Regulatory T-cell immunotherapy for tolerance to self antigens and alloantigens in humans.
Substantial progress in understanding the biology of regulatory T cells and their roles in health and disease has been achieved in the past 10 years. This has led to an increasing interest in the possibility of using regulatory T cells as a biological therapy to preserve and restore tolerance to self antigens and alloantigens. Immunotherapy by the adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells may have several advantages over conventional treatments. However, several hurdles have to be overcome before such a therapy can enter clinical practice. This Review summarizes our current knowledge of regulatory T cells, illustrates the ongoing regulatory T-cell-based clinical trials, analyses the strengths and pitfalls of this new therapeutic approach, and highlights the future perspectives.
Roncarolo
Maria-Grazia
MG
San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Via Olgettina-58, 20132 Milan, Italy. m.roncarolo@hsr.it
Battaglia
Manuela
M
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation
D001324:Autoantigens; D007519:Isoantigens