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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;123:803-809
© 2002 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic Transplantation (TX) |
From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery,a Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics,b and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,c University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
Received for publication May 1, 2001. Revisions requested July 27, 2001; revisions received Aug 16, 2001. Accepted for publication Aug 31, 2001. Address for reprints: Abbas Ardehali, MD, UCLA Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, CHS 62-246, 10833 LeConte Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (E-mail: aardehali{at}mednet.ucla.edu).
| Abstract |
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. Intimal lesions developed in the allografts by day 14 (12.0% ± 4.0%) and further increased by day 30 (44.0% ± 5.0%). In the major histocompatibility complex class II mismatched model, the donor hearts in the CD8 -/- knockout recipients had substantially less severe intimal lesions when compared with the donor hearts in wild-type recipients (19.0% ± 6.0% vs 50.0% ± 7.0%, respectively; P < .05). | Introduction |
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CAV is a complex multifactorial process. Although the contribution of alloantigen-independent processes to the development of CAV is becoming increasingly evident,
4 it is generally accepted that the cellular immune system participates in the pathogenesis of CAV.
5-8 However, the role of T-lymphocyte subsets, and specifically the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in the development of CAV, is incompletely defined. Prior studies have yielded conflicting results on the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in chronic rejection. Allan and colleagues
9 have demonstrated the importance of CD8+ lymphocytes in chronic rejection using an inbred porcine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I mismatch model in which intimal proliferation was abrogated after anti-CD8 antibody therapy. In contrast, Clarke-Forbes and coworkers
10 reported that CD8+ lymphocyte depletion did not alter the severity of chronic rejection in a rat MHC class I and class II mismatched model. Similarly, using a murine carotid artery loop model, Shi and colleagues
5 reported that CD8+ lymphocytes were not involved in neointimal proliferation.
Our laboratory has previously characterized 2 murine models of CAV without immunosuppression in which the donor and recipient strains differ at either (1) MHC class I or (2) MHC class II antigens.
11-13 Using these 2 models, we sought to define the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in CAV. In the MHC class I mismatched model we studied (1) the temporal pattern of CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in relationship to CAV development, (2) the activation status of infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes, and (3) the contribution of CD8+ lymphocytes to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including interferon (IFN)
. Given the availability of transgenic strains in our MHC class II mismatched model, we studied the effect of genetic absence of CD8+ lymphocytes on CAV development. The results of this study demonstrate an important role for CD8+ lymphocytes in chronic rejection. More importantly, these findings yield some insight into the mechanism of failure of costimulatory blockade therapy in preventing chronic rejection.
| Methods |
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Transplantation
The intra-abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation was performed with the technique previously described by Corry and colleagues.
14 Briefly, through a midline abdominal incision, the donor aorta was anastomosed to the recipient infrarenal abdominal aorta, and the donor pulmonary artery was anastomosed to the inferior vena cava with 10-0 nylon sutures. The donor ischemia time was approximately 45 minutes. Function of the allografts was assessed through abdominal palpation and scored on a scale of 0 to 4 (0 indicates absence of contractions and 4 indicates normal beating).
Experimental groups
In the MHC class I mismatched group B10.A strain mouse hearts were transplanted into B10.BR recipients and harvested at days 1, 7, 14, and 30, respectively (n = 6 each group). In the isograft groups B10.BR mouse hearts were transplanted into B10.BR recipients and removed at days 1, 7, 14, and 30 (n = 6 each group). Control B10.A and B10.BR hearts were also excised (day 0) and examined for infiltration of inflammatory cells and constitutive expression of activation markers (n = 6 each group). No immunosuppression was administered.
In the MHC class II mismatched group B6.CH-2bm12 mouse hearts were transplanted into C57BL/6 wild-type control recipients (n = 6) or CD8 -/- knockout recipients (n = 6). In the isograft groups C57BL/6 mouse hearts were transplanted into C57BL/6 recipients (n = 6). All recipients were harvested at 24 days. No immunosuppression was administered.
Immunostaining and morphometric analysis
The transplanted and native hearts were explanted in all animals. The harvested hearts were fixed in liquid nitrogen embedded in OCT compound and kept at -70°C. The primary antibodies were as follows: rat anti-mouse CD4 monoclonal antibody clone GK1.5; rat anti-mouse CD8a monoclonal antibody clone 53-6.7; rat anti-mouse CD11b (Mac-1) clone M1/70 and rat anti-mouse MOMA-2 monoclonal antibody for monocytes/macrophages; rat anti-mouse CD25 monoclonal antibody clone 7D4 for interleukin (IL) 2R; and anti-mouse
-smooth muscle actin monoclonal antibody clone 1A4 for smooth muscle cells. All primary antibodies were purchased from PharMingen (San Diego, Calif), with the exception of
-smooth muscle actin antibody (Sigma Chemical Co, St Louis, Mo).
Immunohistochemistry was performed on 5-µm-thick cryostat sections with the use of an avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique (Vector Laboratories, Inc, Burlingame, Calif), with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine as the chromogen. Sections were incubated with the Avidin-Biotin Complex Solution, Vectastain Elite ABC kit (Vector Laboratories, Inc). 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine was applied and subsequently counterstained with Harris hematoxylin.
The perivascular and vascular region was scored by 2 blinded observers on a scale of 0 to 4 (0, no staining; 1, scattered individual cells; 2, focal clusters of cells; 3, multifocal clusters of cells; and 4, diffuse clusters of cells).
Hematoxylin and eosin stains were performed for routine examination and scoring of acute cellular rejection by using the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grading system. Elastin van Gieson staining was performed for morphometric analysis of arterial intimal proliferation. The morphometric analysis method previously described by Armstrong and colleagues
15 was used. The areas of the neointima, media, and lumen were measured with Optimas 6 software by Media Cybernetics. The neointima was defined as the area bound by the internal elastic lamina and the lumen. The media was defined as the region between the internal and external elastic membranes. The lumen was defined as the clear region in the vessel. Multiple sections from the middle of the heart were used for analysis. Vessels greater than 80 µm were measured. An average of 10 vessels per heart were measured.
Flow cytometric analysis
Allografts were homogenized and digested with 10 µg/mL collagenase D (Sigma Chemical Co) for 2 hours. The homogenate was passed through a nylon strainer, and red blood cells were lysed with red blood cell lysing buffer (Sigma Chemical Co), washed, and resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The recipient's splenocytes were isolated with a nylon cell strainer, and red blood cells were lysed and subsequently washed. Cells were incubated with Cychrome-labeled CD8 monoclonal antibody, phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled CD44 monoclonal antibody, and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled CD62 monoclonal antibody for 30 minutes; washed; and analyzed with a COULTER EPICS XL-MCL Flow Cytometer (Coulter Corporation, Hialeah, Fla). All antibodies were purchased from PharMingen. Data were presented as percentages of cells with positive staining calculated as the difference between the sample's fluorescence and background nonspecific fluorescence. The cytotoxic phenotype was defined as CD8 high, CD44 high, CD62 low.
The intracellular cytokine-staining assay was used to determine the intragraft cytokine profile, identify the cytokine source, and confirm T-lymphocyte activation. For intracellular cytokine evaluation, donor heart graft-infiltrating cells were isolated (1-2 x 106/mL) and subsequently stimulated with PharMingen Activation Cocktail (10 µL/6 mL; containing phorbol myristate acetate, ionomycin, and Brefeldin A) for 4 hours at 37°C. Three separate experiments were performed at each time point. Only the donor hearts from the MHC class I mismatched model system were analyzed in this study. By using 2-color flow cytometric analysis, graft-infiltrating cells were double stained for cell-surface markers, as well as for intracellular cytokines. Specifically, the samples were stained for the presence of cell-surface antigens with FITC-labeled anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody or FITC-labeled anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody for 30 minutes at 4°C. Samples were washed, fixed, and permeablized with PharMingen Perm/Fix solution for 30 minutes at 4°C. The cells were washed in permeablizing buffer and incubated with either PE-labeled IL-2 monoclonal antibody, PE-labeled IFN-
monoclonal antibody, PE-labeled IL-4 monoclonal antibody, or PE-labeled IL-10 monoclonal antibody for 30 minutes at 4°C. After 2 washes with permeablizing buffer, the cells were resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline. All antibodies were purchased from PharMingen. Data were presented as percentages of cells with positive staining calculated as the difference between the sample's fluorescence and background nonspecific fluorescence.
Statistical analysis
All results were expressed as means ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed with a paired t test.
| Results |
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The cellular characteristics of the lesions described in this murine model of CAV appear similar to those identified in human models. The cellular constituents in human lesions have been described immunohistochemically as both CD4+ and C8+ lymphocytes, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells.
16
Activation status of CD8+ lymphocytes
To identify the activation status of the graft-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes, we looked at markers associated with CD8+ lymphocyte cytotoxicity (CD8+/CD62 low/CD44 high)
17 using flow cytometric analysis. The graft-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes expressed markers associated with cytotoxicity after transplantation (CD62 low/CD44 high) at all examined time points (Table 2).
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) and TH2 (IL-4 and IL-10) type were used.
At all time points, CD8+ lymphocytes were the predominant graft-infiltrating T-lymphocyte subset in this MHC class I mismatched model (Table 3). Moreover, a greater percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes produced IL-2 and IFN-
(Table 3
). These findings suggest that CD8+ lymphocytes are the primary source of IFN-
, which is known to cause CAV.
18,19
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| Discussion |
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, which is known to play a pivotal role in CAV development.
In acute cellular rejection of allografts, it is currently accepted that both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes can mediate cellular injury.
20,21 In chronic rejection of allografts, only the role of CD4+ lymphocytes is well established.
22-24 However, there is limited and yet conflicting information on the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in chronic rejection.
5,9,10 The findings of this study substantiate a significant contributory role for CD8+ lymphocytes in CAV by demonstrating (1) a temporal relationship between CD8+ lymphocyte recruitment and CAV development, (2) the presence of activated graft-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes, (3) the production of IFN-
by graft-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes, and (4) a marked decline in intimal lesion development in the absence of CD8+ lymphocytes.
To define the precise mechanism of CD8+ lymphocyte contribution to CAV development, we assayed the graft-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes for their known effector functions. CD8+ lymphocytes render their effector function directly, by inducing vessel wall injury (cytotoxicity), or indirectly, through the secretion of cytokines. Among the inflammatory cytokines, IFN-
has been shown to play a pivotal role in CAV development.
18,19 The serologic neutralization or genetic absence of IFN-
has been shown to markedly reduce the extent of CAV in murine models.
18,19 IFN-
may contribute to CAV development directly, through the activation of macrophages, or indirectly, through the upregulation of donor MHC antigens, with subsequent T-lymphocyte activation.
18,19,22-25 Moreover, Tellides and colleagues
26 have recently reported that IFN-
alone can induce arteriosclerotic changes in either swine or human carotid loops transplanted into immunodeficient mouse recipients. The current study provides evidence that the mechanism of CD8+ lymphocyte's contribution to CAV development is through both cytotoxic activity and elaboration of IFN-
.
The findings of this study are especially timely and relevant, given the recent reported observations with costimulatory blockade therapy.
27-30 Costimulatory molecule signaling is required to activate T lymphocytes.
30 Significant strides have been made toward donor-specific tolerance through costimulatory blockade therapy.
27-30 Given the central role of CD4+ lymphocytes in both acute and chronic rejection, this form of therapy has been conventionally directed against CD4+ lymphocyte costimulatory molecules, such as CD28 and CD40 ligand. Multiple experimental and, more recently, clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of costimulatory blockade in preventing acute rejection and prolonging allograft survival.
27-30 However, long-lasting allografts still demonstrate manifestations of chronic rejection, ultimately leading to graft failure.
20-23 Given the efficacy of costimulatory blockade in controlling CD4+ lymphocyte alloreactivity, it has been suggested that CD8+ lymphocytes may be responsible for the development of chronic rejection in the aforementioned studies.
12,29-30 The findings of the current study substantiate a participating role for CD8+ lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of chronic rejection.
Optimal activation and proliferation of CD8+ lymphocytes, like CD4+ lymphocytes, require the delivery of signals through both the T-cell receptor and a costimulatory molecule.
28 Recent reports suggest that CD8+ lymphocytes can be activated independently of CD40 ligand and CD28 costimulatory pathways.
13,31,32 CD8+ lymphocyte activation may include the use of alternate costimulatory pathways, including an inducible co-stimulator (ICOS), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and 4-1BB.
33-36 We have recently observed that the costimulatory molecule 4-1BB provides preferential CD8+ lymphocyte costimulation in the MHC class II mismatched model system (unpublished data). The 4-1BB receptor, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is rapidly expressed on T lymphocytes after antigen/T-cell receptor binding.
34,36 In vitro studies illustrate that 4-1BB costimulation markedly enhances CD8+ lymphocyte proliferation, IFN-
production, and cytotoxicity.
34,36 Given the importance of CD8+ lymphocytes in chronic rejection, blockade of CD8+ lymphocyte-specific costimulatory molecules may be a necessary adjunct to the current costimulatory blockade regimen in preventing chronic rejection.
In conclusion, this study confirms the role of CD8+ lymphocytes and offers a mechanism for their contribution to chronic rejection. Knowledge of the precise contributions of CD8+ lymphocytes in CAV development will provide a framework for the design of rational therapies for chronic rejection in all solid organ transplants. Specifically, combination therapies that target CD8+ lymphocytes, in addition to CD4+ lymphocytes, with costimulatory molecule blockade, may prove necessary in the prevention of chronic rejection.
| Footnotes |
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| References |
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during the differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by allografts. J Immunol. 1992;148:2348.[Abstract]This article has been cited by other articles:
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