The impact of transplant tolerance induced by CD40-CD40L(Ligand) costimulation blockade on dendritic cells(DCs)

Objective:To investigate the effect of transplant tolerance induced by CD40-CD40L costimulation blockade on the function of DCs.Methods:The mouse recipients with heterotopic heart transplantation were administrated with anti-CD40L mAb(MR-1) to induced the transplant tolerance.DCs were sorted from rejected and tolerant recipients using MACS.Their expression of CD40,CD80 and CD86 was examined using FACS.DCs were stimulated with LPS in vitro and IL-10,IL-12 levels in the supernatants were evaluated using ELISA.We also investigated their stimulatory capability and tolerogenic capability using mixed leukocyte reaction(MLR).Results:DCs from tolerant recipients expressed lower CD40,CD80,CD86,and secreted higher level of IL-10 and lower level of IL-12.Furthermore,DCs from tolerant recipients were weak stimulators of the MLR and inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes.Conclusion:IL-10highIL-12low DCs with immature phenotype were induced in the transplant tolerance with treatment of CD40-CD40L costimulation blockade and they obtained the tolerogenic function.