A population of T lymphocytes polarized by rapamycin with potential immunomodulating activity. The autologous T cells collected from the patient were co-stimulated with antibodies to the T-cell cell surface proteins CD3 and CD28 and expanded ex vivo in the presence of rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug, and then infused back into the same patient. Both CD3 and CD28 are required for full T cell activation. These lymphocytes expressed anti-apoptotic bcl-2 family member proteins (reduced Bax, Bak; increased phospho-Bad); maintained mitochondrial membrane potentials; and displayed reduced apoptosis. Adoptive transfer of this type of T cell potentially induces an anti-apoptotic Th1/Tc1 effector phenotype by promoting autophagy.