Adoptive T Regulatory Cell Therapy for Tolerance Induction

There is a clear need to develop strategies to induce tolerance without the need of chronic immunosuppression in transplant recipient and in patients with autoimmunity. Adoptive T regulatory cell (T_reg) therapy offers the potential of long-lasting protection. However, based on results of clinical trials so far with ex vivo expanded autologous T_regs in type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients, it seems unlikely that single immunotherapy with T_reg infusion without immunomodulation regimens that promote stable donor T_reg engraftment and persistence would afford truly significant clinical benefit. Combination therapies could provide improved outcomes with consideration of the fundamental factors required for T_reg generation, homeostasis, and function to promote long-term donor T_reg persistence to provoke beneficial therapeutic outcomes.