[HTML][HTML] IL-17–dependent cellular immunity to collagen type V predisposes to obliterative bronchiolitis in human lung transplants

WJ Burlingham, RB Love… - The Journal of …, 2007 - Am Soc Clin Investig
WJ Burlingham, RB Love, E Jankowska-Gan, LD Haynes, Q Xu, JL Bobadilla, KC Meyer…
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2007Am Soc Clin Investig
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a process of fibro-obliterative occlusion of the small
airways in the transplanted lung, is the most common cause of lung transplant failure. We
tested the role of cell-mediated immunity to collagen type V [col (V)] in this process. PBMC
responses to col (II) and col (V) were monitored prospectively over a 7-year period. PBMCs
from lung transplant recipients, but not from healthy controls or col (IV)-reactive
Goodpasture's syndrome patients after renal transplant, were frequently col (V) reactive. Col …
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a process of fibro-obliterative occlusion of the small airways in the transplanted lung, is the most common cause of lung transplant failure. We tested the role of cell-mediated immunity to collagen type V [col(V)] in this process. PBMC responses to col(II) and col(V) were monitored prospectively over a 7-year period. PBMCs from lung transplant recipients, but not from healthy controls or col(IV)-reactive Goodpasture’s syndrome patients after renal transplant, were frequently col(V) reactive. Col(V)-specific responses were dependent on both CD4+ T cells and monocytes and required both IL-17 and the monokines TNF-α and IL-1β. Strong col(V)-specific responses were associated with substantially increased incidence and severity of BOS. Incidences of acute rejection, HLA-DR mismatched transplants, and induction of HLA-specific antibodies in the transplant recipient were not as strongly associated with a risk of BOS. These data suggest that while alloimmunity initiates lung transplant rejection, de novo autoimmunity mediated by col(V)-specific Th17 cells and monocyte/macrophage accessory cells ultimately causes progressive airway obliteration.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation