IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Targeted immunosuppression with a tissue-selective PD-1 agonist prevents rejection of transplanted hearts

Targeted immunosuppression with a tissue-selective PD-1 agonist prevents rejection of transplanted hearts

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Video Summary

The speaker presented “low stims,” tissue-selective PD-1 agonist bispecific antibodies designed to cluster PD-1 only at antigen-defined interfaces, avoiding systemic immune suppression. In a heart transplant mouse model, a low stim targeting donor MHC H2-KB prevented rejection through day 100, outperforming a conventional Fc-receptor-dependent PD-1 agonist. After treatment stopped, graft survival remained prolonged. The therapy was antigen-selective, did not block immune responses to a microbial vaccine, and preserved regulatory T cells. Mechanistic studies showed strong T-cell inhibition, reduced donor-specific antibodies, and reprogramming of the graft toward hyporesponsive T cells and tolerogenic dendritic cells. Spatial transcriptomics suggested the graft environment shifted away from inflammatory rejection and toward tolerance. The talk concluded that low stims may enable precision immune control in transplantation and potentially other diseases.

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Date April 19, 2026 9:54 AM - 10:09 AM

Room 253

Session Major Symposium G: Therapeutic and Translational Immunology

Speaker James Torchia

Track Translational and Interventional Immunology (TI)

Year 2026

Keywords

PD-1 agonist

transplant tolerance

bispecific antibodies

antigen-selective immunotherapy

heart transplant

April 19, 2026 9:54 AM - 10:09 AM

253

Major Symposium G: Therapeutic and Translational Immunology

James Torchia

Translational and Interventional Immunology (TI)

2026