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Review
. 2022 Jun;45(3):454-464.
doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.01.005. Epub 2022 Jan 15.

Cell therapy in vascularized composite allotransplantation

Madonna Rica Anggelia  1 , Hui-Yun Cheng  2 , Ping-Chin Lai  3 , Yun-Huan Hsieh  4 , Chih-Hung Lin  1 , Cheng-Hung Lin  5
Affiliations
Review

Cell therapy in vascularized composite allotransplantation

Madonna Rica Anggelia et al. Biomed J. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Allograft rejection is one of the obstacles in achieving a successful vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Treatments of graft rejection with lifelong immunosuppression (IS) subject the recipients to a lifelong risk of cancer development and opportunistic infections. Cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising strategy to modulate the immune system, minimize immunosuppressant drug dosages, and induce allograft tolerance. In this review, the recent works regarding the use of cell therapy to improve allograft outcomes are discussed. The current data supports the safety of cell therapy. The suitable type of cell therapy in allotransplantation is clinically dependent. Bone marrow cell therapy is more suitable for the induction phase, while other cell therapies are more feasible in either the induction or maintenance phase, or for salvage of allograft rejection. Immune cell therapy focuses on modulating the immune response, whereas stem cells may have an additional role in promoting structural regenerations, such as nerve regeneration. Source, frequency, dosage, and route of cell therapy delivery are also dependent on the specific need in the clinical setting.

Keywords: Cell therapy; Clinical transplantation; Immune cell; Stem cell; Vascularized composite allotransplantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Roadmap of technical considerations regarding the use of cell therapy.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The proven immunomodulatory mechanisms of Immune cell therapy in the animal VCA study.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The proven immunomodulatory mechanisms of stem cell therapy in the animal VCA study.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Illustration of immune cell and stem cell immunomodulatory mechanisms in VCA transplantation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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