Description
Successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation relies on global immunosuppression or elimination of T cells. In contrast, the induction of anergy can inactivate specific sets of alloreactive T cells in the donor marrow. Previous work has shown that anergy can be induced by blocking the interaction of the B7 molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells with the CD28 molecule on the surface of T cells, thus preventing key signaling events essential for the activation of T cells. To investigate the feasibility of this approach with respect to transplantation of histoincompatible bone marrow, we undertook a clinical trial of ex vivo induction of anergy in T cells present in donor marrow to recipient alloantigens.
