Innate and adaptive immune responses to nonvascular xenografts: Evidence that macrophages are direct effecters of xenograft rejection

Nonvascularized xenograft rejection is T cell mediated, but is dependent on initial macrophage (M phi) infiltration. We developed an i.p. transplant model to define the roles of M phi and T cells in xenograft rejection. Nonobese diabetic or BALB/c mice were injected i.p. with xenogeneic, allogeneic, or syngeneic cells, and the responding cells in subsequent lavages were assessed by flow cytometry and adoptive transfer. Neutrophils and monocytes/elicited M phi were rapidly recruited in response to xenogeneic pig (PK15 or spleen) cells and, to a significantly lesser extent, allogeneic cells. These innate responses preceded T cell infiltration and occurred in their absence in SCID mice. Syngeneic cells induced negligible neutrophil or M phi responses. Neutrophils and M phi induced by xenogeneic cells in SCID mice stimulated T cell recruitment after transfer to immunocompetent mice. T cells in turn were required for M phi activation and xenogeneic cell rejection. Thus, M phi harvested from immunocompetent but not SCID mice injected with xenogeneic cells expressed activation markers and rejected xenogeneic cells when transferred into SCID mice. These findings demonstrate the interdependent roles of M phi, and T cells in xenograft rejection. The requirement for M phi reflects their ability to mount a rapid, local innate response that stimulates T cell recruitment and, having received T cell help, to act as direct effecters of rejection.