autologous peripheral blood-derived tolerogenic dendritic cells

Autologous peripheral blood-derived tolerogenic dendritic cells are a form of cell therapy in which a patient's own monocytes are isolated from peripheral blood and differentiated ex vivo into dendritic cells with immunoregulatory (tolerogenic) properties. These tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) are generated by culturing monocyte-derived DCs under specific conditions—often using agents such as GM-CSF and IL-4, sometimes with additional immunomodulatory factors like dexamethasone or vitamin D3—to induce a phenotype characterized by low expression of co-stimulatory molecules and high expression of inhibitory receptors. The resulting tolDCs can present antigens to T-cells in a manner that induces immune tolerance rather than activation. Mechanistically, they promote T-cell anergy or deletion and the expansion of regulatory T-cells through secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10), engagement of inhibitory pathways (e.g., PD-L1/PD-1), metabolic modulation, and clonal deletion[1][2][4][5]. This approach is being investigated for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, diabetic kidney disease, and for prevention of transplant rejection[6][7][8][9]. Clinical studies have demonstrated safety and feasibility but efficacy data remain limited.

Other names

autologous tolerogenic dendritic cellstolDCsautologous Tol-MoDCsATDCs