title: CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells are required for the induction of oral tolerance.
abstract: It has been suggested that oral tolerance is mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, but the functional properties of these cells are unclear. Here we show that the induction of tolerance by feeding mice ovalbumin (OVA) does not prime antigen-specific class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells in vivo. Indeed, such responses are markedly suppressed in mice fed OVA, and the induction of oral tolerance is abolished by depletion in vivo of CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells. These results indicate that CD8+ lymphocytes are unlikely to play a major role in the induction of oral tolerance and are the first demonstration that specific cytotoxic responses to an exogenous antigen can be suppressed by feeding antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Western Infirmary, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garside
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mowat
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D010047:Ovalbumin