Prevention of the induction of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses by ultraviolet irradiation of corneal allografts.
The effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the immunogenicity of corneal allografts was examined in a mouse model. Corneal allografts differing from the host at the entire MHC and multiple minor H loci were subjected to 200 mJ/cm2 of UVB irradiation immediately prior to heterotropic transplantation. Analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses revealed that UVR treated corneal grafts failed to induce either CTL or DTH responses in C57BL/6 recipients. UVB treatment abolished the immunogenicity of highly immunogenic corneal grafts containing either resident or infiltrating donor-specific Langerhans cells. Sequential grafting experiments demonstrated that UVB-treated grafts rendered the hosts anergic to subsequent immunization with highly immunogenic corneal limbus grafts that contained dense concentrations of Ia+ Langerhans cells of donor origin. The results indicate that UV treatment not only reduces the immunogenicity of the corneal allograft but may also render it tolerogenic.
Niederkorn
J Y
JY
Department of Opthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
Callanan
D
D
Ross
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays