title: Ligation of OX40 (CD134) regulates graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients.
abstract: OX40 (CD134) is expressed on activated T cells; its ligand, OX40 ligand (OX40L) is expressed on dendritic cells, B cells, and activated endothelial cells. To determine how OX40-OX40L interaction affects graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), we used antagonistic anti-OX40L monoclonal antibody (mAb) or OX40(-/-) donor or OX40L(-/-) recipient mice. Similar degrees of GVHD reduction were observed with each approach. Despite the fact that OX40 is up-regulated on both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells isolated during GVHD, the major effects of OX40 ligation were on CD4(+) and not CD8(+) T-cell-mediated alloresponses as assessed in both GVHD and engraftment model systems. GVHD inhibition by blockade of the OX40/OX40L pathway did not require CD28 signaling. Some studies have indicated OX40 is essential for inducing T-helper type 2 (Th2) responses. However, in vivo blockade of OX40-OX40L interactions reduced GVHD mortality induced by either signal transducer and activator of transcription-6(-/-) (Stat-6(-/-)) (Th2-defective) or Stat-4(-/-) (Th1-defective) major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-disparate splenocytes, indicating that the GVHD-ameliorating effects did not require Stat-4 or Stat-6 signaling. Although OX40L has been reported to be expressed on activated T cells, no effects on GVHD were observed when OX40L(-/-) versus OX40L(+/+) T cells were infused in different models. These data provide insights as to the mechanisms responsible for OX40/OX40L regulation of GVHD.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Minneapolis, MN, USA. blaza001@tc.umn.edu
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Blazar
authors.forename: Arlene H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Andy I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panoskaltsis-Mortari
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: Hisaya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiba
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagita
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Killeen
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016513:Mice, SCID; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D053262:Receptors, OX40; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology*; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000276:immunology*; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D053262:Receptors, OX40; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; C505717:Tnfrsf4 protein, mouse; C504586:Tnfsf4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors