Presentation of the H-Y antigen on Langerhans' cell-negative corneal grafts downregulates the cytotoxic T cell response and converts responder strain mice into phenotypic nonresponders.
We have used the murine cornea is an allograft model to investigate the relative roles of graft-derived IA+ APC (Langerhans' cells) and host-derived APC during the induction of CTL responses to H-Y. The natural exclusion of LC from the immunizing corneal graft led to a specific state of unresponsiveness to H-Y in responder strain mice, while inclusion of LC resulted in responsiveness. Failure to respond to H-Y could not be attributed to the absence of H-Y or IA antigen expression on the surface of LC-deficient grafts but instead, appeared to be due to active suppression of the T helper cell response during in vivo priming. Reprocessing of the H-Y antigen by host APC did not occur after immunization with H-Y presented on H-2-incompatible grafts unless presented initially by graft-derived LC. H-2 as well as some non-H-2 alloantigens were presented to the host without a requirement for donor-derived LC. Thus there appear to be differential requirements for the processing and presentation of alloantigens.
Peeler
J S
JS
Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
Callanan
D G
DG
Luckenbach
M W
MW
Niederkorn
J Y
JY
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D006182:H-Y Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II