Uptake of donor lymphocytes treated with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A light by recipient dendritic cells induces CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and down-regulates cardiac allograft rejection.

Abstract

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an effective immunomodulatory therapy and has been demonstrated to be beneficial for graft-vs-host disease and solid-organ allograft rejection. ECP involves reinfusion of a patient's autologous peripheral blood leukocytes treated ex vivo with 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA light radiation (PUVA). Previous studies focused only on ECP treatment of recipient immune cells. Our study is the first to extend the target of ECP treatment to donor immune cells. The results of in vitro co-culture experiments demonstrate uptake of donor PUVA-treated splenic lymphocytes (PUVA-SPs) by recipient immature dendritic cells (DCs). Phagocytosis of donor PUVA-SPs does not stimulate phenotype maturation of recipient DCs. In the same co-culture system, donor PUVA-SPs enhanced production of interleukin-10 and interferon-gamma by recipient DCs and impaired the subsequent capability of recipient DCs to stimulate recipient naïve T cells. Phagocytosis of donor PUVA-SP (PUVA-SP DCs) by recipient DCs shifted T-cell responses in favor of T helper 2 cells. Infusion of PUVA-SP DCs inhibited cardiac allograft rejection in an antigen-specific manner and induced CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. In conclusion, PUVA-SP DCs simultaneously deliver the donor antigen and the regulatory signal to the transplant recipient, and thus can be used to develop a novel DC vaccine for negative immune regulation and immune tolerance induction.

• Authors: De-Hua Zheng, Li-Ping Dou, Yu-Xiang Wei, Guo-Sheng Du, Yi-Ping Zou, Ji-Yong Song, Zhi-Dong Zhu, Ming Cai, Ye-Yong Qian, Bing-Yi Shi
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 395 Issue 4 Pg. 540-6 (May 14 2010) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20394727 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• CD4 Antigens
• FOXP3 protein, human
• Forkhead Transcription Factors
• Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Interleukin-10
• Interferon-gamma
• Methoxsalen

Topics

• Animals
• CD4 Antigens (immunology)
• Dendritic Cells (drug effects, immunology, radiation effects)
• Down-Regulation
• Forkhead Transcription Factors (immunology)
• Graft Rejection (therapy)
• Heart Transplantation (immunology)
• Immunomodulation
• Interferon-gamma (immunology)
• Interleukin-10 (immunology)
• Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit (immunology)
• Methoxsalen (pharmacology)
• Phagocytosis
• Photopheresis
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Lew
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spleen (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)
• Th2 Cells (immunology)
• Ultraviolet Rays