Peptide selection method

Abstract

There is provided a method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide by selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing. There is also provided a peptide selected by such a method and its use in a pharmaceutical composition and a method to treat and/or prevent a disease.

1 . A method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide which comprises the step of selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is capable of binding to an MHC class II molecule without further processing.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the peptide is selected from a plurality of peptides each comprising a T cell epitope.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of peptides is eluted from the MHC class II molecules of an antigen presenting cell.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  or  4 , wherein each peptide in the plurality of peptides is capable of inducing a disease associated with the antigen in a subject when administered to the subject with adjuvant.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the peptide is selected from a nested set of truncated peptides.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises a T cell epitope and presence of a T cell epitope is determined by: 
 (i) treating: 
 a sample of cells from a subject having the disease, and  
 a sample of cells from a subject not having the disease with the peptide; and  
   (ii) comparing the T cell responses between the cell samples.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to any preceding claim which comprises the following steps: 
 (i) treating an antigen processing independent presentation system (APIPS) with a peptide; and    (ii) analysing binding of the peptide to MHC class I or II molecules within the APIPS.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein binding of the peptide to MHC class I or II molecules is analysed by adding T cells and measuring T cell activation.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the APIPS comprises: 
 (i) fixed antigen presenting cells    (ii) lipid membranes comprising MHC class I or II molecules; or    (iii) plate-bound MHC class I or II molecules.    
     
     
         11 . A peptide selected by the method according to any preceding claim.  
     
     
         12 . A peptide according to  claim 11 , which is selected from the following myelin basic protein peptides: 30-44, 80-94, 83-99, 81-95, 82-96, 83-97, 84-98, 110-124, 130-144, 131-145, 132-146 and 133-147.  
     
     
         13 . A peptide according to  claim 11  or  12 , for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a disease.  
     
     
         14 . A peptide according to  claim 13 , wherein the disease is a hypersensitivity disorder.  
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of peptides according to any of  claims 11  to  14 , each peptide comprising a T cell epitope for the disease.  
     
     
         16 . A method for treating and/or preventing a disease in a subject in need of same which comprises the step of administering a peptide according to any of  claims 11  to  14  to the subject.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , which comprises the following steps: 
 (i) identifying an antigen for the disease    (ii) identifying an apitope for the antigen; and    (iii) administering the apitope to the subject.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  or  17  wherein the peptide or apitope is administered in multiple doses.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to any of  claims 16  to  18 , wherein the peptide or apitope is administered intranasally.