Achieving tolerance remains the most important goal in transplantation immunology. Models of tolerance employing co-stimulatory blockade are among the most robust and clinically relevant approaches. Much is known about the mechanisms of tolerance that are operative during co-stimulatory blockade, such as energy, apoptosis, and regulatory T cells (Treg). However, it is often difficult to induce and maintain robust tolerance that is resistant to external perturbations. This suggests that other important immunologic mechanisms that determine tolerance remain to be elucidated. Our laboratory has focused on the role of migration, trafficking and secondary lymphoid organ structure as crucial regulatory processes that determine whether immune interactions result in immunity versus tolerance. In several key publications we demonstrated that tolerance is initiated in lymph nodes (LN) through the precise interaction of specific alloantigen presenting cells with nave antigen specific T cells to generate regulatory suppressive T cells. This interaction occurs in the LN, and is dependent on the intricate coordination of many molecular signals. Subsequent trafficking of the suppressive T cells is critical, so that migration from blood to grafts and then into lymphatic has distinct and unique suppressive effects, in comparison to migration through blood and LNs. We have elucidated several novel and unexpected mechanisms that are required for tolerance induction, and these mechanisms relate to the interaction of LN structure with the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte responses. The results demonstrate that T cells destined to become suppressors are found in only one region of the LN, called the cortical ridge. In contrast, T cells destined to become effectors are found scattered throughout the LN. The cortical ridge is particularly rich in specialized fibers and stromal cells, called fibroblastic reicular cells (FRC), suggesting a unique function or arrangement for these cells and their associated fibers. Together these observations lead to the hypothesis that the LN domain of the cortical ridge, that encompasses the HEV and their surrounding stromal fibers, is a major locus for tolerization. During tolerization nave T cells and alloantigen presenting pDC enter this domain and remain around the HEV within the stromal fibers. Precise stromal cell function and fiber arrangement are required to create and maintain the microenvironment necessary for Treg induction. These Treg persist in this high-traffic region and act as gatekeepers for new T cells that traverse the HEV. These Treg regulate the migration, activation, and fate of new nave antigen specific T cells as they enter the LN, and thus the Treg determine tolerance or immunity.
Achieving tolerance remains the most important goal in transplantation. The significance of the current proposal is that it will define for the first timethe function and mechanisms of specialized cells and structures in the lymph node that determine transplantation tolerance, and how they determine the choice between immunity versus tolerance. The findings from these investigations will have general applicability to other areas of immunology such as infection, vaccination, and autoimmunity.
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