The CCL3/macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha-binding protein evasin-1 protects from graft-versus-host disease but does not modify graft-versus-leukemia in mice

J Immunol. 2010 Mar 1;184(5):2646-54. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902614. Epub 2010 Jan 25.

Abstract

CCL3 is a protein of the CC chemokine family known to be important for T cell recruitment in inflammatory diseases. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects and putative mechanism of action of evasin-1, a novel CCL3-binding protein, in the pathogenesis of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD was induced by the transplantation of splenocytes from C57BL/6J to B6D2F1 mice. Treatment of recipient mice with evasin-1 prevented mortality associated with GVHD. This was correlated with reduced weight loss and clinical disease severity. Analysis of the small intestine showed that evasin-1 treatment reduced the histopathological score and decreased levels of IFN-gamma and CCL5. Mechanistically, evasin-1 treatment reduced the number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells infiltrating the small intestine, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the adhesion of leukocytes to intestinal venules of recipient mice, as assessed by intravital microscopy. Evasin-1 was also able to decrease liver damage, as seen by reduction of inflammatory infiltrate and IFN-gamma levels. Treatment with evasin-1 did not interfere with graft-versus-leukemia. Altogether, our studies demonstrate that CCL3 plays a major role in mediating GVHD, but not graft-versus-leukemia in mice and suggest that blockade of CCL3 with evasin-1 has potential therapeutic application in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Transplantation
  • Chemokine CCL3 / deficiency*
  • Chemokine CCL3 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics
  • Graft vs Host Disease / metabolism*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Graft vs Leukemia Effect / drug effects
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / immunology
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / genetics
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism*
  • Spleen / cytology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Ccl3 protein, mouse
  • Ccl5 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL3
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Evasin-1, Rhipicephalus sanguineus
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Interferon-gamma