title: De novo expression of MHC class II molecules by microglial cells during acute rat renal allograft rejection.
abstract: The expression of MHC class I and class II molecules in the cerebral cortex of rats was investigated at daily intervals from day 3 to day 6 after fully allogeneic (DA-->LEW) and isogeneic (LEW-->LEW) kidney transplantation. MHC class II molecules were temporarily induced on the previously negative microglial cells and on the endothelia of arterioles and venules during acute rejection. On the endothelia of all brain vessels MHC class I expression was enhanced. MHC class I+ cells with microglial cell morphology were discernible within the diffusely MHC class I+ brain parenchyma. In contrast, the brain parenchyma of isograft recipients and untreated control animals did not express detectable levels of MHC molecules. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a strong immune reaction in the periphery is able to activate microglial cells in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Philipps University Marburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 6, D-35033 Marburg, Germany. grauv@mailer.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steiniger
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II