CD8+ Effector T Cell Migration to Pancreatic Islet Grafts Is Dependent on Cognate Antigen Presentation by Donor Graft Cells

Pancreatic islet transplantation is a promising therapy for diabetes, but acute rejection of the islets by host effector T cells has hindered clinical application. In this study, we addressed the mechanisms of CD8 + effector T cell migration to islet grafts because interrupting this step is key to preventing rejection. We found that effector T cell migration to revascularized islet transplants in mice is dependent on non-self Ag recognition rather than signaling via Gα i -coupled chemokine receptors. Presentation of non-self Ag by donor cells was necessary for migration, whereas Ag presentation by recipient cells was dispensable. We also observed that deficiency of SKAP1, an immune cell adaptor downstream of the TCR and important for integrin activation, prolongs allograft survival but does not reduce effector T cell migration to the graft. Therefore, effector T cell migration to transplanted islets is Ag driven, not chemokine driven, but SKAP1 does not play a critical role in this process.