Abatacept does not induce direct gene expression changes in antigen-presenting cells

JA Carman, PM Davis, WP Yang, J Zhu… - Journal of clinical …, 2009 - Springer
JA Carman, PM Davis, WP Yang, J Zhu, H Chang, A He, A Truong, SJ Suchard, SG Nadler
Journal of clinical immunology, 2009Springer
Background It has been proposed that ligation of CD80 and CD86 induces reverse signaling
into antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we tested the ability of abatacept, a soluble
human fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen
4 and a fragment of the Fc domain of IgG 1, to activate antigen-presenting cells by
measuring changes in global transcriptional responses. Methods Affymetrix chips were used
to measure gene expression levels using mRNA isolated from immature and mature human …
Background
It has been proposed that ligation of CD80 and CD86 induces reverse signaling into antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we tested the ability of abatacept, a soluble human fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 and a fragment of the Fc domain of IgG1, to activate antigen-presenting cells by measuring changes in global transcriptional responses.
Methods
Affymetrix chips were used to measure gene expression levels using mRNA isolated from immature and mature human dendritic cells and a B cell line following 6 h of treatment with abatacept.
Results
In contrast to robust transcriptional responses induced by the control treatment phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, abatacept induced minimal gene changes in three different populations of antigen-presenting cells. Furthermore, no gene changes were observed in response to belatacept, a modified version of abatacept that binds with higher avidity to CD80 and CD86.
Conclusions
We conclude that reverse signaling in antigen-presenting cells is unlikely to occur in response to either abatacept or belatacept, thereby supporting the modulation of CD28 signaling on T cells as the main mechanism of action for these therapeutics.
Springer