Antigen-loaded microparticles—a novel tool to induce T-cell tolerance in autoimmunity?

In autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), T cells can be aberrantly activated after recognition of self antigens in the form of peptides. Using a mouse model of MS, Getts et al. show that injection of microparticles loaded with myelin peptides induces long-term T-cell tolerance, preventing disease onset and modifying the disease course. The tolerogenic effect exploited a natural pathway of debris clearance that involves microparticle uptake by macrophages expressing the scavenger receptor MARCO. Regulatory T cells and T-cell anergy were also required for tolerance induction.