Publications
Cell reportsNov 2024 |
43
(
11
),
114994
DOI:
10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114994

Combinatorial genetic engineering strategy for immune protection of stem cell-derived beta cells by chimeric antigen receptor regulatory T cells

Barra, Jessie M; Robino, Rob A; Castro-Gutierrez, Roberto; Proia, James; Russ, Holger A; Ferreira, Leonardo M R
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a rapidly expanding field harnessing human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cells and tissues to treat many diseases, including type 1 diabetes. However, graft immune protection remains a key challenge. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology confers new specificities to effector T cells and immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). One challenge in CAR design is identifying target molecules unique to the cells of interest. Here, we employ combinatorial genetic engineering to confer CAR-Treg-mediated localized immune protection to stem cell-derived cells. We engineered hPSCs to express truncated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRt), a biologically inert and generalizable target for CAR-Treg homing and activation, and generated CAR-Tregs recognizing EGFRt. Strikingly, CAR-Tregs suppressed innate and adaptive immune responses in vitro and prevented EGFRt-hPSC-derived pancreatic beta-like cell (sBC [stem cell-derived beta cell]) graft immune destruction in vivo. Collectively, we provide proof of concept that hPSCs and Tregs can be co-engineered to protect hPSC-derived cells from immune rejection upon transplantation.
Product Used
Genes

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