title: Challenges in cryopreservation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) for clinical therapeutic applications.
abstract: Promising results of initial studies applying ex-vivo expanded regulatory T cell (Treg) as a clinical intervention have increased interest in this type of the cellular therapy and several new clinical trials involving Tregs are currently on the way. Methods of isolation and expansion of Tregs have been studied and optimized to the extent that such therapy is feasible, and allows obtaining sufficient numbers of Tregs in the laboratory following Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines. Nevertheless, Treg therapy could even more rapidly evolve if Tregs could be efficiently cryopreserved and stored for future infusion or expansions rather than utilization of only freshly isolated and expanded cells as it is preferred now. Currently, our knowledge regarding the impact of cryopreservation on Treg recovery, viability, and functionality is still limited. Based on experience with cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cryopreservation may have a detrimental effect on Tregs, can decrease Treg viability, cause abnormal cytokine secretion, and compromise expression of surface markers essential for proper Treg function and processing. Therefore, optimal strategies and conditions for Treg cryopreservation in conjunction with cell culture, expansion, and processing for clinical application still need to be investigated and defined.
authors: Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors: Karolina
authors: K
authors: Golab
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Leveson-Gower
authors: Xiao-Jun
authors: XJ
authors: Wang
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Grzanka
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Marek-Trzonkowska
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Krzystyniak
authors: J Michael
authors: JM
authors: Millis
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Trzonkowski
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Witkowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D015925:Cryopreservation; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation