Major histocompatibility complex expression in brain of rats with graft-versus-host disease

In a healthy state, the central nervous system (CNS) is believed to be an immunologically privileged site, which does not participate in the immune reactions of the rest of the body, and in which identifiable components of the immune system are rare or non-existent. In this study, an immunohistochemical examination of the CNS of F1 hybrid rats following induction of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was carried out to determine whether specific immune reactions in the normal CNS could occur during a systemic immune reaction. The results revealed extensive parenchymal and vascular expression of class I and II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encoded cell surface molecules. The strongest expressors of class I and II molecules were endothelial cells and parenchymal cells, respectively, the latter being apparently activated microglia, in the cerebrum and cerebellum of rats with GVHD. In addition, occasional scattered lymphocytes were detected in the CNS of GVHD rats without blood-brain barrier disruption. Thus, evidence was obtained for the presence of immune responses such as MHC antigen expression and lymphocyte infiltration in the CNS during a strong systemic immune response such as GVHD, microglia and endothelial cells apparently playing an important role.