Targeting Metabolism as a Platform for Inducing Allograft Tolerance in the Absence of Long-Term Immunosuppression

Abstract

Transplant tolerance in the absence of long-term immunosuppression has been an elusive goal for solid organ transplantation. Recently, it has become clear that metabolic reprogramming plays a critical role in promoting T cell activation, differentiation, and function. Targeting metabolism can preferentially inhibit T cell effector generation while simultaneously promoting the generation of T regulatory cells. We hypothesized that costimulatory blockade with CTLA4Ig in combination with targeting T cell metabolism might provide a novel platform to promote the induction of transplant tolerance.

Keywords: costimulation blockade; immunology; metabolism; model; mouse; rejection; transplantation.