Hla peptide therapy

Abstract

The invention provides polypeptides derived from a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA), such as HLA-A2, and derivatives or analogues thereof. The polypeptides, derivatives and analogues can be used to treat or prevent allosensitisation, such as the treatment or prevention of allograft rejection.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An in vitro method of stimulating T cells, the method comprising contacting the T cells with:
 a polypeptide derived from the transmembrane domain of a MHC class I HLA;   
       under conditions which allow stimulation of the T cells and thereby stimulating the T cells, wherein said T cells are in a sample from a transplant patient and the method is conducted to determine whether there is an immune system component to graft rejection in said patient. 
     
     
         44 . An in vitro method according to  claim 43  wherein said polypeptide is between 15 and 30 amino acids in length and comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 53, 54, 55, 56, 64, and 65, or an amino acid sequence having greater than 90% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 53, 54, 55, 56, 64, and 65. 
     
     
         45 . An in vitro method according to  claim 44  wherein said polypeptide comprises a sequence having greater than 90% identity to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 53, 54, 55, 56, 64, and 65, based on conservative sequence modifications. 
     
     
         46 . An in vitro method according to  claim 45  wherein the sequence identity is greater than 92% or 95%.