Induction of tolerance-inducing antigen-presenting cells in bone marrow cultures in vitro using monoclonal antibodies to CD200R

CD200 to CD200R interactions produce immunoregulation. We investigated whether the expression of CD200R on dendritic cell (DC) precursors affects their developmental fate. C57BL/6 bone marrow (BM) cells were cultured in vitro in the presence of (interleukin-4 + granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity) to generate allostimulatory DCs, which were in turn used to induce cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and cytokine production after culture with C3H responder spleen cells. Some marrow cultures included anti-CD200R antibodies. The inclusion of monoclonal antibodies in different isoforms of CD200R in the BM culture led to a generation of cells (tolerogenic DCs) that were unable to produce allostimulation in vitro with responder cells. Cells taken from these latter mixed leukocyte cultures (MLCs) now contained CD4(+)CD25(+) cells able to inhibit the antigen-specific MLC response of fresh C3H responder cells to stimulation with C57BL/6 cells, but not stimulation with BALB/c cells. Tolerogenic DCs, infused in vivo into mice receiving C57BL/6 skin grafts, produced antigen-specific decreased rejection of BL/6 allografts, not BALB/c allografts, compared with mice receiving control DCs (generated from BM in the absence of anti-CD200R). The induction of CD4(+)CD25(+) suppressor cells in MLCs using tolerogenic DCs from the initial BM cultures could be overcome by using limiting numbers of tolerogenic DCs and an excess of allostimulatory DCs derived from BM cultures maintained in the absence of anti-CD200R. These data indicate that anti-CD200R biases stem cells in BM toward the development of suppressive antigen-presenting cells, which can induce CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. Tolerogenic DCs have the potential to modify graft acceptance in vivo.     

Thymocyte/splenocyte-derived CD4+CD25+Treg stimulated by anti-CD200R2 derived dendritic cells suppress mixed leukocyte cultures and skin graft rejection

BACKGROUND: CD200 delivers immunoregulatory signals following engagement of its receptor, CD200R. A family of CD200Rs (CD200R1-4) has been described. Spleen expresses cell surface CD200R1, while bone marrow shows predominantly expression of cell surface CD200R2/R3. We showed that dendritic cell precursors (DCp) cultured with anti-CD200R2/3 develop the capacity to induce CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) from peripheral lymphocytes. We now characterize DCs involved in induction of antigen-specific Treg from thymocytes or peripheral T cells, and the properties of Treg cells maintained in long-term culture. METHODS: Bone marrow DCp (C3H or BL/6 origin) were cultured for 8 days with GMCSF, IL-4 and anti-CD200R2, or with CD200Fc and a previously described peptide inhibitor of CD200R1 to allow preferential engagement of non-CD200R1 receptors by CD200. Mixed leukocyte cultures (MLCs) were initiated with allogeneic responder lymphocytes/thymocytes (BL/6 or C3H) and mitomycin-c treated DCs to induce Treg. Treg cells were maintained by reculture with DCs derived in the same manner and IL-2, cloned at limiting dilution, and tested for their ability to suppress MLCs and skin graft rejection in vivo. RESULTS: Foxp3(+) CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg were derived from 60-hr thymocyte and splenocyte T cell cultures using both DC populations. Cloned C3H Treg (Foxp3(+)) suppressed both C3H anti-BL/6 reactivity in a fresh MLC and rejection of BL/6 skin allografts in C3H recipients; the converse was true for BL/6 Treg. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CD200 triggering of bone-marrow DCs in the absence of CD200R1 engagement induces CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg, and these cloned antigen-specific Treg may have clinical utility.     

大黄素对大鼠肝移植后CD4~+CD25~+调节性T细胞的影响

目的研究大黄素对大鼠肝移植后CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞的比例以及对其免疫抑制功能的影响。方法双袖套法建立大鼠原位肝移植模型,以大黄素和环孢素A(CsA)分别在术后腹腔给药,并以给予PBS作为模型对照组,观察不同药物移植后大鼠存活时间的影响,以及对移植术后大鼠外周血中CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞(Tregulatory cells,Treg)亚群的变化以及免疫功能的影响。结果大黄素能显著延长大鼠原位肝移植的术后成活时间,大黄素组大鼠的平均存活时间(17.4±2.5)d与肝移植模型对照组(8.8±1.9)d相比差异具有统计学意义;大鼠肝移植后大黄素给药可显著上调受体大鼠外周血以及肝内CD4+CD25+Treg的比例,并显著增强CD4+CD25+Treg抑制效应性T细胞的增殖能力(P0.05)。结论大黄素能够延长大鼠原位肝移植的术后成活时间,并可能通过上调外周血以及肝内CD4+CD25+Treg的数量及免疫抑制功能来实现移植后免疫排斥反应的抑制。     

CD4+CD25+Treg细胞对肿瘤特异性CTL杀伤效果的影响

目的 探讨CD4+CD25+Treg细胞对肿瘤特异性细胞毒T细胞(CTL)杀伤效果的影响及机制.方法 将C57BL/6小鼠80只随机分为4组,每组20只.A组:树突状细胞(DC)与T细胞共同培养前删除CD4+CD25+Treg;B组:DC与T细胞共同培养后删除CD4+CD25+Treg;C组:DC与T细胞共同培养时不删除CD4+CD25+Treg;对照组:无DC诱导的T细胞.应用脾脏来源DC细胞诱导T细胞制备CTL,在CTL形成的不同时期采用MACS法删除CD4+CD25+Treg.应用噻唑蓝(MTY)比色法检测不同组别CTL对B16黑色素瘤细胞的杀伤效果.同时应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测细胞培养液中白细胞介素(IL)-2、干扰素(IFN)-γ含量变化.结果 3组实验组CTL杀伤率明显高于对照组(P<0.05).删除CD4+CD25+Treg的A组、B组CTL杀伤率明显高于未删除的C组(P<0.05).但CTL形成的不同时期删除CD4+CD25+Treg对CTL杀伤率的影响无统计学意义(P>0.05).IL-2、IFN-γ含量变化与杀伤率呈现相同的变化趋势.结论 删除CD4+CD25+Treg细胞可明显提高CTL的杀伤效果,是消除肿瘤免疫耐受机制的新途径.     

肾病综合征患者外周血中CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞的表达和意义

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞(CD4+CD25+Treg)数量或功能的降低可导致多种自身免疫性疾病发生.肾病综合征(NS)与T细胞免疫功能紊乱密切相关.本研究采用CD4、CD25和CD127三标法检测初诊及不同治疗阶段NS患者外周血中该群细胞,观察活化效应细胞/调节性细胞(CD127hi/CD127low)的改变,从而探讨CD4+CD25+Treg与NS发生、发展之间的关系.     

IL-2调控慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞的抑制效应

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血中HCV特异性CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞的抑制活性以及外源性IL-2对CD4+CD25+Treg细胞抑制效应的影响.方法 采用免疫磁珠分选18例慢性丙型肝炎患者与15例正常人外周血中CD4+CD25+T细胞与CD4+CD25- T细胞,在此两种细胞共同培养体系中加入不同浓度外源性IL-2和IL-4,检测CD4+CD25+T细胞的抑制能力以及对HCV特异性CD4+T细胞的影响.结果 与正常对照相比,慢性丙型肝炎患者的CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的抑制增殖活性高 (P=0.034);CD4+CD25+ Treg细胞显著抑制HCV特异性CD4+T细胞的增殖;当IL-2浓度为2 000 U/ml时,能够显著改变CD4+CD25+ Treg细胞的低增殖能力,而且IL-2与IL-4的共同作用改变更明显,其中高浓度的IL-2能够阻断CD4+CD25+Treg细胞对CD4+CD25- T细胞的抑制功能.结论 慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的抑制活性增强,高浓度IL-2可阻断CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的抑制效应.     

Cytokines affecting CD4+ T regulatory cells in transplant tolerance. Interleukin-4 does not maintain alloantigen specific CD4+CD25+ Treg

IL-4 is thought to promote induction of transplantation tolerance and alloantigen-specific CD4⁺CD25⁺ T regulatory cells (Treg). This study examined the effect of IL-4 on the induction and maintenance of the CD4⁺ T regulatory cells (Treg) that mediate transplantation tolerance. Tolerance was induced in DA rats with PVG heterotopic cardiac allografts by a short course of cyclosporine. Naïve and tolerant lymphocytes, including the CD4⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cell subsets, were assayed in mixed lymphocyte cultures with or without recombinant (r)IL-4 or other cytokines. The proliferation, cell surface and cytokine phenotype of these cells was examined, as was their capacity to adoptively transfer tolerance. rIL-4 enhanced the proliferation of naïve and tolerant lymphoid cells, including CD4⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells, but this was not alloantigen specific. Naïve or tolerant CD4⁺ T cells cultured with rIL-4 and donor PVG antigen effected rapid graft rejection, even though before culture tolerant CD4⁺ T cells transferred antigen-specific tolerance. These rIL-4 cultured CD4⁺ T cells had a phenotype consistent with activated CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁻ Th2 cells. While naïve natural CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (nTreg) cultured with alloantigen and rIL-4 had enhanced proliferation and capacity to suppress rejection in vivo, the culture of tolerant CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells with alloantigen and rIL-4 could not sustain their proliferation against specific donor, nor their capacity to transfer tolerance to specific donor allograft. Thus, IL-4 promotes both regulatory and effector T cells early in the immune response, but once alloimmune tolerance is established, IL-4 promoted the activation of effector cells to mediate rejection and did not support alloantigen-specific Treg that could transfer specific tolerance.     

CD4+ CD25+ Treg细胞延长大鼠肾移植术后存活时间的量效关系分析

目的观察肾移植受者（Wistar大鼠）应用供者（SD大鼠）抗原特异性CD4^＋CD25^＋免疫调节性T细胞（CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg细胞）对移植肾存活时间的影响，为CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg细胞在体内应用提供定量分析依据。方法SD大鼠为供者，Wistar大鼠为受者，建立同种肾移植动物模型；免疫磁珠（MACS）法分选Wistar大鼠脾脏CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞，检测CD4^＋CD25^＋Foxp3^＋T细胞的纯度，并诱导其对SD大鼠供者抗原的特异性表型；根据在肾移植术中经受者尾静脉注射不同数量（2×10^5、5×10^5、1×10^6、2×10^6）的供者抗原特异性CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞分为：实验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组，并以未注射组作为对照。术后观察移植肾的存活时间；监测血肌酐（cr）的水平；按照BanffSchema标准进行移植肾病理诊断，并根据Watanabe的方法进行半定量评分。结果肾移植术后实验Ⅲ组平均存活时间最长，为（31．4±4．6）d，对照组平均存活时间最短，为（11．7±6．2）d；各实验组与对照组间血Cr检测结果比较，差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；实验Ⅲ组和Ⅳ组不同时段的移植肾病理检查半定量评分结果与对照组比较，差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论初步证实在受者体内应用适当数量的供者抗原特异性CD4^＋CD25^＋Treg细胞，能够改善移植肾的功能，有效延长大鼠肾移植术后的存活时间。     

CD4+CD25+T细胞联合CD154单抗抑制大鼠肝移植急性排斥反应的研究

目的探讨CD4 CD25 T细胞联合应用CD154单抗在抑制大鼠肝移植急性排斥反应中的作用。方法分离Lewis大鼠脾脏CD4 _CD25 T细胞后与DA大鼠脾细胞单向混合淋巴细胞反应行体外激活。用"二袖套法"行DA到Lewis的原位肝移植48例。A组为对照组;B、C组单独术前回输体外激活的CD4 CD25 T细胞或术后腹腔注射抗CD154单抗;D组联合应用CD4 CD25 T细胞和CD154单抗。每组大鼠12对。术后7 d各组处死6只受体,检测移植肝内T细胞亚群和细胞因子水平。余大鼠观察生存情况,死亡大鼠观察移植肝病理变化。结果D组受体生存期(52.00±10.64)d明显长于B、C组(P<0.01);移植肝内CD4 CD25 T细胞比例(16.43±4.28)%明显高于B、C组(P<0.05、P<0.01),而淋巴细胞浸润数量[(3.47±1.21)%×106]和(CD8 T细胞百分比(14.19±3.02)%明显低于B、C组(P<0.05、P<0.01);移植肝内白细胞介素- 2(IL-2)水平(6.44±1.83)ng/L低于B、C组(P<0.05),IL-10(43.72±7.55)ng/L和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)(270.06±46.91)ng/L明显高于B、C组(P<0.05、P<0.01)。结论联合应用CD154单抗能明显增强CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞对大鼠肝移植急性排斥反应的抑制作用。     

Tolerance to rat heart grafts induced by intrathymic immunomodulation is mediated by indirect recognition primed CD4+CD25+ Treg cells

BACKGROUND: In a rat model (PVG.R8-to-PVG.1U) disparate for one class I antigen, RT.1Aa, we previously demonstrated that intrathymic immunomodulation with donor antigens resulted in prolonged survival of cardiac allografts that underwent chronic rejection. However, long-term survivors developed a regulatory cell population that prevented both acute and chronic rejection when adoptively transferred into secondary graft recipients. The purpose of this study was to characterize these regulatory cells with particular emphasis on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells. METHODS: Spleens, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood lymphocytes of secondary tolerant recipients were characterized using antibodies to various T cell markers in flow cytometry. In vitro MLR and in vivo adoptive transfer experiments were conducted to investigate the involvement of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the observed tolerance. The presence of various cytokines in the sera of graft recipients and MLR culture supernatants was tested using ELISA. RESULTS: Tolerant recipients compared with naive rats had substantially higher percentages of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the spleen (28+/-3% vs. 11+/-5%) and blood (23+/-6% vs. 9+/-4%). Tolerant animals also had higher levels of serum IL-10 than naive and rejecting animals. CD4+CD25+ T cells from secondary long-term graft survivors inhibited donor-specific proliferative responses in vitro that was associated with high IL-10 production. Importantly, depletion of CD4+CD25+ T cells from splenocytes of tolerant rats abrogated their ability to transfer tolerance to tertiary graft recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that cardiac allograft tolerance in this model is mediated by CD4+CD25+ Treg cells primed by indirect recognition and is associated with high levels of IL-10.     

脾切除对心脏移植大鼠外周血淋巴细胞凋亡及调节性T淋巴细胞的影响

目的 探讨脾切除对同种异体心脏移植大鼠外周血淋巴细胞凋亡及调节性T淋巴细胞的影响.方法 以Wistar大鼠为供者、SD大鼠为受者,进行腹部异位心脏移植,同时切除受者的脾脏(心脏移植切脾组),并以不切脾者为对照(心脏移植对照组),另设不行任何处理的对照组和单纯切脾的单纯切脾组.术后第1、3、5、7天.取各组受者的移植心脏和外周血,观察移植心脏的组织学变化和细胞超微结构改变情况,以流式细胞仪检测外周血淋巴细胞的凋亡率及CD4+ CD25+ T淋巴细胞的变化,逆转录聚合酶链反应检测CD4+ CD25+ T淋巴细胞上Foxp3 mRNA的表达情况,记录移植心脏的存活时间.结果 心脏移植对照组移植心脏存活时间为(7.47±2.24)d,心脏移植切脾组移植心脏存活时间为(17.63±4.54)d,二者间的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).心脏移植对照组的移植心脏肿胀,质硬,色暗,间质水肿、出血,弥漫性炎症细胞浸润,大量心肌细胞坏死、溶解,横纹不清;心脏移植切脾组的移植心脏质软,色红,局部灰白,外膜下以及细胞间局灶性水肿,炎症细胞浸润,心肌细胞结构完整,横纹清晰;心脏移植切脾组的细胞超微结构改变轻于心脏移植对照组.心脏移植切脾组术后第5天和第7天的淋巴细胞凋亡率分别为(7.62±2.15)%和(9.41±3.82)%,明显高于心脏移植对照组(P<0.05,P<0.05).心脏移植切脾组术后第3、5、7天时的CD4+ CD25+ T淋巴细胞明显多于心脏移植对照组(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01),其Foxp3 mRNA的表达也较心脏移植对照组明显上调.结论 脾切除使心脏移植大鼠外周血淋巴细胞凋亡率增加,调节性T淋巴细胞增多,其Foxp3 mRNA表达上调,这些变化与移植心脏病理改变呈负相关.     

Antilymphocyte antibodies against CD4+CD45R+ subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy.

The authors analysed CD4+ subset populations and particularly subset killing in order to evaluate the presence of antilymphocyte antibody against CD4+ subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgA N). This study was performed in 45 patients with IgA N, 30 patients with other forms of glomerulonephritis and 30 healthy controls. CD4+, CD4+CD45R- and CD4+CD45R+ cells in the peripheral blood were counted by a flow cytometric analysis, and those cell killings were analysed by microcytotoxic assays. The percentage of circulating CD4+CD45R+ cells was significantly decreased in IgA N, and the percentage of CD4+CD45R+ cell killing was significantly elevated in IgA N compared with other groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the percentage of CD4+CD45R+ cells present in IgA N patients' peripheral blood lymphocytes and the killing CD4+CD45R+ cells by the same patients' serum. Both a depletion of CD4+CD45R+ cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes and an elevation of CD4+CD45R+ cell killing correlated with the grade of mesangial proliferation in patients with IgA N. However, there were no correlations in other clinicopathological indices. These results suggest that low levels of antilymphocyte antibodies against CD4+CD45R+ cells were present in patients with IgA N, who showed a depletion of CD4+CD45R+ cells in the peripheral blood. These antibodies were strongly associated with the elimination of CD4+CD45R+ cells and the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells in patients with IgA N.     

门静脉输注供者脾细胞诱导的供者特异性免疫低反应性

目的 探讨经门静脉输注供者脾细胞能否诱导皮肤移植小鼠产生供者特异性的免疫低反应性及其可能机制.方法 取Balb/c小鼠,随机分为空白对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注RPMI 1640培养液)、受者脾细胞组(经小鼠门静脉输注Balb/c小鼠脾细胞)、供者脾细胞组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞)、空白移植对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注RPMI 1640培养液,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)、实验对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注Balb/c小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)、实验组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)以及第三方移植组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C3H小鼠的皮肤).记录空白移植对照组、实验对照组、实验组和第三方移植组移植皮肤的存活时间,并观察移植皮肤的病理学变化;脾细胞输注后7 d,分别获取空白对照组、受者脾细胞组和供者脾细胞组小鼠的外周血、脾脏和肝脏,用流式细胞仪测定样本中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞(CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞)的比例.结果 实验组移植皮肤的存活时间为(19.8±4.6)d,明显长于空白移植对照组、实验对照组和第三方移植组,但仍未达到长期存活.皮肤移植后7 d,空白移植对照组和实验对照组的移植皮肤呈现重度急性排斥反应的病理学改变,而实验组移植皮肤呈现中度急性排斥反应的病理学改变.供者脾细胞组外周血、肝脏和脾脏中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞比例明显高于空白对照组和受者脾细胞组.结论 门静脉输注供者脾细胞可特异性地延长供者皮肤移植物的存活时间,减轻移植物的排斥反应,该效应可能与受者体内的CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞增加有关.     

Ex-vivo expanded baboon CD4+ CD25 Hi Treg cells suppress baboon anti-pig T and B cell immune response

Singh AK, Seavey CN, Horvath KA, Mohiuddin MM. Ex‐vivo expanded baboon CD4⁺ CD25^Hi Treg cells suppress baboon anti‐pig T and B cell immune response. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 102–111. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in regulating immune responses. A very small number of Treg cells are present in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs, but due to their ability to suppress the immune response, they have a high potential for immunotherapy in clinics. Successful ex‐vivo expansion of naturally occurring CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells has been achieved after TCR stimulation in the presence of T cell growth factors. In this study, we evaluated the role of these Treg cells in suppressing proliferative response of baboon T and B cells to pig xenoantigens. Methods: Naturally occurring baboon CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (nTreg) were sorted from peripheral blood and expanded in the presence of either anti‐CD3/CD28 beads or irradiated pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells with IL‐2. Treg cells were also enriched directly from CD4⁺ T cells cultured in the presence of rapamycin (0.1–10 nm ). Mixed lymphocyte culture and polyclonal B cell stimulation with ex‐vivo Treg cells were performed to assess the function of ex‐vivo expanded Treg cells. Results: The nTreg cells were expanded to more than 200‐fold in 4 weeks and retained all the nTreg cell phenotypic characteristics, including high levels of FoxP3 expression. 2‐fold increase in enrichment of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg cells from CD4⁺ cells was observed with rapamycin compared to cultures without rapamycin. The ex‐vivo expanded Treg cells obtained from both methods were able to suppress the baboon anti‐porcine xenogeneic T and B cell immune response in‐vitro efficiently (more than 90% suppression at 1 : 1 ratio of T regulatory cells: T effector cells), and their suppression potential was retained even at 1 : 256 ratio. However, freshly isolated nTreg cells had only 70% suppression at 1 : 1 ratio, and their suppressive ability was reduced to ≤50% at 1 : 16 ratio. Furthermore, we have found that ex‐vivo expanded Treg can also suppress the proliferation of B cells after polyclonal stimulation. Forty to 50 percent reduction in B cell proliferation was observed when ex‐vivo expanded Treg cells were added to the culture at a 1 : 1 ratio. The addition of CD4⁺ CD25^Neg cells however induced vigorous proliferation. Conclusion: Ex‐vivo expanded CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ Treg cells can be used to efficiently suppress xenogeneic immune responses by inhibiting T and B cell proliferation. These ex‐vivo expanded Treg cells may also be used with other immunosuppressive agents to overcome xenograft rejection in preclinical xenotransplantation models.     

Relative Resistance of Human CD4+ Memory T Cells to Suppression by CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Successful expansion of functional CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (T_reg) ex vivo under good manufacturing practice conditions has made T_reg‐cell therapy in clinical transplant tolerance induction a feasible possibility. In animals, T_reg cells home to both transplanted tissues and local lymph nodes and are optimally suppressive if active at both sites. Therefore, they have the opportunity to suppress both naïve and memory CD4⁺CD25^? T cells (Tresp). Clinical transplantation commonly involves depleting therapy at induction (e.g. anti‐CD25), which favors homeostatic expansion of memory T cells. Animal models suggest that T_reg cells are less suppressive on memory, compared with naïve Tresp that mediate allograft rejection. As a result, in the context of human T_reg‐cell therapy, it is important to define the effectiveness of T_reg cells in regulating naïve and memory Tresp. Therefore, we compared suppression of peripheral blood naïve and memory Tresp by fresh and ex vivo expanded T_reg cells using proliferation, cytokine production and activation marker expression (CD154) as readouts. With all readouts, naïve human Tresp were more suppressible by approximately 30% than their memory counterparts. This suggests that T_reg cells may be more efficacious if administered before or at the time of transplantation and that depleting therapy should be avoided in clinical trials of T_reg cells.