Inability of memory T cells to induce graft-versus-host disease is a result of an abortive alloresponse.
Several groups, including our own, have independently demonstrated that effector memory T cells from non-alloantigen-primed donors do not cause graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In the current study, we further investigated whether this approach could be extended to all memory T cells, and we studied the underlying mechanisms. Neither total memory T cells nor purified central memory T cells were able to induce GVHD. Memory T cells were at least 3-log less potent than bulk T cells in mediating GVHD. As expected, memory T cells failed to elicit cytotoxicity and proliferated poorly against alloantigens in standard 5-day mixed-lymphocyte cultures. However, the proliferative responses of memory T cells were more comparable with those of bulk and naive T cells when the culture time was shortened. Moreover, the frequencies of IL-2-secreting cells measured by 42-hour enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay were similar among naive, memory, and bulk T cells. These data indicated that memory T cells are able to respond to alloantigens initially but fail to develop to full potential. The abortive immune response, which was mediated by non-alloantigen-specific memory T cells in response to alloantigens, may explain why memory T cells from unprimed and non-alloantigen-primed donors could not induce GVHD.
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Related Subject Headings
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets
- Stem Cell Transplantation
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred C3H
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Male
- Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
- Isoantigens
- In Vitro Techniques
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets
- Stem Cell Transplantation
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred C3H
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Male
- Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
- Isoantigens
- In Vitro Techniques