Endothelial cells present antigens in vivo.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immune recognition of vascular endothelial cells (EC) has been implicated in allograft rejection, protection against pathogens, and lymphocyte recruitment. However, EC pervade nearly all tissues and predominate in none, complicating any direct test of immune recognition. Here, we examined antigen presentation by EC in vivo by testing immune responses against E. coli beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in two lines of transgenic mice that express beta-gal exclusively in their EC. TIE2-lacZ mice express beta-gal in all EC and VWF-lacZ mice express beta-gal in heart and brain microvascular EC.

Results

Transgenic and congenic wild type FVB mice immunized with beta-gal expression vector DNA or beta-gal protein generated high titer, high affinity antisera containing comparabl

SUBMITTER: Rothermel AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC394319 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature