Tolerization of an established alphaB-crystallin-reactive T-cell response by intravenous antigen.

Tolerance induction to prevent activation of a naïve T-cell repertoire has been well documented in rodents and can be readily achieved by intravenous, oral or intranasal administration of antigen in the absence of adjuvants. In autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) the presence of an established memory/effector T-cell repertoire against self-antigens is likely to be more relevant than the potential reactivity of naive T cells. Methods to eliminate such an established T-cell response are less well understood.