Harnessing regulatory T cells for therapeutic purposes

Lai and colleagues demonstrate that pretreatment with N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a naturally occurring sphingosine derivative, provides renoprotection in ischemia/reperfusion injury. This DMS-induced renoprotection was abolished by the administration of agents that suppress regulatory T cells (Tregs) or by anti-CTLA-4 or anti-CD45 monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that Tregs played a critical role. The finding that Tregs are recruited to the kidney via DMS points to the exciting potential of new approaches to harnessing Tregs for therapeutic purposes.