Dendritic cells in tolerance induction for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the loss of tolerance toward self‐antigens and the induction of destructive immune responses leading to tissue damage. Most patients with autoimmune diseases are treated with immunosuppressive drugs that suppress the immune response in a non‐specific fashion, which is inevitably accompanied by several side effects. Antigen‐specific immunomodulation and patient‐tailored therapies are likely to solve these issues and to elicit long‐term protection against disease flares. This Viewpoint analyzes the potential use of DC for induction of antigen‐specific tolerance in autoimmune disease settings.