Antilymphocytic antibodies and marrow transplantation. XIV. Antibody-
induced suppression of graft-versus-host disease in C3-decomplemented mice
differentiates two T-cell-depletion pathways
S Thierfelder, J Mysliwietz, G Hoffmann-Fezer and U Kummer
Institut fur Immunologie der GSF, Forschungszentrum fur Umwelt und
Gesundheit, GmbH, Munchen, Germany.
Remarkable differences in the suppression of graft-versus-host disease
(GVHD) have been found for anti-Thy-1 antibodies to relate to (1) antigen
density and antibody coating on the target cells, (2) antibody isotype, and
(3) uptake of complement subcomponent C1q. Regarding (2) and (3) we now
demonstrate that depletion of the third complement component C3 by cobra
venom factor (CVF) differentiates two T-cell elimination pathways in mice:
four rat IgG2c anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) with low uptake of
mouse C1q lost most of their T- cell-depleting and consequently
GVHD-preventing effect in C3-depleted H2 IA incompatible semiallogeneic
(C57BL/6xCBA)F1 mice. In contrast, eight rat IgG2b, mouse IgG2a, and 2b
anti-Thy-1 MoAbs with high affinity for C1q still remained strongly
T-cell-depleting and prevented GVHD even in fully mismatched CBA mice
depleted of C3. In conjunction with our observation that anti-Thy-1 MoAbs
also suppress GVHD in C5- deficient AKR mice, we conclude that complete
complement activation until T-cell lysis is not required for our antibodies
to be effective in vivo. Activation, but only until deposition of C3b on
target-cells for opsonisation via C3b receptors, is necessary with the less
immunosuppressive anti-Thy-1 IgG2c isotype with low affinity for C1q. Mouse
C1q uptake and C3/C4 deposition on target cells were measured with labeled
antibodies and localized in T-cell areas. Interestingly, not even
activation until C3b is necessary with the most immunosuppressive
C1q-high-affine isotypes. As far as the latter is concerned, we discuss
whether elimination of antibody-coated cells via Fc receptors is enhanced
by binding to C1q-receptors and/or by intercalating C1q expressed on
macrophages.
Volume 77,
Issue 10,
pp. 2285-2291,
05/15/1991
Copyright © 1991 by The American Society of Hematology