Lymphocytes recognize human vascular endothelial and dermal fibroblast Ia antigens induced by recombinant immune interferon

T-lymphocyte-mediated responses to the cellular components of blood vessels are important in rejection of allografts^1-3. The induction of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) depends on recognition of foreign class II major histocompatibility complex antigens (human HLA-DR, DC/DS, SB and others, collectively referred to as Ia) on the target cells whereas killing by CTLs usually depends on recognition of foreign class I antigens (HLA-A,B) ⁴, although some alloreactive CTLs recognize foreign Ia instead of HLA-A, B (refs 5-8). The expression of Ia antigens has traditionally been regarded as restricted to immunological cell types, and the presence of class II antigen-bearing 'passenger' leukocytes in rodent organ grafts appears necessary for graft rejection^9-11. Recently, Ia antigens have been observed by immunofluorescence microscopy on human renal and dermal capillary endothelium^12-15. We have previously shown that human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells in standard culture conditions do not bear Ia antigens, but may be induced to do so by products of lectin- or alloantigen-activated T lymphocytes^16,17. Furthermore, we found that recombinant immune interferon (IFN-γ), free of other lymphokines, is a potent inducer of Ia expression in HUVE cells¹⁷. Here we report that IFN-γ also induces Ia expression on human foreskin capillary endothelial (HFCE) cells, HUVE cells transformed by Simian virus 40 viral DNA (SV-HUVE cells) and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells in culture. Further, we present evidence that Ia present on HUVE cells and HDF cells can be functionally recognized by human T cells, resulting in a two-way interaction between T cells and mesenchymal cells that may be important in allograft rejection.