Protective immunity to nematode infection is induced by CTLA-4 blockade.
The recent observation that neutralization or genetic deletion of the T lymphocyte receptor CTLA-4 allows enhanced T cell reactivity offers new opportunities for immunotherapy against infectious agents. We used a neutralizing antibody to block CTLA-4 interaction with its ligands CD80 and CD86 during infection of mice with the nematode, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. CTLA-4 blockade greatly enhanced and accelerated the T cell immune response to N. brasiliensis, resulting in a profound reduction in adult worm numbers and early termination of parasite egg production. The ability of CTLA-4 blockade to accelerate primary immune responses to a protective level during an acute infection indicates its potential as an immunotherapeutic tool for dealing with infectious agents.
McCoy
K
K
Malaghan Institute for Medical Research, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand.
Camberis
M
M
Gros
G L
GL
D000069594:Abatacept; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D006224:Cricetinae; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009559:Nippostrongylus; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556707:Ctla4 protein, mouse; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000069594:Abatacept