The absence of regulatory T cells (Treg) is a hallmark for a wide variety of disorders, including autoimmune disorders, dermatitis, periodontitis, and transplant rejection. Increasing local Treg numbers is a potential treatment option, but current methods for in vivo Treg expansion rely on biologic therapies, which are not specific to Treg cells and are associated with many adverse side effects.
Description
Researchers have developed a Treg-inducing synthetic formulation consisting of controlled release vehicles for IL-2, TGF-β, and rapamycin, a combination of cytokines and drugs previously reported to induce Treg proliferation as an alternative strategy to achieve in situ Treg expansion as a potential treatment option. Treg induced in the presence of these formulations express the canonical markers or Treg and suppressed naïve T cell proliferation at levels similar to soluble factor-induced Treg as well as naturally occurring Treg. Most importantly, these release formulations are shown to be capable of inducing FoxP3+ Treg in human cells in vitro. This method supports the future development of controlled release formulations that can induce function Treg in vitro with the potential to develop in vivo Treg -specific induction and expansion therapy as an off-the-shelf therapeutic for creating a local immunosuppressive environment and increasing the presence of Treg at sites of inflammation.
Applications
· Treating contact dermatitis
· Treating periodontitis
· Preventing graft rejection in skin and composite tissue transplantations
· Treating autoimmune disorders
· Treating other diseases where immune homeostasis is lost and needs to be restored
· Off-the-shelf therapeutic for increasing the presence of Treg and creating an immunosuppressive environment at localized sites
Advantages
· Specific for inducing the proliferation regulatory T cells while minimizing off-target effects
· First technology with the potential to deliver the soluble factors necessary for regulatory T cell induction in vivo in a sustained and controlled manner
Invention Readiness
In vitro data
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200405644A1
