Targeting LFA-1 and cd154 suppresses the in vivo activation and development of cytolytic (cd4-Independent) CD8+ T cells.
Short-term immunotherapy targeting both LFA-1 and CD40/CD154 costimulation produces synergistic effects such that long-term allograft survival is achieved in the majority of recipients. This immunotherapeutic strategy has been reported to induce the development of CD4+ regulatory T cells. In the current study, the mechanisms by which this immunotherapeutic strategy prevents CD8+ T cell-dependent hepatocyte rejection in CD4 knockout mice were examined. Combined blockade of LFA-1 and CD40/CD154 costimulation did not influence the overall number or composition of inflammatory cells infiltrating the liver where transplanted hepatocytes engraft. Expression of T cell activation markers CD43, CD69, and adhesion molecule CD103 by liver-infiltrating cells was suppressed in treated mice with long-term hepatocellular allograft survival compared to liver-infiltrating cells of untreated rejector mice. Short-term immunotherapy with anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD154 mAb also abrogated the in vivo development of alloreactive CD8+ cytotoxic T cell effectors. Treated mice with long-term hepatocyte allograft survival did not reject hepatocellular allografts despite adoptive transfer of naive CD8+ T cells. Unexpectedly, treated mice with long-term hepatocellular allograft survival demonstrated prominent donor-reactive delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, which were increased in comparison to untreated hepatocyte rejectors. Collectively, these findings support the conclusion that short-term immunotherapy with anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD154 mAbs induces long-term survival of hepatocellular allografts by interfering with CD8+ T cell activation and development of CTL effector function. In addition, these recipients with long-term hepatocellular allograft acceptance show evidence of immunoregulation which is not due to immune deletion or ignorance and is associated with early development of a novel CD8+CD25high cell population in the liver.
Lunsford
Keri E
KE
Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Koester
Mitchel A
MA
Eiring
Anna M
AM
Horne
Phillip H
PH
Gao
Donghong
D
Bumgardner
Ginny L
GL
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D023201:CD40 Ligand