Innate and adaptive immune responses to nonvascular xenografts: evidence that macrophages are direct effectors of xenograft rejection

A Fox, J Mountford, A Braakhuis… - The Journal of …, 2001 - journals.aai.org
The Journal of Immunology, 2001journals.aai.org
Nonvascularized xenograft rejection is T cell mediated, but is dependent on initial
macrophage (Mφ) infiltration. We developed an ip transplant model to define the roles of Mφ
and T cells in xenograft rejection. Nonobese diabetic or BALB/c mice were injected ip with
xenogeneic, allogeneic, or syngeneic cells, and the responding cells in subsequent lavages
were assessed by flow cytometry and adoptive transfer. Neutrophils and monocytes/elicited
Mφ were rapidly recruited in response to xenogeneic pig (PK15 or spleen) cells and, to a …
Abstract
Nonvascularized xenograft rejection is T cell mediated, but is dependent on initial macrophage (Mφ) infiltration. We developed an ip transplant model to define the roles of Mφ and T cells in xenograft rejection. Nonobese diabetic or BALB/c mice were injected ip with xenogeneic, allogeneic, or syngeneic cells, and the responding cells in subsequent lavages were assessed by flow cytometry and adoptive transfer. Neutrophils and monocytes/elicited Mφ were rapidly recruited in response to xenogeneic pig (PK15 or spleen) cells and, to a significantly lesser extent, allogeneic cells. These innate responses preceded T cell infiltration and occurred in their absence in SCID mice. Syngeneic cells induced negligible neutrophil or Mφ responses. Neutrophils and Mφ induced by xenogeneic cells in SCID mice stimulated T cell recruitment after transfer to immunocompetent mice. T cells in turn were required for Mφ activation and xenogeneic cell rejection. Thus, Mφ harvested from immunocompetent but not SCID mice injected with xenogeneic cells expressed activation markers and rejected xenogeneic cells when transferred into SCID mice. These findings demonstrate the interdependent roles of Mφ and T cells in xenograft rejection. The requirement for Mφ reflects their ability to mount a rapid, local innate response that stimulates T cell recruitment and, having received T cell help, to act as direct effectors of rejection.
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