What does the future hold for cell-based tolerogenic therapy?

In this Viewpoint article, four leading researchers provide their view on the prospect of using tolerogenic cells as an immunotherapy in humans and highlight some of the hurdles that must be addressed for this type of treatment to become a viable therapeutic approach. Evidence from animal models has shown that the transfer of regulatory T cells or tolerogenic dendritic cells can prevent or cure transplant rejection or re-establish self-tolerance in autoimmune disease. The potential of these tolerogenic cells for the treatment of T-cell-mediated diseases in humans has gained momentum in recent years. Here, Nature Reviews Immunology asks four leading researchers to provide their view on the future of cell-based tolerogenic therapy and to highlight some important issues that must be considered before this form of immunotherapy can become a reality.