Tissue-specific Regulation of Immune Responses to Dietary Proteins

Abstract

The term oral (or mucosal) tolerance has been defined as the suppression of T- and B-cell responses to an antigen by prior administration of the antigen by the oral route . From this definition, it can be inferred that mucosal tolerance is not just the ignorance of antigens that are applied via the mucosa or the absence of an immune response, but quite the contrary, mucosal tolerance refers to a dynamic process that depends on the active suppression of antigen-specific immune responses. Although such induction of immunological tolerance is not exclusive for antigens encountered via the mucosa and can be achieved outside the mucosal environment as well, it is well established that specific features of mucosal tissues favor the induction of tolerance. Here we discuss the mechanisms that are required for the induction of mucosal tolerance and the unique properties of the mucosal microenvironment that allow for intestinal homeostasis and the development of mucosal tolerance.