Viral abrogation of stem cell transplantation tolerance causes graft rejection and host death by different mechanisms

J Immunol. 2002 Jun 15;168(12):6047-56. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.168.12.6047.

Abstract

Tolerance-based stem cell transplantation using sublethal conditioning is being considered for the treatment of human disease, but safety and efficacy remain to be established. We have shown that mouse bone marrow recipients treated with sublethal irradiation plus transient blockade of the CD40-CD154 costimulatory pathway develop permanent hematopoietic chimerism across allogeneic barriers. We now report that infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus at the time of transplantation prevented engraftment of allogeneic, but not syngeneic, bone marrow in similarly treated mice. Infected allograft recipients also failed to clear the virus and died. Postmortem study revealed hypoplastic bone marrow and spleens. The cause of death was virus-induced IFN-alphabeta. The rejection of allogeneic bone marrow was mediated by a radioresistant CD8(+)TCR-alphabeta(+)NK1.1(-) T cell population. We conclude that a noncytopathic viral infection at the time of transplantation can prevent engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow and result in the death of sublethally irradiated mice treated with costimulation blockade. Clinical application of stem cell transplantation protocols based on costimulation blockade and tolerance induction may require patient isolation to facilitate the procedure and to protect recipients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Blocking / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Blocking / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Ly
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Bone Marrow / abnormalities
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / mortality
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / pathology
  • CD40 Ligand / immunology
  • CD8 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / genetics
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / mortality*
  • Graft Rejection / virology*
  • Graft Survival / genetics
  • Graft Survival / immunology
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Hematopoiesis / immunology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / mortality*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Kinetics
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Lymphocyte Depletion / adverse effects
  • Lymphocyte Depletion / mortality
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / genetics
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / immunology*
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / mortality*
  • Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / virology
  • Lymphoid Tissue / abnormalities
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL / genetics
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL / immunology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL / virology
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Mice, Knockout / genetics
  • Mice, Knockout / immunology
  • Mice, Knockout / virology
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins*
  • Radiation Chimera / genetics
  • Radiation Chimera / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / biosynthesis
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation Tolerance / genetics
  • Transplantation Tolerance / immunology*
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Ly
  • Antigens, Surface
  • CD8 Antigens
  • KLRB1 protein, human
  • Klrb1c protein, mouse
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • CD40 Ligand