Pharmacologically Enhanced Regulatory Hematopoietic Stem Cells Revert Experimental Autoimmune Diabetes and Mitigate Other Autoimmune Disorders

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the loss of immune self-tolerance, resulting in an aberrant immune responses against self-tissue. A few therapeutics have been partially successful in reverting or slowing down T1D progression in patients, and the infusion of autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is emerging as an option to be explored. In this study, we proposed to pharmacologically enhance by ex vivo modulation with small molecules the immunoregulatory and trafficking properties of HSCs to provide a safer and more efficacious treatment option for patients with T1D and other autoimmune disorders. A high-throughput targeted RNA sequencing screening strategy was used to identify a combination of small molecules (16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ and dexamethasone), which significantly upregulate key genes involved in trafficking (e.g., CXCR4) and immunoregulation (e.g., programmed death ligand 1). The pharmacologically enhanced, ex vivo–modulated HSCs (regulatory HSCs [HSC.Regs]) have strong trafficking properties to sites of inflammation in a mouse model of T1D, reverted autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice, and delayed experimental multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in preclinical models. Mechanistically, HSC.Regs reduced lymphocytic infiltration of pancreatic β cells and inhibited the activity of autoreactive T cells. Moreover, when tested in clinically relevant in vitro autoimmune assays, HSC.Regs abrogated the autoimmune response. Ex vivo pharmacological modulation enhances the immunoregulatory and trafficking properties of HSCs, thus generating HSC.Regs, which mitigated autoimmune diabetes and other autoimmune disorders.