title: Oral administration of antigen can lead to the onset of autoimmune disease.
abstract: Oral administration of antigen is known to induce a state of specific immunological unresponsiveness to a subsequent challenge with the same antigen. Based on this, oral delivery of autoantigens has been applied as a possible strategy for the treatment of human autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The precise mechanisms involved in the induction of oral tolerance are yet to be clearly defined. In an attempt to address this issue, we have generated several lines of transgenic mice using ovalbumin (OVA) as the model antigen. Our studies have shown that a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response could be induced by oral administration of antigen and that this could lead to the onset of autoimmune disease. These findings suggest caution should be applied when oral administration of antigen is used to treat human autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanas
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Heath
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D010047:Ovalbumin