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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
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Regulatory T cells: Therapeutic Potential for Treating Transplant Rejection and Type I Diabetes
Published on: August 20, 2007
Regulatory T cells as therapeutic cells
Pervinder Sagoo1, Giovanna Lombardi, Robert I Lechler
1Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation
|December 9, 2008
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are moving from research to clinical transplantation. Current trials explore their therapeutic potential, with antigen-specific Tregs showing promise for tailored treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Cellular Therapy
Background:
- Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in immune tolerance in transplantation.
- Translating Treg therapy from experimental models to clinical application remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the functional and practical aspects of using CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Tregs as cellular therapeutics in clinical transplantation.
- To discuss requirements for Treg phenotype, antigen specificity, and preparation for therapeutic use.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on Treg biology and clinical trials.
- Analysis of phenotypic markers, isolation methods, and antigen specificity of Tregs.
- Evaluation of Treg preparation and integration into immunosuppressive regimens.
Main Results:
- New phenotypic markers and improved isolation methods facilitate Treg therapy.
- Clinical trials using adoptive Treg transfer are underway.
- Alloantigen-specific Tregs may offer superior benefits in solid organ transplantation, requiring tailored approaches.
- Immunosuppressive strategies need reevaluation to complement Treg therapy.
Conclusions:
- The field of Treg research in clinical transplantation is rapidly advancing.
- Tregs are transitioning from bench to bedside, despite remaining questions.
- Translational research is key to realizing the therapeutic potential of Tregs in transplantation.
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