title: Bioengineering mini functional thymic units with EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 self-assembling hydrogel.
abstract: Herein, we highlight the technical feasibility of generating a functional mini thymus with a novel hydrogel system, based on a peptide-based self-assembly platform that can induce the formation of 3-D thymic epithelial cell (TEC) clusters. Amphiphilic peptide EAK16-II co-assembled with its histidinylated analogue EAKIIH6 into beta-sheet fibrils. When adaptor complexes (recombinant protein A/G molecules loaded with both anti-His and anti-EpCAM IgGs) were added to the mix, TECs were tethered to the hydrogel and formed 3-D mini clusters. TECs bound to the hydrogel composites retained their molecular properties; and when transplanted into athymic nude mice, they supported the development of functional T-cells. These mini thymic units of TECs can be useful in clinical applications to reconstitute T-cell adaptive immunity.
authors: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Asako
authors: A
authors: Tajima
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Isha
authors: I
authors: Pradhan
authors: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Bertera
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Bagia
authors: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Trucco
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: Meng@duq.edu.
authors: Wilson S
authors: WS
authors: Meng
authors: Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: YFan@wpahs.org.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: C098329:EAK16 peptide; D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides
keywords: EAK16-II; Hydrogel; Self-assembly; Thymic epithelial cells; Thymopoiesis; Thymus