CD4+CD25− T cells and Tr1-like regulatory T cells

A method of suppressing the proliferation of human CD4+ T cells ex vivo or in vivo comprising the steps of:

• (a) isolating CD4+CD25+ T cells from human peripheral blood;
• (b) anergizing human CD4+CD25− T cells by contacting the CD4+CD25− T cells ex vivo with an anergic state inducing agent consisting of CD4+CD25+ T cells and an activation stimulus, wherein the activation stimulus is selected from the group consisting of (i) and (ii), wherein (i) is a combination of plate-bound anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 antibodies;
• and (ii) are allogeneic mature dendritic cells, whereby Tr-1 like regulatory cells are produced;
• and
• (c) suppressing the proliferation of said CD4+ T cells by (i) introducing said Tr-1 like regulatory cells to a composition comprising said CD4+ T cells ex vivo or (ii) administering said Tr-1 like regulatory cells to a human subject in vivo.