Uses of fibroblasts or supernatants from fibroblasts for the suppression of immune responses in transplantation

Patent Number: 7,491,388

We know that mesenchymal stem cells are immune modulatory through a variety of means such as secretion of HLA-G, expression of indolamine 2,3 deoxygenase, and production of immune suppressive cytokines.  What is relatively understudied is the immune regulatory activities of fibroblasts.  For example, Don Kleinsek, CEO, of GeriGene Medical Corporation has intellectual property covering various antiinflammatory and therapeutic uses of fibroblasts.

The current patent is based on in vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction data demonstrating suppressive activities of fibroblasts.  The inventors use this to cover:

1. A method of reducing an immune response against recipient tissue by donor tissue, comprising contacting the donor tissue with isolated fibroblasts in an amount effective to reduce an immune response by the donor tissue against the recipient; wherein the fibroblasts are allogeneic both to the donor and to the recipient of the donor tissue.

and

2. A method of reducing an immune response against recipient tissue by donor tissue, comprising contacting the donor tissue with isolated fibroblasts in an amount effective to reduce an immune response by the donor tissue against the recipient; wherein the donor tissue and the fibroblasts are contacted ex vivo prior to transplantation of the donor tissue; and wherein the donor tissue is exposed to recipient tissue prior to being contacted with the fibroblasts.

Note that what is being covered is immune response against the recipient, so obviously they are covering inhibition of graft versus host through modification of the graft by addition of fibroblasts, including third party, to the graft.

This work is an extension of the main Osiris program which is aimed at reduction of graft versus host disease through administration of third party mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the bone marrow, which the company has named Prochymal. 

View this patent on the USPTO website.