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Evidence for peripheral mechanisms inducing tissue tolerance during ontogeny
1Institut d'Embryologie cellulaire et moléculaire du CNRS et du College de France, Nogent-sur-Marne.
International Immunology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Chickens grafted with limb buds from different strains showed long-term acceptance of the graft. This suggests a peripheral immune tolerance mechanism complements thymus-based self-recognition.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Transplantation Biology
Background:
- Investigating immune responses to tissue grafts is crucial for understanding transplantation and self-tolerance.
- Early embryonic development offers a unique window to study immune system maturation and tolerance induction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the immune response to histoincompatible tissue grafts in chick embryos after hatching.
- To determine if early graft acceptance leads to long-term tolerance in mature immune systems.
Main Methods:
- Grafting limb buds from B4 or B12 chicken strains onto (B15 x B21)F1 recipients at an early developmental stage.
- Allowing recipients to hatch and mature, followed by monitoring graft acceptance and immune reactions.
- Performing secondary skin grafts and mixed lymphocyte reactions to assess in vitro and in vivo tolerance.
Main Results:
- Grafted wings grew normally and were largely tolerated throughout the host's life, despite transient rejection episodes.
- Secondary skin grafts from the same donor haplotype were permanently accepted.
- Host lymphocytes retained the ability to react against donor cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions, indicating incomplete in vitro tolerance.
Conclusions:
- In vivo and in vitro tolerance are distinct phenomena, suggesting separable immune mechanisms.
- A peripheral immune tolerance mechanism likely complements central (thymus-driven) self-recognition, contributing to long-term graft acceptance.