Cell therapy to induce allograft tolerance: time to switch to plan B?

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Transplantation Biology
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Organ transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage organ failure.
• Graft rejection, driven by the recipient's immune system, limits long-term graft survival.
• Current immunosuppressive drugs have significant side effects, including infections and cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in cell therapies for inducing donor-specific tolerance in organ transplantation.
• To discuss the potential of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and regulatory B cells (Bregs) in preventing allograft rejection.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental models using adoptive transfer of ex vivo-expanded CD4+ T cells (Tregs).
• Examination of the role of regulatory B cells (Bregs) in transplantation tolerance.
• Analysis of the crosstalk between Tregs and Bregs in immunomodulation.

Main Results:

• Adoptive transfer of CD4+ Tregs shows promise in experimental models for inducing tolerance.
• Regulatory B cells (Bregs) play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining transplantation tolerance.
• Bregs exhibit potent regulatory functions and can interact with T cells to modulate immune responses.

Conclusions:

• Cell-based therapies hold significant potential for inducing long-term allograft survival.
• Harnessing the regulatory functions of both Tregs and Bregs could lead to improved cell therapies for transplantation.
• Future strategies may involve combining Treg and Breg therapies to achieve indefinite graft survival without immunosuppression.