Application of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Husein Hadeiba
Palo Alto Institute for Research and Education
Transplantation Immunology: RM1-01710
Status: Active
$885475.00

The Stem Cell Transplantation Immunology Awards are intended to fund transformative research leading to the development of immune tolerance of pluripotent stem cell derivatives and potential correction of autoimmunity. The 19 awards worth $25,112,351 were approved on 4/29/10. You can learn more about the awards by reading the RFA or reading the press release.

Public Abstract (provided by applicant)

The immune system protects us from invading pathogens, but has to be kept in check to prevent harmful responses to our own tissues. Unique immune "suppressor" cells have been recently characterized that prevent harmful responses to our own cells and proteins. We have recently identified unique populations of white blood cells, called dendritic cells that can induce the development of such "suppressor" cells. More importantly these immunosuppressive dendritic cells are unique in that they have special molecules on their cell surface that target them to tissues in the body where autoaggressive immune cells are either killed off or shut down during the development of the immune system. We wish to (i) expand and isolate populations of dendritic cells based on their cell surface expression of these special trafficking molecules and then (ii) use them as facilitator cells in transplants of stem cells from a foreign donor. The idea behind our approach in stem cell transplantation therapy is that immunosuppressive dendritic cells from donor A will educate the immune system in recipient B to recognize cells and proteins from the donor as self and not to mount destructive rejection responses to stem cell grafts from the same donor (A). Finally we wish to use a preservation protocol in formalin-based solvents to maintain the immunosuppressive attributes of these dendritic cells forever. That way they can be safely administered to patients that receive mismatched stem cell grafts without ever worrying that the function of these dendritic cells will change after injection into the patient. We will work to establish protocols for the use of immunosuppressive dendritic cells as facilitator cells for foreign stem cell grafts in the clinic.

Statement of benefit to California (provided by applicant)

The use of stem cell grafts has been pioneered in the clinics and biotech labs (e.g. Geron) of California and has been a therapy of choice for the replacement of diseased tissue in many patients. With the ban lifted on embryonic stem cell research, we will see more patients throughout California embracing this form of therapy. However rejection of foreign tissue grafts, including stem cells, has challenged researchers and clinicians to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for immune-mediated rejection of foreign grafts. The preliminary results from studies described in this proposal suggest that the host immune system can be educated to recognize foreign stem cell grafts as