September 2025

ORGAN TRANSPLANT

TARGETING IMMUNE CELLS TO ENHANCE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION

Featuring: Edward B. Thorp, PhD, Samantha Schroth, PhD, Kristofor E Glinton, PhD, Jesse T Davidson, MD, Navdeep S Chandel, PhD, Samuel E Weinberg, MD, PhD
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A new Northwestern Medicine study led by Samantha Schroth, PhD highlights the critical role of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) in organ transplantation and how targeting intrinsic functions of these cells could improve long-term survival rates following cardiac transplantation

Published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, this research aims to find alternatives to traditional immunosuppressive therapies, which can lead to complications such as increased infection risk and organ damage.

Key Findings
  • The study reveals that cDC1 cells are essential for educating the immune system about foreign antigens. Mice lacking cDC1s rejected heart transplants more rapidly and displayed a decrease in regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which normally help maintain immune tolerance.
  • Further analysis showed that cDC1 cells promote Treg activity through the surface protein TGF beta 1. Mice engineered to lack TGF beta 1 on cDC1s also rejected heart transplants, emphasizing the functional importance of these cells in acceptance of a transplanted organ.

Future Implications 
The research suggests that therapeutically targeting cDC1 cells could lead to decreased reliance on immunosuppressive drugs, enhancing the body's natural tolerance to transplanted organs. Future investigations will explore the molecular properties of various dendritic cells to identify additional therapeutic targets, ultimately aiming to improve transplant outcomes.

The Takeaway
Understanding immune mechanisms in organ transplantation is vital for developing strategies that enhance long-term survival while minimizing immunosuppressive complications. This study lays the groundwork for innovative treatments that could transform the transplant landscape.

Read the full details on this research.
Read the Feinberg School of Medicine release.
 
Samantha Schroth, PhD, Medical Scientist Training Program
Edward B. Thorp, PhD, is the Frederick Robert Zeit Professor of Pathology at Northwestern Medicine. 

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