Immune responsiveness against allogeneic platelet transfusions is determined by the recipient's major histocompatibility complex class II phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-platelet (PLT) immunity has been shown to be initiated by indirect allorecognition where recipient T cells recognize donor PLT antigens presented by class II molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on recipient antigen-presenting cells. To understand how the recipient's MHC class II molecules may influence PLT alloimmunity, immune responsiveness against transfused PLTs was tested in different mouse strains. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Various inbred and mutant mouse strains were transfused with allogeneic PLTs and IgG donor antibodies were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: When recipient mice, expressing both MHC class II I-A and MHC class II I-E molecules, were transfused weekly with allogeneic PLTs, high titers of IgG donor antibodies were generated. In comparison, however, recipient mice expressing only MHC class II I-A molecules had significantly (p < 0.001) reduced IgG antibody responsiveness against PLT transfusions. The low IgG responder status against allogeneic PLT transfusions was rescued in transgenic mice expressing I-E molecules and in mice genetically deficient in either beta(2)-Microglobulin or CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: IgG immune responsiveness against allogeneic PLT transfusions is dependent on recipient expression of I-E MHC class II molecules, whereas I-A expression is linked with CD8-mediated suppression of PLT immunity. The data suggest that strategies to modify recipient MHC class II presentation of donor PLT antigens would be effective in eliminating PLT alloimmunity.