The effect of MHC antigen matching between donors and recipients on skin tolerance of vascularized composite allografts

Shanmugarajah, K. et al. (2017) The effect of MHC antigen matching between donors and recipients on skin tolerance of vascularized composite allografts. American Journal of Transplantation, 17(7), pp. 1729-1741. (doi: 10.1111/ajt.14189) (PMID:28035752)

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Abstract

The emergence of skin‐containing vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) has provided impetus to understand factors affecting rejection and tolerance of skin. VCA tolerance can be established in miniature swine across haploidentical MHC barriers using mixed chimerism. Because the deceased donor pool for VCAs does not permit MHC antigen matching, clinical VCAs are transplanted across varying MHC disparities. We investigated whether sharing of MHC class I or II antigens between donors and recipients influences VCA skin tolerance. Miniature swine were conditioned nonmyeloablatively and received hematopoietic stem cell transplants and VCAs across MHC class I (n = 3) or class II (n = 3) barriers. In vitro immune responsiveness was assessed, and VCA skin‐resident leukocytes were characterized by flow cytometry. Stable mixed chimerism was established in all animals. MHC class II–mismatched chimeras were tolerant of VCAs. MHC class I–mismatched animals, however, rejected VCA skin, characterized by infiltration of recipient‐type CD8+ lymphocytes. Systemic donor‐specific nonresponsiveness was maintained, including after VCA rejection. This study shows that MHC antigen matching influences VCA skin rejection and suggests that local regulation of immune tolerance is critical in long‐term acceptance of all VCA components. These results help elucidate novel mechanisms underlying skin tolerance and identify clinically relevant VCA tolerance strategies.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The authors acknowledge support from C06RR020135‐01 for construction of the facility utilized for production and maintenance of miniature swine. Experimental funding was provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children 85230‐BOS‐14.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Leonard, Dr David
Authors: Shanmugarajah, K., Powell, H., Leonard, D. A.>, Mallard, C., Albritton, A., Harrington, E., Randolph, M. A., Farkash, E., Sachs, D. H., Kurtz, J. M., and Cetrulo Jr., C. L.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:American Journal of Transplantation
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1600-6135
ISSN (Online):1600-6143
Published Online:30 December 2016

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