Anti-CD25 treatment and FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells in heart transplantation

Transpl Immunol. 2007 Jul;18(1):13-21. doi: 10.1016/j.trim.2007.03.001. Epub 2007 Apr 2.

Abstract

The interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2Ra, CD25) plays a major part in shaping the dynamics of T cell populations following immune activation, due to its role in T cell proliferation and survival. Strategies to blunt the effector responses in transplantation have been developed by devising pharmaceutical agents to block the IL-2 pathways. However, such strategies could adversely affect the CD25(+)FOXP3(+)T regulatory (T reg) populations which also rely on intereukin-2 signaling for survival. The present study shows that a cohort of heart allograft recipients treated with Daclizumab (a humanized anti-CD25 antibody) display FOXP3 expression patterns consistent with functional T regulatory cell populations. High levels of FOXP3 were observed to correlate with lower incidence of and recovery from acute rejection, as well as lower levels of anti-donor HLA antibody production. Therefore, T reg populations appear fully functional in patients treated with Daclizumab, even when 5 doses were administered. By comparison, patients treated with fewer doses or no Daclizumab had a higher incidence of acute rejection, antibody production and graft failure. Therefore, our data indicates that Daclizumab treatment does not interfere with the generation of regulatory T cells and has a beneficial effect on heart allograft survival.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / analysis*
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • Heart Transplantation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • HLA Antigens
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit