title: Antigen-presenting function and B7 expression of murine sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammatory liver disease as well as rejection of liver allografts are thought to be mediated by resident antigen-presenting cells in the liver. At the same time, in vivo antigen presentation in the liver appears to be a more tolerogenic than systemic antigen challenge. The aim of this study was to show and characterize the antigen-presenting capability of sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purified murine sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells were studied for their ability to serve as accessory cells and antigen-presenting cells by proliferation assays. They were also studied for their expression of interleukin 1 and the B7 costimulatory molecules by Northern blotting, polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both cell types expressed interleukin 1 messenger RNA and could serve equally well as accessory and antigen-presenting cells. B7-2 messenger RNA and surface expression on sinusoidal endothelial cells and on Kupffer cells was shown. Antibodies to the B7 molecules inhibited antigen presentation. Addition of interleukin 10 as a regulatory cytokine secreted by Kupffer cells was suppressive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sinusoidal endothelial cells carry functional B7-2 molecules and can serve as effective antigen-presenting cells. However, antigen presentation by sinusoidal endothelial cells may be locally down-regulated by interleukin 10.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Knolle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bilo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uhrig
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer Zum Büschenfelde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10