In vivo depletion of lymphotoxin-alpha expressing lymphocytes inhibits xenogeneic graft-versus-host-disease

PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e33106. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033106. Epub 2012 Mar 12.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major barrier to successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and is largely mediated by activated donor lymphocytes. Lymphotoxin (LT)-α is expressed by subsets of activated T and B cells, and studies in preclinical models demonstrated that targeted depletion of these cells with a mouse anti-LT-α monoclonal antibody (mAb) was efficacious in inhibiting inflammation and autoimmune disease. Here we demonstrate that LT-α is also upregulated on activated human donor lymphocytes in a xenogeneic model of GVHD and targeted depletion of these donor cells ameliorated GVHD. A depleting humanized anti-LT-α mAb, designated MLTA3698A, was generated that specifically binds to LT-α in both the soluble and membrane-bound forms, and elicits antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity in vitro. Using a human peripheral blood mononuclear cell transplanted SCID (Hu-SCID) mouse model of GVHD, the anti-human LT-α mAb specifically depleted activated LT-expressing human donor T and B cells, resulting in prolonged survival of the mice. A mutation in the Fc region, rendering the mAb incapable of mediating ADCC, abolished all in vitro and in vivo effects. These data support a role for using a depleting anti-LT-α antibody in treating immune diseases such as GVHD and autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / drug effects*
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / deficiency*
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects*
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha