Transimmunization methods incorporating skin immunologic challenges aredescribed for either selectively suppressing the immune response of recipientsof transplanted tissue or cells or monitoring induced anti-cancer immunity. Inone embodiment, skin from the transplant donor is allografted to thetransplant recipient to induce an immunological response to the transplantedskin. A quantity of blood is taken from the recipient and treated to renderthe T cells in the blood apoptotic and to induce differentiation of bloodmonocytes into dendritic cells. The treated blood is incubated andadministered to the recipient to induce formation of suppressor T cell cloneswhich reduce the number of T cells attacking the transplanted tissue or organ.This tolerogenic approach can be complemented by also feeding the immaturedendritic cells apoptotic or necrotic cells from the organ donor. In a secondembodiment, dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens are injectedintradermally to monitor the anti-cancer immunity induced by Transimmunization.
