Abstract: The invention is directed to an anergy-inducing cellular composition comprising: cells having antigenic determinants on the cell surface and an anergy-inducing compound [e.g., (?)-epigallocatechin-3-o-gallate (EGCG)] attached by its chemical affinity to the antigenic determinants. In one embodiment, the anergy-inducing compound blocks co-stimulatory molecules among the antigenic determinants of the cells, which upon encountering with T-cell renders the latter anergic, that is, unresponsive toward alloantigens. In another embodiment, EGCG is of high purity for its efficient attachment to the antigenic determinants. The anergy-inducing cellular composition is prepared by immersing the cells in a culture media solution (RPMI 1640) containing 50-500 ppm EGCG at low physiological temperatures for one to two hours to minimize the cells' mortality.

Abstract: A cryopreservation medium and a cryopreservation method which make it possible to cryopreserve tissues and cells with high viability are provided. A cryopreservation medium contains polyphenol at a concentration of from 30 to 120 ppm. In an embodiment, a cryopreservation method for tissues and cells comprises: incubating tissues or cells for 2 hours in culture medium supplemented with polyphenol at concentrations of from 30 to 120 ppm; suspending tissues or cells in a cryopreservation medium; freezing the suspension of the tissues or cells in the cryopreservation medium; and storing the frozen suspension of tissues or cells in the cryopreservation medium.