Methods for preventing graft rejection in transplantation and for producing a universal gene therapy host cell using lymphocyte activation (LAG-3)

摘要

A method to prevent graft rejection of transplanted cells, tissues or organs without general immunosuppression is described. The method employs a newly discovered protein, LAG-3. When allogeneic or xenogeneic cells are engineered to express LAG-3 on their surface and transplanted, immune destruction of the implanted cell, tissue or organ is prevented, while the host's immune system remains functional. A particular application of this method allows the preparation of a universal gene therapy host cell expressing LAG-3 on its surface for protection from graft rejection by a host's immune system.