METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR ACCELERATING THE GENERATION OF REGULATORY T CELLS EX VIVO

摘要

The present invention is directed to generating regulatory T cells by treating a cell culture that includes non-regulatory T cells with a regulatory composition. The invention encompasses methods utilizing a regulatory composition that includes agents that prevent methylation of the locus for the FOXP3 transcription factor, agents that accelerate differentiation of T cells into suppressor cells, and agents that are histone deacetylase inhibitors. The invention also encompasses compositions of regulatory T cells generated by culturing non-regulatory T cells with a regulatory composition as well as the use of such regulatory T cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and aberrant immune responses.