FOXP3 And Helios eTregs for Stable T Cell Immunosuppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapies using regulatory T cells (Tregs) for conditions like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) face challenges such as the need for large cell numbers, instability of the Treg phenotype, and contamination with conventional T cells, leading to ineffective immunosuppression and increased infection risk.

Innovation Solution

Engineered regulatory T cells (eTregs) with ectopic overexpression of FOXP3 and Helios, generated from total T cell populations using sequential transduction of nucleic acid constructs, ensuring stable expression and homogeneity, and allowing for rapid expansion and purification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If Tregs are isolated by selecting CD4+ CD25+ T cells from collected samples, then Tregs can be obtained for therapy, but the population is contaminated with activated conventional T cells that also express these markers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of Treg populationVSAvoidcomplexity of isolation procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the specific Treg population from the mixed T cell population by using targeted selection markers (CD4+CD25+CD127-) and purification techniques, separating the desired Tregs from contaminating conventional T cells that express similar markers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses intermediate purification steps including magnetic bead separation and flow cytometry sorting as mediators to achieve high purity Treg populations, where these intermediate technologies facilitate the separation without requiring direct manual isolation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If Tregs are expanded ex vivo to required numbers, then sufficient cell doses can be obtained for therapy, but the Treg phenotype becomes unstable and cells may convert to conventional T cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of Treg cellsVSAvoidstability of Treg phenotype
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary characterization of Treg phenotype markers and expansion conditions before initiating large-scale expansion, establishing optimal culture conditions that maintain phenotype stability throughout the expansion process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements monitoring of Treg phenotype markers (FOXP3 expression, CD25, CD127 levels) during expansion to detect early signs of phenotype conversion, allowing adjustment of expansion conditions to maintain Treg stability while achieving required cell numbers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If FOXP3 is ectopically expressed in conventional T cells to generate engineered Tregs, then large numbers of immunosuppressive cells can be produced, but the cells may not fully acquire stable Treg phenotype and function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiency of eTregsVSAvoidfunctional efficacy of eTregs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple genetic elements including FOXP3 transgene with Treg-specific promoter sequences and regulatory elements to create a composite genetic construct that ensures both high expression levels and stable Treg phenotype maintenance in engineered cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes multiple parameters including transgene copy number, promoter strength, and culture conditions to achieve the optimal balance between high FOXP3 expression levels and stable Treg phenotype, transforming the cellular state from conventional T cell to functional eTreg

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3997212B1Engineered regulatory t cells
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CHILDRENS MERCY HOSPITAL
  • EP3997212B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3997212B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3997212B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Cell therapy compositions comprising engineered human regulatory T cells (eTregs) characterized by ectopic overexpression of FOXP3 and Helios protein, produced via introduction of separate nucleic acid constructs respectively encoding FOXP3 and Helios (FOXP3+Helios+ eTregs). Cell therapy compositions comprising mixed populations of CD4+ and CD8+ Treg cells each with ectopic overexpression of FOXP3 and Helios. Methods of making and use the same for therapies involving inflammation and/or a disorder of the immune system.