Back

Immune checkpoint inhibitors amplify type 2 immune mediated repair bypro-regenerative scaffolds

Garcia, J.; Ruta, A.; Yu, F.; Mejias, J.; Pena, A.; Rutkowski, N.; Gray-Gaillard, E.; Dubois, C.; Cherry, C.; Browne, M.; Stivers, K.; Maestas, D.; Krishnan, K.; Bell, A.; Fertig, E. J.; Cooney, C.; Cooney, D.; Byrne, P.; Hillel, A.; Smith, K.; Ji, H.; Anders, r.; Pardoll, D.; Ellisseeff, J.

2026-02-03 bioengineering
10.64898/2026.01.31.703034 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds induce type 2 immunity to promote repair. Here, we show that immune cells recruited to ECM-treated murine muscle injuries and clinical soft tissue defects express immune checkpoints. Specifically, TH2 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) increase LAG3 expression, while macrophages express PDL2. TCR analysis and a triple-reporter strain for interleukin (IL)-13 and Treg fate-mapping suggest that Tregs in ECM-treated wounds transition into TH2-like exTregs that express LAG3. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) significantly stimulated type 2 immunity in ECM-treated wounds, including increased TH2 cells, Treg transition to TH2-like exTregs, and pro-regenerative macrophages. Moreover, ICI enhanced muscle repair and reduced fibrosis in ECM-treated wounds. Collectively, these findings show Treg/TH2 plasticity in wound healing and introduce a novel ICI application to enhance immune-mediated regeneration.

Matching journals

The top 4 journals account for 50% of the predicted probability mass.

1
npj Regenerative Medicine
○ 21 papers in training set
Top 0.1%
32.6%
2
Advanced Science
○ 249 papers in training set
Top 2%
8.3%
3
Science Advances
● 1098 papers in training set
Top 0.5%
7.1%
4
Biomaterials
○ 78 papers in training set
Top 0.1%
6.2%
50% of probability mass above
5
Nature Materials
○ 21 papers in training set
Top 0.1%
4.3%
6
Nature Communications
○ 4913 papers in training set
Top 35%
4.3%
7
Advanced Healthcare Materials
○ 71 papers in training set
Top 0.6%
3.9%
8
eLife
● 5422 papers in training set
Top 33%
2.4%
9
Acta Biomaterialia
○ 85 papers in training set
Top 0.4%
2.3%
10
Nature Biomedical Engineering
○ 42 papers in training set
Top 0.6%
2.1%
11
Developmental Cell
○ 168 papers in training set
Top 7%
1.9%
12
Advanced Functional Materials
○ 41 papers in training set
Top 1%
1.9%
13
Cell Reports
○ 1338 papers in training set
Top 24%
1.7%
14
Advanced Materials
○ 53 papers in training set
Top 1%
1.6%
15
JCI Insight
● 241 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.3%
16
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
○ 30 papers in training set
Top 0.5%
1.2%
17
Science Translational Medicine
● 111 papers in training set
Top 4%
1.1%
18
Molecular Therapy
○ 71 papers in training set
Top 2%
0.9%
19
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
● 2130 papers in training set
Top 41%
0.9%
20
Cancer Research
● 116 papers in training set
Top 3%
0.8%
21
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
○ 42 papers in training set
Top 0.5%
0.8%
22
Cell Systems
○ 167 papers in training set
Top 11%
0.8%
23
Cell Reports Medicine
○ 140 papers in training set
Top 8%
0.7%
24
Cell Stem Cell
○ 57 papers in training set
Top 3%
0.6%