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.