Spongy Lymphocyte Factory

Bone marrow transplantation, also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is used as a therapy for severe diseases such as leukemia and multiple myeloma, as well as HIV. The procedure involves the transplantation of blood stem cells from a donor selected according to a variety of parameters to the patient in order to reboot the hematopoietic and immune systems.

To avoid rejection of donor cells, the patient also undergoes radio and chemotherapy. However, these techniques have serious side effects, such as long-term suppression of immunity, which, in turn, increases the risk of opportunistic (opportunistic) infections. The function of healthy bone marrow cells is also disrupted, the regeneration of the immune system is hindered, including the production of T-lymphocytes is disrupted.

Harvard scientists have developed a special sponge-like gel that can be injected under the patient's skin simultaneously with a bone marrow transplant. This gel is designed to increase the production of T cells after bone marrow transplantation.

Previously, scientists trying to solve the problem of T-cell deficiency focused on improving thymus function. However, in this case, the researchers went the other way and focused their attention on the bone marrow – an organ that is the production station of all blood stem cells. The idea is to direct as many cells coming out of it as possible to the thymus, where they undergo differentiation and become full-fledged T-lymphocytes.

Taking as a basis the latest developments in the field of biomaterials, the researchers created a spongy "cell factory" with large pores through which cells could enter and exit. Two specific proteins are "sewn" into the sponge. One of them, bone morphogenetic protein 2, attracts surrounding stromal cells and stimulates their transformation into bone cells. As soon as the sponge becomes like a vascularized bone marrow, the second protein begins to stimulate the blood stem cells inside to produce T-cell precursors.

Scientists note that when using their spongy "cell factory" in mice, the total number of T-lymphocytes produced increased 6 times and the variety of their types increased, which expands the body's ability to recognize pathogens and protect against them. In addition, animal experiments have shown that when using this development, the frequency of transplant rejection is significantly reduced.

The authors of the study and their colleagues hope that in the near future they will continue research that will improve the development and successfully apply it to the treatment of patients.

Article by Shah et al. An injectable bone marrow–like scaffold enhances T cell immunity after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Anastasia Poznyak, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru / based on the materials of Harvard John A.Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science: A bioengineered factory for T-cells.