Chapter 17 Allograft rejection overcome by immunoselection of neuronal precursor cells

This chapter describes the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on the subpopulations of mature and developing neural cells in response to interferon-γ and, from these in vitro observations, make predictions as to the likely outcome of allografting such cells into the parenchyma of adult mouse brains. The chapter describes the experimental model in which these predictions is tested and demonstrated that the transplantation of immunoselected neuronal precursors may overcome the problems of graft rejection. The results of the grafting experiments have shown that the previous predictions of outcome of grafting, based on knowledge of neural MHC expression, are largely correct. Allografts of embryonic tissues are rejected; allografts express donor MHC antigens; and cells selected on the basis of inability to express MHC antigens are able to be successfully allotransplanted across major histocompatibility barriers.