Indirect recognition of donor HLA-DR peptides in organ allograft rejection

Zhuoru Liu, Adriana I. Colovai, Sorina Tugulea, Elaine F. Reed, Peter E. Fisher, Donna Mancini, Eric A. Rose, Raffaello Cortesini, Robert E. Michler, Nicole Suciu-Foca

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

223 Scopus citations

Abstract

To determine whether indirect allorecognition is involved in heart allograft rejection T cells obtained from peripheral blood and graft biopsy tissues were expanded in the presence of IL-2 and tested in limiting dilution analysis (LDA) for reactivity to synthetic peptides corresponding to the hypervariable regions of the mismatched HLA-DR antigen(s) of the donor. Serial studies of 32 patients showed that T cell reactivity to donor allopeptides was strongly associated with episodes of acute rejection. The frequency of allopeptide reactive T cells was 10-50-fold higher in the graft than in the periphery indicating that T cells activated via the indirect allorecognition pathway participate actively in acute allograft rejection. In recipients carrying a graft differing by two HLA-DR alleles the response appeared to target only one of the mismatched antigens of the donor. Indirect allorecognition was restricted by a single HLA-DR antigen of the host and directed against one immunodominant peptide of donor HLA-DR protein. However, intermolecular spreading was demonstrated in patients with multiple rejection episodes by showing that they develop allopeptide reactivity against the second HLA-DR antigen. These data imply that early treatment to suppress T cell responses through the indirect pathway of allorecognition, such as tolerance induction to the dominant donor determinant, may be required to prevent amplification and perpetuation of the rejection process.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1150-1157
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume98
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • MHC- restriction
  • T cell determinants
  • acute rejection
  • allopeptide
  • alloreactivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Indirect recognition of donor HLA-DR peptides in organ allograft rejection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this