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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Murine Corneal Transplantation: A Model to Study the Most Common Form of Solid Organ Transplantation
Published on: November 17, 2014
CD4+ T-cell-independent rejection of corneal allografts
Jerry Y Niederkorn1, Christina Stevens, Jessamee Mellon
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA.
Background:
Several studies suggest that a significant number of corneal allografts undergo rejection in the absence of CD4 T cells. This study examined the role of CD4 T cell-independent mechanisms of corneal allograft rejection.
Methods:
BALB/c corneal allografts were transplanted to C57BL/6 beige nude mice that received either CD8 or CD8 T cells from C57BL/6 CD4 knockout (KO) mice that had rejected BALB/c corneal allografts. Immune effector functions of CD8 or CD8 T cells from C57BL/6 CD4 KO mice were assessed using delayed-type hypersensitivity assays and Annexin V apoptosis assays respectively. RESULTS.: Both CD8 and CD8 T cells from CD4 KO corneal allograft rejector mice mediated corneal allograft rejection following adoptive transfer to nude mice. CD8 T cells, but not CD8 T cells, from CD4 KO mice adoptively transferred donor-specific DTH and induced apoptosis of BALB/c corneal endothelial cells in vitro. Apoptosis of BALB/c corneal endothelial cells was mediated by double negative (DN) T cells, as treatment of CD8 cells from CD4 KO mice with anti-Thy 1.2 plus complement abolished their effector function.
Conclusion:
The results support the proposition that CD4 T cell-independent rejection of corneal allografts can be mediated by either CD8 or CD8 T cells. The CD8 T cells represent a unique DN T cell population that might mediate rejection by either direct cytolysis or by inducing apoptosis of the donor corneal endothelium.
