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Immunological basis of oral tolerance
1Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum Berlin.
Zeitschrift Fur Rheumatologie
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Oral tolerance, induced by feeding antigens like type II collagen, may treat rheumatoid arthritis. Specialized T cells secrete TGF-beta and IL-4, suppressing inflammatory Th1 cells via bystander suppression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Oral tolerance is a specific reduction in immune response from antigen ingestion.
- It has been investigated as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Proposed mechanisms involve antigen uptake in Peyer's patches and T cell activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of oral tolerance, particularly its role in inflammatory arthritis.
- To explore the function of T cells secreting transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and IL-4 in this process.
Main Methods:
- Antigen (foreign type II collagen) administration and gut-associated lymphoid tissue analysis.
- Identification and characterization of T cell populations involved in immune response modulation.
- Investigation of cytokine secretion (TGF-beta, IL-4) and their suppressive effects.
Main Results:
- Foreign type II collagen is processed via M-cells in Peyer's patches, activating T cells secreting TGF-beta and IL-4.
- These activated T cells migrate to inflamed joints and recognize self-type II collagen.
- Secreted TGF-beta and IL-4 suppress disease-inducing Th1 cells through bystander suppression.
Conclusions:
- Oral administration of specific antigens can induce a regulatory immune response.
- This mechanism, involving TGF-beta and IL-4 secreting T cells, offers a potential therapeutic strategy for inflammatory arthritis by suppressing autoimmune responses.