Peripheral tolerance via the anterior chamber of the eye: role of B cells in MHC class I and II antigen presentation

J Immunol. 2006 May 15;176(10):5950-7. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.10.5950.

Abstract

Ags introduced into the anterior chamber (AC) of the eye induce a form of peripheral immune tolerance termed AC-associated immune deviation (ACAID). ACAID mitigates ocular autoimmune diseases and promotes corneal allograft survival. Ags injected into the AC are processed by F4/80(+) APCs, which migrate to the thymus and spleen. In the spleen, ocular APCs induce the development of Ag-specific B cells that act as ancillary APCs and are required for ACAID induction. In this study, we show that ocular-like APCs elicit the generation of Ag-specific splenic B cells that induce ACAID. However, direct cell contact between ocular-like APCs and splenic B cells is not necessary for the induction of ACAID B cells. Peripheral tolerance produced by ACAID requires the participation of ACAID B cells, which induce the generation of both CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8(+) Tregs. Using in vitro and in vivo models of ACAID, we demonstrate that ACAID B cells must express both MHC class I and II molecules for the generation of Tregs. These results suggest that peripheral tolerance induced through the eye requires Ag-presenting B cells that simultaneously present Ags on both MHC class I and II molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Anterior Chamber / immunology*
  • Anterior Chamber / metabolism
  • Antigen Presentation / genetics
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / biosynthesis
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / genetics
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / prevention & control
  • Immune Tolerance* / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II