Sanchez-Fueyo A, Whitehouse G, Grageda N, Cramp ME, Lim TY, Romano M, Thirkell S, Lowe K, Fry L, Heward J, Kerr A, Ali J, Fisher C, Lewis G, Hope A, Kodela E, Lyne M, Farzaneh F, Kordasti S, Rebollo-Mesa I, Jose Lozano J, Safinia N, Heaton N, Lechler R, Martinez-Llordella M, Lombardi G
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a lymphocyte subset with intrinsic immunosuppressive properties that can be expanded in large numbers ex vivo and have been shown to prevent allograft rejection and promote tolerance in animal models. To investigate the safety, applicability, and biological activity of autologous Treg adoptive transfer in humans, we conducted an open-label, dose-escalation, Phase I clinical trial in liver transplantation. Patients were enrolled while awaiting liver transplantation or 6-12 months posttransplant. Circulating Tregs were isolated from blood or leukapheresis, expanded under good manufacturing practices (GMP) conditions, and administered intravenously at either 0.5-1 million Tregs/kg or 3-4.5 million Tregs/kg. The primary endpoint was the rate of dose- limiting toxicities occurring within 4 weeks of infusion. The applicability of the clinical protocol was poor unless patient recruitment was deferred until 6-12 months posttransplant. Thus, only 3 of the 17 patients who consented while awaiting liver transplantation were dosed. In contrast, all six patients who consented 6-12 months posttransplant received the cell infusion. Treg transfer was safe, transiently increased the pool of circulating Tregs and reduced anti-donor T cell responses. Our study opens the door to employing Treg immunotherapy to facilitate the reduction or complete discontinuation of immunosuppression following liver transplantation.
13/11/2019
31715056
American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (
IF: 7.338 /
Quartile: 1)
WOS Cites: 117
SemanticScholar Cites: 127
SemanticScholar Citation Velocity: 31
SemanticScholar Influential Citation Count: 8
