Page 236 - Binder2

digestion—which protects the protein from gastric
degradation.
• Gradual release in the gut
As plant tissue is broken down by the microbiome
or digestive enzymes in the small intestine, the
antigen is slowly and consistently released,
creating a low-dose, repeated exposure ideal for
tolerance induction.
• Targeting GALT
The antigens reach gut-associated lymphoid
tissue, where dendritic cells are trained to promote
Treg formation rather than effector T cell activation.
This context is inherently tolerogenic, replicating
how the immune system learns to ignore food
proteins and commensal bacteria.
• Avoidance of systemic exposure
Unlike injected biologics, which enter the
bloodstream and can provoke neutralizing
antibodies, orally delivered plant-based antigens
often remain in the gut lumen. They engage the
immune system locally—where it learns
tolerance—not systemically, where it launches
defense.

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