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- Title
MHC class II antigen expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells is induced by interferon-gamma and modulated by tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin.
- Authors
Stemme, S.; Fager, G.; Hansson, G. K.
- Abstract
Arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens in experimental vascolitis and in the human atherosclerotic plaque. We have therefore studied the regulation of expression of MHC antigens in cultured human arterial SMC, using immunofluorescence, radioimmunoprecipitation and a quantitative cell-surface immunoradiometric assay. SMC expressed class I, but not class II, antigens on their cell surfaces under basal conditions. Treatment of SMC with recombinant or natural interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induced expression of class II antigens in the following order of intensity, DR>DP>DQ. HLA-DR protein in SMC showed the same MW as that synthesized by B-lymphoblastoid cells. Antibodies to IFN-γ blocked all HLA-DR-inducing activity in mixed leucocyte reaction (MLR) supernatants and PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-conditioned media, indicating that IFN-γ is the only lymphokine secreted under these conditions that is capable of de novo induction of HLA-DR expression in SMC. Treatment of SMC with recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) or lymphotoxin (LT) did not per se induce class II antigen expression. However, both TNF and LT substantially enhanced IFN-γ-induced expression of HLA-DQ while decreasing that of HLA-DP. TNF, hut not LT, increased HLA-DR expression. Also, in dermal fibroblasts, IFN-γ-induced HLA- DP expression was significantly inhibited in the presence of TNF. These data demonstrate that TNF and LT differentially modulate IFN-γ-induced MHC antigen expression in mesenchymal cells. The fact that SMC can express MHC class II antigens suggests that this cell type may serve as an accessory cell in the initiation of the immune response.
- Subjects
MHC antibodies; ATHEROSCLEROTIC plaque; VASCULAR smooth muscle; MAJOR histocompatibility complex; INTERFERONS; TUMOR necrosis factors; ANTIGENS; IMMUNOGLOBULINS
- Publication
Immunology, 1990, Vol 69, Issue 2, p243
- ISSN
0019-2805
- Publication type
Article