Regulatory T Cell-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms of Immune Suppression by CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L Costimulation Blockade.
Blocking of costimulatory CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L interactions is an experimental approach to immune suppression and tolerance induction. We previously reported that administration of a combination of CTLA-4Ig and MR1 (anti-CD40L mAb) for blockade of these interactions induces tolerance in a fully mismatched allogeneic splenocyte transfer model in mice. We now used this model to study whether regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to immune suppression and why both pathways have to be blocked simultaneously. Mice were injected with allogeneic splenocytes, CD4(+) T cells, or CD8(+) T cells and treated with MR1 mAb and different doses of CTLA-4Ig. The graft-versus-host reaction of CD4(+) T cells, but not of CD8(+) T cells, was inhibited by MR1. CTLA-4Ig was needed to cover CD8(+) T cells but had only a weak effect on CD4(+) T cells. Consequently, only the combination provided full protection when splenocytes were transferred. Importantly, MR1 and low-dose CTLA-4Ig treatment resulted in a relative increase in Tregs, and immune suppressive efficacy was abolished in the absence of Tregs. High-dose CTLA-4Ig treatment, in contrast, prevented Treg expansion and activity, and in combination with MR1 completely inhibited CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell activation in a Treg-independent manner. In conclusion, MR1 and CTLA-4Ig act synergistically as they target different T cell populations. The contribution of Tregs to immune suppression by costimulation blockade depends on the concentration of CTLA-4Ig and thus on the degree of available CD28 costimulation.
Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, KULeuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; and.
Isabel
I
Vogel
Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, KULeuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; and.
Bert
B
Verbinnen
Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, KULeuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; and Childhood Immunology, KULeuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Stefaan
0000-0002-8102-5968
S
Van Gool
Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, KULeuven, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; and Jan.Ceuppens@med.kuleuven.be.
Jan L
0000-0003-4502-2679
JL
Ceuppens
D000818:Animals; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand