FLICKR, RUTH HARTNUPDonor stem cell–derived retinal epithelial cells whose immune proteins correspond to those of a recipient are tolerated following transplant into monkeys’ eyes, according to a report published today (September 15) in Stem Cell Reports. In an accompanying paper, the team also reports that such immune-matched retinal cells derived from humans prevent immune responses in cultured human lymphocytes.
“These are extremely important studies that provide an attractive solution to one of the main problems in regenerative medicine. They show that cells derived from HLA [human leukocyte antigen]-matched homozygous donors could be used to treat patients without the need for powerful immunosuppressive drugs, which of course are associated with cancer, infections, and a long list of other side effects,” said stem cell researcher Robert Lanza of the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Marlborough, Massachusetts, who was not involved in the work.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC)—or, as it’s called in humans, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system—is a family of proteins differentially expressed on the surface of cells that enables the body’s immune system to distinguish self from non-self and react accordingly. Indeed, ...
