Tolerance induction

Tolerance induction refers to processes by which the immune system learns to accept specific antigens without mounting a destructive response, maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune pathology[1][5]. Central tolerance occurs during lymphocyte development in the thymus and bone marrow, eliminating or differentiating cells that react to self-antigens[2][3]. Peripheral tolerance uses regulatory T cells and mechanisms such as clonal anergy, deletion, and suppression to control potentially autoreactive cells in circulation[2][3]. Therapeutic manipulation of tolerance induction can prevent transplant rejection, reduce allergy symptoms, and treat autoimmune conditions by specifically desensitizing the immune system to clinically relevant antigens[1][3][6]. The process is not a classical drug target like a receptor or enzyme, but a complex physiological mechanism involving various immune cells and signaling pathways[4][8].

Other names

Immunological tolerance inductionInduction of immune tolerance

Induction of peripheral tolerance through regulatory T cell activation; Deletion or anergy of autoreactive lymphocytes during central tolerance; Modulation of dendritic cell antigen presentation with tolerogenic peptides (apitopes)