Martina Seifert

Cell and tissue grafts could be used in many fields of regenerative medicine to substitute damaged tissue and promote the induction of self renewing processes. Although non-foreign (autologous) cells and tissues are currently used, several immunological problems arise by long term culture periods in vitro as well as by the combination with matrix structures for application. Due to limited sources for autologous cells and a need for their off-the-shelf availability there is a substantial interest in the usage of foreign (allogeneic) cells and tissues as well. In this scenario immunological rejection problems induced by adaptive immune responses have to be handled. Based on this we are working on the investigation of immunogenicity of different autologous and allogeneic primary cell types (e.g. endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells) as well of components of the extracellular matrix. Moreover we developed methods to modulate the expression of cell surface structures, such as molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), that are responsible for the recognition by the immune system.