The systemic unresponsiveness of the immune system to orally administered antigens is known as oral tolerance. Recent findings describe a new step for the induction of oral tolerance, consisting in the homing of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells to the small bowel and the local acquisition of full immunosuppressive capacities, a process in which retinoic acid-producing dendritic cells might play a crucial role.
Keywords: FOXP3; dendritic cells; gut homing; oral tolerance; retinoic acid.