Analysis of Responsive Cells in Tolerance by the Oral Administration of Ovalbumin

The induction of immune tolerance is the most common consequence of protein feeding, i.e., “oral tolerance”. In this study we investigated the genetic basis of oral tolerance using various kinds of recombinant and congenic mice, and the cells involved in the development of this phenomenon in mice. The footpad swelling response to ovalbumin (OVA) was inhibited in mice that were orally fed OVA 7 days before sensitization. No effect of strain of mouse was seen in this inhibition. This inhibition could be transferred by Peyer's patch cells. The CD4^-8⁺ T cells were responsible for the inhibition of footpad swelling. The number of CD4⁺ cells from OVA-fed tolerant mice decreased significantly, but CD8⁺ cells did not.

The number of CD4^-8⁺ T cells was increased in Peyer's patches of OVA-fed tolerant mice, and were involved in the development of oral tolerance.