TY - JOUR
T1 - Costimulation blockade disrupts CD4+ T cell memory pathways and uncouples their link to decline in b-cell function in type 1 diabetes
AU - Eichmann, Martin
AU - Baptista, Roman
AU - Ellis, Richard J.
AU - Heck, Susanne
AU - Peakman, Mark
AU - Beam, Craig A.
PY - 2020/6/15
Y1 - 2020/6/15
N2 - We previously reported that costimulation blockade by abatacept limits the decline of b-cell function and the frequency of circulating CD4+ central memory T cells (TCM) (CD45RO+CD62L+) in new-onset type 1 diabetes. In human subjects receiving placebo, we found a significant association between an increase in CD4+ TCM cells and the decline of b-cell function. To extend and refine these findings, we examined changes in human CD4+ and CD8+ naive and memory T cell subsets at greater resolution using polychromatic flow and mass cytometry. In the placebo group, we successfully reproduced the original finding of a significant association between TCM and b-cell function and extended this to other T cell subsets. Furthermore, we show that abatacept treatment significantly alters the frequencies of a majority of CD4+ conventional and regulatory T cell subsets; in general, Ag-naive subsets increase and Ag-experienced subsets decrease, whereas CD8+ T cell subsets are relatively resistant to drug effects, indicating a lesser reliance on CD28-mediated costimulation. Importantly, abatacept uncouples the relationship between changes in T cell subsets and b-cell function that is a component of the natural history of the disease. Although these data suggest immunological markers for predicting change in b-cell function in type 1 diabetes, the finding that abatacept blunts this relationship renders the biomarkers nonpredictive for this type of therapy. In sum, our findings point to a novel mechanism of action for this successful immunotherapy that may guide other disease-modifying approaches for type 1 diabetes.
AB - We previously reported that costimulation blockade by abatacept limits the decline of b-cell function and the frequency of circulating CD4+ central memory T cells (TCM) (CD45RO+CD62L+) in new-onset type 1 diabetes. In human subjects receiving placebo, we found a significant association between an increase in CD4+ TCM cells and the decline of b-cell function. To extend and refine these findings, we examined changes in human CD4+ and CD8+ naive and memory T cell subsets at greater resolution using polychromatic flow and mass cytometry. In the placebo group, we successfully reproduced the original finding of a significant association between TCM and b-cell function and extended this to other T cell subsets. Furthermore, we show that abatacept treatment significantly alters the frequencies of a majority of CD4+ conventional and regulatory T cell subsets; in general, Ag-naive subsets increase and Ag-experienced subsets decrease, whereas CD8+ T cell subsets are relatively resistant to drug effects, indicating a lesser reliance on CD28-mediated costimulation. Importantly, abatacept uncouples the relationship between changes in T cell subsets and b-cell function that is a component of the natural history of the disease. Although these data suggest immunological markers for predicting change in b-cell function in type 1 diabetes, the finding that abatacept blunts this relationship renders the biomarkers nonpredictive for this type of therapy. In sum, our findings point to a novel mechanism of action for this successful immunotherapy that may guide other disease-modifying approaches for type 1 diabetes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086281385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4049/jimmunol.1901439
DO - 10.4049/jimmunol.1901439
M3 - Article
C2 - 32404353
AN - SCOPUS:85086281385
SN - 0022-1767
VL - 204
SP - 3129
EP - 3138
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
IS - 12
ER -
