Single administration of p2TA (AB103), a CD28 antagonist peptide, prevents inflammatory and thrombotic reactions and protects against gastrointestinal injury in total-body irradiated mice

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 23;9(7):e101161. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101161. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to elucidate the action of the CD28 mimetic peptide p2TA (AB103) that attenuates an excessive inflammatory response in mitigating radiation-induced inflammatory injuries. BALB/c and A/J mice were divided into four groups: Control (C), Peptide (P; 5 mg/kg of p2TA peptide), Radiation (R; total body irradiation with 8 Gy γ-rays), and Radiation + Peptide (RP; irradiation followed by p2TA peptide 24 h later). Gastrointestinal tissue damage was evaluated by analysis of jejunum histopathology and immunohistochemistry for cell proliferation (Cyclin D1) and inflammation (COX-2) markers, as well as the presence of macrophages (F4/80). Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and KC as well as fibrinogen were quantified in plasma samples obtained from the same mice. Our results demonstrated that administration of p2TA peptide significantly reduced the irradiation-induced increase of IL-6 and fibrinogen in plasma 7 days after exposure. Seven days after total body irradiation with 8 Gy of gamma rays numbers of intestinal crypt cells were reduced and villi were shorter in irradiated animals compared to the controls. The p2TA peptide delivery 24 h after irradiation led to improved morphology of villi and crypts, increased Cyclin D1 expression, decreased COX-2 staining and decreased numbers of macrophages in small intestine of irradiated mice. Our study suggests that attenuation of CD28 signaling is a promising therapeutic approach for mitigation of radiation-induced tissue injury.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism
  • CD28 Antigens / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • CD28 Antigens / chemistry
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Gamma Rays
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / radiation effects
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Jejunum / drug effects
  • Jejunum / pathology
  • Jejunum / radiation effects
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / complications
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacology
  • Thrombosis / blood
  • Thrombosis / etiology
  • Thrombosis / prevention & control*
  • Whole-Body Irradiation

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CD28 Antigens
  • Interleukin-6
  • Peptides
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen
  • Cyclin D1
  • Fibrinogen
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2