This technology is a method for generating large numbers of diverse, functional, naïve T cells using bone marrow cells from adult donors.
Thymic dysfunction is a common condition that leads to immunodeficiency and a severe lack of functional T cells. Current treatment strategies for thymic insufficiency include administration of cytokines and growth factors to enhance thymus function and ex vivo production of T cells for infusion. However, these methods are cumbersome and inefficient. Improved technology in this field would have numerous therapeutic applications for patients with thymic insufficiency due to advanced age, chemo/radiotherapy treatment, immunosuppressive drug treatment, graft-vs-host disease, T cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplant and HIV infection.
This technology proposes a method for producing large quantities of diverse, functional, naïve T cells for infusion into patients with thymic insufficiency. The in vivo generated T cells arise from bone marrow taken from the patient and become genetically compatible immune cells that are tolerant of the donor. In addition to being immunologically functional, the T cells are also rejuvenated – an increased percentage of the cells are “naïve”, which means that these cells are capable of mounting immune defenses against new targets once they are transferred into the donor patient. Overall, this technology has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from immunodeficiencies related to thymus hypofunction.
This technology has been validated with preclinical mouse models.
IR 2871, CU13146
Licensing Contact: Jerry Kokoshka
