In vitro expanded alloantigen-specific CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell treatment for the induction of donor-specific transplantation tolerance

Int Immunopharmacol. 2006 Dec 20;6(13-14):1879-82. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2006.07.025. Epub 2006 Aug 15.

Abstract

The key goal in clinical transplantation is the induction of donor-specific transplantation tolerance to minimise the morbidity and mortality associated with long-term immunosuppression. Naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing forkhead transcript factor FoxP3 play a crucial role in the prevention of autoimmunity, and appear to mediate transplantation tolerance, and these cells can have indirect allospecificity for donor antigens. Here we show that self-reactive human CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs can be subverted into allopeptide-specific cells in vitro and be expanded to large cell numbers, and that similar in vitro expanded murine CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs with indirect allospecificity were capable of inducing donor-specific experimental transplantation tolerance. These data provide a platform for clinical studies using CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs with indirect allospecificity as potential reagents for the induction of donor-specific transplantation tolerance.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • CD28 Antigens / immunology
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Graft Survival / immunology
  • H-2 Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology*
  • Isoantigens / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Transplantation Tolerance / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • CD28 Antigens
  • CD3 Complex
  • H-2 Antigens
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Isoantigens
  • Peptide Fragments