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Andreas Heuer

Andreas Heuer

Research team manager

Andreas Heuer

HESC-derived neural progenitors prevent xenograft rejection through neonatal desensitisation

Author

  • Andreas Heuer
  • Agnete Kirkeby
  • Ulrich Pfisterer
  • Marie E. Jönsson
  • Malin Parmar

Summary, in English

Stem cell therapies for neurological disorders are rapidly moving towards use in clinical trials. Before initiation of clinical trials, extensive pre-clinical validation in appropriate animal models is essential. However, grafts of human cells into the rodent brain are rejected within weeks after transplantation and the standard methods of immune-suppression for the purpose of studying human xenografts are not always sufficient for the long-term studies needed for transplanted human neurons to maturate, integrate and provide functional benefits in the host brain. Neonatal injections in rat pups using human fetal brain cells have been shown to desensitise the host to accept human tissue grafts as adults, whilst not compromising their immune system. Here, we show that differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be used for desensitisation to achieve long-term graft survival of human stem cell-derived neurons in a xenograft setting, surpassing the time of conventional pharmacological immune-suppressive treatments. The use of hESCs for desensitisation opens up for a widespread use of the technique, which will be of great value when performing pre-clinical evaluation of stem cell-derived neurons in animal models.

Department/s

  • Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology
  • Stem Cell Center
  • Human Neural Developmental Biology
  • StemTherapy: National Initiative on Stem Cells for Regenerative Therapy
  • MultiPark: Multidisciplinary research focused on Parkinson´s disease

Publishing year

2016-08-01

Language

English

Pages

78-85

Publication/Series

Experimental Neurology

Volume

282

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Other Basic Medicine

Keywords

  • Cyclosporine
  • Desensitisation
  • HESC
  • Immune response
  • Rejection
  • Stem cell
  • Transplant
  • Xenograft

Status

Published

Research group

  • Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology
  • Human Neural Developmental Biology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0014-4886