Combined costimulation blockade inhibits accelerated rejection mediated by alloantigen-primed memory T cells in mice

Immunol Invest. 2009;38(7):639-51. doi: 10.1080/08820130903062228.

Abstract

Donor-reactive memory T cells threaten the survival of transplanted organs via multiple pathways. This study was undertaken to induce tolerance of cardiac allografts in mice, in which alloreactive memory T cells were adoptively transferred, by combined costimulatory blockade of both effector and memory T cells. We found that the median survival time (MST) of the grafts was 5.17 days in the untreated group, 10.33 days in the CTLA4Ig- and anti-CD40L-treated (2-combined) group, and more than 100 days in the CTLA4Ig-, anti-CD40L-, anti-LFA-1-, and anti-OX40L-treated (4-combined) group. Histological analysis revealed that the mean rejection level was Grade 4 in the untreated group, Grade 3 in the 2-combined treatment group, and Grade 0 in the 4-combined treatment group. CD44(high) T cells were detected only in the untreated group. The in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes of both untreated and 2-combined group was higher than that of the 4-combined treatment group (p < 0.01). Compared with the untreated group, the expression levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and Foxp3 were lower in the 2-combined treatment group; the expression levels of these genes were the lowest in the 4-combined treatment group. IL-10 expression was significantly higher in the 4-combined treatment group than in the other groups. These results demonstrate the inhibition efficacy of combined costimulation blockade in accelerated-rejection models and the possible mechanisms underlying the suppression of cellular immunity in mice receiving grafts as well as in inducing the activation of IL-10-producing Tr1 cells in grafts.

MeSH terms

  • Abatacept
  • Adoptive Transfer / methods*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • CD40 Ligand / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Heart Transplantation / immunology
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Immunoconjugates / administration & dosage
  • Immunoconjugates / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Isoantigens / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • OX40 Ligand / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Interleukin-2
  • Isoantigens
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • OX40 Ligand
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Abatacept
  • Interferon-gamma