Regulatory T cell immunotherapy for transplantation tolerance: Step into clinic

Recent studies in animal models have demonstrated that adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) can prevent or even cure autoimmune diseases, and appear to induce transplantation tolerance. Thus, adoptive cell therapy using ex vivo induced and expanded patient-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs has emerged as a promising individualized medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. Here we discuss our current efforts on the pursuit of regulatory T cell therapy for the induction of transplantation tolerance. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.