Antibodies to OX-40 (CD134) can identify and eliminate autoreactive T cells: implications for human autoimmune disease

Mol Med Today. 1998 Feb;4(2):76-83. doi: 10.1016/S1357-4310(97)01181-7.

Abstract

Autoantigen-specific CD4+ T cells have been implicated as the causative cell type in: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune uveitis, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease and graft-versus-host disease. The pathology of a number of experimentally induced autoimmune diseases is also mediated by autoantigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Ideally, treatment of CD4+ T-cell-mediated diseases would eliminate the autoantigen-specific cells, while sparing the remainder of the T-cell repertoire. We have developed an effective therapy that deletes the autoreactive T cells at the site of autoimmune tissue destruction. This approach uses an antibody directed against a cell-surface protein (OX-40, also known as CD134) that is selectively upregulated on activated autoantigen-specific T cells within the inflamed tissue.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / therapy
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Receptors, OX40
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, OX40
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNFRSF4 protein, human
  • Tnfrsf4 protein, mouse
  • Tnfrsf4 protein, rat
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7