FMUL News
Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM) Researchers identify a new cell population of the immune system with therapeutic potential
IMM researchers have identified a new population of regulating lymphocytes specifically located in the liver, which have a high immunosuppressive property, and have found a strategy to stimulate the formation of these lymphocytes. This discovery allows developing the first immunosuppressive cell therapy restricted to a specific place in the body, and that can be used in the fight against organ rejection following transplants, particularly the liver. Its use may enable a reduction of the chronic effects of immunosuppression after a transplant, namely increased exposure to infection and cancer, which often place the life of transplanted patients at risk.
Results were published in the renowned magazine Journal of Immunology and gave origin to a spin-off company - Acellera Therapeutics – that is now being set up.
Regulating lymphocytes are cells of the immune system that control the activity of the T lymphocytes, which are responsible for defending the body from infectious agents. When the activity of the T lymphocytes is not controlled correctly by the regulating lymphocytes, this leads to the emergence of autoimmune and of allergic diseases, such as asthma.
Pre-clinical studies carried out by various teams of researchers with the aim of developing therapies to fight adverse effects following bone marrow transplants, have shown that, when administered to a patient, the regulating lymphocytes known to date (called Treg) normally gather in the lymphatic organs throughout the body.
What researchers Luís Graça and Marta Monteiro, of the IMM Cellular Immunology Unit, have now discovered is a distinct type of regulating lymphocytes, which they named NKTreg and which, despite also having a strong immunosuppressive or regulating capacity, gather specifically in the liver following intravenous injection. It is this characteristic that potentially allows restricting immunosuppression to a specific organ, which, in turn, can lead to a reduction of the risks associated to immunosuppression after transplants, such as infections and cancer.
Researchers have equally discovered that they can obtain these regulating cells from human blood, which opens way to new cell therapy. The NKTreg formation process after human precursor cells and its therapeutic application have already been patented by the team, who also includes David Cristina (from the Gulbenkian Science Institute), to develop the business plan of Acellera Therapeutics.
“What is new about our study is the characterization of a cell population of the immune system that was unknown up to now”, said Marta Monteiro, the first author of the study. She added “what we have found out is that these cells have the capacity of regulating T lymphocytes, in a localized area in the liver”.
“These results obtained in the laboratory have a huge therapeutic potential”, states Luis Graça, the leader of the team. “ We are now working towards developing a cell therapy based on the published study that may reduce the complications associated to liver transplants: prevent rejection, and, at the same time, diminish the severe counter effects of current immunosuppressive therapies.”
In November 2009, this project won second place at the international competition "Idea to Product" organized by the University of Texas, Austin. This competition has the objective of commercializing innovative new technologies and of rewarding original ideas regarding products aiming to meet a well-defined market need.
Cellular Immunology Unit
Further Information:
Unidade de Imunologia Celular do IMM/ IMM Cellular Immunology Unit
“Idea to Product”
Communication and Training Unit
Instituto de Medicina Molecular/Molecular Medicine Institute
ucom@fm.ul.pt
Results were published in the renowned magazine Journal of Immunology and gave origin to a spin-off company - Acellera Therapeutics – that is now being set up.
Regulating lymphocytes are cells of the immune system that control the activity of the T lymphocytes, which are responsible for defending the body from infectious agents. When the activity of the T lymphocytes is not controlled correctly by the regulating lymphocytes, this leads to the emergence of autoimmune and of allergic diseases, such as asthma.
Pre-clinical studies carried out by various teams of researchers with the aim of developing therapies to fight adverse effects following bone marrow transplants, have shown that, when administered to a patient, the regulating lymphocytes known to date (called Treg) normally gather in the lymphatic organs throughout the body.
What researchers Luís Graça and Marta Monteiro, of the IMM Cellular Immunology Unit, have now discovered is a distinct type of regulating lymphocytes, which they named NKTreg and which, despite also having a strong immunosuppressive or regulating capacity, gather specifically in the liver following intravenous injection. It is this characteristic that potentially allows restricting immunosuppression to a specific organ, which, in turn, can lead to a reduction of the risks associated to immunosuppression after transplants, such as infections and cancer.
Researchers have equally discovered that they can obtain these regulating cells from human blood, which opens way to new cell therapy. The NKTreg formation process after human precursor cells and its therapeutic application have already been patented by the team, who also includes David Cristina (from the Gulbenkian Science Institute), to develop the business plan of Acellera Therapeutics.
“What is new about our study is the characterization of a cell population of the immune system that was unknown up to now”, said Marta Monteiro, the first author of the study. She added “what we have found out is that these cells have the capacity of regulating T lymphocytes, in a localized area in the liver”.
“These results obtained in the laboratory have a huge therapeutic potential”, states Luis Graça, the leader of the team. “ We are now working towards developing a cell therapy based on the published study that may reduce the complications associated to liver transplants: prevent rejection, and, at the same time, diminish the severe counter effects of current immunosuppressive therapies.”
In November 2009, this project won second place at the international competition "Idea to Product" organized by the University of Texas, Austin. This competition has the objective of commercializing innovative new technologies and of rewarding original ideas regarding products aiming to meet a well-defined market need.
Cellular Immunology Unit
Further Information:
Unidade de Imunologia Celular do IMM/ IMM Cellular Immunology Unit
“Idea to Product”
Communication and Training Unit
Instituto de Medicina Molecular/Molecular Medicine Institute
ucom@fm.ul.pt