ALBERT

Description: Abstract 3738 Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents a major challenge and the main cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic transplantation. Using the standard GVHD prophylaxis based on a calcineurin inhibitor plus methotrexate (MTX). The incidence of acute GVHD is in the range of 30–60%, so that new strategies are required in order to decrease GVHD without hampering GVL. Sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, allows to decrease the risk of GVHD and increases the number of Treg after transplantation. Unfortunately, its use may increase the risk of microangiopathy and, moreover, its combination with calcineurin inhibitors blocks the development of Treg. Bortezomib is a proteosome inhibitor and blocks the nuclear translocation and activation of NF-kB. It induces depletion of alloreactive T and allows the expansion of T-cells with suppressive properties. Accordingly, both drugs could favour the development of a tolerogeneic immune response after transplantation. In the current study we have analyzed the synergistic effect of sirolimus together with bortezomib. Bortezomib 100 nM plus sirolimus 5nM synergistically inhibited T-cell activation as assessed by the expression of CD25, production of IFNg and expression of CD40L as well as proliferation assessed as expression of PKH. Remain vibility, these effects could not be attributed to a decreased viability of T-cells, as assessed by 7-AAD, at the concentrations evaluated. As compared to each drug alone, the combination significantly decreased the production of Th1 cytokines (IFNg, IL-2 and TNF) while regarding TH2 cytokines, only IL-6 significantly decreased upon combining both drugs. Concerning the mechanisms involved in this synergistic effect, the combination of both drugs resulted in an inhibition of the Akt and Erk ½ phophorylation, thus indicating that sirolimus inhibit pathways which could allow T-cells to escape from the effect of bortezomib at the doses used in the current experiment. In order to confirm in vivo the synergistic effect of sirolimus and bortezomib, a GVHD mouse model (C57/BL6-Balb/c) was carried out. Mice receiving both drugs (Bortezomib 1μg/day intravenous on days 0, +1, +2 postransplantat and sirolimus 0.25mg/Kg intra-peritoneal on days 0 to 12) has a significantly lower incidence of GVHD and longer survival as compared to each drug alone. We also wanted to evaluate whether the immunosuppressive effect of the combination was unspecific or, by contrast, it allowed induce specific immune tolerance against host but maintaining the immune response against other antigens. For this purpose a haematopoietic cells of Balb/c mice which were C57/BL6 complete chimeras were infused to NOD-SCID mice. While none of the donors had developed GVHD after transplantation plus sirolimus and bortezomib postransplant, the NOD-SCID mice succumbed due to GVHD. Furthermore, we infused WEHI cells to BALB/c after total body irradiation and we observed that, while all BALB/c mice receiving WEHI plus C57BL/6 donor BM cells died due to leukemic infiltration, none of those receiving WEHI cells plus C57BL/6 donor BM cells plus splenocytes (and GVHD prophylaxis with sirolimus and bortezomib) did develop leukemic infiltration, thus confirming that, using this approach, we were able to separate GVHD and GVL effect. In conclusion, the current study shows a potent synergistic effect between sirolimus and bortezomib in vitro and in vivo which prevent GVHD while maintaining GVL. Disclosures: Cañizo: CELGENE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. San Miguel:JANSSEN-CILAG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CELGENE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NOVARTIS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MILLENNIUM: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Off Label Use: sirolimus and bortezomib are not approved for use in prophylaxis of graft versus host disease.

Description: Cytokine genes are targets of multiple epigenetic mechanisms in T lymphocytes. 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) is a nucleoside-based DNA methyltransferase inhibitor that induces demethylation and gene reactivation. In the current study, we analyzed the effect of 5-azaC in T-cell function and observed that 5-azaC inhibits T-cell proliferation and activation, blocking cell cycle in the G0 to G1 phase and decreasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. This effect was not attributable to a proapoptotic effect of the drug but to the down-regulation of genes involved in T-cell cycle progression and activation such as CCNG2, MTCP1, CD58, and ADK and up-regulation of genes that induce cell-growth arrest, such as DCUN1D2, U2AF2, GADD45B, or p53. A longer exposure to the drug leads to demethylation of FOXP3 promoter, overexpression of FOXP3, and expansion of regulatory T cells. Finally, the administration of 5-azaC after transplantation prevented the development of graft-versus-host disease, leading to a significant increase in survival in a fully mismatched bone marrow transplantation mouse model. In conclusion, the current study shows the effect of 5-azaC in T lymphocytes and illustrates its role in the allogeneic transplantation setting as an immunomodulatory drug, describing new pathways that must be explored to prevent graft-versus-host disease.