Neutralizing Interleukin-4 Prevents Transplant Arteriosclerosis Mediated by Indirect Pathway T Cells Under CD40-CD154 Costimulation Blockade

Abstract

Prolonged treatment with anti-CD154 was not able to prevent the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in MHC class I-mismatched aortic allografts, in the presence or absence of CD8+ T cells. This CD40-CD154 pathway resistant transplant arteriosclerosis was mediated by IL-4, because neutralizing IL-4 in addition to CD40-CD154 costimulation blockade and CD8+ T-cell depletion prevented its development.