Functional Characterization of Regulatory Macrophages That Inhibit Graft-reactive Immunity

J Vis Exp. 2017 Jun 7:(124):54242. doi: 10.3791/54242.

Abstract

Macrophage accumulation in transplanted organs has long been recognized as a feature of allograft rejection1. Immunogenic monocytes infiltrate the allograft early after transplantation, mount a graft reactive response against the transplanted organ, and initiate organ rejection2. Recent data suggest that suppressive macrophages facilitate successful long-term transplantation3 and are required for the induction of transplantation tolerance4. This suggests a multidimensional concept of macrophage ontogeny, activation, and function, which demands a new roadmap for the isolation and analysis of macrophage function5. Due to the plasticity of macrophages, it is necessary to provide a methodology to isolate and characterize macrophages, depending on the tissue environment, and to define their functions according to different scenarios. Here, we describe a protocol for immune characterization of graft-infiltrating macrophages and the methods we used to functionally evaluate their capacity to inhibit CD8+ T proliferation and to promote CD4+Foxp3+ Treg expansion in vitro.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology