A Cell-Based Therapy for Autoimmune Arthritis in a Murine Model

Source: Haque, M. et al., Development of Stem Cell-derived Antigen-specific Regulatory T Cells Against Autoimmunity. J. Vis. Exp. (2016) This video showcases a cell-based therapy for autoimmune arthritis in mice. iPSC-derived T regulatory cells expressing ovalbumin-specific receptors are injected with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) emulsified in an adjuvant. Murine antigen-presenting cells (APCs) process and present the mBSA to T cells, prompting T cell activation and migration to the knee joint's synovial membrane. Subsequent injections involve mBSA alone in the left knee and a combination of mBSA and ovalbumin in the right knee. In the left knee, the immune response to mBSA triggers arthritis, while in the right knee, T-regulatory cells interacting with ovalbumin mitigate inflammation, improving arthritis symptoms.