Anti-B7-1/B7-2 antibody elicits innate-effector responses in macrophages through NF-kappaB-dependent pathway

Blocking T cell co-stimulatory signals by anti-B7-1/B7-2 mAb is an attractive approach to treat autoimmune diseases. However, anti-B7-1/B7-2 mAb treatment is known to exacerbate autoimmune diseases through mechanisms not fully understood. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) also play important roles in determining the clinical outcome of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that the anti-B7-1 and the anti-B7-2 mAbs activate macrophages for higher induction of TNF-alpha and other effector responses such as bacterial cytotoxicity and production of ROS. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was found to be increased with anti-B7-1/B7-2 mAb treatment. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activity by over-expression of phosphorylation-defective I-kappaB alpha in anti-B7-1/B7-2 mAb-treated macrophages decreased TNF-alpha production. These data indicate that anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 mAbs can trigger innate-effector responses in macrophages by activating NF-kappaB-signaling pathway. Our results suggest that the B7 molecules are not only essential for induction of adaptive immune responses but also play roles in activation of innate immune responses.