Processing and presentation of the islet autoantigen GAD by vascular endothelial cells promotes transmigration of autoreactive T-cells

James E. Greening, Timothy I.M. Tree, Karolena T. Kotowicz, Astrid G. Van Halteren, Bart O. Roep, Nigel J. Klein, Mark Peakman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by T-cell infiltration of the islets of Langerhans and abundant HLA class II molecule expression on islet endothelial cells (ECs). The specificity of infiltrating T-cells for islet autoantigens has been amply demonstrated in animal models, and is implicit in human diabetes, but the processes regulating endothelial transmigration of islet autoantigen-specific T-cells into islets are not known. We examined the ability of ECs expressing HLA class II molecules to process and present the islet autoantigen GAD65 and examined the effects of presentation on transmigration of GAD65-specific T-cells. Primary cultures of human vascular ECs expressing the DRB1*0401 (VEC1) and DRB1*0301 (VEC2) genotypes were established and de novo expression of HLA class II molecules induced with interferon-γ. Under these conditions, VEC1 efficiently processed and presented whole GAD65 to the HLA-DR4-restricted murine T-cell hybridoma T33.1 that recognizes the 274-286 epitope of GAD65. Using a transwell system, we examined the effect of GAD65 presentation on migration of GAD65-specific T-cells across EC monolayers. Migration of T33.1 hybridoma cells and of the human T-cell clone, PM1#11 (recognizes GAD65 epitope 339-352 presented by HLA-DR3) across VEC1 and VEC2, respectively, were greatly enhanced in the presence of GAD65, commencing more rapidly and achieving a higher peak migration at 3 h. Migrated PM1#11 cells retained full proliferative capacity. These results support the hypothesis that presentation of autoantigens by islet endothelium in vivo could promote transmigration of circulating islet autoantigen-specific T-cells primed in regional lymph nodes against islet autoantigens.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)717-725
Number of pages9
JournalDiabetes
Volume52
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • APC, antigen-presenting cell
  • CFDA-SE, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succidimidyl ester, EC, endothelial cell
  • CFDA-SE, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, HBSS, Hank's balanced salt solution
  • EPV, Epstein Barr virus

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