Figure 7. Genetic ablation of CIITA in EC by CRISPR/Cas9 reduces T cell–mediated destruction of synthetic vessels in vivo.

Synthetic human microvessels formed from WT or CIITA^null EC were implanted s.c. in the abdominal wall of C.B-17 SCID/bg mice. After 2 weeks, mice were adoptively transferred with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In the absence of circulating T cells, WT and CIITA^null EC form equivalent numbers of vessels (n = 3 each). In the presence of circulating T cells, however, there is a significantly higher loss of perfused vessels formed from WT compared with CIITA^null EC (n = 3 each). Scale bar: 100 μm. *P < 0.05, 2-tailed Student’s t test. CIITA, class II MHC transactivator; bg, beige; EC,endothelial cells.