Therapeutic effect of CXCR3-expressing regulatory T cells on liver, lung and intestinal damages in a murine acute GVHD model

H Hasegawa, A Inoue, M Kohno, J Lei, T Miyazaki… - Gene therapy, 2008 - nature.com
H Hasegawa, A Inoue, M Kohno, J Lei, T Miyazaki, O Yoshie, M Nose, M Yasukawa
Gene therapy, 2008nature.com
Adoptive transfer of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells has been shown to have therapeutic
effects in experimental graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) models. Chemokines play an important
role in the recruitment of alloreactive donor T cells into target organs during GVHD. In this
study, we investigated the effectiveness of targeted delivery of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T
cells via a transfected chemokine receptor on reduction of organ damage during acute
GVHD. High levels of expression of Th1-associated chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10 and …
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells has been shown to have therapeutic effects in experimental graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) models. Chemokines play an important role in the recruitment of alloreactive donor T cells into target organs during GVHD. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of targeted delivery of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells via a transfected chemokine receptor on reduction of organ damage during acute GVHD. High levels of expression of Th1-associated chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) and their receptor CXCR3 were observed in the liver, lung and intestine of GVHD-induced recipient mice. Recipient mice that had undergone transfer of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ CXCR3-transfected T cells (CXCR3-Treg cells) showed significant amelioration of GVHD changes in the liver, lung and intestine in comparison with recipient mice that had received CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells (Treg cells) or naturally occurring CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. This was due to more pronounced migration of CXCR3-Treg cells and their localization for a longer time in Th1-associated chemokine-expressing organs, resulting in stronger suppressive activity. We succeeded in preparing chemokine receptor-expressing Treg cells and demonstrated their ability to ameliorate disease progression upon accumulation in target organs. This method may provide a new therapeutic approach for organ damage in acute GVHD.
nature.com