Antigen-specific induction of peripheral immune tolerance

摘要

Fas ligand (CD95L) induces apoptosis in activated T cells through the process of Activation Induced Cell Death (AICD). Gelatin nanoparticles are virus sized gelatin-protein-DNA complexes which can encapsulate multiple DNA vectors and proteins, and which are thought to act by increasing in vivo transfection of antigen presenting cells. By injecting mice with gelatin nanoparticles containing a murine Fas ligand (CD95L) DNA vector and a beta-galactosidase (LacZ) model antigen vector, the T cell response specific for beta-gal was ablated without effecting the response to a secondary antigen. In effect, this "tolerization" injection induced antigen specific peripheral tolerance in study mice, and is applicable to the treatment of autoimmune diseases when self-antigens such as Myelin Basic Protein are co-delivered with the fas ligand.