CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell therapy for the induction of donor-specific clinical transplantation tolerance

Naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to play a key role in the control of autoimmunity. Interestingly, they are also capable of mediating transplantation tolerance and they can have indirect allospecificity for donor antigens. An increasing body of evidence in experimental studies has indicated that adoptive transfer of in vitro expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs with indirect antidonor allospecificity can induce long-term donor-specific transplantation tolerance. Thus, adoptive cell therapy using patient-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs as individualised medicine to promote clinical transplantation tolerance is promising.