Significance
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are promising for basic research and translational medicine as they can induce tolerance and have the potential to treat autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. As cell-based therapies are expensive and difficult to manufacture and implement, non-cellular methods of engineering endogenous Tregs are needed. The research reported here describes a new type of biomimetic particle, tolerogenic artificial antigen presenting cells (TolAPCs) fabricated from a blend of negatively charged biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), and positively charged biodegradable polymer, poly(beta-amino ester), along with key biomolecular signals: extracellularly presented protein signals 1 and 2 and a soluble released signal 3. These TolAPCs bind to naïve T cells and induce Foxp3+ Treg-like suppressor cells with potent suppressive function. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, it is shown that this non-cellular approach is useful to induce tolerance.
Statement of significance
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are promising for basic research and translational medicine as they can induce tolerance and have the potential to treat autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. As cell-based therapies are expensive and difficult to manufacture and implement, non-cellular methods of engineering endogenous Tregs are needed. The research reported here describes a new type of biomimetic particle, tolerogenic artificial antigen presenting cells (TolAPCs) fabricated from a blend of negatively charged biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), and positively charged biodegradable polymer, poly(beta-amino ester), along with key biomolecular signals: extracellularly presented protein signals 1 and 2 and a soluble released signal 3. These TolAPCs bind to naïve T cells and induce Foxp3+ Treg-like suppressor cells with potent suppressive function. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, it is shown that this non-cellular approach is useful to induce tolerance.