Tolerant T cells inhibit natural killer cells function in antigen-presenting cells in an independent fashion.
Understanding the relationships among immune cells in the setting of immunologic tolerance is imperative to maintain organ and tissue transplants. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells are responsible for both immune tolerance and immune rejection; however, there is only limited knowledge about the relevance of T and NK cells in tolerance. To address this issue, we explored the possible actions of tolerant T cells on NK cells by the means of mixed lymphocyte co-cultures and NK cytotoxicity assays. We showed that tolerant T cell-induced blockade of the co-stimulatory pathway significantly inhibited NK cell function in vitro regarding antigen-presenting cells. This action was cell-cell-contact dependent. We argue that tolerant T cells and NK cells impart synergistic cooperation to maintain transplant tolerance.
Wang
X
X
State Key Lab of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yuan
J
J
Hu
J
J
Wu
J
J
Gan
C
C
He
W
W
Luo
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology