Immunotherapy with nondepleting anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies but not CD28 antagonists protects islet graft in spontaneously diabetic nod mice from autoimmune destruction and allogeneic and xenogeneic graft rejection

Background. T-cell activation and the subsequent induction of effector functions require not only the recognition of antigen peptides bound to MHC molecules by T-cell receptor (TCR) for antigen but also a costimulatory signal provided by antigen presenting cells. CD4 T-cell activation and function require the CD4 molecule as a coreceptor of TCR. The CD28/B7 pathway is a major costimulatory signal for T-cell activation and differentiation. Methods. The effect of targeting CD4 by nondepleting anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) versus and xenogeneic graft rejection. The efficacy of nondepleting anti-CD4 mAbs is compromised when it combines with CTLA4Ig.