| First Author | Kunishige T | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci | Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 15 | Pages | 4958-4965 |
| PubMed ID | 31790558 | Mgi Jnum | J:285216 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6385720 | Doi | 10.1167/iovs.19-27322 |
| Citation | Kunishige T, et al. (2019) VISTA Is Crucial for Corneal Allograft Survival and Maintenance of Immune Privilege. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 60(15):4958-4965 |
| abstractText | Purpose: V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel immune checkpoint receptor and ligand for regulating T cell proliferation and cytokine production. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of VISTA in the immune privilege of corneal allografts. Methods: Expression of VISTA mRNA in mouse eyes was assessed with reverse-transcription PCR. Corneas of C57BL/6 mice were orthotopically transplanted into the eyes of BALB/c wild-type recipients treated with anti-VISTA mAb, and graft survival was assessed. A separate set of BALB/c mice treated with anti-VISTA mAb or rat IgG received injection of C57BL/6 splenocytes into the anterior chamber, and induction of allospecific anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) was assessed. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen were assessed with flow cytometry. Results: VISTA mRNA was constitutively expressed in the cornea, and the expression of VISTA was localized to CD11b+ cells on the corneal stroma. Survival of allografts treated with anti-VISTA mAb was less than that of the control. ACAID was induced less efficiently in BALB/c mice treated with VISTA mAb. The proportions of CD8+ T cells and CD8+ CD103+ T cells (CD8+ T regulatory cells) in the spleen of BALB/c mice treated with anti-VISTA mAb were significantly lower than those of the control. Conclusions: VISTA may play an essential role in the acceptance of corneal allografts via involvement with allospecific ACAID, which suppresses T cell infiltration into the cornea. |
