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Immunologic privilege evoked by histoincompatible intracameral retinal transplants
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, School of Medicine, FL 33101.
Regional Immunology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Intraocular retinal transplants in the anterior chamber (AC) survive and integrate, inducing immune tolerance. Grafts in the subconjunctival space are rejected, highlighting the AC's immune privilege for retinal transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Transplantation Biology
Background:
- The eye possesses unique immune-privileged sites that can prolong graft survival.
- Understanding immune responses to intraocular transplants is crucial for regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fate and immune response to histoincompatible neural retinal allografts in different ocular compartments.
- To determine if anterior chamber (AC) transplantation induces systemic immune tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Neural retinas from BALB/c mice were transplanted into the anterior chamber (AC) or subconjunctival space of C57BL/6 mice.
- Graft survival, histology, and systemic immune responses (delayed hypersensitivity, suppressor cells) were assessed.
- Adoptive transfer assays were used to identify suppressor lymphocytes.
Main Results:
- AC retinal allografts survived, vascularized, and differentiated without rejection or inflammation.
- Subconjunctival grafts were rejected within 8 days, eliciting a strong delayed hypersensitivity response.
- Mice with AC grafts showed suppressed delayed hypersensitivity and possessed splenic suppressor cells.
- Subsequent challenge led to AC graft regression, indicating a dynamic immune interaction.
Conclusions:
- The anterior chamber confers immune privilege to developing retinal allografts, promoting survival.
- Intracameral retinal transplants induce a systemic immune deviation characterized by suppressed cell-mediated immunity and suppressor cell generation.
- Successful retinal allotransplantation in the AC is mediated by active suppression of the host's immune response.