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T cells are central to the detrimental alloresponses that develop in autoimmunity and transplantation, with CD28 costimulatory signals being key to T cell activation and proliferation. CTLA4-Ig molecules that bind CD80/86 and inhibit CD28 costimulation offer an alternative immunosuppressive treatment, free from some of the chronic toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibition. However, CD80/86 blockade by CTLA4-Ig also results in the loss of coinhibitory CTLA4 signals that are critical to the regulation of T cell activation. Here, we show that a nonactivating monovalent anti-CD28 that spares CTLA4 signaling is an effective immunosuppressant in a clinically relevant humanized mouse transplant model. We demonstrate that selective CD28 blockade prolongs human skin allograft survival through a mechanism that includes a reduction in the cellular graft infiltrate. Critically, selective CD28 blockade promotes Treg function in vivo and synergizes with adoptive Treg therapy to promote transplant survival. In contrast to CTLA4-Ig treatment, selective CD28 blockade promotes regulation of alloimmune responses and facilitates Treg-based cellular therapy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1172/jci.insight.89381

Type

Journal article

Journal

JCI Insight

Publication Date

05/10/2017

Volume

2

Keywords

Animals, Autoimmunity, CD28 Antigens, CTLA-4 Antigen, Cytokines, Graft Survival, Heterografts, Humans, Inflammation Mediators, Lymphocyte Activation, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Skin Transplantation, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Transplantation Immunology