Dendritic cell depletion for acute graft-versus-host disease

Mater Medical Research Institute’s (MMRI) graft-versus-host disease research has been featured in the internationally recognised commercialisation-business publication Science-Business eXchange (SciBX).

SciBX, which features new science that has the potential for developing real commercial value, reviewed and published the research as their cover story.

The original MMRI paper, “Antibody to the dendritic cell surface activation antigen CD83 prevents acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)”, appeared in the Journal of Experimental Medicine in January.

“What makes this research interesting is the development of a new antibodybased drug that targets the body’s immune system dendritic cells,” MMRI dendritic cell researcher Dr David Munster said.

“When some people with leukaemia do not respond to chemotherapy, they may require a bone marrow transplant.”

“When a leukaemia patient has to undergo a bone marrow transplant they often suffer from a complication called GVHD, which can be fatal,” he continued.

This MMRI research explores a new antibody treatment designed to bind to a molecule called CD83 which is found on activated dendritic cells (a type of white blood cell).

In GVHD, dendritic cells cause T lymphocytes from the donated bone marrow to attack the patient’s body. MMRI’s antibody stops this reaction from occurring by killing the activated dendritic cells, thereby promoting a successful bone marrow transplant and eradicating the patient’s leukaemia.

MMRI is a world leader in dendritic cell research. The institution’s director,Professor Derek Hart has worked towards targeting dendritic cells for GVHD and other medical problems for more than 25 years.

“Our new discovery, with help from Mater Pathology and collaborators from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, is very exciting and we are pleased to have our work featured in SciBX,” Dr Munster said.