Induction of MHC class II expression in recipient tissues caused by allograft rejection

MHC class II antigens (DR) are not commonly expressed on parenchymal cells of kidney and liver except when they are allografts undergoing rejection. The objective of this study was to determine whether allograft rejection can also induce DR upregulation in parenchymal cells of autologous recipient organs. Dogs had unilateral renal autografts to facilitate kidney sampling. All kidneys were tubular cell DR-negative. After 8-14 days each dog received a tubular cell DR-negative allograft. Tubular cell DR became positive in both allograft and autograft simultaneously, its onset and intensity correlating with blast cell infiltration and rejection in the allograft. Blast cells were first detected in the autograft after allograft nephrectomy, and then disappeared as autograft tubular cell DR diminished over the next 6-8 days. This was reproduced on repeat allografting. In 2 untreated dogs hepatocytes became positive on day 4, with no hepatic blast infiltrate. Four other dogs received cyclosporine immunosuppression. Allograft and autograft tubular cell DR, and hepatocyte DR, increased in all dogs, but were delayed while on CsA until onset of rejection despite transient earlier allograft blast infiltration. Downregulation in autograft and liver occurred together after allograft nephrectomy. An interferon-like substance appeared in plasma after allografting in association with the DR changes in native kidney and liver. Renal allorejection therefore induces upregulation of parenchymal DR expression in autologous liver and kidney of the recipient. It is probably mediated by an interferon-like substance derived from cells infiltrating the allograft. The effect is modified by CsA.