This technology is a method of designing and employing extracellular vesicles expressing human genes on xenografts for reducing risk of immune-rejection in cross-species organ transplantation.
Organ transplantations are often limited by the availability of human donors. Xenotransplantation of organs from other species could provide alternative solution, but is subject to heightened patient immune responses due to the presence of foreign cells, leading to chronic rejection. Although non-specific immunosuppressive therapy is used to prevent transplant rejections, extended immunosuppression can lead to unacceptable levels of toxicity. A method that provides prolonged immune tolerance is needed to improve xenotransplantation efficacy and duration.
This method employs extracellular vesicles (EVs) expressing human transgenes on xenographs, to modulate immune response and prevent organ rejection. The EVs can express transgenes such as CD47, a protein that allows the human body to recognize foreign cells, by acting on Signal Regulatory Protein α (SIRPα). As such, the design of these xenographs prevents their rejection by the body, reducing incidence of post-transplant complications that can lead to organ failures. Additionally, the use of extracellular vesicles does not depend on the expression of SIRPα in the target tissue.
IR CU21348
Licensing Contact: Jerry Kokoshka