T cells reactive to a single immunodominant self-restricted allopeptide induce skin graft rejection in mice

J Clin Invest. 1998 Mar 15;101(6):1398-407. doi: 10.1172/JCI893.

Abstract

Alloreactive T lymphocytes can respond to foreign MHC complexed with foreign peptides through the direct pathway of allorecognition and can additionally recognize allopeptides expressed in the context of recipient (self) MHC through the indirect pathway. To better elucidate how indirect pathway-responsive CD4(+) T cells mediate allograft rejection, we isolated and characterized a TH1 T cell line from BALB/c recipients of B10.A skin that responds to a defined immunodominant, self-restricted allopeptide, I-Abetak58-71. When transferred into BALB/c severe combined immunodeficiency recipients of B10.A skin allografts, this cell line specifically induced a form of skin graft rejection characterized by the presence of TH1 cytokines, macrophage infiltration, and extensive fibrosis. Recall immune responses and immunofluorescence of the rejecting skin revealed only the presence of the peptide-specific T cells within the recipient animals, with no evidence of a direct pathway alloresponse. These studies demonstrate that T cells reactive to a single self-restricted allopeptide can mediate a form of allogeneic skin graft rejection that exhibits characteristics of a chronic, fibrosing process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology*
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, SCID
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA / genetics
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology*
  • Skin Transplantation / pathology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology*
  • Transplantation, Homologous / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Peptides
  • RNA