Exploiting apoptosis for therapeutic tolerance induction

J Immunol. 2013 Dec 1;191(11):5341-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302070.

Abstract

Immune tolerance remains the most promising yet elusive strategy for treating immune-mediated diseases. An experimental strategy showing promise in phase 1 clinical studies is the delivery of Ag cross-linked to apoptotic leukocytes using ethylene carbodiimide. This approach originated from demonstration of the profound tolerance-inducing ability of i.v. administered Ag-coupled splenocytes (Ag-SP) in mice, which has been demonstrated to treat T cell-mediated disorders including autoimmunity, allergy, and transplant rejection. Recent studies have defined the intricate interplay between the innate and adaptive immune systems in Ag-SP tolerance induction. Innate mechanisms include scavenger receptor-mediated uptake of Ag-SP by host APCs, Ag representation, and the required upregulation of PD-L1 expression and IL-10 production by splenic marginal zone macrophages leading to Ag-specific T cell regulation via the combined effects of cell-intrinsic anergy and regulatory T cell induction. In this paper, we discuss the history, advantages, current mechanistic understanding, and clinical potential of tolerance induction using apoptotic Ag-coupled apoptotic leukocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Apoptosis
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
  • Clonal Anergy
  • Humans
  • Immune System Diseases / immunology
  • Immune System Diseases / therapy*
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / trends
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Scavenger / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / transplantation

Substances

  • Antigens
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Receptors, Scavenger
  • Interleukin-10