You are currently viewing Simple in vitro generation of human leukocyte antigen-G-expressing T-regulatory cells through pharmacological hypomethylation for adoptive cellular immunotherapy against graft-versus-host disease.
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Simple in vitro generation of human leukocyte antigen-G-expressing T-regulatory cells through pharmacological hypomethylation for adoptive cellular immunotherapy against graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract
Major barriers in using classical FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in clinical practice are their low numbers in the circulation, the lack of specific cell surface markers for efficient purification and the loss of expression of Treg signature molecules and suppressive function after in vitro expansion or in a pro-inflammatory microenviroment. A surface molecule with potent immunosuppressive function is the human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), which is normally expressed in placenta protecting the “semi-allogeneic” fetus from maternal immune attack. Because HLA-G expression is strongly regulated by methylation, we asked whether hypomethylating agents (HA) may be used in vitro to induce HLA-G expression on conventional T cells and convert them to Tregs.

Human peripheral blood T cells were exposed to azacytidine/decitabine and analyzed for HLA-G expression and their in vitro suppressor properties.
HA treatment induces de novo expression of HLA-G on T cells through hypomethylation of the HLA-G proximal promoter. The HA-induced CD4HLA-G T cells are FOXP3 negative and have potent in vitro suppression function, which is dependent to a large extent, but not exclusively, on the HLA-G molecule. Converted HLA-G suppressors retain their suppressor function in the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and preserve hypomethylated the HLA-G promoter for at least 2 days after azacytidine exposure. Decitabine-treated T cells suppressed ex vivo the proliferation of T cells isolated from patients suffering from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).