Transient combination therapy targeting the immune synapse abrogates T cell responses and prolongs allograft survival in mice

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 24;8(7):e69397. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069397. Print 2013.

Abstract

T cells play a major role in allograft rejection, which occurs after T cell activation by the engagement of several functional molecules to form an immune synapse with alloantigen presenting cells. In this study, the immune synapse was targeted using mAbs directed to the TCR beta-chain (TCRβ) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA1) to induce long-term allograft survival. Evaluation of antigen-specific T cell responses was performed by adoptively transferring CFSE labeled transgenic OT-II cells into wild-type mice and providing OVA peptide by intravenous injection. Graft survival studies were performed in mice by transplanting BALB/c ear skins onto the flanks of C57BL/6 recipients. The anti-TCRβ plus anti-LFA1 mAb combination (but not either mAb alone) abrogated antigen-specific T cell responses invitro and invivo. Transient combination therapy with these agents resulted in significantly prolonged skin allograft survival in mice (51±10 days; p<0.01) when compared to treatment with either anti-TCRβ mAb (24±5 days) or anti-LFA1 mAb (19±3 days) alone or no treatment (10±1 days). When lymphoid tissues from these mice were analyzed at different times post-transplant, only those receiving the combination of anti-TCRβ and anti-LFA1 mAbs demonstrated long-lasting reductions in total T cell numbers, cellular and humoral anti-donor responses, and expression of CD3 on the surface of T cells. These results demonstrate that transient anti-TCRβ and anti-LFA1 mAb combination therapy abrogates antigen-reactive T cell responses with long-lasting effects that significantly prolong allograft survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allografts / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft Survival / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology
  • Skin Transplantation
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta