An overview of tolerogenic immunotherapies based on plant-made antigens

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Over the last two decades, genetically engineered plants became attractive and mature platforms for producing vaccines and other relevant biopharmaceuticals. Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders demand the availability of accessible treatments, and one alternative therapy is based on therapeutic vaccines able to downregulate immune responses that favor pathology progression.

Areas covered: The current status of plant-made tolerogenic vaccines is presented with emphasis on the candidates under evaluation in test animals. Nowadays, this concept has been assessed in models of food and pollen allergies, autoimmune diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and prevention of blocking antibodies induction against a biopharmaceutical used in replacement therapies.

Expert opinion: According to the current evidence generated at the preclinical level, plant-made tolerogenic therapies are a promise to treat several immune-related conditions, and the beginning of clinical trials is envisaged for the next decade. Advantages and limitations for this technology are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Oral tolerance
• regulatory T cell
• allergy
• transgenic plant
• asthma
• diabetes
• arthritis

Declaration of interest

S. Rosales-Mendoza was supported by CONACYT/Mexico (grant CB-256063 to SRM). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Current investigations from the group are supported by CONACYT/México [grant CB-256063 to SRM].