COADMINISTRATION OF EITHER CYCLOSPORINE OR STEROIDS WITH HUMANIZED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AGAINST CD80 AND CD86 SUCCESSFULLY PROLONG ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL AFTER LIFE SUPPORTING RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IN CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS1

Abstract

Our data show that combining a calcineurin inhibitor or prednisone with mAbs designed to block costimulatory signals does not antagonize the immunosuppressive efficacy of these mAbs. In addition, combining CsA with mAbs directed against the CD80 and CD86 receptors significantly prolongs graft survival when compared to CsA monotherapy. Therefore clinical trials of humanized mAbs to CD80 and CD86 used in combination with conventional immunosuppression can be considered.