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Improved conditioning for hematopoietic chimerism induces islet tolerance to cure diabetes
Stephan A. Ramos, Preksha Bhagchandani, Diego M. Burgos, Xueying Gu, Richard Rodriguez, Nadia Nourin, Martin Neukam, Shiva Pathak, Judith A. Shizuru, Seung K. Kim
Stephan A. Ramos, Preksha Bhagchandani, Diego M. Burgos, Xueying Gu, Richard Rodriguez, Nadia Nourin, Martin Neukam, Shiva Pathak, Judith A. Shizuru, Seung K. Kim
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Research Article Hematology Immunology

Improved conditioning for hematopoietic chimerism induces islet tolerance to cure diabetes

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Abstract

Mixed hematopoietic chimerism after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can modulate the immune system and induce tolerance to allogeneic tissues. However, bone marrow conditioning–related toxicities preclude wider adoption of HCT for transplant allotolerance. We sought agents that reduced conditioning intensity, while promoting durable mixed chimerism after HCT across complete MHC mismatch in diabetic mice, permitting islet allotransplantation and diabetes reversal. We systematically tested baricitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), venetoclax (Bcl-2 inhibitor), and CD47 antibody, agents in current clinical use, and quantified hematopoietic chimerism after HCT. Combined with CD117 antibody, transient T cell depletion, and just 10 centigray total body irradiation, these agents enabled durable mixed chimerism and matching alloislet tolerance to cure diabetes without evidence of graft-versus-host disease. Thus, we have developed a conditioning regimen to promote allogeneic mixed hematopoietic chimerism and transplanted islet allotolerance that minimizes conditioning radiation and cures diabetes.

Authors

Stephan A. Ramos, Preksha Bhagchandani, Diego M. Burgos, Xueying Gu, Richard Rodriguez, Nadia Nourin, Martin Neukam, Shiva Pathak, Judith A. Shizuru, Seung K. Kim

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Figure 6

Peripheral tolerance mechanisms in mixed chimeric mice.

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Peripheral tolerance mechanisms in mixed chimeric mice.
(A) Chimerism an...
(A) Chimerism analysis of CD11c+MHC-II+ DC subsets in the spleen of B6:BALB/c chimeras 22 or 25 weeks after HCT. pDCs, B220+PDCA1+; cDC1, B220–SIRP–CD8+; cDC2, B220–SIRP+CD8–. (B) Splenic DC subset frequency in WT B6, conditioned B6, B6:BALB/c mixed chimeras, and B6:BALB/c mixed chimeras that received an islet graft. (C) Proportion and (D) MFI of PD-L1 in splenic host and donor DCs in B6:BALB/c mice. (E) Donor chimerism in CD4+FOXP3+ splenic Tregs. (F) Proportion of ICOS+CD4+FOXP3+ splenic Tregs. (G) Frequency of CD73hi FR4hi anergic cells among host and donor CD4+ FOXP3– conventional T cells (Tcon) cells of B6:BALB/c spleen. n = 5–9 animals from 2 independent experiments. “Conditioned B6” indicates B6 mice that received conditioning without HCT. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. (B) Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test or unpaired t test (F and G) were used to determine significance. **P < 0.01.

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