2-D-gal Targets Terminal Fucosylation to Inhibit T-cell Response in a Mouse Skin Transplant Model

Abstract

Background: Organ allograft rejection is mainly driven by T-cell response. Studies have shown that fucosylation plays essential roles in the immune cell development and function. Terminal fucosylation inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-galactose (2-D-gal), has been reported to suppress immunoresponse of macrophages, but its effects on T-cell-mediated immune response and transplant rejection have not been fully explored.

Methods: The terminal fucosylation level in T cells was detected through ulex europaeus agglutinin-I staining. The consequences of 2-D-gal on murine T-cell proliferation, activation, cytokine secretion, and cell cycle were investigated in vitro. T-cell receptor signaling cascades were examined. Last, mouse skin transplant model was utilized to evaluate the regulatory effects of 2-D-gal on T-cell response in vivo.

Results: The expression of fucosyltransferase1 was upregulated in CD3/CD28-activated T cells along with an elevation of α(1,2)-fucosylation level as seen by ulex europaeus agglutinin-I staining. Furthermore, 2-D-gal suppressed T-cell activation and proliferation, decrease cytokines production, arrest cell cycle, and prevent the activation of T-cell receptor signaling cascades. In vivo experiments showed that 2-D-gal limited T-cell proliferation to prolong skin allograft in mice. This was accompanied by lower level of inflammatory cytokines, and were comparable to those treated with Cyclosporin A.

Conclusions: Terminal fucosylation appears to play a role in T-cell activation and proliferation, and its inhibitor, 2-D-gal, can suppress T-cell activation and proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. In a therapeutic context, inhibiting terminal fucosylation may be a potential strategy to prevent allogeneic transplant rejection.