title: Heterogeneous induction of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens on corneal endothelium by interferon-gamma.
abstract: The expression and distribution of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II gene products, HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and the HLA-DR invariant chain, were studied on flat mounts of human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) after in vitro incubation of donor corneas with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6, using a sensitive immunoperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies. Control HCEC and endothelium treated with IL-1 or IL-6 completely lacked MHC class II antigens. After treatment with 50 U/ml, 100 U/ml, 500 U/ml, and 5000 U/ml of human IFN-gamma, a mosaic-like, patchy staining for all MHC class II products was observed: part of the HCEC showed membranous and/or cytoplasmic positivity; other endothelial cells were negative. In addition, a dose-dependent response to IFN-gamma was observed: the proportion of cells expressing class II products rose with increasing doses of IFN-gamma. The induction of MHC class II antigen expression on HCEC by IFN-gamma was completely inhibited by the addition of a neutralizing antibody directed to IFN-gamma but not by IL-1 beta. The significance of these findings with respect to corneal transplantation immunology is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Foets
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van den Oord
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Billiau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Missotten
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma