Cardiac Allograft Tolerance Induction with Ox40L Costimulatory Blockade

Abstract

<h3>Purpose</h3> Cardiac allograft tolerance in non-human primates (NHPs) has been achieved by our group via hematopoietic mixed chimerism with allogeneic bone marrow and kidney co-transplantation. This model has failed without the regulatory mechanisms associated with the donor kidney. We hypothesized that rapamycin and anti-OX40L mAb (KY1005, Kymab Ltd) could substitute for kidney co-transplantation and induce cardiac allograft tolerance by providing a favorable immunologic milieu for regulatory T cells (Tregs). <h3>Methods</h3> Fourteen cynomolgus NHPs underwent mixed chimerism conditioning (ATGAM, total body and thymic irradiation) then organ and bone marrow transplant. Heart Alone recipients received a heart transplant (n=5), Heart/Kidney recipients received a heart and kidney co-transplant (n=7). Heart/OX40L recipients received a heart transplant plus 40 days of anti-OX40L mAb (n=2). All groups underwent a 12 day course of aCD154 mAb. The Heart Alone and Heart Kidney groups received 28 days of cyclosporine while the Heart aOX40L group received 100 days of rapamycin. <h3>Results</h3> All Heart Alone recipients had cellular rejection (ISHLT 3R) by 200 days post bone marrow transplant (pBMT). No Heart/Kidney recipients showed early rejection. Similarly, no Heart/OX40L recipients showed early rejection and one is currently 258 days pBMT without clinical or pathologic evidence of rejection (Figure 1). The other recipient died of viral complications. Mean peak lymphoid chimerism was 10% for the Heart Alone group, 26% for the Heart/Kidney group, and 29% for the Heart/OX40L group. The anti-OX40L protocol also showed an expansion of the Treg population with a peak of 35% Tregs in the CD4+ population. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The OX40L protocol achieved robust lymphoid chimerism with concomitant expansion of Tregs. The surviving Heart/OX40L recipient achieved longer freedom from allograft rejection when compared to the Heart Alone group. OX40L costimulatory blockade may allow for heart allograft tolerance without kidney co-transplantation.