Neonatal desensitization allows long-term survival of neural xenotransplants without immunosuppression.

Kelly, Claire M; Precious, Sophie V; Scherf, Caroline; Penketh, Richard; Amso, Nazar N; Battersby, Alysia; Allen, Nicholas D; Dunnett, Stephen B et al. · Nat Methods · 2009

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Preclinical development of human cells for potential therapeutic application in neurodegenerative diseases requires that their long-term survival, stability and functional efficacy be studied in animal models of human disease. Here we describe a strategy for long-term immune protection of human fetal and stem cell-derived neural cells transplanted into the adult rat brain, by desensitizing the host rat to similar cells in the neonatal period, without the need for additional immunosuppression.

Medical subject headings