Bioconjugate Strategies for the Induction of Antigen-Specific Tolerance in Autoimmune Diseases

Bioconjug Chem. 2018 Mar 21;29(3):719-732. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00632. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Abstract

Antigen-specific immunotherapy (ASI) holds great promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In mice, administration of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding synthetic peptides which modulate T cell receptor (TCR) signaling under subimmunogenic conditions induces selective tolerance without suppressing the global immune responses. However, clinical translation has yielded limited success. It has become apparent that the TCR signaling pathway via synthetic peptide antigen alone is inadequate to induce an effective tolerogenic immunity in autoimmune diseases. Bioconjugate strategies combining additional immunomodulatory functions with TCR signaling can amplify the antigen-specific immune tolerance and possibly lead to the development of new treatments in autoimmune diseases. In this review, we provide a summary of recent advances in the development of bioconjugates to achieve antigen-specific immune tolerance in vivo, with the discussion focused on the underlying design principles and challenges that must be overcome to target these therapies to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / chemistry
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens / therapeutic use*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry
  • Immunoconjugates / immunology
  • Immunoconjugates / therapeutic use
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Polymers / therapeutic use*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • Small Molecule Libraries / therapeutic use*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Toll-Like Receptors