Induction of apoptosis reduces immunogenicity of human T-cell lines in mice.
Apoptotic cells, e.g. postinflammatory neutrophils, were reported to be engulfed by phagocytes without induction of an inflammatory response. We investigated the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice after repeated injection of viable or apoptotic human T cells. Following interleukin-2 (IL-2) deprivation, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)/IL-2 expanded human T-cell lines were irradiated with UV-B light to induce apoptosis, confirmed by propidium iodide staining of Triton X-100-lysed cells. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect antilymphocyte antibodies 7 days after each injection. We found high levels of antilymphocyte antibodies in all animals immunized with viable T cells, whereas animals injected with apoptotic cells showed a significantly reduced humoral immune response. We conclude that apoptotic cells induce poor xenoreactive T-cell responses when compared with viable cells.
Ponner
B B
BB
Institute for Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine III, Erlangen, Germany.
Stach
C
C
Zoller
O
O
Hagenhofer
M
M
Voll
R
R
Kalden
J R
JR
Herrmann
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation