The proliferative response of human T cells to allogeneic IFN-gamma-treated endothelial cells is mediated via both CD2/LFA-3 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 and -2 adhesion pathways.
We studied the proliferative response of purified human peripheral blood T lymphocytes (contaminated with less than 0.1% monocytes) to allogeneic MHC class II molecules expressed by endothelial cells (EC) or fibroblasts (FB). In vitro expression of MHC class II molecules was induced by gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) treatment. The MHC class II expression levels after IFN-gamma treatment on both cell types were comparable. No T cell proliferation was found in the presence of either untreated or IFN-gamma-treated FB, and a marginal proliferation in the presence of untreated EC. IFN-gamma-treated EC, however, were able to induce significant T cell growth. The previously established role of MHC class II molecules in allogeneic T cell proliferation was confirmed in inhibition experiments with monoclonal antibody (mAb) against MHC class II or CD4. In this model, we tested the involvement of a number of adhesion molecules by adding mAbs to cocultures of T cells and IFN-gamma-treated EC. Monoclonal antibodies directed against CD31, CD26, B7/BB1, E-selectin, CD44, VLA-4 alpha-chain and VCAM-1 had no effect, whereas moderate inhibition was observed with anti-VLA-beta-chain and anti-LFA-3. A distinct inhibition of T cell proliferation was observed with mAbs directed against LFA-1, CD2, or a combination of anti-ICAM-1 and -2. Combinations of mAbs directed against T cell adhesion molecules (LFA-1, CD2, VLA-4) or EC adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, and -2, LFA-3, VCAM-1) were able to block T cell proliferation for 100 and 80% respectively. We conclude that CD2/LFA-3 and LFA-1/ICAM interactions are crucially involved in allogeneic T cell/EC interactions.
Westphal
J R
JR
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Willems
H W
HW
Tax
W J
WJ
Koene
R A
RA
Ruiter
D J
DJ
de Waal
R M
RM
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006680:HLA Antigens; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma