Cytotherapy
-
A clinically applicable tolerance induction regimen that removes the requirement for lifelong immunosuppression would benefit recipients of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). We characterized the immunomodulatory properties of syngeneic (derived from the recipient strain) adipocyte-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and investigated their potential to induce VCA tolerance in rats. ⋯ Treatment comprising syngeneic ADSCs and transient immunosuppression (i) increased levels of circulating Tregs and (ii) induced tolerance in 66% of recipients of major histocompatibility complex-mismatched VCAs.