title: Selective depletion of activated T cells: the CD40L-specific antibody experience.
abstract: Blocking the signal that provides co-stimulation to T cells during their encounter with antigen is thought to make T cells anergic or tolerant. Recently, treatments using CD40L-specific antibody, a co-stimulation blocking reagent, in primate transplant models indicated that this elegant concept could finally be turning into reality. In this context, the finding that CD40L-specific antibody acts through depletion of activated T cells rather than through co-stimulation blockade might seem undesirable. However, the selective removal of cells that are key effectors of immunopathology could provide a powerful tool for containing unwanted immune responses such as those that mediate autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology & Transplantation, King's College, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: Roseanna E G
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: Stipo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jurcevic
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D023201:CD40 Ligand