title: Critical role for CD8 T cells in allograft acceptance induced by DST and CD40/CD154 costimulatory blockade.
abstract: Donor-specific transfusion (DST) and CD40/CD154 costimulation blockade is a powerful immunosuppressive strategy which prolongs survival of many allografts. The efficacy of DST and anti-CD154 mAb for prolongation of hepatocellular allograft survival was only realized in C57BL/6 mice that have both CD4- and CD8-dependent pathways available (median survival time, MST, 82 days). Hepatocyte rejection in CD8 KO mice which is CD4-dependent was not suppressed by DST and anti-CD154 mAb treatment (MST, 7 days); unexpectedly DST abrogated the beneficial effects of anti-CD154 mAb for suppression of hepatocyte rejection (MST, 42 days) and on donor-reactive alloantibody production. Hepatocyte rejection in CD4 KO mice which is CD8-dependent was suppressed by treatment with DST and anti-CD154 mAb therapy (MST, 35 days) but did not differ significantly from immunotherapy with anti-CD154 mAb alone (MST, 32 days). Induction of hepatocellular allograft acceptance by DST and anti-CD154 mAb immunotherapy was dependent on host CD8(+) T cells, as demonstrated by CD8 depletion studies in C57BL/6 mice (MST, 14 days) and CD8 reconstitution of CD8 KO mice (MST, 56 days). These studies demonstrate that both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets contribute to induction of hepatocellular allograft acceptance by this immunotherapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Donghong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Keri E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lunsford
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eiring
authors.forename: Ginny L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bumgardner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D006085:Graft Survival; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D023201:CD40 Ligand