CECentral.com · Allograft Tolerance: The Role of Regulatory T-Cells

Activity Details

Credit Types:	AMA PRA Category 1 (CME) ACPE (CPE) Nursing (CNE)
Credit/Hours:	1.50 (CME) 1.50 (CPE) 1.50 (CNE)
Cost:	Free
Released:	Jul 26, 2007
Expires:	Jul 26, 2008
System Requirements:	Adobe Flash Player
Activity Rating:	5 / 5 Stars 1 Total Rating
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Faculty

This activity has 4 faculty members associated with it.
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Mohamed Sayegh, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Research Director, Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Transplantation
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Research Director, Nephrology Division
Children's Hospital of Boston

Terry Strom, MD
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Director, Division of Immunology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Flavio Vincenti, MD
Professor of Neurology
University of California, San Francisco

Kathryn Wood, MD
Professor of Immunology
Nuffield Department of Surgery
University of Oxford

Needs Statement

Significant toxicity associated with lifelong maintenance on immunosuppressive therapy continues to fuel the investigation of tolerance-inducing strategies in solid organ transplantation. One approach to achieve tolerance is focused on regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a population of antigen-specific T lymphocytes that have been shown to promote allograft tolerance, and to limit autoimmune activity.

It is likely that exploitation of (Treg)-mediated immunosuppression in transplantation will be achieved in combination with immunosuppressive agents. Therefore, it is essential to identify agents that favor the expansion of allospecific (Treg) cells, and to time their administration to optimize the conditions for generating allograft tolerance. Of particular relevance are immunosuppressants that inhibit costimulatory pathways, and those that block T cell signaling via CD3.

This activity will explore the identification and use of (Treg) cells as therapeutic tools to generate allograft tolerance. Review of the physiologic properties of (Treg) cells will be followed by presentation of the evidence of their role in inducing allograft tolerance. Current strategies for expanding (Treg) cells for clinical use, including costimulatory blockade, will be discussed. Recent evidence of the role of belatacept in expanding (Treg) cells, from the Phase 2 and early Phase 3 clinical trials, will also be reviewed. Finally, potential challenges to the clinical implementation of (Treg) protocols in transplantation will be discussed.

Target Audience

This program is designed for and will benefit medical professionals involved in the management of transplant patients including: transplant surgeons, physicians, PharmDs, coordinators and nurses.

Objectives

1. Describe the role of (Treg) cells in promoting allograft tolerance;
2. List the strategies for in vivo and ex vivo expansion of (Treg) cells;
3. Describe the potential of (Treg) cells to generate tolerance in clinical transplantation;
4. List potential immunomodulatory therapies, including costimulatory inhibitors, to generate (Treg)-associated allograft tolerance.

Accreditation

Medicine
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Pharmacy
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity has been assigned ACPE # 022-999-07-078-H04 and will award 1.50 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Statements of credit will indicate hours and CEUs based on successful completion of a posttest (score 70% or higher) and will be issued upon completion of the activity. The college complies with the Criteria for Quality for continuing education programming.

Nursing
Educational Review Systems is an approved provider of continuing education in nursing by ASNA, an accredited provider by the ANCC/Commission on Accreditation and designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.50 hour(s). Provider # 5-115-07-035

Educational Review Systems is also approved for nursing continuing education by the state of California and the District of Columbia.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Sayegh receives consulation fees from Genzyme.

Dr. Wood reports no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests of healthcare products or services related to this activity.

Dr. Strom receives consultation fees from Quest Diagnostics.

Dr. Vincenti receives contract research support from Pfizer, Wyeth Ayerst, Roche, Novartis, Genentech, Iconix, Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky and CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.