Upregulation of CD8 regulatory T cells following liver-directed AAV gene therapy.

Liver-directed AAV gene therapy represents a unique treatment modality for a host of diseases. This is due, in part, to the induction of tolerance to transgene products. Despite the plethora of recognized regulatory cells in the body, there is currently a lack of literature supporting the induction of non-CD4 regulatory cells following hepatic AAV gene transfer.

Induction of antigen-specific tolerance by hepatic AAV immunotherapy regardless of T cell epitope usage or mouse strain background.

induction of antigen (Ag)-specific regulatory T cells (Treg) is considered the holy grail of therapeutic strategies for restoring tolerance in autoimmunity. Unfortunately, in the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis, an effective and durable therapy targeting the diverse repertoire of emerging Ags without compromising the patient's natural immunity has remained elusive. To address this deficiency, we have developed an Ag-specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) immunotherapy that will restore tolerance in a Treg-dependent manner.

Oral Pathogen Can Escape Phagocytosis of Mammalian Macrophages.

Macrophages are phagocytic cells that play a key role in host immune response and clearance of microbial pathogens. is an oral pathogen associated with the development of periodontitis. Escape from macrophage phagocytosis was tested by infecting THP-1-derived human macrophages and RAW 264.