Molecular mechanisms of induction of antigen-specific allograft tolerance by intranasal peptide administration.

ABSTRACT: We have previously shown that intranasal (i.n.) administration of a single MHC class II-restricted HY peptide to female mice induces tolerance to up to five additional epitopes expressed on test male grafts, a phenomenon known as linked suppression. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved both in the induction phase following peptide administration and during linked suppression after grafting. We report that following initial i.n. administration, peptide is widely disseminated and is presented by functionally immature dendritic cells. These fail to cause optimal stimulation of the responding HY-specific CD4(+) T cells that express genes characteristic of regulatory T cells. Following i.n. peptide plus LPS administration, causing immunization, HY-specific CD4(+) T c

SUBMITTER: Derbyshire K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3321310 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature