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The immune tolerance network: a new paradigm for developing tolerance-inducing therapies
Daniel Rotrosen1, Jeff B Matthews, Jeffrey A Bluestone
1National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20817,USA.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|July 12, 2002
Summary
Immune tolerance therapies aim to specifically reprogram immune cells, offering a revolutionary approach to managing chronic diseases without lifelong immunosuppression. The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) is accelerating clinical trials for these groundbreaking treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Translational Medicine
- Therapeutic Development
Background:
- Immune tolerance therapies offer a paradigm shift from lifelong immunosuppression for chronic diseases.
- Advances in understanding T-cell activation have enabled novel tolerance-inducing strategies.
- Animal models demonstrate the feasibility of tolerance induction for autoimmunity, allergy, and transplant rejection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the rationale for clinical research in immune tolerance.
- To highlight the progress of the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) in developing tolerance therapies.
- To underscore the potential of immune tolerance to revolutionize chronic disease management.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN), an international consortium.
- Partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
- Development and initiation of clinical trials and tolerance assays.
Main Results:
- The ITN has initiated approximately two dozen clinical trials or tolerance assay studies.
- Feasibility of tolerance-inducing approaches demonstrated in preclinical models.
- Unprecedented opportunities for testing in human diseases have emerged.
Conclusions:
- Immune tolerance therapies hold significant promise for treating a wide range of debilitating diseases.
- The ITN is actively accelerating the development and evaluation of these novel therapies.
- Clinical research in immune tolerance is crucial for advancing patient care and obviating long-term immunosuppression.