Chapter 31 Defining the mechanisms that govern immune acceptance or rejection of neural tissue

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins in normal neural tissue, and in experimental and pathological situations that are applicable to neural transplants. The chapter discusses the expression, modulation and functions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in neural tissue, and presents some new studies of MHC expression following trauma, and MHC expression in a growing neuroblastoma cell line. The findings described in the chapter have two important implications for neural transplants: class I MHC products are not likely to be present on the neural cells in any form of normal tissue that is transplanted, and if class I MHC expression is not required for the growth or homeostasis of neural cells, then measures designed to prevent expression should not impede the growth or functioning of the neural cells within the graft. The chapter concludes that lack of class I MHC expression in neural tissue should favor the resistance of neural transplants to T cell-mediated immunity, and suggests for increased efforts to understand and modulate the immune response to neural antigens.