Human PD-L1-overexpressing porcine vascular endothelial cells induce functionally suppressive human CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Treg cells

J Leukoc Biol. 2011 Jul;90(1):77-86. doi: 10.1189/jlb.1210691. Epub 2011 Apr 15.

Abstract

In xenotransplantation models, direct activation of hCD4(+) T cells by porcine VECs leads to a robust proliferation of T cells. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, human antiporcine MLEC culture was used to investigate cross-species cell interactions, proliferation of hCD4(+) T cells, and induction of human cytokines. We report that xenoantigen presentation by PIEC expands hCD4(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs and hCD4(+) Foxp3(-) Teffs, and this process is dependent on porcine MHC-II antigen expression. Stable transfection of hPD-L1 into PIEC inhibits Teff proliferation, but Treg proliferation is not affected. Surprisingly, IL-10 production by hCD4(+) T cells is augmented significantly by PIEC(hPD-L1). Notably, hPD-L1-induced Tregs have higher suppressive potency and mediate suppressive function partially through IL-10 and CD73. This study opens the possibility of using hPD-L1-overexpressing porcine VECs as a novel therapeutic to allow tolerance of xenotransplants and also supports the possibility of using hPD-L1 transgenic pigs as xenotransplant donors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Separation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Swine
  • Swine, Miniature
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Transfection
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • CD4 Antigens
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit