Oral immune regulation: a novel method for modulation of anti-viral immunity.
Chronic viral infections, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, afflict a significant part of the world's population. In many of these diseases, chronicity has been linked to defective anti-viral immunity that damages host tissues without producing viral clearance. Currently available therapeutic measures for chronic viral infections are limited. Oral immune regulation, the manipulation of immune responses towards antigens by their oral administration, is a relatively simple and antigen-specific immune-modulatory tool. Recent evidence suggests that induction of oral immune-regulation towards viral antigens may entail a complex immune effect, characterized by simultaneous enhancement and suppression of different elements of the immune response in a manner that benefits the host. Such manipulation of the immune response towards viruses may achieve a combination of upregulated specific anti-viral immunity and inhibition of immune-mediated damage. Oral immune regulation may prove to be an important addition to the available therapeutic arsenal for chronic viral infections.
Margalit
Maya
M
Liver Unit, Department Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 12000, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ilan
Yaron
Y
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens