Donor’s Immune Cells Could Help Transplant Recipients Avoid Organ Rejection

Boosting Transplant Success Utilizing Donor's Immune Cells to Prevent Organ Rejection

Donor’s immune cells may prevent transplant rejection

By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter

A liver transplant can give people a new lease on life. However, the lifelong use of immune-suppressing medication can be a real downer. But fear not! There may be a revolutionary solution on the horizon.

Imagine, if you will, a tactic that could make a transplant recipient’s immune system as accommodating as a luxury hotel concierge. Well, that’s exactly what researchers are aiming for. In this groundbreaking approach, the recipient receives a special infusion of immune system cells from the living donor. These cells are like the bouncers at a fancy club who kindly ask your immune system not to attack the new “foreign” liver.

This out-of-the-box approach was tested on 13 patients who received a liver transplant from a living donor. The results were not only safe but also exhilarating. One year later, these brave patients displayed signs of a modified immune response to the donor liver. Dr. Angus Thomson, a professor of immunology and surgery, proclaimed that this finding holds the key to reducing the need for immune-suppressing medication or even eliminating it altogether.

Published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, these findings have received a standing ovation from experts. One such expert, Dr. Chris Sonnenday, hailed the results as “encouraging.” He raises an important point that any strategy which lessens the amount of immunosuppression needed for transplant patients is of utmost importance. It turns out that chronic immune suppression, like that clingy ex, is responsible for most of the long-term health risks faced by transplant recipients.

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But there’s still a twist. Will this infusion of immune cells be the magic potion that allows patients to ditch their anti-rejection drugs forever? Only time will tell. Dr. Sonnenday warns that the immune system is as complex as a Rubik’s Cube and could be stimulated by factors other than the transplanted organ itself.

Nonetheless, even if this innovative approach only reduces the need for immune suppression, it would still be a game-changer. Let’s face it, folks. The current situation is a bit like needing a raincoat to protect yourself from a few minor showers, only to be caught in a never-ending monsoon.

In the United States, most liver transplants originate from deceased donors. But some lucky individuals get the opportunity to receive a gift from a living donor, often a relative or friend. The liver is an amazing organ in that it can regenerate. The donor gives a piece of their liver to the recipient, and it grows back to its full size in both individuals, like a superhero with incredible regenerative powers.

In this study, researchers sought to create a more hospitable environment for the donor liver before the transplant. The process involved obtaining a blood sample from the donor and isolating white blood cells known as monocytes. These monocytes were then transformed into regulatory dendritic cells, or DCregs, which are like the maestros of the immune response.

The true test of this approach was its safety. Fortunately, the 13 patients who received the DCreg infusion showed no signs of adverse effects. They fared just as well as the 40 patients who underwent the transplant without the special infusion.

Moreover, when researchers examined the immune system activity of the DCreg recipients, they discovered promising signals. These patients had a decrease in immune cells associated with a higher risk of transplant rejection. Dr. Sonnenday cautiously interpreted these findings as a trend towards a reduced need for immunosuppressive medication.

Now, my dear readers, we must exercise patience. At the one-year mark, the patients will undergo tests to assess how well their new liver is performing. If all goes according to plan, the medical team will consider reducing their immune-suppressing medication. Of course, this represents just the beginning. Larger studies, conducted at multiple medical centers, will be required to confirm these findings.

Interestingly, the infused DCregs only lasted a few days in the patients’ bodies. However, as per prior lab research, this brief encounter might be sufficient. You see, these donor DCregs release tiny particles called exosomes, which act as intercellular messengers. The researchers believe that these particles are instructing the recipient’s own immune cells to calm down and accept the new liver like a harmonious chorus.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. A potential breakthrough that could change the lives of transplant recipients everywhere. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, our hopes high, and our immune systems cooperative as we eagerly await more updates on this exciting research.

More information The American Liver Foundation has more on liver transplantation.

SOURCES: Angus Thomson, PhD, DSc, professor of immunology and surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh; Chris Sonnenday, MD, MHS, director, Transplant Center, and surgical director, living-donor liver transplantation, University of Michigan Health, Ann Arbor; Science Translational Medicine, Oct. 11, 2023, online

Hey there, health enthusiasts! Did you know that a liver transplant can be a total game-changer for someone in need? But hold on to your hats, because I’m here to tell you about an extraordinary new approach that might revolutionize the entire process!

Picture this: a transplant recipient’s immune system becoming as welcoming as a luxury hotel concierge. Sounds amazing, right? Well, researchers are on a mission to make it happen. They’ve come up with a mind-boggling tactic that involves infusing specific immune system cells from the living donor into the recipient’s body. These cells basically act as the friendly bouncers at an exclusive club, kindly requesting the immune system not to cause mayhem when they encounter the new “foreign” liver.

Now, let’s get to the juicy details. In a groundbreaking study, 13 brave patients who received liver tissue from a living donor were the stars of the show. And guess what? The results were not just safe, but downright exciting! One year later, these transplant heroes displayed signs of a modified immune response to the donor liver. Dr. Angus Thomson, a professor of immunology and surgery, believes this discovery could be the key to reducing or even completely stopping the need for immune-suppressing medication.

The groundbreaking findings, published in the prestigious journal Science Translational Medicine, have received a resounding round of applause from experts. Dr. Chris Sonnenday, a renowned surgeon, enthusiastically referred to the results as “encouraging.” You see, my friends, any strategy that can minimize the use of immune suppression in transplant patients is a big deal. Let’s face it, the current situation is like needing an umbrella during a minor drizzle only to find yourself in a never-ending monsoon.

Now, here’s the twist. Will this infusion of immune cells be the ultimate magic potion that allows patients to bid farewell to their anti-rejection drugs? That’s the million-dollar question. Dr. Sonnenday cautions that the immune system is as complex as a Rubik’s Cube and can be activated by various factors other than just the transplanted organ itself.

But hold on, we’re not done yet! Even if this innovative approach simply reduces the need for immune suppression, it would still be a game-changer. Long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs exposes patients to various health risks like infections, cancer, and heart disease. It’s like dealing with a clingy ex who just won’t let go.

Currently, the majority of liver transplants in the United States come from deceased donors. However, lucky individuals may have the opportunity to receive a liver from a living donor, often a relative or friend. The liver is a remarkable organ that has the astonishing ability to regenerate. The living donor kindly donates a piece of their liver, and voilà! It regrows to its full size in both the donor and the recipient, like a superhero with extraordinary powers of regeneration.

In this groundbreaking study, scientists wanted to create the perfect environment for the donor liver before the transplant. They collected a blood sample from the donor, isolated special white blood cells called monocytes, and transformed them into regulatory dendritic cells, or DCregs, which act as the conductors of the immune response.

But what about safety, you ask? Fear not, my curious souls! The 13 patients who received the DCreg infusion experienced no adverse effects. They fared just as well as the 40 patients who underwent the standard transplant without the special infusion.

If you’re still not convinced, let me hit you with more exciting news. When researchers delved deeper into the immune system activity of the DCreg recipients, they discovered promising signals. These patients had a decrease in certain immune cells that are associated with an increased risk of transplant rejection. Dr. Sonnenday cautiously interpreted these findings as a trend towards a reduced need for immunosuppressive medication.

But wait, my dear readers, the journey is far from over. At the one-year mark, these courageous patients will undergo tests to evaluate the performance of their new liver. If everything goes according to plan, the medical team will consider reducing their immune-suppressing medication. Talk about a breath of fresh air!

Now let’s keep our fingers crossed, our hopes high, and our immune systems cooperative as we eagerly await more updates on this groundbreaking research. Who knows, this could be the extraordinary breakthrough that changes the lives of transplant recipients everywhere.

Remember, stay healthy and keep spreading the good vibes!

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More information The American Liver Foundation has more on liver transplantation.

SOURCES: Angus Thomson, PhD, DSc, professor of immunology and surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh; Chris Sonnenday, MD, MHS, director, Transplant Center, and surgical director, living-donor liver transplantation, University of Michigan Health, Ann Arbor; Science Translational Medicine, Oct. 11, 2023, online