Abstract
Models of high-risk corneal graft rejection involve neovascularization induced via innate immune responses, e.g., suture-mediated trauma. We describe a model of high-risk corneal graft rejection using corneal graft donor-recipient pairing based on a single-antigen disparity. Donor corneas from transgenic mice on B10.BR (H-2(k) ) background, in which hen-egg lysozyme (HEL) as a membrane-bound antigen (mHEL) was expressed under the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I promoter (KLK-mHEL, H-2(k) ), were transplanted into wild type B10.BR recipient mice. Unmanipulated wild type recipient mice rejected KLK-mHEL grafts (39%) slowly over 50-60 days. Graft rejection incidence was maximized (100%) and tempo accelerated (27 days) by priming with HEL-pulsed syngeneic dendritic cells and less so by increasing T-cell precursor frequency. Rejection also reached maximum levels (100%) and tempo (3-8 days) when mice which had rejected a first graft ('rejectors') were regrafted, and was associated with induction of HEL-specific memory T cells. In contrast, 'acceptors' rejected a second graft at rates and tempo similar to naïve mice. These data reveal the importance of (i) donor MHC antigens as alloantigens for indirect recognition, (ii) alloantigen-specific memory in high-risk graft rejection involving regrafts, and (iii) suggest a role for tissue matching in human corneal graft to avoid sensitization to donor MHC antigens.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 453-461 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Transplant International |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 11 Feb 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2013 |
Keywords
- accelerated rejection
- corneal transplantation
- dendritic cells
- regraft
- T-cell memory
- transgenic mouse