as 43.3% in primary and 86.2% in recurrent cases. These results demonstrate that measurement of serum NCC-ST 439 may be useful for cancer staging and improves the diagnostic rate in combination with CEA and CA 19-9.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Development of an ELISA technique for serodiagnosis of bovine paratuberculosis.

A local clinical Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) isolate was cultivated in large-scale culture. A procedure for efficient preparation of a lipoarabinomannan-containing antigen was developed and standardized; 25 mg of purified antigen were obtained per gram of bacterial wet weight. An ELISA based on this antigen was developed. Intra- and interassay variation were determined to be 20% and 27%, respectively. The ELISA was evaluated using the sera of groups of 39 non-randomly selected and 92 randomly selected animals from which ileocaecal lymph nodes were cultured to isolate viable M. paratuberculosis. Combining the results of both groups a positive predictive value of 74% and a negative predictive value of 99% were calculated. The ELISA was licensed by the German regulatory agencies and, in a direct comparison, was found to be superior to both other licensed assays.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The distinct leukocyte integrins of mouse spleen dendritic cells as identified with new hamster monoclonal antibodies.

Hybridoma fusions with hamster hosts were undertaken to generate mAbs to mouse spleen dendritic cells. Two mAb were obtained and used to uncover the distinct integrins of these APC. One, 2E6, bound a determinant common to all members of the CD11/CD18 family, most likely the shared 90 kD CD18 beta chain. 2E6 immunoprecipitated the characteristic beta 2 integrin heterodimers from lymphocytes (p180, 90; CD11a) and macrophages (p170,90; CD11b), but from dendritic cells, a p150,90 (presumably CD11c) integrin was the predominant species. 2E6 inhibited the binding function of the CD11a and CD11b integrins on B cells and macrophages in appropriate assays, but 2E6 exerted little or no inhibition on the clustering of dendritic cells to T cells early in primary MLR, suggesting a CD11/CD18-independent mechanism for this binding. The second mAb, N418, precipitated a 150, 90 kD heterodimer that shared the 2E6 CD18 epitope. This N418 epitope may be the murine homologue of the previously characterized human CD11c molecule, but the epitope was only detected on dendritic cells. N418 did not react with peritoneal macrophages, anti-Ig-induced spleen B blasts, or bulk lymph node cells. When used to stain sections of spleen, N418 stained dendritic cells in the T-dependent areas, much like anti-class II mAbs that were also generated in these fusions. In addition, N418 revealed nests of dendritic cells that punctuated the rim of marginal zone macrophages between red and white pulp. This localization positioned most dendritic cells at regions where arterial vessels and T cells enter the white pulp. We conclude that the p150, 90 heterodimer is the major beta 2 integrin of spleen dendritic cells, and we speculate that it may function to localize these APC at sites that permit access to the recirculating pool of resting T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Intratumor chemoimmunotherapy with mitomycin C and BCG in C3H/He mice transplanted with MH134.

Experiments were performed to explore the influence of local chemoimmunotherapy by intratumoral administration of mitomycin C (MMC) and/or BCG on the survival rate, lymph-node metastasis, growth pattern of rechallenge tumor, and host immune function, using a host-tumor system consisting of C3H/He mice and syngeneic tumor MH134. Combined intratumoral regimens of MMC plus BCG yielded a significantly higher survival rate than those achieved with BCG or MMC alone. Furthermore, the incidence of metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes was also remarkably reduced in the combined regimen group. The group given the combined MMC-BCG regimen also showed a marked suppression of the growth of rechallenge tumor after surgical removal of the primary tumor and showed a greater induction of tumor-specific immunity than that seen in the group given intratumoral BCG injection alone. Both the delayed-type hypersensitivity, as measured by the footpad swelling assay, and the antibody response in spleen lymphocytes, as estimated by the plaque-forming cell assay, were found to be substantially depressed following a systemic injection of MMC, whereas the intratumoral administration of MMC had little or no effect on these parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Enhanced transdermal-immunization with diptheria-toxoid using local hyperthermia.

In this study we have investigated how mild local hyperthermia could be used for transdermal-immunization. Mild hyperthermia is found unique in many ways. It activates the immune system and it also results in higher mass transport of high molecular weight molecules and nanometer size quantum dots labeled antigens across the skin in experimental animals. Hyperthermia increases the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. Mice transdermally immunized with diphtheria toxoid, without any adjuvant or penetration enhancing reagent but under the conditions of local hyperthermia generate an antibody response. In the memory recall assay, the splenocytes of hyperthermia enhanced transdermal-immunized mice undergo proliferation, when exposed to diphtheria toxoid. Comparable response was generated when mice were immunized with diphtheria toxoid by hyperthermia enhanced transdermal route or by conventional inter-muscular injection. Hyperthermia enhanced transdermal-immunization procedure is likely to have higher compliance as it does not cause any pain or visible damage to the skin.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1993

Adhesion to high endothelial venules: a model for dissemination mechanisms in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The interaction of human lymphoma cells with high endothelial venules (HEVs) on sections of lymphatic tissues was studied in 44 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with the in vitro HEV binding assay. The relative adherence ratio (RAR) of lymphoma cells to HEVs as related to that of reactive lymphocytes was 0.29 to 4.64 in 38 cases of B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 1.15 and 1.54 in two cases of immunocytic NHL, 1.12 and 0.70 in two cases of centrocytic NHL, 1.98 in one case of a peripheral T-NHL, whereas plasma cell leukemia cells adhered very weakly (RAR 0.1). Among the patients suffering from CLL a pronounced HEV binding ability of tumor cells correlated significantly with the more unfavorable Binet stages B and C (median 1.32) as well as with a widespread lymphatic dissemination, which strongly indicates a hematogenous, HEV-mediated spread (median 1.34). In contrast, weak adherence to HEVs was associated with Binet stage A (median 0.85; P < .05) and with a lacking or only localized clinical involvement of lymph nodes (median 0.84; P < .01). Thus, specific HEV recognition processes even operate in lymphoid neoplasms and via this mechanism seem to influence the dissemination of tumors.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1975

Reduced capacity to produce specific 'effector' cells after injection of CBA mice with C3H cells.

Lymphocytes from mice of strain CBA are strongly MLC-responsive to lymphocytes from the H-2-compatible but M-antigen-incompatible strain C3H. This strong reactivity disappears after infusion of CBA mice with C3H lymphocytes. This study shows that the host-versus-graft reactivity (swelling of local lymph node after antigen injection) is specifically reduced after injection of CBA mice with C3H times CBA spleen cells. However, lymphocytes from such mice showed a specifically increased GVH reactivity (inhibition of erythroid cell growth) compared with lymphocytes from unimmunized mice. Lymphocytes from normal CBA mice showed a high proliferative rate in the spleens of irradiated C3H times CBA mice. Such 'educated' cells showed strongly increased specific GVH reactivity. Lymphocytes from CBA mice previously injected with C3H times CBA cells showed reduced capacity to proliferate when injected into irradiated C3H times CBA hybrids and a poor capacity to develop new 'effector' cells reactive against C3H times CBA bone marrow target cells. The results indicate that the presence of specifically 'MLC-responsive' lymphocytes in a lymphoid cell population is a prerequisite of its production of 'effector' cells able to respond in this GVH assay.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Single dose intranasal administration of retinal autoantigen generates a rapid accumulation and cell activation in draining lymph node and spleen: implications for tolerance therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A single intranasal delivery of retinal autoantigen suppresses effectively experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). To further unravel underlying mechanisms the authors wished to determine, firstly, the kinetics of antigen delivery and, secondly, the early cellular responses involved in the initial stages of nasal mucosal tolerance induction. METHODS: Flow cytometry, cell proliferation assays, and microscopy were used to track antigen following a single, intranasal dose of Alexa-488 labelled retinal antigen. RESULTS: A rapid accumulation of antigen within both superficial cervical lymph nodes (SCLN) and spleen was observed after 30 minutes. Significant proliferative responses to IRBP were elicited by 48 hours indicating that systemic priming of naive T cells to retinal antigen had occurred. Cell activation was further confirmed by immunoprecipitation studies, which demonstrated phosphorylation of STAT4 but not STAT6 in both lymph nodes and spleen. However, at 24 hours, STAT4 heterodimerisation with STAT 3 was only observed in spleen. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide novel evidence that following a single intranasal application rapid transfer of antigen occurs. Resulting T cell proliferation develops consequent to differential cell signalling in SCLN and spleen. Further understanding of these underlying cellular mechanisms, in particular as is inferred by the results the contribution of local versus systemic tolerance induction, may assist in strategies to clinically apply mucosal tolerance therapy successfully.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Herpes simplex virus infection in guinea pigs: an animal model for studying latent and recurrent herpes simplex virus infection.

Footpad infection of guinea pigs with herpes simplex virus led to an acute local inflammatory reaction, followed by a persistent latent infection of lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia. Spontaneous reactivation of the latent virus occurred, leading to recurrent lesions at the site of the initial infection. Clinical observations and virological studies during the acute latent and recurrent infection are reported.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced suppression of the local immune response.

TCDD suppressed the normal immune response in popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes, when administered i.p. (50 micrograms/kg) to C57BL/6 mice, 4 days before immunization with the T-dependent antigen ovalbumin (10 micrograms/pad) in the hind foot pads. A hampered increase in lymph node cell number and a reduced frequency of antigen-specific B-cells were observed, despite the fact that cell proliferation in vivo was normal. While the restimulation of lymph node cells in vitro with ConA or LPS was normal, suggesting that the APC function was largely unaffected, the OVA-induced proliferation was greatly reduced. The anti-OVA antibody (ab) concentration both in serum and in supernatants of cultured lymph node cells was lower than in controls. In contrast, the production of anti-BSA ab upon LPS stimulation was normal. This indicates that the ability of the B-cells to produce ab and to proliferate was not disturbed. The DTH assay clearly showed an impaired T-cell function in TCDD-treated animals. Since APC or B-cells have appeared normal in their functions tested in this study, we propose that TCDD disturbed T-cell functions, leading to an impaired activation of B-cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis of T helper 2-type cytokines at the maternal-fetal interface.

Clinical and experimental evidence has indicated that the maternal immune response is biased toward antibody production and away from cell-mediated immunity during pregnancy, especially in the vicinity of the fetoplacental unit. Because antibody responses are often associated with the Th2 cytokine pattern, this suggests that Th2-type cytokines might predominate locally in the regulation of the maternal immune response. In order to test this hypothesis, we examined the local and distal release of cytokines during murine pregnancy using ELISA assays. We report here that the Th2-specific cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were readily detectable in cell supernatants derived from fetal-placental units in all three trimesters of gestation. IL-3 was also present. These cytokines were detected in lysates of freshly isolated, day 12 decidual and placental cells, and in supernatants as early as 15 min after the beginning of culture. The presence of functional IL-10 was confirmed by specific bioassay. IL-10 mRNA was localized to the decidua at day 6 of gestation by in situ hybridization. IFN-gamma was also found in the supernatants from the first trimester of pregnancy, but was barely detectable in the second, and undetectable in the third trimester. Cytokine expression was consistently detected in samples from individual mice. None of these cytokines was produced by unstimulated spleen or mesenteric lymph nodes from pregnant mice. IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma were produced by Con A-stimulated spleen cells from virgin mice, but in ratios opposite to those found in the placenta. These observations indicate that Th2-specific cytokines are normally produced at the maternal-fetal interface. The continuous presence of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, with early and transient expression of IFN-gamma, can provide a molecular basis for the antibody/Th2-like bias of the maternal immune response during pregnancy.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Melanoma vaccines: the paradox of T cell activation without clinical response.

In recent years significant progress in the understanding of the immune biology of melanoma has evolved from the identification of melanoma antigens (MAs) recognized by T cells. MAs consist of intracellular proteins that are expressed on the surface of cancer cells in association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and therefore are suitable targets for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Several new monitoring strategies have been implemented to evaluate the status of activation and localization of vaccine-induced T cells in the peripheral circulation as well as the tumor site, including limiting dilution, in vitro sensitization, and ELISPOT. Previous studies aimed at monitoring patients receiving vaccination have utilized mainly those three methods. These methods have demonstrated that antigen-specific vaccination can elicit immune responses detectable in the peripheral blood of immunized patients. These assays, however, have been faulted by their requirement for in vitro expansion of T cells (limiting dilution or in vitro sensitization) or for limited sensitivity (ELISPOT). More recently, the use of soluble HLA/peptide complex tetramers, intracellular fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been proposed for the monitoring of vaccine trials. These methods have the appeal of allowing direct enumeration of T cells specific for a particular epitope within relevant samples such as peripheral blood lymphocytes, lymph nodes, and tumors. We are evaluating whether utilizing a combination of HLA/peptide tetramer (tHLA) together with Taqman-based real-time reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR and intracellular FACS analysis could establish a direct and comprehensive strategy for the assessment of epitope-specific immune response in vivo. In conditions close to those of the tumor microenviroment or in peripheral blood lymphocytes, however, a different status of T cell activation can be expected due to a direct stimulation of T cells by tumor or antigen-presenting cells. We observed that activated T cells can easily be detected in the peripheral blood of patients who have received MA-specific vaccines. However, when T cells are stimulated with their relevant epitope, a high level of T cell receptor downregulation occurs that does not allow identification of vaccine-specific T cells directly with tHLA. Thus evaluation of epitope-specific T cells at the tumor site, where they might be exposed to stimulation by interaction with tumor cells and/or in bulk peripheral blood mononuclear cells, might be more efficiently analyzed with functional methods such as intracellular FACS and Taqman-based real time RT-PCR.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1994

Immune responses and protective effect in mice vaccinated orally with surface sporozoite protein of Eimeria falciformis in ISCOMs.

Immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs) were built after treatment of a purified surface protein from Eimeria falciformis sporozoites with a palmitic acid derivation, leading to a high ratio (33-64%) of P27 incorporation in these cage-like structures. P27 kept its antigenicity after incorporation in ISCOMs, which induced, after iterative intubations by the oral route to groups of mice, a systemic IgG response, a local IgA response, and a local enhanced cellular response as demonstrated by lymphoproliferation of mesenteric lymph node cells upon in vitro stimulation with antigen. This immunization (120 micrograms in six oral doses at 2-day intervals) afforded mice a partial protection (60%) against a subsequent 400 oocyst challenge. The reduction in daily oocyst excretion was corroborated by significantly different weight losses between immunized and control mice on days 9 and 10 postinfection and the subsequent death of these control mice. These observations provide the first application of ISCOMs to parasitic intestinal diseases.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

The distribution of Abcc6 in normal mouse tissues suggests multiple functions for this ABC transporter.

We have studied the tissue distribution of Abcc6, a member of the ABC transmembrane transporter subfamily C, in normal C57BL/6 mice. RNase protection assays revealed that although almost all tissues studied contained detectable levels of the mRNA encoding Abcc6, the highest levels of Abcc6 mRNA were found in the liver. In situ hybridization (ISH) demonstrated abundant Abcc6 mRNA in epithelial cells from a variety of tissues, including hepatic parenchymal cells, bile duct epithelia, kidney proximal tubules, mucosa and gland cells of the stomach, intestine, and colon, squamous epithelium of the tongue, corneal epithelium of the eye, keratinocytes of the skin, and tracheal and bronchial epithelium. Furthermore, we detected Abcc6 mRNA in arterial endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells of the aorta and myocardium, in circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes in the thymus and lymph nodes, and in neurons of the brain, spinal cord, and the specialized neurons of the retina. Immunohistochemical analysis using a polyclonal Abcc6 rabbit antibody confirmed the tissue distribution of Abcc6 suggested by our ISH studies and revealed the cellular localization of Abcc6 in the basolateral plasma membrane in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules in the kidney. Although the function of Abcc6 is unknown, mutations in the human ABCC6 gene result in a heritable disorder of connective tissue called pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). Our results demonstrating the presence of Abcc6 in epithelial and endothelial cells in a variety of tissues, including those tissues affected in PXE patients, suggest a possible role for Abcc6 in the normal assembly of extracellular matrix components. However, the presence of Abcc6 in neurons and leukocytes, two cell populations not associated with connective tissue, also suggests a more complex multifunctional role for Abcc6.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Distribution and quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, strain JC499, proviral DNA in tissues from an infected chimpanzee.

Data are accumulating to show that the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in chimpanzees closely reproduces that in humans and is influenced by biologic properties of the infecting HIV-1 strain. To determine the distribution and relative amounts of HIV-1, proviral DNA in multiple tissues from a chimpanzee euthanized because of an abdominal tumor and kidney failure was quantified by nested PCR limiting-dilution assays. At death, 21 months after infection with HIV-1(JC499), this animal had a CD4(+) T-cell count of 268 and 1.7 x 10(5) copies of virion RNA/ml of plasma. The highest proviral burdens were in peripheral lymph nodes and blood, followed by lung, colon, and spleen; values ranged from 130 to 3350 proviral copies/microg DNA (equivalent to DNA in 150,000 cells). The lowest levels of virus were in the spinal cord, brain, and cecum (0.3 to 2.5 copies/microg DNA), with all other tissues harboring intermediate levels (6.8 to 114 copies/microg DNA). Viral burdens in all tissues were comparable to or greater than those reported for HIV-1-infected humans in all stages of disease. Immunohistochemistry for HIV-1 p24 Gag antigen revealed (i) trapping of HIV-1 on follicular dendritic cells in lymph node germinal centers and (ii) virus in the brain, where it was localized primarily to capillary endothelial cells in the cerebral cortex. Analysis of the genetic diversity of the Env V3 loop in tissues indicated that there was no apparent compartmentalization of HIV-1 variants. Of interest, in 83 of 94 (88.3%) clones sequenced, the unique GYGR motif at the tip of the V3 loop of HIV-1(JC499) had reverted to the more common GPGR. The results support the conclusion that HIV-1 has the potential to maintain high viral burdens in chimpanzees and to disseminate to most organs, including the central nervous system. The use of the chimpanzee model with HIV-1(JC499) (or related strains) in vaccine efficacy studies should prove valuable, especially when assessing protection against disease. Furthermore, comparison of both replicative properties of HIV-1(JC499) with SIVcpz strains and immune responses of chimpanzees infected with these viruses might provide new information about HIV pathogenesis.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed2004

Development of a new monoclonal antibody to ovine chimeric IgE and its detection of systemic and local IgE antibody responses to the intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

The J558L cell line, previously transfected with the ovine Cepsilon gene, was induced to secrete a chimeric IgE protein composed of the ovine heavy chain and a mouse light chain with MW of approximately 80 and 26 kDa, respectively. After purification, the chimeric protein was used to immunise BALB-c mice and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated. The mAb 2F1, which had greatest anti-IgE activity in preliminary screens, was chosen for further characterisation and an examination of systemic and local IgE responses to the intestinal nematode, Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The chimeric IgE protein was not recognised in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by mAbs raised against ovine IgG1, IgG2, IgA or IgM. However, 2F1 was highly specific to the chimeric IgE protein, and did not cross-react with ovine IgG1, IgG2 or IgA. Western blot analysis also showed that 2F1 and secretory IgA (sIgA) did not cross-react, and that 2F1 and the anti-IgA mAb identified different MW bands from colostrum (approximately 200 and 400 kDa, respectively). 2F1 bound to mucosal mast cells (MMC) isolated from the intestines of lambs infected with T. colubriformis, but cultured bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) required prior incubation with the chimeric IgE protein for this binding to occur. Distinctive staining of plasma cells and putative mast cells were observed using 2F1 on immunohistological sections of mesenteric lymph node and jejunum.ELISA incorporating 2F1 was able to detect >0.4 ng chimeric protein. Total IgE in ovine colostrum and intestinal homogenates was quantified using a capture ELISA, with known amounts of chimeric protein used to produce a standard curve. Colostrum from outbred Merino ewes had 0.55-11.05 ng ml(-1) total IgE, and their lambs, at necropsy after infection with a total of 18,000 T. colubriformis infective larvae over a 9-week period, had 45-620 ng g(-1) total IgE in intestinal tissue. Compared to genetically susceptible lambs, antigen-specific levels of IgE were significantly higher in genetically resistant lambs after infection with 4500 T. colubriformis infective larvae (TcL3) per week for 9 weeks (161.4 versus 44.8 geometric mean titres; P=0.043). In western blots, distinctive bands (19-21 and 27 kDa) from T. colubriformis larval antigen were differentially recognised by IgE, as identified by 2F1, in intestinal homogenates from genetically resistant animals. These results have demonstrated the value of 2F1 for quantification of IgE responses in samples derived from ovine fluids and tissues using ELISA, western blots and immunohistology. In this respect, it recognises native ovine IgE and does not require pre-treatment of the sample with denaturing agents or ammonium sulphate.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

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.

Animals↗