Search for: [Abstract = "It is well known that immunization via the digestive tract or nasal mucosa may induce a strong local response and simultaneously leads to a state of profound immunosuppression in the periphery. For many years, the skin was considered to be an organ where immune responses such as contact hypersensitivity \(CHS\) were easily induced. However, skin as a site for the induction of tolerance has received very little attention. Experiments performed at the Department of Medical Biology at Jagiellonian University School of Medicine showed that, indeed, epicutaneous \(EC\) application of protein antigens resulted in the induction of T regulatory cells \(Treg\) which were able to inhibit murine Th1 CD4\+ \-mediated contact sensitivity to a TNP\-coupled protein. EC immunization with a protein antigen prior to active contact sensitization was shown to be mediated by TCRαβ\+ CD4\+ CD8\+, in an antigen non\-specific manner. The mechanism of skin\-induced suppression relies on the action of the anti\-inflammatory cytokine TGF\-β. Recently it was shown that EC application of a protein antigen reduced inflammatory responses and decreased disease incidence in two different experimental models\: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis \(EAE\) and collagen induced arthritis \(CIA\). Further work employing allogeneic skin grafts showed that EC immunization with a protein antigen delayed graft rejection in mice. The e"]

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