Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol.,
Volume 23, Number 4, October, 2000 499-505
Instillation of Allogeneic Lung Antigen-Presenting Cells Deficient in
Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I or II Antigens
Have Differential Effects on Local Cellular and Humoral Immunity and on
Pathology in Recipient Murine Lungs
Kathleen M.
Heidler,
Kemba
Baker,
Kena
Woods,
Carol
Schnizlein-Bick,
Oscar W.
Cummings,
Richard
Sidner,
Brian
Foresman,
and
David S.
Wilkes
Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology, and Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Recognition of allogeneic major histocompatibility complex
(MHC) molecules expressed on donor lung antigen-presenting
cells (APCs) by host T lymphocytes is believed to stimulate lung
allograft rejection. However, the specific roles of donor MHC
molecules in the rejection response is unknown. We report a
murine model in which instilling allogeneic lung APCs into recipient lungs induces pathology analogous to acute rejection,
and the production of interferon (IFN)-
, immunoglobulin (Ig)
G2a, and alloantibodies in recipient lungs. Using allogeneic
lung APCs (C57BL/6, I-ab, H-2b) deficient in MHC class I, II, or
both for instillation into lungs of BALB/c mice (I-ad, H-2d), the
purpose of the current study was to determine the specific roles of donor MHC molecules in stimulating local alloimmune
responses. The data show that MHC class I or II on donor
APCs induced IFN-
and IgG2a synthesis locally, though less
than that induced by wild-type cells. Both MHC class I and II
were required to induce alloantibody production. Instillation
of wild-type or class I- or class II-deficient APCs induced comparable pathologic lesions in recipient lungs, and more severe
than that induced by MHC-deficient cells. These data show
that donor MHC class I and II molecules have differential effects in the stimulation of local alloimmune responses.