The present invention relates to a
transplant rejection in an animal suppressed by administration of an
antibody directed at a
cell surface
antigen selected from the group consisting of CD4, CD8, CD154, LFA-1, CD80, CD86 and ICAM-1, preferably an anti-CD4
antibody, together with a non-
cellular protein antigen to generate in the animal a
population of regulatory T-lymphocytes; reactivating said
population of regulatory T-lymphocytes by further administration to the animal of the non-
cellular protein antigen; and
transplanting said organ or tissue whilst said
population of regulatory T-lymphocytes is activated. Regulatory T cells can be generated
ex vivo by culturing T cells with an
antibody directed at a
cell surface antigen selected from the group consisting of CD4, CD8, CD154, LFA-1, CD80, CD86 and ICAM-1, in the presence of cells that present either alloantigen or a non-
cellular protein antigen.
Ex vivo generated T-lymphocytes can be used as an alternative method of overcoming
transplant rejection or in combination with the
in vivo method. A similar approach can be adopted for the treatment of autoimmune conditions.