title: Prolonged local expression of anti-CD4 antibody by adenovirally transduced allografts can promote long-term graft survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, successful transplantation of allografts requires the systemic use of immunosuppressive drugs. These can cause serious morbidity due to toxicity and increased susceptibility to cancer and infections. Local production of immunosuppressive molecules limited to the graft site would reduce the need for conventional, generalized immunosuppressive therapies and thus educe fewer side effects. This is particularly salient in a disease like type 1 diabetes, which is not immediately life-threatening yet islet allografts can effect a cure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the efficacy of locally produced anti-CD4 antibody, mediated by adenovirus (Adv-anti-CD4) transduction of islets, to enhance allograft survival. Adenovirus-transduced islets were transplanted under the kidney capsule of diabetic recipients and graft rejection determined by monitoring blood glucose levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adv-anti-CD4 transduction of mouse islets afforded protection against allogeneic rejection after transplantation into fully mismatched recipients. In some recipients, the islet allograft survival was prolonged (persisting for at least 15 weeks), corresponding to the prolonged expression of the anti-CD4 antibody. The effect was local, as absence of CD4+ T lymphocytes was observed primarily at the graft site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunosuppressive effects can be restricted locally by our strategy. Local production of a single antibody against one subset of T lymphocytes can protect mouse islets from allograft rejection during transplantation to treat diabetes. Our findings foreshadow that this strategy may be even more effective when a combination of antibodies are used and that similar strategies may prevent xenograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Londrigan
authors.forename: Robyn M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Ruili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Estella
authors.forename: Thomas W H
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lew
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens