Oxidized ATP inhibits T-cell-mediated autoimmunity

T cells directed against self antigens play an important role in several autoimmune diseases. The available immunosuppressive compounds used to treat autoimmune diseases are limited, and often they have side effects that limit their application. T cells express ATP receptors, which could be new target molecules to treat autoimmune disease. Here we analyzed the effect of oxidized ATP (oxATP), an inhibitor of the ATP receptor P2rx7, in different murine models of T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Treatment with oxATP inhibited proliferation and effector function of T cells. In the systems we used, oxATP did not obviously interfere with the innate immune response, but strongly reduced antigen-specific T-cell responses. This treatment ameliorated T-cell-mediated autoimmune type I diabetes and autoimmune encephalitis in mice. In conclusion, oxATP was found to strongly inhibit activated T cells and could thus be used to target T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease.