Immune responses to dietary antigens: oral tolerance

The concept of immunologically mediated tolerance to food antigens through exposure to mucosal antigen has been the subject of continuous scientific debate. After a decline in interest in the mid-1980s, oral tolerance has again attracted the attention of immunologists. Here, Stephan Strobel and Allan Mowat discuss how this central immunological principle has potential new therapeutic applications for the treatment of autoimmune, inflammatory and possibly food-allergic diseases.