Indefinite survival of neonatal porcine islet xenografts by simultaneous targeting of LFA-1 and CD154 or CD45RB

Diabetes. 2005 Feb;54(2):443-51. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.54.2.443.

Abstract

A variety of transient therapies directed against molecules involved in T-cell activation and function result in long-term islet allograft survival. However, there are relatively few examples of durable islet xenograft survival using similar short-term approaches, especially regarding highly phylogenetically disparate xenograft donors. Previous studies demonstrate that combined anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) plus anti-CD154 therapy results in a robust form of islet allograft tolerance not observed with either individual monotherapy. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the perturbation of anti-LFA-1, either alone or in combination with targeting CD154 or CD45RB, would promote neonatal porcine islet (NPI) xenograft survival in mice. NPI xenografts are rapidly rejected in wild-type C57BL/6 mice but reproducibly mature and restore durable euglycemia in diabetic, immune-deficient C57BL/6 rag-1(-/-) recipients. A short course of individual anti-LFA-1, anti-CD154, or anti-CD45RB therapy resulted in long-term (>100 days) survival in a moderate proportion of C57BL/6 recipients. However, simultaneous treatment with anti-LFA-1 plus either anti-CD154 or anti-CD45RB therapy could achieve indefinite xenograft function in the majority of recipient animals. Importantly, prolongation of islet xenograft survival using combined anti-LFA-1/anti-CD154 therapy was associated with little mononuclear cell infiltration and greatly reduced anti-porcine antibody levels. Taken together, results indicate that therapies simultaneously targeting differing pathways impacting T-cell function can show marked efficacy for inducing long-term xenograft survival and produce a prolonged state of host hyporeactivity in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • CD40 Ligand / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / surgery*
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft Survival / immunology*
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / immunology*
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Swine
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens
  • Sirolimus