Frontline: Peripheral priming of alloreactive T cells by the direct pathway of allorecognition.
Recent studies, though controversial, have suggested that secondary lymphoid organs may not constitute an essential site for the initiation of immune responses to transplant antigens. However, this issue has never been examined in the context of direct and indirect allorecognition. Here, we characterized immune responses arising in draining lymph nodes and skin allografts, in a murine model based on a single T cell clonotype where these two pathways can be independently studied. In this model, graft rejection by the direct or the indirect pathway occurred with similar kinetics, although initiation of the alloreactive responses was clearly different. During indirect responses, expansion and activation of alloreactive T cells were first observed in draining lymph nodes, at day 7 post-transplant, and graft-infiltrating T cells were observed later, at day 11. In striking contrast, directly activated alloreactive T cells were detected at an early stage inside the graft, and only later in the draining lymph nodes, after skin allograft rejection was almost completed. These results suggest that sensitization of naive T cells through the direct pathway could take place outside secondary lymphoid organs.
Baratin
Myriam
M
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, Laval, Canada.
Bonin
Karina
K
Daniel
Claude
C
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007519:Isoantigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma