S. Korom

Inhibition of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in vivo prolongs cardiac allograft survival in rat recipients

The CD26 antigen, one of the major costimulatory molecules in T cell activation, was shown to possess dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activity. Previously, we demonstrated that immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients exhibit lower DPP IV serum activity as compared with healthy individuals. In the present study, we analyzed the role of CD26/DPP IV in the immune cascade triggered by organ transplantation and leading to acute rejection of cardiac allografts in rat recipients. Transplantation of hearts from (Lewis x Brown Norway)F1 donors into Lewis hosts resulted in an early (24 hr) increase in cellular CD26 expression, followed by a rise in DPP IV serum activity, which peaked at day 6, i.e., before the time of actual graft loss. Specific targeting of DPP IV activity with a novel, low-molecular-weight inhibitor of the diphenyl-phosphonate group (prodipine) abrogated acute rejection and prolonged cardiac allograft survival to 14.0+/-0.9 days (P<0.0001). Prodipine treatment prevented the early peak of cellular CD26 expression and thoroughly suppressed systemic DPP IV activity. The inhibition of DPP IV was associated with severely impaired host cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vitro. These results demonstrate the role of CD26/DPP IV in alloantigen-mediated immune regulation in vivo and provide the first direct evidence that CD26/DPP IV plays an important role in the mechanism of allograft rejection. The model of targeting CD26/DPP IV may reveal essential interactions on the level of costimulatory alternate T cell activation pathways, allowing a more subtle approach for more selective immunosuppression in transplant recipients.

Blockade of very late antigen-4 integrin binding to fibronectin in allograft recipients: I. Treatment with connecting segment-1 peptides prevents acute rejection by suppressing intragraft mononuclear cell accumulation, endothelial activation, and cytokine expression.

BACKGROUNDnAllograft rejection is associated with infiltration of inflammatory cells and local deposition of fibronectin (FN). This study was carried out to examine the hypothesis that peptides known to specifically block adhesive interactions between the connecting segment-1 (CS1)-binding domain of FN and alpha4beta1 integrin on circulating cells may interfere with the immune cascade, which would lead to acute rejection in transplant recipients.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnCardiac allografts from Lewis x Brown Norway F1 hybrids were rejected in 7+/-1 days in Lewis rats. Treatment with bioactive CS1 peptides (4 mg/kg/day i.v. for 7 days) abrogated acute rejection and prolonged cardiac allograft survival to 13+/-1 days (P<0.001). This effect correlated with decreased expression of total fibronectin and cell adhesion molecules, such as alpha4beta1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, as well as reduced infiltration by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells at the graft site. Treatment with CS1 peptides decreased alloantigen activation, as evidenced by decreased intragraft infiltration by CD25+ cells, and diminished expression of mRNA coding for Th1 (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon-gamma)- and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6)-type cytokines. CS1-mediated immunosuppressive effects could be reversed and acute rejection recreated after adjunctive treatment of rats with recombinant IL-2.nnnCONCLUSIONnOur data are consistent with the model in which in vivo interaction between the alpha4beta1 integrin receptor and the cell-associated CS1 motif of FN is critical for rejection cascade. The novel therapeutic approach of selectively blocking the alpha4beta1-FN activation pathway with CS1 peptides prevents acute allograft rejection by inhibiting expansion of antigen-specific T cells and inducing a transient state of cytokine-responsive anergy in the residual T-cell population.

Blockade of very late antigen-4 integrin binding to fibronectin in allograft recipients. II. Treatment with connecting segment-1 peptides prevents chronic rejection by attenuating arteriosclerotic development and suppressing intragraft T cell and macrophage activation

BACKGROUNDnChronic rejection remains the leading obstacle to long-term allograft survival. We have shown that treatment of sensitized rats with rapamycin (RPM) does not prevent progressive chronic-type cardiac allograft failure. Having documented the role of fibronectin (FN) in the allograft rejection cascade, we hypothesized that treatment with synthetic peptides that specifically block adhesive interactions between the connecting segment-1 (CS1)-binding domain of FN and alpha4beta1 integrin on circulating cells may prevent the development of chronic rejection in transplant recipients.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnLewis rats were sensitized with Brown Norway skin grafts (day -7), followed by transplantation of LBNF1 hearts (day 0). Experimental animals were treated with RPM (day -7 to -1; 0.25 mg/kg/day i.p.), or RPM + CS1 peptides (day +7 to +13; 4 mg/kg/day i.v.), and euthanized at day 60. Unlike cardiac allografts in rats undergoing RPM monotherapy, those after adjunctive CS1 peptides had well preserved myocardial architecture and were free of arteriosclerotic lesions. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based intragraft expression of transcripts for CD3, interferon-gamma, interleukin-12, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and transforming growth factor-beta were diminished in the CS1 group when compared with levels in the RPM group. The corresponding expression of cytokine proteins, as determined by immunoperoxidase labeling, was also depressed and correlated with decreased infiltration by T cells and macrophages.nnnCONCLUSIONnCS1 peptide-facilitated blockage of alpha4beta1-FN interactions prevents the development of chronic rejection and depresses the expression of key T cell- and macrophage-associated cytokines/chemoattractants. Hence, local synthesis of FN is an ongoing feature of, and adhesive FN-alpha4beta1 associations are critical for, the development of chronic transplant rejection.

CD28-B7 T-cell co-stimulatory blockade potentiates the effects of intrathymic immunomodulation in sensitized graft recipients

BACKGROUNDnPeripheral and central immune mechanisms contribute to the induction of tolerance in acute rejection rodent transplant models after systemic administration of CTLA4Ig and intrathymic infusion of donor alloantigen, respectively. We have investigated the effects of CTLA4Ig-induced blockade of CD28-B7 T-cell co-stimulation in conjunction with intrathymic immunomodulation on cellular and humoral immune responses leading to accelerated rejection of cardiac allografts in presensitized rats.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnLewis rats were challenged with Wistar-Furth (WF) skin transplants, followed 7 days later by transplantation of WF hearts. These cardiac allografts were rejected in a fulminant manner in <24 hr. A single infusion of human CTLA4Ig (0.5 mg/rat i.v.) at the time of cardiac engraftment (day 0) did not affect accelerated rejection. Intrathymic injection of WF spleen cells (2x10[7]) at the time of skin transplantation (day -7) abrogated <24-hr rejection and extended cardiac allograft survival to 6.6+/-0.6 days. Moreover, intrathymic host immunomodulation combined with administration of human CTLA4Ig (days 0-14, every other day) extended cardiac allograft survival synergistically to 27.7+/-7.5 days, and immunomodulation combined with murine CTLA4Ig extended survival to >42.5+/-4.8 days. The prolongation of allograft survival required the blockade of both B7-1 and B7-2 ligands and was accompanied by reduction of host proliferative responses (mixed lymphocyte response) and depression of anti-donor cytotoxic T-cell generation/function (lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity). CTLA4Ig therapy did not affect the strong systemic IgM and IgG alloantibody response seen otherwise after intrathymic immunomodulation.nnnCONCLUSIONnCTLA4Ig enhances the effects of intrathymic donor-type cell infusion in sensitized rat recipients of cardiac allografts, indicating that peripheral blockade of CD28-B7 T-cell co-stimulation synergizes with the central immunosuppressive effects of intrathymic immunomodulation.

Intrathymic immunomodulation of sensitized rat recipients of cardiac allografts: Requirements for allorecognition pathways☆

BACKGROUNDnIntrathymic injection of alloantigen in the form of donor cells, soluble major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, or MHC allopeptides induces donor-specific tolerance in a variety of acute allograft rejection models. We have previously shown that a single intrathymic injection of donor spleen cells into pre-sensitized rats abrogates accelerated (circa 24-hour) rejection and prolongs the survival of cardiac allografts to about 7 days. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms by which intrathymic administration of donor cells modifies the course of accelerated rejection.nnnMETHODSnLewis RT1(1) (LEW) rats sensitized by transplantation with Wistar-Furth RT1(u) (WF) skin grafts received WF cardiac allografts 7 days later-a classic model of accelerated rejection. At the time of skin challenge, however, certain animals received intrathymic cell suspensions (either allogeneic or syngeneic) or donor-derived class I and/or class II MHC peptides.nnnRESULTSnControl animals (sensitized by skin grafts but receiving no other treatment) rejected cardiac allografts within 24 hours. Intrathymic injection of WF splenocytes at the time of skin transplantation abrogated rejection at 24 hours and prolonged cardiac allograft survival to 6.6+/-0.6 days (p<0.001), whereas intrathymic administration of syngeneic (LEW) or allogeneic third party Brown Norway RT1(n) cells was ineffective in this regard. Intrathymic injection of gamma-irradiated donor cells marginally extended cardiac allograft survival to 3.0+/-0.9 days (p< 0.001), but the grafts were still rejected in an accelerated fashion. Intrathymic injection of donor-derived class I and/or class II MHC allopeptides at the same time period also failed to prolong cardiac allograft survival beyond 3 days. In the group receiving unmodified donor cells, elevated immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) allo-antibodies were found at the time of cardiac transplantation; this pattern was not observed with any other treatment.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe superiority of non-modified donor spleen cells over gamma-irradiated donor cells or donor specific allopeptides in modifying the course of accelerated cardiac rejection suggests that direct allorecognition is the dominant pathway initiating rejection in sensitized transplant recipients. Marked alterations in the antidonor IgM and IgG responses are associated with successful abrogation of accelerated rejection by thymic immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Auswirkung der spezifischen CD26/Dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV)-Inhibition auf die akute Transplantatabstoßung und die Immunantwort in Allotransplantatempfängern

Zur vollstandigen T-Zell-Aktivierung bedarf es neben der Stimulation des T-Zell-Rezeptors eines zweiten, durch CD26 vermittelten, kostimulatorischen Signals. CD26-Aktivierung auf CD4+-Zellen fuhrt zu IL-2-Produktion, IL-2R-Expression und T-ZellProliferation [1]. CD26 zeigt auch enzymatische Wirkung (Dipeptidylpeptidase IV-DPP IV). Die kostimulatorische Aktivitat scheint mit der Enzymaktivitat verknupft [2], mogliche Substrate sind IL-1β, IL-2 und TNF. In immunsupprimierten nierentransplantierten Patienten fand sich erniedrigte DPP IV-Serumaktivitat [3]. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersuchten wir die Auswirkungen einer gezielten DPP IV-Inhibition auf die akute Transplantatabstosung am Modell der heterotopen Herz-Allotransplantation in der Ratte mit Hilfe einer neuen, immunosuppressiven Substanz (Prodipine). Im Anschlus analysierten wir den Einflus der Therapie auf die humorale und zellulare Immunantwort.