Antigenic peptides reacting with anti-ovary antibodies

Abstract

An oligopeptides comprising the following sequence Thr Gln Cys His Cys Gly Lys Cys (SEQ ID NO: 5 ) may be used as an antigenic compound capable of being recognized by anti-ovary antibodies and as an immunogenic compound capable of inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies. In addition, the oligopeptides may be used to detect and/or quantify anti-ovary antibodies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oligopeptide consisting of: 
 a sequence selected from the group consisting of a reference peptide sequence SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4, or    any peptide sequence that is a functional variant of said reference sequence SEQ ID NO: 5 in that it displays an antigenicity and/or an immunogenicity toward anti-ovary antibodies identical or similar to the antigenicity and/or the immunogenicity of the reference peptide, wherein the functional variant differs from said reference sequence by modification of the hydrocarbon residue of at least one amino acid of said reference sequence.    
     
     
         2 . An antigenic compound capable of being recognized by anti-ovary antibodies, having a peptide sequence including the sequence of the oligopeptide according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . An immunogenic compound capable of inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies, having a peptide sequence including the sequence of the oligopeptide according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . A process for detection and/or quantification of anti-ovary antibodies in a biological sample, comprising: 
 placing said biological sample in contact with at least one oligopeptide comprising a reference peptide sequence SEQ ID NO: 5, or any peptide sequence that is a functional variant of said reference sequence in that it displays an antigenicity and/or an immunogenicity toward anti-ovary antibodies identical or similar to the antigenicity and/or the immunogenicity of the reference peptide, and    observing the formation of an antigen-antibody complex between said oligopeptide and an anti-ovary antibody.    
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the functional variant differs from said reference sequence by modification of the hydrocarbon residue of at least one amino acid of said reference sequence.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein the modification substantially conserves the hydrophilic or hydrophobic character of the hydrocarbon residue of the at least one amino acid.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the oligopeptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the oligopeptide consists of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood serum, follicular liquid, peritoneal liquid, cervical mucus and saliva.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the formation of an antigen-antibody complex is observed by an immunoenzymatic technique.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein said oligopeptide consists of FSH, a functional variant of FSH or the β-chain of FSH.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein said oligopeptide comprises a peptide sequence corresponding to the sequence of amino acids 78-93 of the β-chain of FSH.  
     
     
         13 . A process for inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies, comprising administering an immunogenic compound according to  claim 3  to a patient.  
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the functional variant differs from said reference sequence by modification of the hydrocarbon residue of at least one amino acid of said reference sequence.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein the modification substantially conserves the hydrophilic or hydrophobic character of the hydrocarbon residue of the at least one amino acid.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the immunogenic compound comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the immunogenic compound consists of FSH, a functional variant of FSH or the β-chain of FSH.  
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein said immunogenic compound includes a peptide sequence corresponding to the sequence of amino acids 78-93 of the β-chain of FSH.  
     
     
         19 . A reagent for detection and/or quantification of anti-ovary antibodies containing: 
 (a) at least one oligopeptide comprising a reference peptide sequence SEQ ID NO: 5, or any peptide sequence that is a functional variant of said reference sequence in that it displays an antigenicity and/or an immunogenicity toward anti-ovary antibodies identical or similar to the antigenicity and/or the immunogenicity of the reference peptide, and    (b) a solid support.    
     
     
         20 . The reagent according to  claim 19 , wherein the functional variant differs from said reference sequence by modification of the hydrocarbon residue of at least one amino acid of said reference sequence.