Abstract
Reversal of autoimmune disease with monoclonal antibodies to polymorphic determinants associated with class II gene products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and to T-cell receptor variable region segments has been demonstrated in animal models. Recent studies have shown that it is also possible to use mutant peptides to block recognition of self-antigen associated with MHC by T-cells that mediate autoimmune disease. These mutant peptides have been used to prevent the model autoimmune condition experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The possibility of extending these approaches to human disease is discussed.
MeSH terms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
- Autoimmune Diseases / therapy*
- Disease Models, Animal
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / therapy
- Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
- Multiple Sclerosis / therapy
- Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
- Myasthenia Gravis / therapy
- Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use*
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
Substances
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
- Peptide Fragments
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell