Antigen-presenting cell uptake of antigen-coupled red blood cells (APC uptake of TAC-RBCs)

The uptake of Tolerance-inducing Antigen-Coupled Red Blood Cells (TAC-RBCs) by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is a specialized biological process leveraged for therapeutic immune modulation (Kontos et al., 2013, PNAS). This mechanism utilizes the body's natural physiological system for clearing senescent or damaged erythrocytes, primarily mediated by liver-resident APCs such as Kupffer cells (Pishesha et al., 2021, Nature Biomedical Engineering). In this therapeutic approach, specific disease-associated antigens are chemically or enzymatically attached to the surface of red blood cells using platforms like Anokion's TAC technology (Anokion SA, 2024). When these TAC-RBCs are recognized and internalized by APCs via scavenger receptors, the attached antigens are processed and presented to T cells in a tolerogenic context. This presentation occurs without the co-stimulatory signals typically required for immune activation, thereby promoting the differentiation of regulatory T cells and inducing systemic immune tolerance toward the coupled antigen. This pathway is a primary focus for developing treatments for autoimmune diseases and hypersensitivities, where the objective is to suppress unwanted immune responses without broad immunosuppression. Clinical-stage candidates like KAN-101 are designed to utilize this uptake process to treat conditions such as celiac disease by inducing tolerance to gliadin (Kanyos Bio, 2024).

Other names

Erythrocyte-mediated immune toleranceTAC-RBC clearanceTolerogenic RBC-antigen deliveryLiver-resident APC uptake of antigen-coupled erythrocytes

Antigens are coupled to red blood cells and delivered to liver-resident antigen-presenting cells, which process and present them to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance via regulatory T cell induction.