Genome-Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Strategy to Mitigate Immune Rejection Without Immunotherapy

Abstract

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer unprecedented potential for regenerative medicine, providing a renewable source of patient-specific cells for transplantation. However, immune rejection remains a significant hurdle, often necessitating lifelong immunosuppression. Genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, have emerged as promising tools to engineer iPSCs with reduced immunogenicity, thereby potentially obviating the need for immunotherapy. This paper reviews the current advancements in genome editing of iPSCs aimed at minimizing immune rejection, discusses the underlying mechanisms, evaluates the challenges and risks associated with these approaches, and explores future directions for clinical application.In particular, we focus on strategies that target major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which play a crucial role in the immune response.These strategies include the knockout of specific MHC genes and the introduction of non-immunogenic variants, which could significantly enhance the compatibility of transplanted cells with the recipient's immune system.