Lentiviral vector reprogrammed dendritic cells for immune reconstitution of T- and B-cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and protection against HCMV (A06)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2008 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24899777

One of the major infectious burdens in immunocompromised hosts after organ or stem cell transplantation is caused by human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Project A6 has succeeded in differentiating human monocytes into long-lived immunostimulatory DCs (SmyleDCs). They demonstrated that such SmyleDCs could generate potent T-cell responses in humanized mice. Quite remarkably, these SmyleDCs even induced lymphoid structures in NRG mice as well as mature plasma cells and IgG and IgM antibody responses. In the coming funding period, the group will extend the experiments to study the humoral arm of the anti-CMV immune response. They intend to specifically induce neutralizing antibodies against CMV glycoprotein B in conjunction with a T-cell immune response against pp65.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 738: Optimisation of Conventional and Innovative Transplants
• Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Martin Messerle, since 7/2015; Professorin Dr. Renata Stripecke