FasL is important in costimulation blockade-resistant skin graft rejection.
BACKGROUND
Simultaneous blockade of the CD40 and CD28 costimulatory pathways is effective in prolonging allograft survival in murine and primate models. Recent data suggest that intact apoptotic pathways are crucial for the induction of hyporesponsiveness by costimulation blockade. We have studied the impact of fas/fasL signaling, an important T cell apoptotic pathway, on the effects of costimulation blockade. Methods. Wild type, lpr (fas deficient), and gld (fasL deficient), mice were used as donors and recipients in the murine skin graft model. Allograft survival was compared in untreated and costimulation blockade (500 microg anti-CD40L and 500 microg CTLA4-Ig, days 0, 2, 4, 6) treated recipients. In some recipients, CD4+ T cells were depleted using rat anti-murine CD4 (100 microg day -3, -2, -1, and weekly).


RESULTS
gld mice treated with costimulation blockade enjoy a significantly greater increase in skin allograft survival than do wild-type mice. This effect is not replicated using lpr donors or recipients. Experiments in which CD4+ cells were depleted demonstrate that fasL is not necessary for CD8-mediated allograft rejection, and that depletion of CD4+ cells eliminates some of the survival advantage induced by costimulation blockade.


CONCLUSIONS
FasL is not required for the establishment of costimulation blockade induced hyporesponsiveness, but rather appears to be required for normal costimulation blockade resistant rejection. Fas expression is not critical for costimulation blockade resistant rejection, suggesting that fasL may be interacting with other receptors. Further, it appears that CD4+ cells are important in the maintenance of allograft protection induced by costimulation blockade in this model.
The Carlos and Marguerite Mason Transplantation Research Center, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
J
J
Trambley
A
A
Lin
E
E
Elwood
A W
AW
Bingaman
F
F
Lakkis
M
M
Corbascio
T C
TC
Pearson
C P
CP
Larsen
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; C505662:Faslg protein, rat; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins