title: Immunomodulation by costimulation blockade inhibits rejection of nerve allografts.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate if costimulation blockade could be used to modulate the immune response, to prevent rejection, and to stimulate regeneration into nerve allografts. Nerve allografts from Balb/C mice, and isogenic nerve grafts (isografts) from C57/BL6 mice, were used to bridge a 7-mm gap of the sciatic nerve in C57/BL6 mice. Allograft recipients were treated with either a triple treatment with anti-lymphocyte function antigen-1 (anti-LFA), anti-CD40 ligand (anti-CD40L), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin (anti-CTLA4Ig) or isotype antibodies (placebo) at postoperative days 0, 2, 4, and 6 (intraperitoneal). After 5 or 9 days, the nerve grafts, together with the proximal and the distal nerve segments, were evaluated by histology and immunocytochemistry for inflammatory cells [CD4-positive (CD4+) and CD8-positive (CD8+) staining cells] and axonal outgrowth (neurofilaments). The immune response was inhibited by costimulation blockade with less extensive inflammation and a lower number of CD4+ staining cells in triple-treated allografts at 9 days. The regeneration rate was significantly faster in isografts (0.75 mm/day) compared with allografts with placebo treatment (0.39 mm/day), but not when compared with triple-treated allografts (0.49 mm/day). At 9 days, the axons were significantly longer in nerve isografts than in nerve allografts, irrespective of treatment. Hence, costimulation blockade neither increased the regeneration rate nor the outgrowth length in triple-treated allografts. We conclude that costimulation blockade inhibits the immune response in nerve allografts without deterring early axonal outgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences/Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemplesis
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanje
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corbascio
authors.forename: Lars B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dahlin
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000637:transplantation*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D000069594:Abatacept