RECOGNITION OF ISLET-DIRECTED PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES IN VITRO BEFORE REJECTION OF ALLOGENEIC GRAFTED ISLETS1
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Kuttler, Beate; Wanka, Heike; Hahn, Hans J.
- Source
- Transplantation; May 2000, Vol. 69 Issue: 9 p1987-1990, 4p
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 00411337; 15346080
A co-culture of splenic lymphocytes with allogeneic pancreatic islets i.e., mixed lymphocyte islet co-culture (MLIC) for 96 hr leads to reduction of -cells and to an allospecific induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens on -cells. The intent of our investigation was to determine whether peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from allogeneic islet-grafted BB/OK rats (sensitization in vivo) cause similar alterations to donor-specific islet cells. PBL prepared before transplantation, before (at day 7) and after islet rejection were co-cultured for 24 hr with donor-specific islets. PBL obtained at any time before and after transplantation caused reduction of -cells and enhancement of intercellular adhesion molecule-1-cells. Induction of MHC class II-cells was most pronounced with PBL obtained before rejection. Down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I-cells was caused by PBL that had been obtained from grafted animals only; it was most pronounced before islet rejection and has never been observed with lymphocytes from nongrafted normoglycemic rats. The 24-hr MLIC is capable of recognizing functionally active, donor-specific lymphocytes and is able to distinguish between the effects of sensitized and nonsensitized lymphocytes.