CD4+ T cell apoptosis induced by anti-CD4 antibodies.

To explore the inhibitory effects of anti-CD4 human/murine chimeric antibodies on lymphocyte proliferation, CD4+ T cell apoptosis induced by anti-CD4 antibodies was examined. Annexin-V-FITC and PI double stain method was employed to qualitatively and quantitatively determined CD4+ T cell apoptosis induced by anti-CD4 antibodies. Our results showed that anti-CD4 chimeric antibodies could specifically induce CD4+ T cell apoptosis. The ability of anti-CD4 chimeric antibodies to induce CD4+ T cell apoptosis was related with the presence of monocytes. It is concluded that the further cross-linking of anti-CD4 antibodies is important for inducing CD4+ T cell apoptosis.