Heterologous Immunity Triggered by a Single, Latent Virus in Mus musculus: Combined Costimulation- and Adhesion- Blockade Decrease Rejection

Jonathan M. Beus, Salila S. Hashmi, Saranya A. Selvaraj, Danxia Duan, Linda L. Stempora, Stephanie A. Monday, Jennifer A. Cheeseman, Kelly M. Hamby, Samuel H. Speck, Christian P. Larsen, Allan D. Kirk, Leslie S. Kean

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying latent-virus-mediated heterologous immunity, and subsequent transplant rejection, especially in the setting of T cell costimulation blockade, remain undetermined. To address this, we have utilized MHV68 to develop a rodent model of latent virus-induced heterologous alloimmunity. MHV68 infection was correlated with multimodal immune deviation, which included increased secretion of CXCL9 and CXCL10, and with the expansion of a CD8dim T cell population. CD8dim T cells exhibited decreased expression of multiple costimulation molecules and increased expression of two adhesion molecules, LFA-1 and VLA-4. In the setting of MHV68 latency, recipients demonstrated accelerated costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of skin allografts compared to non-infected animals (MST 13.5 d in infected animals vs 22 d in non-infected animals, p<.0001). In contrast, the duration of graft acceptance was equivalent between non-infected and infected animals when treated with combined anti-LFA-1/anti-VLA-4 adhesion blockade (MST 24 d for non-infected and 27 d for infected, p = n.s.). The combination of CTLA-4-Ig/anti-CD154-based costimulation blockade+anti-LFA-1/anti-VLA-4-based adhesion blockade led to prolonged graft acceptance in both non-infected and infected cohorts (MST>100 d for both, p<.0001 versus costimulation blockade for either). While in the non-infected cohort, either CTLA-4-Ig or anti-CD154 alone could effectively pair with adhesion blockade to prolong allograft acceptance, in infected animals, the prolonged acceptance of skin grafts could only be recapitulated when anti-LFA-1 and anti-VLA-4 antibodies were combined with anti-CD154 (without CTLA-4-Ig, MST>100 d). Graft acceptance was significantly impaired when CTLA-4-Ig alone (no anti-CD154) was combined with adhesion blockade (MST 41 d). These results suggest that in the setting of MHV68 infection, synergy occurs predominantly between adhesion pathways and CD154-based costimulation, and that combined targeting of both pathways may be required to overcome the increased risk of rejection that occurs in the setting of latent-virus-mediated immune deviation.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere71221
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume8
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Aug 2013
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Heterologous Immunity Triggered by a Single, Latent Virus in Mus musculus: Combined Costimulation- and Adhesion- Blockade Decrease Rejection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this