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Immaturity, ageing and oral tolerance
N Vaz1, A M Faria, B A Verdolin
1Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, ICB, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology
|October 7, 1997
Summary
Oral tolerance, the immune system
Area of Science:
- Cellular immunology
- Immunological tolerance
- Oral tolerance induction
Background:
- Early studies suggested immune tolerance is established only in embryonic or neonatal stages.
- This implied immature hosts are necessary for self-tolerance development.
- Contradictory evidence shows oral tolerance occurs in adult animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review findings on oral tolerance.
- To emphasize ongoing immunological activity throughout life.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on oral tolerance.
- Analysis of studies on immune tolerance induction in adult versus young hosts.
Main Results:
- Oral tolerance is a common phenomenon in adult immunocompetent animals.
- Susceptibility to oral tolerance induction decreases after the neonatal period.
- Tolerance induction can be restored by transferring cells from young hosts.
Conclusions:
- Immunological activity is a continuous process throughout an organism's lifespan.
- Immune system development and tolerance extend beyond early ontogenesis.