Prolonged, Low-Dose Anti-Thymocyte Globulin, Combined with CTLA4-Ig, Promotes Engraftment in a Stringent Transplant Model

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D’Addio, Francesca
Yuan, Xueli
Mfarrej, Bechara
Ansari, Mohammed Javeed
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0053797Metadata
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D’Addio, Francesca, Olaf Boenisch, Ciara N. Magee, Melissa Y. Yeung, Xueli Yuan, Bechara Mfarrej, Andrea Vergani, Mohammed Javeed Ansari, Paolo Fiorina, and Nader Najafian. 2013. Prolonged, low-dose anti-thymocyte globulin, combined with CTLA4-Ig, promotes engraftment in a stringent transplant model. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53797.Abstract
Background: Despite significant nephrotoxicity, calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) remain the cornerstone of immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation. We, along with others, have reported tolerogenic properties of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG, Thymoglobulin®), evinced by its ability both to spare Tregs from depletion in vivo and, when administered at low, non-depleting doses, to expand Tregs ex vivo. Clinical trials investigating B7/CD28 blockade (LEA29Y, Belatacept) in kidney transplant recipients have proven that the replacement of toxic CNI use is feasible in selected populations. Methods: Rabbit polyclonal anti-murine thymocyte globulin (mATG) was administered as induction and/or prolonged, low-dose therapy, in combination with CTLA4-Ig, in a stringent, fully MHC-mismatched murine skin transplant model to assess graft survival and mechanisms of action. Results: Prolonged, low-dose mATG, combined with CTLA4-Ig, effectively promotes engraftment in a stringent transplant model. Our data demonstrate that mATG achieves graft acceptance primarily by promoting Tregs, while CTLA4-Ig enhances mATG function by limiting activation of the effector T cell pool in the early stages of treatment, and by inhibiting production of anti-rabbit antibodies in the maintenance phase, thereby promoting regulation of alloreactivity. Conclusion: These data provide the rationale for development of novel, CNI-free clinical protocols in human transplant recipients.Other Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3542267/pdf/Terms of Use
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