title: Co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig mediated by adenovirus prolonged mouse skin allograft survival.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of simultaneous blockade of CD40/CD40L and B7/CD28 pathways in the immune tolerance via co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig mediated by replication-defective adenovirus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES(2)-CTLA4Ig, replication-defective adenovirus co-expressing sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig, was constructed and identified. The co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig was evaluated with confocal laser scanning microscope and Western blotting. Skin transplantations of C57BL/6 to BALB/c mice were performed. PBS, Ad-Shuttle-CMV and Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES(2)-CTLA4Ig were administered. Skin graft survival was monitored and the mRNA expression of both genes was evaluated in the skin allografts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES(2)-CTLA4Ig was constructed successfully and identified. The co-expression of sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig was identified with confocal laser scanning microscopy and Western blotting. Compared to the skin graft mean survival time (MST) of non-treated group ((5.75+/-0.71) d) or Ad-Shuttle-CMV-treated group ((5.50+/-0.53) d), the skin graft MST was dramatically prolonged in the Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES(2)-CTLA4Ig-treated group ((16.38+/-1.19) d, P<0.001). The mRNA expression of both genes was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ad-sCD40LIg-IRES(2)-CTLA4Ig, a replication-defective adenovirus carrying genes encoding sCD40LIg and CTLA4Ig, was constructed. Simultaneous blockade of CD40/CD40L and B7/CD28 costimulatory pathway mediated by replication-defective adenovirus significantly prolonged skin allograft survival in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Transplantation, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. oliverlee0615@126.com
authors.forename: Zhao-lun
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Pu-xun
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wu-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C499839:CD40Ig protein, recombinant; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069594:Abatacept