Assessing the immune response in patients following organ allotransplantation provides opportunities to intervene early to prevent allograft damage or administer sufficient immunosuppressive therapy to avoid the risk of graft rejection, but there are few reliable noninvasive biomarkers available to accomplish this. As a consequence, organ transplantation carries an increased risk of morbidity and long-term allograft survival is reduced.
Description
Memory T cells are currently considered a major barrier to allograft tolerance in animal models and human patients; in particular, memory CD8+ T cells are known to be resistant to immunosuppression therapies. Eomesodermin (Eomes) is a T-box transcription factor that is essential for the development of memory T cells. Researchers have identified higher Eomes expression in memory T cells as a correlative factor with donor-reactive memory T cell development, and thus a higher likelihood of transplant rejection, after kidney transplantation. Further, monitoring levels of Eomes expression by transplant recipients’ T cells in response to donor antigens may indicate increased development of graft-reactive memory T cells. Using Eomes as a novel biomarker for predicting the risk of rejection organ allograft recipients can help physicians intervene earlier, reducing the risk of morbidity and promoting long-term survival.
Applications
· Identifying patients with a high risk of transplant rejection so appropriate steps can be taken
Advantages
· Allows physicians to intervene preemptively to prevent allograft damage
· Sufficient immunosuppressive therapy can be administered earlier
· Reduced risk of morbidity
· Prolonged long-term allograft survival
Invention Readiness
In vivo data
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210263013A1
