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Prof. Dr. Nathalie Cools

Targeted tolerance in multiple sclerosis: Development of transgenic T cell receptor-engineered regulatory T cells recognizing myelin basic protein

Grant

€ 59,005
Laboratorium voor Experimentele Hematologie- UAntwerpen
“Directing tolerance to self by means of cell therapy: Can we re-educate the immune system gone wild in MS?”

Using cells to cure patients is an attractive and innovative therapy currently gaining momentum. To date, cell therapies are also being evaluated to treat autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). Regulatory T cells (also called Tregs) are T cells which have a role in regulating or suppressing other cells in the immune system. Hence, Tregs offer the opportunity to target cells that are potentially involved in the disease progress. In this project, we aim to foster the clinical application of Tregs in autoimmunity. For that, we will establish a protocol for the generation of transgenic TCR-engineered Tregs, that can be applied in MS.

the scientifc project

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and prevent autoimmunity. Besides direct suppression of immune activation, Tregs exert their immunosuppressive functions indirectly via their interaction with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs).
Treg-based cell therapy approaches are being tested in the clinic, and emerging data indicate that the administration of antigen-specific Tregs substantially increases the potency and specificity of Treg therapy. Therefore, we aim here to develop “designer” Tregs expressing a transgenic T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing myelin basic protein (MBP). We anticipate enforcing the interaction of Tregs with DCs expressing the MBP antigen in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-dependent manner, ultimately controlling autoimmunity.