| Theme |
Mucosal Immune System of the Digestive Tract -- Recent Topics |
| Title |
Oral Tolerance and its Mechanisms : from the Viewpoint of Antigenic Structures |
| Author |
Satoshi Hachimura |
Department of Applied Biological Chemistry,Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science, The University of Tokyo |
| [ Summary ] |
Oral administration of antigens results in a reduced ability to respond to this antigen. This is known as oral tolerance. Oral tolerance has been considered as a possible therapy for allergies and autoimmune disease. The part of the antigen involved in the induction of immune diseases may be limited. It may be effective to administer peptide fragments not containing these segments, but possessing tolerance inducing properties. From this standpoint, we have been examining the relationship between oral tolerance and antigenic structures. Furthermore, we have found that T-cell and B-cell responses directed to certain deteminants on an antigen are not inhibited by the induction of oral tolerance. Such T cells or B cells, which escape tolerance induction, may be involved in the pathogenesis of food hypersensitivity. |