Apoptotic cell-based therapies for promoting transplantation tolerance

This article is aimed to provide readers with an updated review on the applicability, efficacy, and challenges of employing donor apoptotic cell-based therapies to promote transplantation tolerance in various experimental and clinical settings.

Recently, donor apoptotic cell-based therapies have been employed in various models of cell (including pancreatic islets and bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells) and solid organ (heart and kidney) transplantation to promote donor-specific tolerance. Published data, thus far, have revealed a high potential of this approach in inducing robust transplantation tolerance. Recent clinical trials have also underscored the safety and potential efficacy of this approach in alleviating graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Host factors including prior allo-sensitization and opportunistic infections pose major obstacles in establishing transplantation tolerance employing this strategy. However, emerging data provide strategies for overcoming such obstacles in these clinically relevant settings.

Donor apoptotic cell therapy is an emerging strategy in promoting transplantation tolerance, with recent data emphasizing its efficacy and applicability for transplantation tolerance in the clinic.