Technologies
This technology is a high-throughput, multiplexed platform to identify T cell receptor and tissue antigen pairs in patient samples that can be used to generate personalized, engineered regulatory T cell therapies.
While there is currently no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), therapies to modulate pro-inflammatory signaling may help slow disease progression. However, existing immunotherapies for autoimmune conditions are broadly immunocompromising, leaving patients vulnerable to infection. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are adaptive immune cells that naturally confer immune suppression in an antigen-specific manner to prevent overrun inflammation in autoimmune or neuroinflammatory conditions. However, in such diseases, long-term immune dysregulation may make existing Tregs ineffectual. Additionally, while T cells have been shown to infiltrate the central nervous system during ALS, heterogeneity drives a lack of consensus on the antigens that recognize T cell receptors in patients.
This technology is a high-throughput discovery platform that identifies T cell receptor and antigen pairs found in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and uses these findings to generate personalized regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies for local immune suppression. The resultant autologous Treg therapies use T cells derived from the patient’s blood or cerebrospinal fluid expressing the identified T cell receptor to prevent cellular transplant rejection. The Tregs are genetically engineered using CRISPR to ensure stable anti-inflammatory properties following reintroduction to the patient. This technology has broad utility in generating Treg therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and may be especially valuable in diseases where target antigens are currently elusive.
Patent Pending
IR CU23310
Licensing Contact: Joan Martinez