Abstract

B cells have been implicated in transplant rejection via antibody-mediated mechanisms and more recently by presenting donor antigens to T cells. We have shown in patients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection that B cells control the indirect T cell alloresponses. To understand more about the role of B cells as antigen-presenting cells for CD4 + T cell with indirect allospecificity, B cells were depleted in C57BL/6 mice, using an anti-CD20 antibody, prior to receiving MHC class I–mismatched (K d) skin. The absence of B cells at the time of transplantation prolonged skin graft survival. To study the mechanisms behind this observation, T cells with indirect allospecificity were transferred in mice receiving a K d skin transplant. T cell proliferation was markedly inhibited in the absence of recipient B cells, suggesting that B cells contribute to indirect pathway sensitization. Furthermore, we have shown that a possible way in which B cells present alloantigens is via acquisition of MHC-peptide complexes. Finally, we demonstrate that the addition of B cell depletion to the transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) with indirect alloresponse further prolonged skin graft survival. This study supports an important role for B cells in indirect T cell priming and further emphasizes the advantage of combination therapies in prolonging transplant survival.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1415-1426
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons
Volume21
Issue number4
Early online date2 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2021

Keywords

  • B cell biology
  • animal models: murine
  • antigen presentation/recognition
  • immune regulation
  • immunobiology
  • immunosuppression/immune modulation
  • translational research/science

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