Cd4+ cd25+ t-cells activated to a specific antigen

A method of increasing tolerance to a specific antigen in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of CD4+,CD25+ T cells activated to the specific antigen grown in vitro by culturing CD4+,CD25+ T cells activated to the specific antigen in the presence of at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof.

A method for treating or preventing in a subject in need thereof a disease resulting from an immune response to a specific antigen, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of CD4+,CD25+ T cells activated to the specific antigen grown in vitro by culturing CD4+,CD25+ T cells activated to the specific antigen in vitro in the presence of at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof.

A method of inducing tolerance to a specific antigen in a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject's immune system is exposed to the specific antigen, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof.

A method of treating or preventing in a subject in need thereof a disease resulting from an immune response to an antigen, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof.

A method of inducing tolerance to a specific antigen in a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject's immune system is exposed to the specific antigen, the method comprising:

• (a) determining whether a sample of lymphocytes comprising CD4+,CD25+ T cells obtained from a subject comprises CD4+,CD25+T cells that are responsive to one or more cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof;
• and
• (b) administering an effective amount of one or more cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof, to which the CD4+,CD25+ T cells are responsive.

A method of treating or preventing in a subject in need thereof a disease resulting from an immune response to an antigen, the method comprising:

• (a) determining whether a sample of lymphocytes comprising CD4+,CD25+T cells obtained from a subject comprises CD4+,CD25+ T cells that are responsive to one or more cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof;
• and
• (b) administering an effective amount of one or more cytokines selected from the group consisting of IL-5, IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-γ, or a biologically active fragment thereof, or a functionally equivalent molecule thereof, to which the CD4+,CD25+ T cells are responsive.