Engineered Antigen Presenting Cells for Specific T-Cell Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for modulating T-cell function and response are limited in their ability to fine-tune T cell effector responses and often result in off-target side effects due to non-specificity.

Innovation Solution

Engineered antigen presenting cells (APCs) with a modified antigen presentation pathway capable of interacting with target T-cells in an antigen-specific fashion, and inducible or constitutive expression of T-cell modulating agents to modulate target T-cell activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional pharmaceutical agents or biologics are used to modulate T-cell function, then T-cell response can be influenced, but off-target side effects occur due to non-specificity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecificity of T-cell modulationVSAvoidoff-target side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses engineered antigen-presenting cells as intermediaries that specifically recognize target antigens through their B-cell receptors and present them to T-cells via MHC molecules. This intermediary mechanism ensures that T-cell modulation occurs only in the presence of the specific target antigen, eliminating off-target effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If modified T-cells such as CAR-T cells are used, then specific effector functions can be provided, but native T-cell populations cannot be modulated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to modulate different T-cell populationsVSAvoidcomplexity of cell engineering

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engineered antigen-presenting cells are designed with universal applicability - they can modulate various T-cell populations (native and engineered) through a single platform. By controlling antigen presentation and using inducible T-cell modulating agents, the same APC platform can target different T-cell types without requiring separate engineered T-cell products for each application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250122471A1Engineered antigen presenting cells and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 THE BROAD INST INC

AI summary

Described herein are engineered antigen presenting cells that can be capable of modulating a target T-cell in a T-cell antigen specific manner. In some embodiments, the engineered APCs can include a modified antigen presentation pathway. Also described herein are methods of making and using the engineered antigen presenting cells.