title: Immunosuppression for in vivo research: state-of-the-art protocols and experimental approaches.
abstract: Almost every experimental treatment strategy using non-autologous cell, tissue or organ transplantation is tested in small and large animal models before clinical translation. Because these strategies require immunosuppression in most cases, immunosuppressive protocols are a key element in transplantation experiments. However, standard immunosuppressive protocols are often applied without detailed knowledge regarding their efficacy within the particular experimental setting and in the chosen model species. Optimization of such protocols is pertinent to the translation of experimental results to human patients and thus warrants further investigation. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding immunosuppressive drug classes as well as their dosages and application regimens with consideration of species-specific drug metabolization and side effects. It also summarizes contemporary knowledge of novel immunomodulatory strategies, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells or antibodies. Thus, this review is intended to serve as a state-of-the-art compendium for researchers to refine applied experimental immunosuppression and immunomodulation strategies to enhance the predictive value of preclinical transplantation studies.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.|Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Charite University Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Berlin 10115, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Damian D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fricke
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig 04103, Germany.|Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology and Institute for Medical and Marine Biotechnology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23562, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boltze
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014180:Transplantation
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents