Alloreactive memory T cells are responsible for the persistence of graft-versus-host disease.
Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is caused by a donor T cell anti-host reaction that evolves over several weeks to months, suggesting a requirement for persistent alloreactive T cells. Using the C3H.SW anti-C57BL/6 (B6) mouse model of human GVHD directed against minor histocompatibility Ags, we found that donor CD8(+) T cells secreting high levels of IFN-gamma in GVHD B6 mice receiving C3H.SW naive CD8(+) T cells peaked by day 14, declined by day 28 after transplantation, and persisted thereafter, corresponding to the kinetics of a memory T cell response. Donor CD8(+) T cells recovered on day 42 after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation expressed the phenotype of CD44(high)CD122(high)CD25(low), were able to homeostatically survive in response to IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 and rapidly proliferated upon restimulation with host dendritic cells. Both allogeneic effector memory (CD44(high)CD62L(low)) and central memory (CD44(high)CD62L(high)) CD8(+) T cells were identified in B6 mice with ongoing GVHD, with effector memory CD8(+) T cells as the dominant (>80%) population. Administration of these allogeneic memory CD8(+) T cells into secondary B6 recipients caused virulent GVHD. A similar allogeneic memory CD4(+) T cell population with the ability to mediate persistent GVHD was also identified in BALB/b mice receiving minor histocompatibility Ag-mismatched B6 T cell-replete bone marrow transplantation. These results indicate that allogeneic memory T cells are generated in vivo during GVH reactions and are able to cause GVHD, resulting in persistent host tissue injury. Thus, in vivo blockade of both alloreactive effector and memory T cell-mediated host tissue injury may prove to be valuable for GVHD prevention and treatment.
Zhang
Yi
Y
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Joe
Gerard
G
Hexner
Elizabeth
E
Zhu
Jiang
J
Emerson
Stephen G
SG
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens