Localized hydrogel delivery of dendritic cells for attenuation of multiple sclerosis in a murine model

In multiple sclerosis (MS), abnormally activated immune cells responsive to myelin proteins result in widespread damage throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and ultimately irreversible disability. Immunomodulation by delivering dendritic cells (DCs) utilizes a potent and rapid MS disease progression driver therapeutically. Here, we investigated delivering DCs for disease severity attenuation using an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis preclinical MS model. DCs treated with interleukin-10 (IL-10) (DC10s) were transplanted using in situ gelling poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel for target site localization. DC delivery increased hydrogel longevity and altered the injection site recruited, endogenous immune cell profile within 2 days postinjection. Furthermore, hydrogel-mediated DC transplantation efficacy depended on the injection-site. DCs delivered to the neck local to MS-associated CNS-draining cervical lymph nodes attenuated paralysis, compared to untreated controls, while delivery to the flank did not alter paralysis severity. This study demonstrates that local delivery of DC10s modulates immune cell recruitment and attenuates disease progression in a preclinical model of MS.