Nanoparticles restore tolerance

Immunology Autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, are caused by immune cells attacking healthy cells. One way to treat type 1 diabetes is to activate T regulatory (Treg) cells to suppress inflammatory T cell activity and restore tolerance, so that the inflammatory T cells stop destroying pancreatic β cells. Yeste et al. used gold nanoparticles to induce tolerance in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. The mice had more Treg cells and less severe disease symptoms when given nanoparticles coated with proteins that induced tolerance. Nanoparticle-based therapies may be useful in restoring tolerance in other autoimmune diseases as well. Sci. Signal. 9 , ra61 (2016).