Positive and negative selection of functional mouse CD4 cells by porcine MHC in pig thymus grafts.

Specific tolerance to discordant xenogeneic donors can be achieved by grafting of fetal pig thymic and liver tissue (FP THY/LIV) to T cell and NK cell-depleted, thymectomized (ATX) mice. Mouse CD4+ T cells develop in FP THY/LIV grafts, and demonstrate remarkably normal immune function, including host-restricted responses to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. We have therefore studied the role of host MHC class II in the development of mouse T cells in FP THY/LIV grafts by comparing their development in ATX MHC class II-deficient (IIKO) and wild-type (H-2b) mice. Mouse CD4+ T cells repopulated T/NK cell-depleted, ATX IIKO mice after grafting with FP THY/LIV, indicating that pig MHC can positively select mouse CD4 cells. Expression of TCR, MHC class I, Qa-2, heat-stable Ag, and CD45RB among double-positive and CD4 single-positive (SP) graft thymocytes in wild-type recipients was similar to that in normal mouse thymi, whereas CD4 SP thymocytes in grafts of IIKO mice showed increased Qa-2 and decreased heat-stable Ag expression, suggesting an increased level of maturity. Double-positive cells in grafts of IIKO mice also expressed higher than normal levels of Qa-2. Deletion within the grafts of Vbeta3+, Vbeta5.1/5.2+, and Vbeta11+ but not Vbeta6+, Vbeta7+, or Vbeta8.1/8.2+ mouse CD4 SP thymocytes in ATX IIKO mice demonstrated that swine leukocyte Ag participates in negative selection of the T cell repertoire. Therefore, porcine MHC mediates positive and negative selection of mouse thymocytes, but host class II MHC molecules also regulate thymocyte maturation in xenogeneic thymic grafts.