This mice model study was led by researchers from the Department of Medicine and the Transplant Research Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, in collaboration with researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and done in collaboration with co-corresponding author, Harvey Cantor MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (
).
Using a mouse model, the researchers discovered that those self-peptides, presented by a specific class of major histocompatibility complexes, flag harmful immune cells for the body’s own regulatory CD8 Tregs to attack and eliminate.
The vaccine stimulated and promoted those regulatory T cells that in turn kept the harmful cells under check. These cells are crucial for maintaining immune responses and preventing inflammation.
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An analogous pathway in humans was also identified, implying that this research could protect those with autoimmune disorders or organ transplant patients.
“This new vaccine promotes immune regulation that treats autoimmunity and prolongs kidney allograft survival in mice. Our research identifies an analogous pathway in humans that we hope to target soon,” said co-corresponding author Jamil R. Azzi, MD, PhD, of the Brigham’s Transplant Research Center.
“Identification of human T cell receptors homologous to the mouse model tested may form the basis of a novel and effective treatment for disorders that reflect excessive or dysregulated immune responses.”
Reference :
- A narrow T cell receptor repertoire instructs thymic differentiation of MHC class Ib-restricted CD8+ regulatory T-cells – (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/170512)
Source: Eurekalert
