Control of allograft rejection in mice by applying a novel neuropeptide, cortistatin.

INTRODUCTION

The action of cortistatin (CST), a novel cyclic neuropeptide, as an anti-inflammatory factor has been studied, but few investigations have explored the immunomodulatory role of CST in transplantation. In the present study, we examined whether CST affects the alloimmune response in a mouse model of skin transplantation and the effects of CST on T lymphocytes.

METHODS

BALB/c (H-2K(d)) recipient mice (n=70) were divided into seven groups (n=10 per group) and given an intraperitoneal injection of CST or a somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995 (octreotide), on the day of skin transplantation from C57BL/6 (B6) (H-2K(b)) donors. Injections were continued for 7 consecutive days. Groups 1-3 received CST at doses of 0.02, 0.2, or 2 mg/kg, respectively. Groups 4-6 received SMS 201-995 at the same doses. Group 7 was a control group and received injections of phosphate buffered saline. Survival of the allografts was recorded. A semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction study of Foxp3 expression and a flow cytometry study of CD4 and CD25 markers of T lymphocytes were conducted to determine whether CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(high) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) were generated in vivo.

RESULTS

BALB/c mice given CST (0.2 or 2 mg/kg) had prolonged graft survival (median survival time [MST], 13 and 14 days, respectively; P<0.05 compared with controls). SMS 201-995 at the same concentrations did not have a significant effect on allograft survival (MST, 8 days for both groups). We found more than a twofold increase of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg) cells in the CD4(+) T-cell population and the expression of Foxp3 was up-regulated in the CST treatment groups, compared with control and SMS 201-995 treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

In our study, CST induced a significant prolongation in survival time of allogeneic skin grafts and increased the generation of CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp 3(high) T(reg) cells. These results suggest that CST may become a new modality in controlling allograft rejection.