Antigen-specific tolerance strategies for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune disease

Nat Rev Immunol. 2007 Sep;7(9):665-77. doi: 10.1038/nri2153. Epub 2007 Aug 10.

Abstract

The development of safe and effective antigen-specific therapies is needed to treat patients with autoimmune diseases. These therapies must allow for the specific tolerization of self-reactive immune cells without altering host immunity to infectious insults. Experimental models and clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune disease have identified putative mechanisms by which antigen-specific therapies induce tolerance. Although advances have been made in the development of efficient antigen-specific therapies, translating these therapies from bench to bedside has remained difficult. Here, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of antigen-specific therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Mice
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Peptides