Transgenic anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody secretion by mouse segmental pancreas allografts promotes long term survival

Combination of monoclonal antibodies and DPP-IV inhibitors in the treatment of type 1 diabetes: a plausible treatment modality?

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for the maintenance of immunological tolerance. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) occurs when the immune-regulatory mechanism fails. In fact, T1D is reversed by islet transplantation but is associated with hostile effects of persistent immune suppression. T1D is believed to be dependent on the activation of type-1 helper T (Th1) cells. Immune tolerance is liable for the activation of the Th1 cells. The important role of Th1 cells in pathology of T1D entails the depletion of CD4(+) T cells, which initiated the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD4(+) T cells to interfere with induction of T1D. Prevention of autoimmunity is not only a step forward for the treatment of T1D, but could also restore the β-cell mass. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 stimulates β-cell proliferation and also has anti-apoptotic effects on them. However, the potential use of GLP-1 as a possible method to restore pancreatic β-cells is limited due to rapid degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-IV. We hypothesize that treatment with combination of CD4 mAbs and DPP-IV inhibitors could prevent/reverse T1D. CD4 mAbs have the ability to induce immune tolerance, thereby arresting further progression of T1D; DPP-IV inhibitors have the capability to regenerate the β-cell mass. Consequently, the combination of CD4 mAbs and DPP-IV inhibitor could avoid or at least minimize the constraints of intensive subcutaneous insulin therapy. We presume that if this hypothesis proves correct, it may become one of the plausible therapeutic options for T1D.

Ultrasound-enhanced monoclonal antibody production

With the rapidly growing demand for monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based products, new technologies are urgently needed to increase mAb production while reducing manufacturing costs. To solve this problem, we report our research findings of using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to enhance mAb production. LIPUS with frequency of 1.5 MHz and pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz, as well as duty cycle of 20%, was used to stimulate hybridoma cells to enhance the production of mAb, anti-CD4 (hybridoma GK1.5). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results show a 60.42 ± 7.63% increase of mAb expression in hybridoma cells. The evidence of structural changes of the cellular outer membrane in both transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images and the more than 20% lactate dehydrogenase release indicates that the increased mAb production is related to the increased cell permeability induced by LIPUS. This value-added ultrasound technology provides a potential cost-effective solution for pharmaceutical companies to manufacture mAb-based drugs. The technology, in turn, can reduce the drug manufacturing costs and decrease health care spending.

Depleting T-cell subpopulations in organ transplantation

T-cell depletion strategies are an efficient therapy for the treatment of acute rejection after organ transplantation and have been successfully used as induction regimens. Although eliminating whole T cells blocks alloreactivity, this therapy challenges the development of regulatory mechanisms because it depletes regulatory cells and modifies the profile of T cells after homeostatic repopulation. Targeting T-cell subpopulations or selectively activated T cells, without modifying Treg cells, could constitute a pro-tolerogenic approach. However, the perfect molecular target that would be totally specific probably still needs to be identified. In this study, we have reviewed the biological activities of broad or specific T-cell depletion strategies as these contribute to the induction of regulatory cells and tolerance in organ transplantation.

CD4+ T cells are sufficient to elicit allograft rejection and major histocompatibility complex class I molecule is required to induce recurrent autoimmune diabetes after pancreas transplantation in mice

BACKGROUND

We characterized the role of T cell subsets and major histocompatibility complex molecules in allograft rejection and recurrence of autoimmune diabetes.

METHODS

Adoptive cell transfer and vascularized segmental pancreas transplantation were performed in mice.

RESULTS

In an alloimmune response model, transfer of nondiabetic CD4, but not CD8 T cells, elicited pancreas allograft rejection in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic NOD/scid mice. Pancreas allografts were acutely rejected in STZ-induced diabetic NOD/beta2m mice (confirmed the absence of major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class I and CD8 T cells) and permanently accepted in NOD/CIIT mice (confirmed the absence of MHC class II and CD4 T cells). The results suggest that rejection of pancreas allograft is CD4-dependent and MHC class I-independent. In the autoimmune diabetes model, whole spleen cells obtained from diabetic NOD mice induced autoimmune diabetes in NOD/scid and NOD/CIIT mice, but the onset of diabetes was delayed in NOD/beta2m mice. However, the purified diabetic T cells failed to elicit autoimmune diabetes in NOD/beta2m mice. NOD/scid and NOD/CIIT pancreas grafts were acutely destroyed whereas four of six NOD/beta2m pancreas grafts were permanently accepted in autoimmune diabetic NOD mice.

CONCLUSION

CD4 T cells are sufficient for the induction of allograft rejection, and MHC class I molecule is required to induce recurrent autoimmune diabetes after pancreas transplantation in mice.