Division rate and phenotypic differences discriminate alloreactive and nonalloreactive T cells transferred in lethally irradiated mice

Blood. 2001 Nov 15;98(10):3156-8. doi: 10.1182/blood.v98.10.3156.

Abstract

After non-T-cell-depleted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), both alloreactive and homeostatic signals drive proliferation of donor T cells. Host-reactive donor T cells, which proliferate on alloantigen stimulation, are responsible for the life-threatening graft-versus-host disease. Non-host-reactive donor T cells, which proliferate in response to homeostatic signals, contribute to the beneficial peripheral T-cell reconstitution. The elimination of alloreactive T cells is a major therapeutic challenge for HSCT and would greatly benefit from their specific identification. After T-cell transfer in lymphopenic recipients, the present results show that alloreactive T cells rapidly divided; up-regulated CD69, CD25, and CD4 molecules; and down-regulated CD62L. In contrast, nonalloreactive T cells started to divide later and did not up-regulate CD69, CD25, and CD4. Thus, these 2 cell populations can be effectively discriminated. This should facilitate the specific depletion of alloreactive T cells in allogeneic HSCT.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • CD4 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics
  • Cell Division
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Isoantigens / immunology*
  • L-Selectin / biosynthesis
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Radiation Chimera / immunology*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / transplantation

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD69 antigen
  • Isoantigens
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • L-Selectin