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Mechanisms of allograft rejection of corneal endothelium

Journal Article · · Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6725254
The local intraocular graft-vs.-host (GVH) reaction, involving the destruction of the corneal endothelial cells of the rabbit host by sensitized donor lymphoid cells, has been used to study the mechanism of corneal allograft rejection. Pretreatment of donor cells with a specific mouse monoclonal hybridoma anti-T cell antibody and complement suppresses the destructive reaction, suggesting that a cellular-immune mechanism is primarily involved. Pretreatment of donor cells with mitomycin-C completely abolishes the local GVH reaction, indicating that the effector lymphocytes must undergo mitosis within the eye before they can engage in target cell destruction. Finally, studies of the local GVH reaction in irradiated leukopenic recipients or in preinflamed rabbit eyes suggest that host leukocytes may contribute nonspecifically to enhance the destructive process. These studies show that the local ocular GVH reaction may provide a useful model for the study of the mechanisms involved in the rejection of corneal allografts.
Research Organization:
Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
OSTI ID:
6725254
Journal Information:
Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci.; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN IOVSD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English