Researchers from LUMC, reNEW and Cure One have developed a new strategy to reduce immune rejection of stem cell therapies. Using CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful gene-editing technology that enables precise modification of DNA, the team introduced a specific viral protein (US2) into human stem cells. This modification makes the cells less visible to immune cells that would otherwise trigger rejection, while preserving important protective signals for other parts of the immune system. The findings suggest that this approach could offer a promising alternative to current methods and bring widely applicable stem cell therapies, including treatments for type 1 diabetes, one step closer to reality.

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