Tolerogenic nanoparticles inhibit T cell–mediated autoimmunity through SOCS2

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the destruction of pancreatic β cells by inflammatory T cells. One strategy to treat T1D involves using suppressive T regulatory (Treg) cells that are grown in culture and then given back to patients to dampen the autoimmune response and induce tolerance. Yeste et al . used gold nanoparticles as a delivery mechanism to induce tolerance directly in a mouse model of T1D without having to grow immune cells ex vivo. The mice had increased numbers of Treg cells and decreased disease severity when given nanoparticles coated with an antigenic peptide of unprocessed insulin and a ligand that promotes the ability of dendritic cells to induce tolerance. These results suggest that nanoparticle-based therapies may be useful in restoring tolerance not only in T1D but also in other autoimmune diseases.