Specific destruction of human endothelial cell monolayers by anti-DRw antisera

Human endothelial cells were separated by collagenase digestion from the umbilical vein of newborns. The cytotoxic effect of antisera against HLA-DRw antigens was tested on monolayers of endothelial cells, using a 51Cr retention microcytotoxicity assay in the presence of rabbit complement. Of the endothelial monolayers tested, significant concordance between the typing results obtained using cord blood-derived B lymphocytes and endothelial cell monolayers was observed. A rabbit anti-human polyspecific B cell antiserum was also capable of completely lysing the endothelial monolayers tested. In addition, 51Cr-labelled dissociated endothelial cells were lysed by nonimmune peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of DRw antisera having a specificity for the target endothelium.