Local administration of regulatory T cells promotes tissue healing

Bhavana Nayer, Jean L. Tan, Yasmin K. Alshoubaki, Yen-Zhen Lu, Julien M. D. Legrand, Sinnee Lau, Nan Hu, Anthony J. Park, Xiao-Nong Wang, Daniela Amann-Zalcenstein, Peter F. Hickey, Trevor Wilson, Gisela A. Kuhn, Ralph Müller, Ajithkumar Vasanthakumar, Shizuo Akira and Mikaël M. Martino ()
Additional contact information
Bhavana Nayer: Monash University
Jean L. Tan: Monash University
Yasmin K. Alshoubaki: Monash University
Yen-Zhen Lu: Monash University
Julien M. D. Legrand: Monash University
Sinnee Lau: Monash University
Nan Hu: Monash University
Anthony J. Park: Monash University
Xiao-Nong Wang: Newcastle University
Daniela Amann-Zalcenstein: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Peter F. Hickey: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Trevor Wilson: Monash Health Translation Precinct
Gisela A. Kuhn: ETH Zurich
Ralph Müller: ETH Zurich
Ajithkumar Vasanthakumar: Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Shizuo Akira: Osaka University
Mikaël M. Martino: Monash University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial immune cells for tissue repair and regeneration. However, their potential as a cell-based regenerative therapy is not yet fully understood. Here, we show that local delivery of exogenous Tregs into injured mouse bone, muscle, and skin greatly enhances tissue healing. Mechanistically, exogenous Tregs rapidly adopt an injury-specific phenotype in response to the damaged tissue microenvironment, upregulating genes involved in immunomodulation and tissue healing. We demonstrate that exogenous Tregs exert their regenerative effect by directly and indirectly modulating monocytes/macrophages (Mo/MΦ) in injured tissues, promoting their switch to an anti-inflammatory and pro-healing state via factors such as interleukin (IL)-10. Validating the key role of IL-10 in exogenous Treg-mediated repair and regeneration, the pro-healing capacity of these cells is lost when Il10 is knocked out. Additionally, exogenous Tregs reduce neutrophil and cytotoxic T cell accumulation and IFN-γ production in damaged tissues, further dampening the pro-inflammatory Mo/MΦ phenotype. Highlighting the potential of this approach, we demonstrate that allogeneic and human Tregs also promote tissue healing. Together, this study establishes exogenous Tregs as a possible universal cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine and provides key mechanistic insights that could be harnessed to develop immune cell-based therapies to enhance tissue healing.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51353-2

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