HESC-derived neural progenitors prevent xenograft rejection through neonatal desensitisation
Author
Summary, in English
Stem cell therapies for neurological disorders are rapidly moving towards use in clinical trials. Before initiation of clinical trials, extensive pre-clinical validation in appropriate animal models is essential. However, grafts of human cells into the rodent brain are rejected within weeks after transplantation and the standard methods of immune-suppression for the purpose of studying human xenografts are not always sufficient for the long-term studies needed for transplanted human neurons to maturate, integrate and provide functional benefits in the host brain. Neonatal injections in rat pups using human fetal brain cells have been shown to desensitise the host to accept human tissue grafts as adults, whilst not compromising their immune system. Here, we show that differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be used for desensitisation to achieve long-term graft survival of human stem cell-derived neurons in a xenograft setting, surpassing the time of conventional pharmacological immune-suppressive treatments. The use of hESCs for desensitisation opens up for a widespread use of the technique, which will be of great value when performing pre-clinical evaluation of stem cell-derived neurons in animal models.
Department/s
Publishing year
2016-08-01
Language
English
Pages
78-85
Publication/Series
Experimental Neurology
Volume
282
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Other Basic Medicine
Keywords
- Cyclosporine
- Desensitisation
- HESC
- Immune response
- Rejection
- Stem cell
- Transplant
- Xenograft
Status
Published
Research group
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology
- Human Neural Developmental Biology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0014-4886