alloantigen-specific allogeneic type 1 regulatory T cells T-allo10

A preparation of allogeneic CD4+ cells that were ex vivo stimulated with alloantigens, which involves exposing the cells to host antigen-presenting cells (APCs), in the presence of the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), with potential to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The stimulation of the CD4+ cells by exposure to alloantigens plus IL-10 induces the differentiation of alloantigen-specific type 1 T regulatory (TR1) cells, which are hyporesponsive to the alloantigens. Upon infusion of T-allo10 and prior to donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the alloantigen-specific type 1 regulatory T cells are tolerant to the alloantigens and suppress alloreactive immune responses by donor CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This may ultimately prevent GvHD. IL-10 plays a key role in controlling inflammation, down-regulating immune responses, and inducing immunological tolerance. IL-10 induces both a long lasting antigen specific T-cell anergy and the differentiation of TR1 cells.