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Transplant ride along
Despite the successful use of organ transplantation in the clinic, the mechanisms behind early rejection of transplants remain unclear. The passenger leukocyte theory suggests that graft leukocytes that express donor major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) migrate to recipient lymphoid organs, where they activate host T cells. In multiple mouse models of transplantation, Marino et al. found few donor leukocytes in lymph nodes; rather high numbers of recipient antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were present that were cross-dressed with donor MHC. The donor MHC was derived from allogeneic exosomes, which could induce proinflammatory alloimmune responses even without transplantation. These data suggest that cross-dressed recipient APCs rather than passenger leukocytes may contribute to early T cell activation and transplant rejection.
Abstract
Transplantation of allogeneic organs and tissues represents a lifesaving procedure for a variety of patients affected with end-stage diseases. Although current immunosuppressive therapy prevents early acute rejection, it is associated with nephrotoxicity and increased risks for infection and neoplasia. This stresses the need for selective immune-based therapies relying on manipulation of lymphocyte recognition of donor antigens. The passenger leukocyte theory states that allograft rejection is initiated by recipient T cells recognizing donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules displayed on graft leukocytes migrating to the host’s lymphoid organs. We revisited this concept in mice transplanted with allogeneic skin, heart, or islet grafts using imaging flow cytometry. We observed no donor cells in the lymph nodes and spleen of skin-grafted mice, but we found high numbers of recipient cells displaying allogeneic MHC molecules (cross-dressed) acquired from donor microvesicles (exosomes). After heart or islet transplantation, we observed few donor leukocytes (100 per million) but large numbers of recipient cells cross-dressed with donor MHC (>90,000 per million). Last, we showed that purified allogeneic exosomes induced proinflammatory alloimmune responses by T cells in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest that recipient antigen-presenting cells cross-dressed with donor MHC rather than passenger leukocytes trigger T cell responses after allotransplantation.
- Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science
