Compositions and methods for producing adaptive regulatory T cells
The present invention relates to a method for producing adaptive regulatory T cells from effector T cells by contacting the effector T cells with retinoic acid. Adaptive regulatory T cells produced by this method are Foxp3+, home to the gut, and are refractory to reversion in vivo. As such, such cells find application in the treatment of autoimmune disease and facilitating transplantation tolerance.
1. A method for producing the isolated population of adaptive regulatory T cells comprising contacting an isolated effector T cell population with a retinoic acid in combination with transforming growth factor betal (TGFβ1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) thereby producing a population of retinoic acid-induced adaptive regulatory T cells.
2. A method for treating an autoimmune response comprising administering to a subject exhibiting an autoimmune response an effective amount of the isolated population of retinoic acid-induced adaptive regulatory T cells produced by the method of claim 1 , thereby treating an autoimmune response in the subject.