Stem Cell-Derived Regulatory T Cells for Therapeutic Use in Arthritis

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be utilized to obtain a renewable source of healthy regulatory T cells (T(regs)) to treat autoimmune arthritis as they have the ability to produce almost all cell types in the body, including T(regs). However, the right conditions for the development of antigen (Ag)-specific T(regs) from PSCs (i.e., PSC-T(regs)) remain unknown. An ongoing project will determine the mechanisms underlying the Ag-specific PSC-T(reg) treatments that aim to modulate tolerance in autoimmune arthritis. The knowledge gained from these studies will provide new insights into cell-based therapies in autoimmune arthritis, and advance the understanding of fundamental mechanisms underlying T(reg) differentiation.