On the Ia immunogenicity of mouse corneal allografts infiltrated with Langerhans cells.

Langerhans cells were induced to infiltrate the corneal epithelium of mice by pretreating the surface of the cornea with dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Treated corneas then were used in heterotopic grafting experiments to determine their Ia immunogenicity. It was found that Langerhans cell containing cornea grafts sensitized their recipients to the Ia alloantigens of the donors. Moreover, corneas infiltrated with Langerhans cells were rejected at heterotopic sites by recipients presensitized to the Ia alloantigens of the graft donor. These results demonstrate that corneas, which normally lack both Langerhans cells and Ia-antigen expressing cells, can have their Ia immunogenicity restored if Langerhans cells are induced to infiltrate the epithelium. The implications of these results for improving the success of clinical, orthotopic, corneal allografts are discussed.