EP0720622A1 - Wechselwirkung zwischen t-zellrezeptoren und antigen in autoimmunkrankheiten - Google Patents

Wechselwirkung zwischen t-zellrezeptoren und antigen in autoimmunkrankheiten

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Publication number
EP0720622A1
EP0720622A1 EP94929299A EP94929299A EP0720622A1 EP 0720622 A1 EP0720622 A1 EP 0720622A1 EP 94929299 A EP94929299 A EP 94929299A EP 94929299 A EP94929299 A EP 94929299A EP 0720622 A1 EP0720622 A1 EP 0720622A1
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Prior art keywords
seq
type
strandedness
topology
amino acid
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Lawrence Steinman
Jorge Oksenberg
Claud Bernard
Scott Zamvil
Dennis J. Mitchell
Nathan Karin
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Leland Stanford Junior University
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Leland Stanford Junior University
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
    • C07K14/4713—Autoimmune diseases, e.g. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, rheumathoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus; Autoantigens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C07K14/70503—Immunoglobulin superfamily
    • C07K14/7051—T-cell receptor (TcR)-CD3 complex
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2800/00—Detection or diagnosis of diseases
    • G01N2800/24—Immunology or allergic disorders

Definitions

  • the field of the subject invention is diagnosis and treatment of diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases.
  • Autoimmune diseases are a result of a failure of the immune system to avoid recognition of self.
  • the attack by the immune system of host cells can result in a large number of disorders, including such neural diseases as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis diseases of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, attacks on nucleic acids, as observed with systemic lupus erythematosus and such other diseases associated with various organs, as psoriasis, juvenile onset diabetes, Sjogren's disease, and thyroid disease.
  • neural diseases as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis diseases of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, attacks on nucleic acids, as observed with systemic lupus erythematosus and such other diseases associated with various organs, as psoriasis, juvenile onset diabetes, Sjogren's disease, and thyroid disease.
  • These diseases can have a variety of symptoms, which can vary from minor and irritating to life- threatening.
  • TIL tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
  • MS Multiple sclerosis
  • T lymphocytes migrate from the peripheral blood through the CNS compartment and participate directly in the promotion of brain lesions.
  • MS plaque tissue with monoclonal antibodies it has been shown that the majority of T-cells have the helper inducer CD4 positive phenotype. Sobel et al.. J. Exp. Med. 167, 1313-1322 (1988).
  • T-cell receptor Va and V3 genes have been shown to contribute to the genetic control of susceptibility to this disease. Beall et al.. J .
  • HLA-DR2Dw2 is associated with increased susceptibility to MS. Terasaki et al. Science 193:1245- 1247 (1976). Susceptibility to MS has been associated with certain MHC Class II genes. Oksenberg and Steinman, Current Opinion in Immunology 2:619-621 (1990).
  • oligoclonality of T-cells has been described in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients.
  • CSF cerebrospinal fluid
  • Oksenberg et al.. Nature 345:344-346 (1990) describes the use of PCR to amplify TCR Va sequences from transcripts derived from MS brain lesions.
  • Wucherpfennig et al. Science 248:1016-1019 (1990) and Ota et al.. Nature 346:183 (1990) report studies of T-cell clones in man that recognize myelin basic protein.
  • the relationship of particular sequences of the Va and/or Vb subunits of the helper T-cell receptor is established by identifying invasive T-cells in tissue from autoimmune or neoplastic lesions.
  • the particular variable regions may be identified from germline rearrangement, mRNA or the T-cell receptor subunit sequences.
  • the oligoclonal regions of the T-cell receptor ( ⁇ • TcR") or the cells having such regions are then used for therapeutic applications for the treatment of the diseases.
  • peptides with the sequence of the T cell receptor or peptides with the sequence of the antigen bound by the T cell receptor may be used by themselves to block binding, for the formation of antibodies, or the preparation of cytotoxic molecules specific for the target T-cell.
  • the amino acid sequence of the peptides may be modified for improved activity. Sequences based on motifs associated with the disease are provided for diagnosis and therapy.
  • the MHC phenotype is also relevant to susceptibility to particular autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.
  • counseling and monitoring can be provided to minimize the occurrence and/or severity of the disease.
  • T-cell receptor variable regions related to autoimmune diseases are provided. Also specific MHC profiles may be identified associated with specific autoimmune diseases, which will provide for monitoring of such patients to identify initiation of symptoms of such disease.
  • TcR T- cell receptor
  • therapies are employed to inhibit the attack of the T-cells having such variable regions on the target cells or proteins.
  • the therapies may involve ablation of T-cells carrying the particular variable regions, administration of agents associated with inhibition of the T-cell receptor to the target cell, or prevention of the degenerative effects of the binding of the T-cell to the target cell or protein.
  • agents include peptides with the sequence, or a modified sequence, of the T cell receptor or the antigen bound by the T cell receptor, which agents may be used to block binding, for the formation of antibodies, or the preparation of cytotoxic molecules specific for the target T-cell.
  • the T-cells having the appropriate T-cell receptor may be concentrated and expanded and returned to the host.
  • the T-cell receptor has two subunits involved in binding, either a and b, or g and d.
  • the variable regions associated with the subunits have a similar organization to those of the i munoglobulins, the b and g subunits having a variable region which comprises exons associated with the V, D and J regions, while the a and d subunits comprise exons associated with the V and J regions.
  • the exons are joined to the constant or conserved region and by subsequent splicing of the messenger RNA, an open reading frame is achieved which encodes the subunit.
  • the spectrum of the variable region loci of an individual will be different from other individuals.
  • not all variable region exons present may rearrange to form a functional T-cell receptor subunit.
  • the chronic condition is exemplified by the presence of large numbers of macrophages and a relatively low number of T-cells in comparison to acute phase which has lower levels of macrophages and higher levels of T-cells.
  • the cells may be identified in accordance with conventional histocytoche istry techniques, using antibodies to surface markers, as appropriate.
  • variable regions By determining the loci which are rearranged to form functional variable regions, which variable regions are associated with autoimmune lesions, one can diagnose the nature of an autoimmune disease, establish the existence of a chronic episode, and treat the disease, prophylactically or therapeutically, by inhibiting the degenerative effect of the T-cells. By determining the loci which are rearranged to form functional variable regions effective against tumors, these cells may be used to combat the tumor.
  • T-cell receptors may be divided into two categories: the CD4 helper-inducer T-cell receptors, which T-cell receptors bind to Class II MHC; and the CD8 suppressor- cytotoxic T- cell receptors, which T-cell receptors bind to Class I MHC.
  • the T-cells associated with such diseases as multiple sclerosis are the CD4 positive phenotype, though CD8 can also play a role.
  • the autoimmune diseases of significant prevalence include multiple sclerosis, associated with destruction of myelin and glial cells, rheumatoid arthritis, associated with joint lesions, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) , associated with the deposition of autoantibodies and immune complexes, psoriasis, pemphigus vulgaris, juvenile onset diabetes, associated with destruction of beta cells in islets of Langerhans, Sjogren's disease, thyroid disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis, as well as many others.
  • SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
  • variable (V) loci by themselves or in conjunction with the J loci of the T-cell receptors of T- cells found at the site of the lesion may be identified in a number of different ways.
  • the lesion or plaque is isolated and total RNA, from which cDNA may be prepared, or DNA is prepared according to standard procedures.
  • the cDNA is amplified by any convenient technique, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) , cloning, or the like.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • primers are employed which will identify the particular variable region which either has been expressed as identified by cDNA, or has been rearranged, so as to be associated with a J and C region.
  • Primers may be selected in accordance with the known sequences of conserved regions of the T-cell receptor subunits. It is found, that there will usually be 1 and no more than about 7, usually not more than about 5, generally only about 3 common, variable regions of the T- cell receptor subunits associated with the lesions. Therefore, with neural disorders, where the tissue is available from a deceased or from a biopsy having the particular disorder, one may relate the presence of T-cells in the lesions to the disease and, further, relate the particular V regions and J regions associated with the T-cells present in the lesion with the MHC antigen type of the deceased. In this manner, one may provide for identification of the variable regions of humans suffering from the disease with the MHC type and be able to treat the disease accordingly.
  • genomic DNA With genomic DNA, one would establish the presence of the rearrangement in the DNA by having primers which relate to substantially conserved regions of the variable region and the joining of the constant region, either coding or non-coding regions. Alternatively, by cloning, one could sequence the DNA and establish the identity of the variable region. Isolation of mRNA from the tissue in question, reverse transcription to cDNA and then amplification and identification of the rearranged V-C product will also define the disease related marker. Similarly, with neoproliferative tissue, the tissue may be isolated and the T-cells effective for combating the neoproliferative cells identified.
  • nucleic acid As the basis for the diagnosis, by having a battery of monoclonal antibodies, various techniques may be employed for identifying the binding of the antibody to the T-cells.
  • flow cytometry e.g. a FACS scan, may be employed, where the antibodies are labeled with a fluorescer and those T-cells to which the antibodies bind would then identify the particular variable region.
  • a 100% correlation is normally not to be expected, nor will it be necessarily achieved. It will usually be satisfactory that in at least 60%, preferably 70%, of the hosts positive for the disease, the shared variable region locus associated with the disease is present in a population of host T-cells, particularly in rearranged form. Similarly, in fewer than about 50%, preferably in fewer than about 30% of the hosts which do not present the symptoms of the disease, the rearranged variable region is absent. These percentages should be based upon a statistically significant number of hosts. T-cells with a shared variable region will express the variable region gene from a single V region subfamily.
  • Gene segments which display greater than 75% nucleotide sequence similarity over the length of the V region gene are considered members of the same subfamily (Crew, et al (1981) Cell 25:59-66) .
  • the sequence similarity is calculated for the V region exon itself, and does not include sequences encoded by the D and J segments and N additions.
  • T-cells may be employed for identifying the T-cells.
  • neural diseases such as multiple sclerosis, brain plaques or cerebrospinal fluid may be employed as a source of the T-cells.
  • muscle, thymus tissue or T-cells responsive to acetylcholine receptor may be employed for myasthenia gravis.
  • muscle, thymus tissue or T-cells responsive to acetylcholine receptor may be employed.
  • the synovium may be employed for rheumatoid arthritis.
  • kidney tissue may be employed as the source of T-cells.
  • T-cell variable region allele(s) or T-cell receptors in a host, in association with the HLA or MHC restriction, as indicative of the propensity for the disease or the existence of the disease or the neoproliferative cell responsive T-cells.
  • the disease is associated with a clonal or oligoclonal population of T-cells
  • the presence of one or more of the T-cell receptors having the rearranged variable regions associated with the disease will indicate the greater or lesser likelihood for the occurrence of the disease.
  • a clonal population will have 100% of the T-cells expressing one V ⁇ or V b region gene and one VDJ segment.
  • An oligoclonal population will have from less than 100% of the T-cells expressing one V a or V b region gene and one VDJ segment, to 50% of the T-cells expressing no more than 12 V a or V b region genes, with no more than six VDJ segments per expressed V region gene.
  • nucleic acid or antigen may be detected.
  • DNA or RNA in cells may be isolated by any convenient means and by employing appropriate probes, in conjunction with techniques, such as Southern transfer, dot- blots, or the like, the presence of the rearranged V region may be detected.
  • the messenger RNA may be isolated from T-cells and probed with an appropriate probe for the V gene region.
  • Northern techniques one can detect the presence of the messenger encoding the T-cell receptor and obtain a qualitative value for the amount of T-cell receptor being expressed containing the particular V region gene.
  • cDNA from the messenger and using the polymerase chain reaction, amplify the amount of messenger and determine the number of T-cells expressing the particular variable region in this manner.
  • Antibodies may be prepared in accordance with conventional ways, particularly employing the monoclonal antibody techniques as described, for example in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,690,893; 4,713,325; 4,714,681; 4,716,111; and 4,720,459.
  • any of a number of techniques may be employed for identifying the presence of a T-cell receptor binding to the particular monoclonal antibody or anti-serum.
  • a wide variety of labels have been used for detection, such as particles, enzymes, chromophores, fluorophores, chemiluminescence, and the like. Any particular label or technique which is employed is not critical to this invention and any convenient technique may be employed.
  • the techniques may be either competitive or non-competitive methodologies, including sandwich methodologies.
  • the cells will usually be lysed to provide membrane-free proteins in accordance with conventional techniques. Cellular debris may be removed and the protein extracted and harvested. Alternatively, intact cells may be employed and detected by fluorescence activated cell sorting or the like.
  • mice or other lower mammals may be immunized, and the genes encoding the variable regions of the antibodies specific for the T-cell region of interest isolated and manipulated by joining to an appropriate human constant region, and optionally, the complementary determining regions (CDR) used to replace the CDRs of a human antibody by genetic engineering.
  • CDR complementary determining regions
  • the resulting chimeric construct comprising a lower mammal variable region or CDRs and a human constant region may then be transformed into a microorganism or mammalian host cell in culture, particularly a lymphocyte, and the hybrid antibodies expressed.
  • a microorganism or mammalian host cell in culture particularly a lymphocyte
  • the hybrid antibodies expressed are of particular interest.
  • IgG constant regions See, for example, EPA 85.305604.2.
  • Also recent techniques suggest random association of immunoglobulin genes from a human host for expression in a non-human cell host e.g. prokaryotic, and screening for affinity.
  • Immune suppression may be achieved with cyclosporine, irradiation, anti-leu3
  • the antibodies may be used in a variety of ways, for example, for inhibiting binding between the T-cell and the target cell, for killing of T-cells, or for isolating the T-cells.
  • the entire antibody may be administered, or Fab fragments, or even only the Fv region.
  • By removing all or a portion of the constant region there may be a reduction in the immune response.
  • an appropriate antibody isotype e.g..
  • the complement cascade may be enlisted.
  • a radioactive substituent may be used which provides for a lethal dosage upon binding of the antibody to the host cell.
  • Another choice is to use an antibody or fragment thereof conjugated with a cytolytic agent for specific elimination of the undesired T-cells.
  • the T-cell can be removed by extracorporeal means, such as plasmapheresis, where the plasma may be passed through or over antibodies bound to a support, with the undesired T-cells being selectively removed.
  • the antibody may be formulated with conventional pharmaceutically or pharmacologically acceptable vehicles for administration, conveniently by injection.
  • Vehicles include deionized water, saline, phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution. Hank's solution, etc.
  • Other additives may include additives to provide isotonicity. buffers, preservatives, and the like.
  • the antibody or derivative thereof will usually be formulated in purified form at concentrations in the range of about 0.05 to 10 ⁇ g/ml.
  • the antibody may be administered parenterally, typically intravenously or intramuscularly, as a bolus, intermittently or in a continuous regimen.
  • the dose should deplete or at least bind about 75% of the undesired T-cells, preferably at least about 90%.
  • Typical doses for adult humans will be in a range of about 10 to 100 mg. Doses for children or other animal species may be extrapolated from the adult human dose based on relative body weight.
  • oligopeptides may be employed, having the same or substantially the same sequence as the oligopeptide sequence identified as being diagnostic of the autoimmune disease. These sequences will be oligopeptides of at least 8, usually at least 10 more usually at least 12, and preferably at least 18 amino acids, and generally not more than about 60 amino acids, usually not more than about 50 amino acids, of the T-cell receptor subunit chain. While the entire subunit(s) may be employed, usually not more than about 50 number % of the amino acids will be employed, particularly excluding the conserved or constant region. All or at least a portion of the variable region, capable of binding to the target protein (the protein recognized by the T-cell receptor) and/or MHC antigen, will be present.
  • the MHC antigen may be by itself or bound to a fragment of the target protein, which fragment will normally include the particular locus associated with the disease.
  • a fragment of the target protein which fragment will normally include the particular locus associated with the disease.
  • variable rearrangements of T-cells associated with specific sites of autoimmune disease have a restricted repertoire, so that a relatively small number of T-cell variable regions of both the a and b subunits will be observed.
  • a limited repertoire of MHC type will be associated with the disease and as to these repertoires, there will generally be a restricted repertoire of T-cell receptor variable regions.
  • T-cells may be isolated which have rearranged germline DNA to provide for expression of the T-cell receptor. This may be contrasted with brains of normal healthy individuals, where the cells found in the brain have unrearranged germline DNA.
  • identifying a particular Class II haplotype or molecular phenotype one can then identify particular Va and Vb variable regions associated with an autoimmune disease. Once the autoimmune associated T-cell receptor or variable regions are identified, one may than use the various therapies which are described in the subject application for prophylaxis or treatment.
  • V regions and J regions of both the a and b chains of the T-cell receptor are specific V regions and J regions of both the a and b chains of the T-cell receptor.
  • V regions and J regions of both the a and b chains of the T-cell receptor are specific V regions and J regions of both the a and b chains of the T-cell receptor.
  • Va families are 8-10, 12 and 16, particularly 10.
  • Other regions of interest include l, 5 and 7.
  • Ja regions are particularly the Ja region GGGTACCGAGATGACGAA- CCCACCTTTGGGACAGGCACTCAGCTAAAAGTGCAACTC.
  • Vb regions are the families 5, 6, 7 and 12 more particularly 5 and 6, and of the Vb 5 family, particularly 5.1 and 5.2.
  • amino acid sequence motifs are seen in the CDR3 region of the TCR.
  • the sequences appear more frequently than would be expected and follow the sequence LCAS(S) (where the parentheses indicate the optional presence of the amino acid), particularly LCASS.
  • the next amino acid will be one having a long chain, neutral, preferably hydrocarbon, such as L, I and V, or Q, particularly L.
  • the next amino acid may be neutral or charged positively or negatively charged, may be short (2-4 carbon atoms) or long (5 to 6 carbon atoms) , and may include G, A, P, L, I or V, as well as D, E, K, and R, particularly G, A, V, D and R, more particularly R and G, which are involved with sequences specific for the MBP sequence 87 to 106.
  • the next amino acid will frequently be G, A or S, so that the motif will be L-X-(G, A or S) , particularly (G) .
  • An alternative motif is P following LCAS(S), where the next amino acid is PT.
  • flanking amino acids may be isolated free of flanking amino acids or may include up to a total of about 20 flanking amino acids. Alternatively, flanking regions may be provided which are not naturally occurring sequences. The peptides may be modified and used as described previously.
  • T-cell receptor subunits both for restriction as to Class I and II MHC, to identify sequences associated with pathogenesis.
  • the presence of pathogenic T-cells may be detected with various probes, such as AGC CTA CGC; AGC TTG CGC; AGC CTG CGG; TTG CGC; and AGC CTA CGC AGC TTG CGC AGC CTG CGG TTG CGC (specific for LRGA) .
  • the probes may be as few as 6 nucleotides and as many as 30 nucleotides, usually being not more than about 31 nucleotides.
  • the peptides may serve as vaccines, to obtain an immune response, to ablate the pathogenic T-cells. Immune responses may be achieved in accordance with conventional ways.
  • the peptides may be conjugated to an immunoassay, introduced into a viral vector so as to be fused to the envelope or capsid protein, fused to proteins using recombinant technology, and the like.
  • the oligopeptide may be joined to other peptides, proteins, or polyalkyleneoxy compounds for a variety of reasons, such as to provide for enhanced stability, toleration, ease of preparation or purification, or the like.
  • the subject peptides may be used to inhibit the binding of the T-cell receptor to the target peptide.
  • the peptide may be formulated in substantially the same manner as described for the antibodies.
  • the amount of the active ingredient administered will vary widely depending on the particular composition, the particular host, the number and frequency of administrations, the manner of administration, etc. Usually there will be from about 0.01 to 10 ⁇ g/kg of host, more usually from about 0.05 to 5 / ig/kg of host, where the concentration may range from about 10 ⁇ g/ml to about 1 mg/ml.
  • Administration may vary widely, depending upon the formulation and nature of the active ingredient. Administration may be parenteral, intravascular, peritoneally, subcutaneous, oral, etc.. may employ catheters, pumps, constant diffusion membranes, etc.
  • the oligopeptides may be prepared in a variety of ways, conveniently, in accordance with conventional synthetic procedures. Where larger sequences are involved, such as 30 amino acids or more, recombinant DNA techniques may be employed, where the gene may be synthesized in accordance with conventional ways, such as commercially available DNA synthesizers, expanded employing the polymerase chain reaction, and then inserted into an appropriate vector having the necessary transcriptional and translational initiation and termination regions. The resulting vector is then transformed into a host in which the expression vector is replicated and functional expression is obtained. The product may be secreted and harvested from the medium or when not secreted and retained cytop ' lasmically, the cells are harvested, lysed, and the desired protein isolated and purified in accordance with conventional ways.
  • anti-idiotype antibodies may be employed.
  • the anti-idiotype may mimic the oligopeptide and serve to compete for the MHC with the T-cell receptor for the MHC antigen.
  • the anti-idiotype may provide greater stability on administration, as well as other advantages.
  • T-cells can be inhibited from reacting with MHC antigens which may result in pathogenesis by employing ribozymes specific for one or both subunits of the T-cell receptor.
  • the ribozyme would be directed against the a- subunit, while for the Class II TcR, either the a- and/or the b-subunit could be the target.
  • the ribozyme would comprise a sequence having complementarity to the sequence encoding the CDR3.
  • Unnatural nucleotides may be used to enhance stability, such as the presence of thio linkages or replacement of oxygen in the phosphate group with carbon groups or the like.
  • antisense sequences could be used which were specific for the target subunits.
  • Administration of the ribonucleotides would be in accordance with conventional means in relation to the transport of the ribonucleic acid across the blood-brain barrier.
  • the protective compositions may be used in vitro or in vivo by adding to groups of cells comprising lymphocytes and cells associated with the autoimmune disease or target protein.
  • a protein such as an antibody or peptide having the appropriate variable region sequence
  • Tissue destruction may result in the loss of cells, or in the loss of function in the cells that are present.
  • the T-cells will be restricted by the major histoco patibility antigen of the target cells, with the target cells usually being syngeneic with the T-cells.
  • oligopeptides are provided which are identified as inducing an autoimmune response to a self antigen, or a portion thereof, and are capable of binding to an MHC antigen of a host susceptible to the autoimmune disease.
  • the compositions may be employed to enhance protection, by serving to tolerize the host and prevent immune attack against the endogenous protein or cell producing the endogenous protein.
  • the subject peptides may be conjugated to syngeneic spleen cells, or be linked to an innocuous immunogen to which the host has been previously immunized, such as tetanus toxin, bovine serum albumin, etc. Adjuvants are normally avoided.
  • Sequences which may be employed for toleration will be sequences from proteins endogenous to the host involved with autoimmune diseases, which include such proteins as the neurological proteins found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) or the central nervous system (CNS) and the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) . These proteins are designated as P 0 which is found in the PNS and CNS, PI, in myelin basic protein, the predominant CNS protein of myelin, P2, a predominant PNS myelin protein, PLP, a proteolipid protein, a PNS and CNS myelin constituent, and the acetylcholine receptor. PI is involved in post-immunization encephalomyelitis and may be involved in multiple sclerosis.
  • P2 is involved in post-immunization neuritis (Guillain-Barre syndrome) a major complication, for example, in the swine flu immunization program and the acetylcholine receptor is involved in myasthenia gravis and may play a role in post- immunization myositis.
  • Other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus , myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, post-immunization myositis, post-immunization neuritis, and juvenile diabetes are treated with the same methods.
  • the particular protein of interest will be screened for the presence of a subject motif, and one or more sequences including the motif selected.
  • histocompatibility genotype haplotype
  • one sequence may be preferred over another.
  • haplotype is not known, or the composition may be administered to a number of different hosts, it will frequently be desirable to combine a number of the sequences as oligopeptides in the same composition.
  • the oligopeptides may be present as the individual peptides, or may be joined together in a single sequence, with or without intervening bridges, where any bridges will be other than the naturally occurring intervening sequences of the immunogen.
  • any such sequence would have fewer than about 100 amino acids, more usually fewer than about 60 amino acids. If there are a plurality of motifs present in the immunogen, all or fewer than all of the sequences including the motifs may be employed in a single composition. Usually, there will be not more than ten different motif comprising oligopeptides, more usually not more than about six different oligopeptides in the composition.
  • the oligopeptide comprising the subject motif may be from any site of the immunogen sequence, that is N-terminal or C-terminal proximal or central, where the oligopeptide sequence will normally be substantially homologous with from 9-15 amino acids of the immunogen sequence, although longer sequences may also be employed.
  • the difference in homology between the natural sequence and the oligopeptide which is employed will be not more than two lesions, more usually not more than 1 lesion, which may be insertions, deletions, or conservative or non-conservative substitutions.
  • the composition may comprise one or more different oligopeptides, with the following sequence: charged amino acid, two hydrophobic amino acids, and at least one of the next two amino acids being a polar amino acid, where the charged or polar amino acid may be substituted by glycine, usually not more than one being substituted by glycine.
  • the charged amino acids are aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, and histidine (D, E, K, R, H) .
  • the hydrophobic amino acids are alanine, proline, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine, that is both the aliphatic and aromatic neutral or substantially neutral amino acids having not more than one heteroatom, e.g.. chalcogen, on the side chain (A, P, V, L, I, M, F, W, and Y) .
  • the polar amino acids will be the charged amino acids, as well as serine, threonine, asparagine, and glutamine (S, T, N, and Q) .
  • the motif sequence present in the oligopeptide will be at other than the C-terminus of the oligopeptide, desirably being at the N-terminus and not closer to the C-terminus than the center of the sequence, where the second, third, or fourth amino acid of the motif (depending upon whether there are four or five amino acids in the motif) is the central amino acid.
  • the N-terminal amino acid may be the same as the inducing peptide or may have an internal amino acid of the inducing peptide as the N- terminal amino acid of the oligopeptide.
  • the oligopeptide sequence may be derived by binding assays, where an oligopeptide is selected which is capable of forming a ternary complex with the disease inducing T-cell receptor and MHC molecule.
  • the oligopeptides will usually have at least about nine amino acids and need not have more than about 30 amino acids, usually not having more than about 20 amino acids.
  • the compositions are prepared in a variety of ways in accordance with conventional synthetic techniques, particularly automated synthesizers.
  • the subject oligopeptides may be joined covalently to other organic molecules, either proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous.
  • the oligopeptide sequence may be distinguished from the natural sequence.
  • sequence analogs will be prepared with stepwise substitution of the amino acids with alanine or valine, particularly alanine.
  • Each of the peptides may then be tested for their binding affinity to a host Class II MHC associated with restriction of T-cells involved with the autoimmune disease. Once a substitution has been identified as reducing or enhancing MHC antigen binding affinity, the same site may be further substituted with other amino acids to determine whether further enhancement may be achieved.
  • Amino acids associated with T- cell recognition may also be substituted to diminish T-cell stimulation. Thus, those amino acids of the oligopeptide associated with T-cell recognition may be modified to reduce T-cell stimulation in vivo. while not significantly affecting MHC antigen binding.
  • the total number of amino acids substituted will not exceed 3, ranging from 1 to 3, usually 1 to 2.
  • the reduction or enhancement in binding will usually be at least about 10-fold, more usually at least about 100 fold, and preferably at least about 1000-fold.
  • An alternative oligopeptide analog will have a functional group at the N-terminus, where the functional group would generally be from about 1 to 6, usually 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and may be alkyl or acyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, formyl, acetyl, propionyl or the like.
  • the subject compositions may be administered in a variety of ways, by themselves or in conjunction with various additives.
  • Various carriers may be employed which are physiologically acceptable, such as water, alcohol, saline, phosphate buffered saline, sugar, mineral oil, etc.
  • Other additives may also be included, such as stabilizers, detergents, flavoring agents, thickeners, etc.
  • the amount of active ingredient administered will vary widely depending upon the particular composition, the particular host, the number and frequency of administrations, the manner of administration, etc. Usually, there will be from about 0.01 to 10 ⁇ g/kg of host more usually from about 0.05 to 5 ⁇ g/kg of host, where the concentration may range from 10 ⁇ g/ml to 1 mg/ml.
  • Transplantation or MHC antigens have polymorphic regions, where the individual alleles are associated with specific hosts. For the most part, the host will be diploid and heterozygous, so that each host will have two haplotypes, meaning that there will be two different copies of a particular transplantation antigen type from the same locus, unless the host is homozygous at that particular locus. Therefore, as to an individual host or a plurality of hosts, mixtures of oligopeptides will usually be employed. The subject oligopeptides may be administered concurrently or consecutively with the oligopeptides of the T-cell receptor.
  • tissue may be obtained by biopsy, surgical intervention or the like, the mRNA or DNA may be isolated from the tissue sample and in the case of mRNA, cDNA prepared in accordance with conventional ways.
  • the DNA sample may then be assayed using a primer specific for the various Va or Vb regions to identify the predominant variable region associated with the disease.
  • a primer specific for the various Va or Vb regions to identify the predominant variable region associated with the disease.
  • One may then use the affinity separations, e.g. panning, affinity chromatography, etc. for isolating the desired T-cells.
  • the cells may then be expanded in culture using a conventional growth medium, with or without the addition of fetal calf serum, interleukin ⁇ , e.g. IL-2, or the like.
  • the cells may then be harvested after expansion by at least 100 and restored to the donor.
  • one may have a stored supply of T- cells of the appropriate variable region and either matched or unmatched as to MHC, particularly Class I.
  • These cells may then be administered by injection into the neoproliferative tissue site, or into the blood stream. From 10 3 to 10 9 cells may be administered to a human host in a physiologically acceptable medium, the amount varying with the number of cells available, the manner of administration, the frequency of administration, and the like.
  • autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis
  • molecular phenotypes associated with susceptibility to autoimmune disease are used instead of the designation "haplotype” since in the absence of segregation analysis in families, it cannot be certain whether these genes are all in a cis configuration on a single chromosome.
  • a phenotype associated with multiple sclerosis is DRB1 1501, DQA1 0102 and DQB1 0602. This phenotype may be further broken down into la, associated with DPB1 0401 and lb 0402. This particular phenotype is associated with V ⁇ family rearrangements, particularly V3 5.1, 5.2 and 6.
  • MHC molecular phenotypes of individuals suffering an autoimmune disease By identifying MHC molecular phenotypes of individuals suffering an autoimmune disease, one can establish certain molecular phenotypes which provide for a susceptibility to the disease. In the case of multiple sclerosis one can look to see for rearrangement of T-cells and the prevalence of the various families and members of the families of the Vb and Va T-cell receptors. Once these are identified, one can use this information to ablate the T-cells associated with the disease. Thus, by isolating diseased tissue, e.g..
  • plaques, and identifying T-cells having rearrangements one can identify a family of V3 and Va regions which are associated with the disease, so that once the molecular phenotype has been identified as providing susceptibility to autoimmune disease one will also know which T-cells to ablate or target.
  • the upregulation of the MHC antigens on neural cells at lesions affords an opportunity to direct specifically various agents to the site of the lesion.
  • one may use a variety of radionuclides, nmr agents, or other agents which provide a detectable signal for identifying the site of the lesion.
  • the agent providing the signal may be joined to various carriers, such as antibodies for the MHC, or fragments of antibodies, e.g. Fab, Fv, etc.. immunodominant sequences which are peptides of about 10, usually 12, amino acids or more, which have a high affinity for the MHC antigen.
  • the presence of he atopoietic cells at the lesion will further augment the presence of the agent at the lesion.
  • the signal at the lesion should be greatly enhanced, as compared to other regions of the brain.
  • MHC antigens may be used for therapeutic purposes.
  • Agents may include inhibitors of TNFa, down regulators of MHC antigen expression, e.g. 0-interferon, TGF-0, and a-fetoprotein, peptides which block the MHC antigen-TcR interaction, inhibitors of generalized degradative pathways, such as reducing agents and superoxide dismutase for singlet oxygen, etc.
  • agents will be administered in accordance with their individual nature and in accordance with their purpose.
  • Inert physiologically acceptable carriers may be employed, such as deionized water, saline, and the like. Concentrations and the use of other additives or components will be based on experience with like reagents and may be determined empirically.
  • RNA and cDNA were prepared according to standard procedures. cDNA was also prepared from 1 ⁇ g RNA isolated from a pool of peripheral blood lymphocytes from five different individuals, stimulated with 3 ⁇ g/ml of PHA. cDNAs were amplified by PCR for 40 cycles in the presence of 10 ⁇ Ci of [ 32 P]dATP (Amersham) . Samples were analyzed by gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide to identify the specific fragment band. After separation, bands were excised and radioactivity was determined. Results are expressed in median cpm. All TcR 5' primers amplify TCR sequences from germ line DNA using a specific 3• Va primer for each family. The following tables indicate the primers employed and the results.
  • the T-cell receptors present in the brain of MS patient 1 were amplified and subjected to gel electrophoresis, where control brain cDNA, MS parietal region brain cDNA, MS occipital region brain cDNA, PGA5, a full length TcR ⁇ cDNA were compared.
  • Actin sequences were successfully amplied from brain cDNA, but not from the ' PGA 5 control using the following primers: (5'-ACG-A-A-G-A-C-G-G-A-C-C-A-C-C-G-C-CTG-3 ⁇ S'-CACG-T-T-G-T-G-G-G-T-G-A-C-G-CCGTC- ⁇ ").
  • V ⁇ and C ⁇ transcripts were amplified from both MS brain cDNA and PGA 5 templates, but not from the control MS brain cDNA with primers AB 13-14 (5'-CAG-A-AG-G-T-A-A-C-T- G-C-A-G-C-G-C-A-G-ACT-3', 5 , -TTG-G-G-G-A-T-C-C-A-G-A-G-C-A-CA-G-A-A-G-T-A-T-A-C-TGC-3 , ), and AB 41-42 (5'-CAG-A-A-C-C-C-T-G-A-C-C-C-T-G-C-C-G-T-G- TAC-3', S'-GTG-T-C-C-A-C-A-G-T-T-T-A-G-G-T-T-C-G-T-A-T-C-TGT-S'.
  • the T-cell receptors present in the brain of MS patient 1 were amplified and subjected to gel electrophoresis, where control brain cDNA, MS parietal region brain cDNA, MS occipital region brain cDNA, PGA5, a full length TcR a cDNA (Sim, et al.. Nature 312, 771-775 (1984)) were compared. Two ⁇ l of cDNA was combined in a 100 ⁇ l reaction volume, with 1 unit of DNA Taq polymerase (Perkin Elmer-Cetus) , 10 ⁇ l lOx reaction buffer, 50 ⁇ M each dNTPs, and 1 ⁇ M of each primer. The PCR profile used was: denaturation 96C for 60 sec.
  • Actin sequences were successfully amplied from brain cDNA, but not from the PGA 5 control using the following primers: (5'-ACGAAGACGGACCACCGC- CCTG-3 1 , 5•-CACGTTGTGGGTGACGCCGTC-3 ' ) .
  • Va and Ca transcripts were amplified from both MS brain cDNA and PGA 5 templates, but not from the control MS brain cDNA with primersAB 13-14 (5 --CAGAAGGTAACTGCAGCGCAGACT-3 ' , 5'-TTGGGG- ATCCAGAGCACAGAAGTATACTGC-3') , which include the restriction sites PstI and BamHI and define a 286 bp fragment of the Val2.1 region gene and AB 41-42 (5•-CAGAACCCTGACCCTGCCGTG- TAC-3 1 , 5--GTGTCCACAGTTTAGGTTCGTATCTGT-3- , which include a Sail site and define a 340 bp fragment of the Ca region transcript, respectively.
  • rearranged TcRa sequences could be amplified from cDNA of the MS brain prepared from the occipital region using the Val2.1 primer AB 13 and Ca primer AB 42.
  • junctional region sequences were derived from the Val2.1-JC amplification from the occipital region of the MS brain.
  • 100 ⁇ l of the PCR reaction were phenol:chloroform extracted twice with 1/1 volume, chloroform extracted once with 1/1 volume, and dialyzed through a Centricon 30 (Amicon) with 2 ml of TE buffer for 30 m ⁇ n. at 5000 rpm.
  • the sample was recovered and the DNA digested for 3 hr. with BamHI and PstI (or Sail) . After digestion, the sample was phenol:chloroform extracted and then chloroform extracted once, passed through the same Centricon column as described above, and brought to a final volume of 20 ⁇ l.
  • a subsequent amplification using primers complementary to the Va and the Ca TcR regions produced a major band when the control PGA5 and cDNA from the occipital region of the MS brain were used as a template, indicating the presence of rearranged TcR transcripts in the sample.
  • the Va and Ca amplifications from the parietal region brain library most probably represent real transcripts from rearranged chromosomes, as has been found in other cDNA libraries from T-cell lines (Loh, et al.. Science 243, 217- 220 (1989) .
  • RNAzolTM (Cinna/Biotec, TX) (Choi, et al.. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
  • RNA 2 ⁇ g was used for the synthesis of single strand cDNA using reverse transcriptase.
  • lxPCR buffer 50 mM KC1, 20 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.4, 2.5 mM MgCl
  • l mM of NTP's 20 units of RNAsin
  • 100 pmoles of random hexamer Pharmacia
  • 200 units of BRL MoMuLV reverse transcriptase were incubated with RNA (2 ⁇ g) for 40 minutes at 42C (Kamasaki, et al.. Ibid. , 85, 5698 (1988)).
  • the reaction mixture was heated at 95C for 5 minutes, then quickly chilled on ice.
  • the DNA was then ready for PCR.
  • the resulting cDNA was amplified using individual sets of Va- Ca primers with primers for melanotransferrin, a specific marker for melanoma. Each Va primer yielded a band of 300 to 400 bp on ethidium bromide- staining of the electrophoresed PCR product.
  • TCR Va families expressed in human uveal melanoma A single stranded cDNA sample was amplified using Va-specific primer with a Ca primer at a final concentration of 1 ⁇ M in each reaction. The amplification was performed with 2.5 units of Taq polymerase (ampli TaqTM; Perkin Elmer) on a Perkin-Elmer DNA thermal cycler (Cetus) . The PCR cycle profile was 95C denaturation for 1 min. annealing of primers at 55C for 1 min, extension primers at 72C for 1 min for 35 cycles.
  • PCR products were.separated on 1% regular agarose/3% NuseiveTM agarose gels (FMC Corporation) and expression of Va families was considered positive when a rearranged band (300-400 bp) was visualized with ethidium- bromide staining. Experiments were repeated three times per sample. Results were identical with a different aliquot of each sample.
  • All TCR 5' primers amplify TCR sequences from germline DNA using a specific 3 1 Va primer for each family.
  • Va7 was expressed and rearranged.
  • Melanotransferrin was amplified in all cases. Amplification artifacts due to contaminating DNA were excluded by performing controls in which no amplification was observed without cDNA samples or with genomic DNA. Identical results were obtained after a further experiment using different aliquots of each patient's tumor.
  • the amplified products obtained with the Va7 primer were further identified by hybridization with Va7 and Ca specific oligonucleotide probes.
  • Va7 and Ca specific oligonucleotide probes In all cases where the Va7 rearranged product was visualized on agarose gel electrophoresis with ethidium bromide staining, a positive hybridization was observed on dot blotting to the Va7 oligonucleotide probe (5'-CTG GAG CTC CTG TAG AAG GAG-3•) . Amplified melanotransferrin did not hybridize with this probe at all.
  • Va7-Ca amplified product hybridized to a Ca oligonucleotide probe (5'-CAG AAC CCT GAC CCT GCC GTG TAC-3') but not with Val and Va4 specific oligonucleotide probes.
  • Va7 amplified products were obtained by restriction mapping with the endonucleases, Ddel, Kpnl and Hinfl. The restriction pattern was consistent with the known map of Va7. (Yoshikai, et al.. J. EXP. Med.. 114, 90 (1968)).
  • variable region(s) associated with each of the different neoproliferative tissues may be determined.
  • a substantially homogeneous composition of T-cells may then be administered for treatment of the particular neoproliferative tissue.
  • pre-T-cells may be isolated, activated with the tumor tissue or appropriate protein and the T-cells having the appropriate variable region(s) isolated and used for therapy.
  • the T-cells may also be used for prophylaxis by administering T-cell compositions after chemotherapy, irradiation and/or surgical intervention.
  • TCR Va and Vb rearrangements were studied in 16 MS brains and in 10 control brains. TCRVa-Ja-Ca and Vb-Db-Jb- Cb rearrangements were confirmed with Southern blotting and hybridization of the PCR product obtained by amplification with 1 of 18 Va or 1 of 21 V ⁇ specific oligonucleotide primers. The following table indicates the primers.
  • RNAzol method (Cinna/Biotecx, Friendswood, TX) , (Chonzynski and Sacchi, Anal. Biochem. 162, 156 (1987)).
  • RNA was reverse transcribed into a first cDNA strand in a 10 ⁇ l reaction containing 1 ⁇ l lOxPCR buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 500 mM KC1, 15 mM MgCl 2 , 0.01% (w/v) gelatin (Perkin, Elmer, Norwalk, CT) , 1 ⁇ l of 10 mM dioxynucleotide triphosphates, 0.25 U random hexamers (Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ) and 100 U of Superscript MuLV-reverse transcriptase (BRL, Gaithersburg, MD) .
  • 1 ⁇ lOxPCR buffer 100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 500 mM KC1, 15 mM MgCl 2 , 0.01% (w/v) gelatin (Perkin, Elmer, Norwalk, CT) , 1 ⁇ l of 10 mM dioxynucleotide triphosphates, 0.25 U random he
  • cDNA was subjected to enzymatic amplification by the PCR method. 10 ⁇ l cDNA was combined in a 50 ⁇ l reaction mix with 4 ⁇ l lOx PCR buffer, 1.25 U Taq polymerase, 0.5 ⁇ M of Ca or Cb primer and 0.5 ⁇ M of Va or Vb specific oligonucleotide primer (Table 4) .
  • the PCR profile used was: Denaturation 95C for 60 sec annealing 55C for 60 sec and extension 72C for 60 sec for 35 cycles in a DNA Thermal Cycler.
  • HLA-DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1 typing was performed by PCR, dot blotting and hybridization with allele specific oligonucleotide probes (Helmuth, et al.. Am. J. Hu . Genet. 47, 515 (1990); and Bugawan, et al.. Immuno ⁇ enetics 32, 231 (1990)).
  • All of the 16 MS patients were typed for the Class II HLA loci HLA-DRBl, DQAl, DQBl and DPBl using PCR and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probehybridization.
  • Eight of 16 patients were DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602 and either DPB1*0401 or 0402.
  • This molecular HLA-DR:DQ haplotype which corresponds to the cellular type HLA-DR2Dw2, is associated with increased susceptibility to MS in certain caucasoid populations. Patients who were of the above indicated molecular phenotype showed an increased frequency of certain Va and Vb rearrangements.
  • ⁇ Phenotype la HLA-DR2DW2/DRB1*1501/DQA1*0102 DQB1*0602/DPB1*0401
  • Vb 7 had rearrangements of Vb 5.2 and all 8 rearranged either Vb 5.1 or 5.2 or both.
  • Vb 6 was transcribed in 6 of 8 MS brains with the above phenotype compared to 4 of 8 MS brains of patients who were not of the indicated phenotype and 6 control brains which were not of the indicated phenotype.
  • Other frequent rearrangements seen in patients with the indicated phenotype were Vb 7, 6/8, Vb 12, 4/8, Va 16, 6/8, Va 5, Va 7, Va 12 and Va 1 in 4/8.
  • PCR amplified cDNA samples were cloned into M13 for sequence analysis. Samples were digested with Pst I and Sad or with Pst I and Bam HI to cut restriction sites in the oligonucleotide primers. Centricon centrifugal microconcentrators (Amicon, Danvers MA) were used to concentrate and desalt the digested PCT products. After transformation in JM101 competent cells, clones containing TCR b inserts were identified by hybridization with a TCR b C-region HRP- labelled probe. Single stranded DNA from positive clones was prepared, and VDJCb sequences determined by the dideoxy chain termination method with an AmpliTaq sequencing kit (Perkin-Elmer) .
  • LCAS TLRL GNSPLHFGNGTRLTVT LCASS DSS ETQYFGPGTRLLVL ⁇ ⁇ -' ⁇ LCASS LR GANVLTFGAGSRLTVL _.
  • Noncytolytic mouse T cell clone specific for the influenza virus strain A/PR8/34 (Morahan et al., 1989) Cells/ ⁇ l
  • PBMC Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • the determinant of myelin basic protein (MBP) P5-17 contains a pattern P-S-Q-R-H-G-S-K-Y-L-A-T-A.
  • MBP myelin basic protein
  • the stimulatory epitope was shown with overlapping peptides to actually consist of LDSIGRFFSG- DRGAP (Zamvil, et al.. Nature (1986) 324:258).
  • P35-47 of the human myelin basic protein (MBP) comprising the RFFS motif was found to be stimulatory with mouse T-cells restricted by MHC I-E a u E b u .
  • P5-17 of the human myelin basic protein comprising the motif KYLAT was found to be stimulatory with mouse T-cells restricted by I-A a u A b u or I-A a s A b u ; and P89-101 of the human myelin basic protein comprising the motif HFFK was found to be stimulatory with mouse T-cells restricted by I-A a s A b s .
  • the algorithm can be used to define what immunogenic part of an autoantigen shares sequence homology with pathogens. For example, in the case of MBP P35-47 shared with paramyxoviruses and influenza and MBP 89-101 shared with picornavirus, the critical sequence triggering the T- cell is shared with a pathogen. In another disease, myasthenia gravis, a T-cell epitope was discovered by using the subject algorithm to construct synthetic peptides of the acetylcholine receptor. The peptide AChR P215-232, DTPYLDITYHFVMQRLPL was particularly stimulatory in a number of myasthenics. Other stimulatory peptides included 277-291 and 330-347 which followed the subject algorithm.
  • Antigen-specific T-cell clones are isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) , cultured in vivo with antigen and syngeneic irradiated PBL as antigen presenting cells (APL) (Cunningham, et al.. J. Gen. Virol. (1985) 66:249); Eckles, et al.. Nature (1981) 301:716).
  • PBL peripheral blood lymphocytes
  • APL antigen presenting cells
  • Synthetic MBP Peptides Peptides corresponding to the amino acid sequences of rat (R) and bovine (B) MBP (Martenson, 1984, In Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis. A Useful Model for Multiple Sclerosis. Alvard, ed. Alan Liss, N.Y.), were synthesized as described previously using solid phase techniques (Erickson and Merrifield, 1976, in The Proteins. Vol. 2, Neurath, ed. Academic Press, NY, p. 255) . Peptides were separated from the various organic side products and the purity was determined by high pressure liquid phase column (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and by amino acid analysis. These peptides were not further purified since they all contained greater than 90% of the desired product.
  • peptides described above were employed in the following test procedure.
  • these peptides may be conjugated to lymphocytes (Sriram, et al.. 1983, supra) or by coupling the peptide to a carrier such as tetanus toxoid or bovine serum albumin, employing conventional linking groups (Herzenberg, et al.. Ann. Rev. Imm. (1983) 1:609-632).
  • Proliferation Assay Proliferative responses were determined as described previously (Zamvil, et al.. Nature (1985) 317:355).
  • 1x10* T-cells were cultured with 5xl0 5 X- irradiated (3,000 rad) PL/J splenic APC in 0.2 ml of culture media in 96 well flat-bottomed microtiter plates (Falcon, 3072) . Peptides were added to culture giving the final concentrations indicated. At 48 hours incubation, each well was pulsed with 1 ⁇ Ci 3 H-thymidine and harvested 16 hours later. The mean c.p.m. thymidine incorporation was calculated for triplicate cultures. Standard deviations from replicate cultures were within 10% mean value.
  • T cell lines are selected from LN or SC (spinal cords) of rats immunized with guinea pig myelin basic protein or with MBP peptide 87-99 (200 ⁇ g) in CFA.
  • Supernatants from ConA- stimulated Lewis rat splenocytes are used as the source of IL-2 to expand Ag-stimulated T cells.
  • T line cells were cloned by limiting dilution or FACS sorting. After cloning subsequent restimulation with antigen was accomplished in 96-well flat bottom plates using 10 6 irradiated syngeneic thymocytes/well.
  • clones were refed with growth medium and expanded subsequently in 24- well flat-bottom plates. Restimulation in 24-well plates was accomplished by using approximately 4X10 5 cloned cells in the presence of 10 6 irradiated thymocytes and 25 ⁇ g peptide.
  • Proliferation assays were performed in 96-well microtiter plates. Briefly, 2x10* T cells and 10 6 irradiated thymocytes/well were incubated with justifymulation medium only, Con A, or antigen. The cultures were harvested onto glass fiber filters and TdR uptake was assessed by liquid scintillation. Mean cpm were calculated from triplicate wells.
  • competitor peptides or anti I-A (OX-6) or anti-I-E antibodies (OX-17) were used to evaluate which MHC molecules were used to restrict the T cell response, or to determine whether peptides could antagonize stimulation by the native peptide.
  • Antigen presenting cells were preincubated with various peptides (67 ⁇ M) as the competitor, for 30 min before the addition of AcNl-11 (from 0.067 to 67 ⁇ M) together with an I-A u restricted and AcNl-11 specific T-cell clone, PJR25.
  • APC Antigen presenting cells
  • the inhibitory effect of Nl-20 on the proliferation of PJR25 is time dependent.
  • Nl-20 was added in culture 24 h after the addition of AcNl-11, its inhibitory effect was reduced.
  • the APC which was pre-incubated for 18h with 67 ⁇ M of Nl-20, then extensively washed and fixed with glutaraldehyde, elicited lowered proliferative responses (p ⁇ 0.05 relative to medium control) in the clone than the fixed APC pre-incubated with control peptide AcN2-ll on medium alone.
  • Incidence of EAE was expressed as number of mice with clinical EAE/number of mice immunized; day of onset as mean day of onset + SD; severity as mean severity of sick mice ⁇ SD.
  • MBP peptide AcNl- 11 (100 nmol) or N90-101 (200 nmol) was dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in a 1:1 mixture of PBS and CFA containing H37Ra. Mice were injected with 0.2 ml emulsion at the base of the tail.
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • CFA complete Freund's adjuvant
  • pertussis toxin (List Chemicals, Campbell, CA) was injected intravenously. Mice were examined daily for signs of EAE and assessed for clinical severity, graded from 1 to 5 described before (Zamvil, et al., 1986, sjjaa). Some animals were sacrificed 23 to 27 days after immunization for histological examination. For prevention of EAE, animals were immunized with AcNl-11 (100 nmol) N89-101 (200 nmol) and medium, or in a mixture with the competitor peptide (300, 600 or 1000 nmol).
  • Ala4, Ala6, Ala7, and Ala ⁇ are poor binders to I-E, implying that these residues 4F,6N,7I, and 8V are critical in MHC binding.
  • the peptides Ala6 and Ala ⁇ weakly stimulate an encephalitogenic T cell line raised against native peptide (89-101) .
  • the human cytotoxic T cell line which is V05.2LRGA, and which recognizes 87-106
  • the Ala6 and Ala8 peptides cannot serve as targets for cytotoxicity with HLADRB1*1501 targets.
  • Ala8 can compete with 87-106 to block cytotoxicity of MS18.
  • both Ala6 and Ala ⁇ can block proliferation of an 89-101 T cell line when given competitively with native peptide in vitro.
  • peptides ala6 and ala ⁇ block the development of EAE when mixed with native peptide in a 5:1 molar ratio with CFA (0/6 sick with native plus ala6, 2/6 with native plus ala ⁇ , compared to 11/12 with native peptide alone) .
  • These competitor peptides Ala6 and Ala ⁇ , though poor I-E binders can apparently compete with native peptide and antagonize the T cell receptor.
  • the compound Ala4 is a weaker binder to I-E (IC50> 00 mM), and does not stimulate an 87-99 T cell line, and does not cause EAE. These compounds may antagonize TCR recognition of native 87-99 as well. Data shown above demonstrate formulations which are weak MHC binders which nevertheless antagonize TCR recognition of MBP peptide 67-99, and which prevent EAE when mixed with MBP in complete Freund's adjuvant in a 5:1 molar ratio. In addition Ala9 and AlalO are good MHC binders yet are nonencephalitogenic and are weak stimulators of an encephalitogenic T cell line induced with native 67-99
  • the compound Ala4 is a weaker binder to I-E (IC 50 >200 mM) , and does not stimulate an ⁇ 7-99 T cell line, and does not cause. EAE. These compounds may antagonize TCR recognition of native 67-99 as well.
  • EAE Incidence o EAE was expresse as num er o mice with clinical EAE/number of mice immunized.
  • MBP peptide was dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in a 1:1 mixture of PBS and CFA.
  • CFA complete Freund's adjuvant
  • Mice were injected with 0.2 ml emulsion at the base of the tail.
  • pertussis toxin List Chemicals, Campbell, CA was injected intravenously. Mice were examined daily for signs of EAE.
  • T-cell immunodominant sequences are identified, these sequences may be modified by modifying the amino acid sequence to produce antagonists to the autoimmune disease.
  • the subject method can be used for identifying T-cell receptors associated with degenerative disorders. Thus, by a simple screening technique, one may identify those T-cell receptors which cause or combat disease and by various procedures inhibit or enhance their activity.
  • the subject invention provides the capability to diagnose individuals susceptible to degenerative diseases associated with T- cell receptor variable regions.
  • the particular T-cells may be employed for prophylaxis or therapy.
  • ADDRESSEE FLEHR, HOHBACH, TEST, ALBRITTON & HERBERT
  • MOLECULE TYPE cDNA
  • xi SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18: AGAACCTGAC TGCCCAGGAA 20
  • MOLECULE TYPE cDNA
  • xi SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35: ATACTTCAGT GAGACACAGA GA 22

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US5614192A (en) * 1989-07-19 1997-03-25 Connective Therapeutics, Inc. T cell receptor peptides as therapeutics for immune-related disease
DE69320967T2 (de) * 1992-04-09 1999-05-12 Autoimmune, Inc., Lexington, Mass. Unterdrückung der t-zell proliferation mittels peptidfragmenten des myelin basischen protein
CZ122697A3 (en) * 1994-10-25 1997-09-17 Immulogic Pharma Corp Preparations and methods of treating disseminated sclerosis
DE69525544T2 (de) * 1994-11-18 2002-08-22 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Peptidanaloga des menschlichen myelinbasischen proteins mit substitution in position 91 zur behandlung von multipler sklerose
US6329499B1 (en) 1994-11-18 2001-12-11 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Methods for treatment of multiple sclerosis using peptide analogues of human myelin basic protein
US6251396B1 (en) 1994-11-18 2001-06-26 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Methods for treatment of multiple sclerosis using peptide analogs of human myelin basic protein
US6379670B1 (en) 1994-11-18 2002-04-30 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Methods for treatment of multiple sclerosis using peptide analogs of human myelin basic protein
AU5360796A (en) * 1995-03-09 1996-10-02 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. Peptide analogues of human myelin basic protein useful in treating multiple sclerosis
DE19625191A1 (de) * 1996-06-24 1998-01-02 Boehringer Mannheim Gmbh Nierenkarzinom-spezifische T-Zellen
GR20000100282A (el) * 2000-08-17 2002-05-24 Αποστολοπουλου Βασω Πεπτιδικα αναλογα επιτοπων της βασικης πρωτεινης της μυελινης για τη θεραπεια της πειραματικης αυτοανοσης εγκεφαλομυελιτιδας καιτης σκληρυνσης κατα πλακας
CA2445640A1 (en) * 2001-03-23 2002-10-03 John Matsoukas Peptide analogues of myelin basic protein epitopes in the treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (eae) and multiple sclerosis (ms)
JPWO2004063167A1 (ja) * 2003-01-10 2006-05-18 三菱ウェルファーマ株式会社 血液脳関門破綻抑制剤

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WO1992021367A1 (en) * 1991-05-31 1992-12-10 Arthur Allen Vandenbark T cell receptor peptides as therapeutics for immune-related disease
JPH07506563A (ja) * 1991-12-24 1995-07-20 ザ　イミューン　レスポンス　コーポレイション 特異的ｔ細胞群による病原応答に起因する疾患に対してのワクチン接種および方法

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AU7840694A (en) 1995-04-10
WO1995008572A1 (en) 1995-03-30

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