Allergic Conjunctivitis Renders CD4(+) T Cells Resistant to T Regulatory Cells and Exacerbates Corneal Allograft Rejection

作者：Reyes N J; Chen P W; Niederkorn J Y^*

来源：American Journal of Transplantation, 2013, 13(5): 1181-1192.

DOI：10.1111/ajt.12198

• Allergy
• cornea
• eye
• T regulatory cells
• tolerance

Allergic diseases rob corneal allografts of immune privilege and increase immune rejection. Corneal allograft rejection in BALB/c allergic hosts was analyzed using a short ragweed (SWR) pollen model of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis did not induce exaggerated T-cell responses to donor C57BL/6 (B6) alloantigens or stimulate cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Allergic conjunctivitis did affect T regulatory cells (Tregs) that support graft survival. Exogenous IL-4, but not IL-5 or IL-13, prevented Treg suppression of CD4+ effector T cells isolated from naive mice. However, mice with allergic conjunctivitis developed Tregs that suppressed CD4+ effector T-cell proliferation. In addition, IL-4 did not inhibit Treg suppression of IL-4R/ CD4+ T-cell responses, suggesting that IL-4 rendered effector T cells resistant to Tregs. SRW-sensitized IL-4R/ mice displayed the same 50% graft survival as nonallergic WT mice, that was significantly less than the 100% rejection that occurred in allergic WT hosts, supporting the role of IL-4 in the abrogation of immune privilege. Moreover, exacerbation of corneal allograft rejection in allergic mice was reversed by administering anti-IL-4 antibody. Thus, allergy-induced exacerbation of corneal graft rejection is due to the production of IL-4, which renders effector T cells resistant to Treg suppression of alloimmune responses.

• 出版日期2013-5