Migration patterns of dendritic cells in the mouse. Traffic from the blood, and T cell-dependent and -independent entry to lymphoid tissues.

Dendritic cells (DC) are critical accessory cells for primary immune responses and they may be important stimulators of transplantation reactions, but little is known of their traffic into the tissues. We have studied the migration of purified splenic DC and T lymphocytes, labeled with 111Indium-tropolone, in syngeneic and allogeneic mice. First we demonstrate that DC can migrate from the blood into some lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. Immediately after intravenous administration, radio-labeled DC were sequestered in the lungs, but they actively migrated into the liver and spleen and reached equilibrium levels between 3 and 24 h after transfer. At least half of the radiolabel accumulated in the liver, but the spleen was the principal site of DC localization in terms of specific activity (radiolabel per weight of tissue). DC were unable to enter Peyer's patches, or mesenteric and other peripheral lymph nodes from the bloodstream. This was also true in splenectomized recipients, where the otherwise spleen-seeking DC were quantitatively diverted to the liver. In contrast, T cells homed readily to the spleen and lymph nodes of normal mice and increased numbers were present in these tissues in splenectomized mice. Thus, unlike T cells, DC cannot recirculate from blood to lymph via the nodes. We then show that migration of DC from the blood into the spleen is dependent on the presence of T cells: DC did not enter the spleens of nude mice, but when they were reconstituted with T cells the numbers entering the spleen resembled those in euthymic mice. In nude mice, as in splenectomized recipients, the DC that would normally enter the spleen were quantitatively diverted to the liver. These findings suggest that there is a spleen-liver equilibrium for DC, that may be akin to that existing between spleen and lymph node for T cells. Finally, we followed the traffic of radiolabeled DC via the afferent lymphatics after subcutaneous footpad inoculation. DC accumulated in the popliteal nodes but did not migrate further to the inguinal nodes. There was no difference between euthymic and nude mice, showing that unlike traffic to the spleen, this route probably does not require T cells. These migration patterns were not affected by major histocompatibility barriers, and were only seen with viable, but not glutaraldehyde-fixed, DC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS

Fibronectin in immune responses in organ transplant recipients.

The immune response to an organ allograft involves perpetuation of T cell infiltration and activation. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of T cell activation have placed particular emphasis on the interactions between the T-cell receptor and antigen presenting cells, with little reference to the fact that in vivo activation occurs in the physical context of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). Indeed, the possibility that ECM proteins may have a determining role in lymphocyte adhesion and tissue localization and function is now becoming more appreciated in view of growing evidence indicating that integrins and other T cell antigens bind ECM components, with some of these components exerting synergistic effects on T-cell activation. This review focuses on the importance of interactions between lymphocytes and fibronectin, a prominent ECM component, for cell migration and function in organ allograft recipients. It explores novel therapeutic approaches based on the assumption that fibronectin represents an active element in the process of T cell activation in the immune cascade triggered by organ transplantation

Migration patterns of dendritic cells in the mouse. Homing to T cell-dependent areas of spleen, and binding within marginal zone.

Using quantitative techniques we have shown elsewhere that dendritic cells (DC) migrate from blood into the spleen, under the control of T cells. Here we traced the localization of DC within the spleen and sought to explain the means by which they entered. DC were labeled with a fluorochrome, Hoescht 33342, and injected intravenously. Spleens were removed 3 or 24 h later and DC were visualized within particular areas that were defined by mAbs and FITC anti-Igs. At 3 h most DC were in the red pulp, whereas by 24 h the majority had homed to T-dependent areas of the white pulp and may have become interdigitating cells. Lymphoid DC, isolated from spleen and perhaps normally present in blood, may thus be a migratory stage distinct from the relatively fixed interdigitating cells. We also developed a frozen section assay to investigate the interaction of DC with various lymphoid elements. When DC were incubated on sections of spleen, at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C they attached specifically within the marginal zone and did not bind to T areas; in contrast, macrophages attached only to red pulp and T cells did not bind specifically. However, DC did not bind to sections of mesenteric lymph node, whereas T cells localized in particular regions at 4 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C, probably the high endothelial venules. DC may thus express "homing receptors," similar to those of T cells, for certain endothelia. We propose that T cells can modify the vascular endothelium in certain areas to allow egress of DC from the bloodstream

PACAP neuropeptide promotes Hepatocellular Protection via CREB-KLF4 dependent autophagy in mouse liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Organ ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), associated with acute hepatocyte death, remains an unresolved problem in clinical orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Autophagy, an intracellular self-digesting progress, is responsible for cell reprograming required to regain post-stress homeostasis. Methods: Here, we analyzed the cytoprotective mechanism of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-promoted hepatocellular autophagy in a clinically relevant mouse model of extended hepatic cold storage (4 °C UW solution for 20 h) followed by syngeneic OLT. Results: In contrast to 41.7% of liver graft failure by day 7 post-transplant in control group, PACAP treatment significantly improved graft survival (91.7% by day 14), and promoted autophagy-associated regeneration programs in OLT. In parallel in vitro studies, PACAP-enhanced autophagy ameliorated cellular damage (LDH/ALT levels), and diminished necrosis in H2O2-stressed primary hepatocytes. Interestingly, PACAP not only induced nuclear cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), but also triggered reprogramming factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expression in IR-stressed OLT. Indeed, CREB inhibition attenuated hepatic autophagy and recreated hepatocellular injury in otherwise PACAP-protected livers. Furthermore, CREB inhibition suppressed PACAP-induced KLF4 expression, whereas KLF4 blockade abolished PACAP-promoted autophagy and neutralized PACAP-mediated hepatoprotection both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Current study documents the essential neural regulation of PACAP-promoted autophagy in hepatocellular homeostasis in OLT, which provides the emerging therapeutic principle to combat hepatic IRI in OLT

Anti-interleukin 2 receptor monoclonal antibodies spare phenotypically distinct T suppressor cells in vivo and exert synergistic biological effects.

The therapeutic efficacies of ART-18, ART-65, and OX-39, mouse antibodies of IgG1 isotype recognizing distinct epitopes of the p55 beta chain of the rat IL-2-R molecule, were probed in LEW rat recipients of (LEW X BN)F1 heterotopic cardiac allografts (acute rejection in untreated hosts occurs within 8 d). A 10-d course with ART-18 prolongs graft survival to approximately 21 d (p less than 0.001). Therapy with ART-65, but not with OX-39, was effective (graft survival approximately 16 and 8 d, respectively). Anti-IL-2-R mAb treatment selectively spared T cells with donor-specific suppressor functions; the CD8+ (OX8+ W3/25-) fraction from ART-18-modified recipients, and primarily the CD4+ (W3/25+ OX8-) subset from ART-65-treated hosts conferred unresponsiveness to naive syngeneic rats after adoptive transfer, increasing test graft survival to approximately 16 and 45 d, respectively. Concomitant administration of ART-18 and ART-65 to recipient animals in relatively low doses exerted a strikingly synergistic effect, with 30% of the transplants surviving indefinitely and 50% undergoing late rejection over 50 d. These studies provide evidence that anti-IL-2-R mAbs selectively spare phenotypically distinct T cells with suppressor functions. The data also suggest that in vivo targeting of functionally different IL-2-R epitopes may produce synergistic biological effects

In vivo mature immunological synapses forming SMACs mediate clearance of virally infected astrocytes from the brain

The microanatomy of immune clearance of infected brain cells remains poorly understood. Immunological synapses are essential anatomical structures that channel information exchanges between T cell–antigen-presenting cells (APC) during the priming and effector phases of T cells' function, and during natural killer–target cell interactions. The hallmark of immunological synapses established by T cells is the formation of the supramolecular activation clusters (SMACs), in which adhesion molecules such as leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 segregate to the peripheral domain of the immunological synapse (p-SMAC), which surrounds the T cell receptor–rich or central SMAC (c-SMAC). The inability so far to detect SMAC formation in vivo has cast doubts on its functional relevance. Herein, we demonstrate that the in vivo formation of SMAC at immunological synapses between effector CD8+ T cells and target cells precedes and mediates clearance of virally infected brain astrocytes

IL-2 Pathway Blocking in Combination with Anti-CD154 Synergistically Establishes Mixed Macrochimerism with Limited Dose of Bone Marrow Cells and Prolongs Skin Graft Survival in Mice

To facilitate the establishment of mixed chimerism with limited dose of bone marrow (BM) cells, and to achieve tolerance in skin graft model, combined blocking of costimulatory pathway and IL-2 pathway was used in minimally myeloablative model using busulfan. BM cells (2.5×107) of BALB/c were injected into C57BL/6 mice at day 0 with full thickness skin graft after single dose injection of busulfan (25 mg/kg) on day -1. Recipients were grouped and injected the anti-CD154, CTLA4-Ig, anti-IL-2R at days 0, 2, 4, and 6 according to protocol. Mixed macrochimerism were induced in groups treated with anti-CD154+anti-CTLA4-Ig, anti-CD154+anti-IL-2R, and anti-CD154+anti-CTLA4 Ig+anti-IL-2R. Three groups having chimerism enjoyed prolonged graft survival more than 6 months. Superantigen deletion study revealed deletion of alloreactive T cells in combined blockade treated groups. In graft versus host disease model using CFSE staining, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell proliferation were reduced in groups treated with CTLA4-Ig or anti-IL-2R or both in combination with anti-CD154. However, anti-IL-2R was not so strong as CTLA4-Ig in terms of inhibition of T cell proliferation. In conclusion, IL-2 pathway blocking combined with anti-CD154 can establish macrochimerism with limited dose of BM transplantation and induce specific tolerance to allograft