Parasitic Biological Agents for Treatment and Prevention of Graft Versus Host Disease
- 详细技术说明
- Researchersat The University of Iowa developed technology which treats bone marrowpatients with helminths, which limits signaling related to Th1 immune responses(associated with inflammation and the development of GVHD), and favors Th2 and regulatory immune responses. Patients are exposed to helminths that remainin the GI tract of the patients for the duration of their self-limitinginfection. The presence of these parasites in the gut stimulates signalingpathways in the host's immune system that promotes development of a T cellvariety, called Fox3p+ Tregs. These T-cells promote regulation of the immunesystem, and limits an immune response which results in the inflammation of GVHDand preserves GVT. A patent hascurrently been filed for this development (Patent No. 61/978,118).
- *Abstract
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Background
Graft versus host disease(GVHD) is a major and potentially severecomplication of bone marrow transplantation in leukemia, lymphoma,and myeloma patients, as well as in patientswith various other diseases. GVHD is controlledby various immunemodulatory mechanisms that suppress inflammation. Current treatment of GVHDis limited to immune suppressive medications with little benefit andsignificant long-term toxicity. Although GVHD can be managed by depleting donorT cells from the graft, this impairs the immune system of the transplantedindividual by predisposing them to life-threatening infections and recurrenceof cancer. The intestinal immune systemplays a crucial role in the induction, maintenance or control of graft versushost responses. There is a need for methods of treating and preventing GVHD, and reducingGVHD-related morbidity and mortality, while preserving the effect of the donor T cells on elimination of a tumor of the recipient. Researchers at The University of Iowadiscovered that intestinal helminth (Heligmosomoides bakeri, a parasite) colonizationincreases donor and recipient regulatory T cell numbers, while down-regulatinginflammatory responses in acute GVHD. Moreover,helminths preserve graft versus tumor (GVT) in this model.
Description
Researchersat The University of Iowa developed technology which treats bone marrowpatients with helminths, which limits signaling related to Th1 immune responses(associated with inflammation and the development of GVHD), and favors Th2 and regulatory immune responses. Patients are exposed to helminths that remainin the GI tract of the patients for the duration of their self-limitinginfection. The presence of these parasites in the gut stimulates signalingpathways in the host's immune system that promotes development of a T cellvariety, called Fox3p+ Tregs. These T-cells promote regulation of the immunesystem, and limits an immune response which results in the inflammation of GVHDand preserves GVT. A patent hascurrently been filed for this development (Patent No. 61/978,118).
Advantages
Our inventionhas the potential to be useful for hematology and other areas of human medicinewhere bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may be applied as a therapeuticregimen. Helminths are less toxiccompared to current immune suppressive regimens. The results suggest thathelminths reduce negative effects of GVHD and preserve the donor T cells.
- *Licensing
- Catherine S. KohSenior Licensing AssociateUniversity of Iowa Research FoundationPh: (319) 335-4659 catherine-koh@uiowa.eduShannon Sheehan, PhD, MBASenior Licensing AssociateUniversity of Iowa Research FoundationEmail: Shannon-sheehan@uiowa.eduPhone: (319) 335-4605
- 国家/地区
- 美国
