Recruitment of CXCR3+ and CCR5+ T cells and production of interferon-gamma-inducible chemokines in rejecting human arteries

Am J Transplant. 2005 Jun;5(6):1226-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.00892.x.

Abstract

Chemokine receptors preferentially expressed by Th1 cells and their IFN-gamma-inducible ligands predominate in experimental and clinical allograft rejection. Previous chemokine-related transplantation studies have focused on parenchymal and microvascular inflammation which are of importance in acute rejection, but are not necessarily relevant in immune-mediated injury of conduit arteries. We have recently described a model of progressive human T cell-mediated infiltration and injury of allogeneic coronary artery segments using immunodeficient mouse hosts. In the present study, we investigated if recruitment of allogeneic T cells to different vascular compartments correlated with the expression of chemokines and their receptors. Transcripts were quantified by laser capture microdissection/real-time RT-PCR and their distribution was correlated to the corresponding protein expression detected by immunohistochemistry. Infiltrating T cells, confined to the adventitia and intima, expressed CXCR3 and CCR5, but were not recruited into the media despite production by vascular smooth muscle cells of IP-10, Mig, I-TAC, RANTES and MIP-1beta. Chemokine mRNA was detected primarily in vascular cells, although chemokine protein largely localized to infiltrating leukocytes which uniquely expressed their cognate receptors. These data explain the recruitment of IFN-gamma-secreting T cells to the vessel wall, and reinforce the suggestion that the arterial media may be a site of immunological privilege.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Blood Vessels / immunology
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokine CXCL11
  • Chemokine CXCL9
  • Chemokines, CXC / genetics
  • Chemokines, CXC / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Graft Rejection / etiology*
  • Heart Transplantation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology*
  • Leukocytes
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / genetics
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / immunology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, CCR5 / immunology
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine / immunology
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Vascular Diseases / etiology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CXCL11 protein, human
  • CXCL9 protein, human
  • CXCR3 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokine CXCL11
  • Chemokine CXCL9
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Cxcl11 protein, mouse
  • Cxcr3 protein, mouse
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Interferon-gamma