Human proT-cells generated in vitro facilitate hematopoietic stem cell-derived T-lymphopoiesis in vivo and restore thymic architecture

G Awong, J Singh, M Mohtashami… - Blood, The Journal …, 2013 - ashpublications.org
G Awong, J Singh, M Mohtashami, M Malm, RN La Motte-Mohs, PM Benveniste, P Serra…
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2013ashpublications.org
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is followed by a period of immune
deficiency due to a paucity in T-cell reconstitution. Underlying causes are a severely
dysfunctional thymus and an impaired production of thymus-seeding progenitors in the host.
Here, we addressed whether in vitro–derived human progenitor T (proT)-cells could not only
represent a source of thymus-seeding progenitors, but also able to influence the recovery of
the thymic microenvironment. We examined whether co-transplantation of in vitro–derived …
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is followed by a period of immune deficiency due to a paucity in T-cell reconstitution. Underlying causes are a severely dysfunctional thymus and an impaired production of thymus-seeding progenitors in the host. Here, we addressed whether in vitro–derived human progenitor T (proT)-cells could not only represent a source of thymus-seeding progenitors, but also able to influence the recovery of the thymic microenvironment. We examined whether co-transplantation of in vitro–derived human proT-cells with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) was able to facilitate HSC-derived T-lymphopoiesis posttransplant. A competitive transfer approach was used to define the optimal proT subset capable of reconstituting immunodeficient mice. Although the 2 subsets tested (proT1, CD34+CD7+CD5; proT2, CD34+CD7+CD5+) showed thymus engrafting function, proT2-cells exhibited superior engrafting capacity. Based on this, when proT2-cells were coinjected with HSCs, a significantly improved and accelerated HSC-derived T-lymphopoiesis was observed. Furthermore, we uncovered a potential mechanism by which receptor activator of nuclear factor κb (RANK) ligand–expressing proT2-cells induce changes in both the function and architecture of the thymus microenvironment, which favors the recruitment of bone marrow-derived lymphoid progenitors. Our findings provide further support for the use of Notch-expanded progenitors in cell-based therapies to aid in the recovery of T-cells in patients undergoing HSCT.
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