T-cell antigen peptide from allergen for stimulation of il-10 production

Abstract

A first or second polypeptide for use in a method of treating or preventing a disorder by tolerisation, wherein said method comprises administration of the first and second polypeptide; and wherein both first and second polypeptides: i) are of 7 to 30 amino acids in length; ii) comprise at least one MHC Class II-binding T cell epitope; and iii) are a fragment of a protein allergen or a homologous variant of said fragment; wherein said first polypeptide induces the release of an amount of IL-10 that is greater than the amount of IL-10 released in response to the whole protein allergen from which the first polypeptide derives; wherein said disorder is characterised by an inappropriate immune response to the protein allergen from which the second polypeptide derives.

1 . A method of treating ragweed allergy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide which:
 (i) consists of the sequence of KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSKK (SEQ ID NO: 20; RGW07D); or   (ii) is a longer peptide of up to 30 amino acids in length comprising the sequence of RGW07D;   (iii) is a variant of RGW07D having at least 90% homology thereto;   (iv) is a variant of RGW07D comprising one or two amino acid substitutions; or   (v) is a fragment of RGW07D derived by removal of one or two amino acids from the N- or C-terminal ends thereof, or by removal of one amino acid from the N-terminal end thereof and one amino acid from the C-terminal end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is administered sequentially or in combination with a second polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polypeptide is administered in a composition comprising said first polypeptide and said second polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said composition is provided as an injectable solution, suspension or emulsion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said composition is formulated for administration parenterally, subcutaneously, intradermally or transdermally. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is ragweed allergic. 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising a polypeptide which:
 (i) consists of the sequence of KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSKK (SEQ ID NO: 20; RGW07D); or   (ii) is a longer peptide of up to 30 amino acids in length comprising the sequence of RGW07D;   (iii) is a variant of RGW07D having at least 90% homology thereto;   (iv) is a variant of RGW07D comprising one or two amino acid substitutions;   or   (v) is a fragment of RGW07D derived by removal of one or two amino acids from the N- or C-terminal ends thereof, or by removal of one amino acid from the N-terminal end thereof and one amino acid from the C-terminal end thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , which is provided as an injectable solution, suspension or emulsion. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , which is formulated for administration parenterally, subcutaneously, intradermally or transdermally. 
     
     
         13 . A polypeptide which:
 (i) consists of the sequence of KGEAAIKLTSSAGVLSKK (SEQ ID NO: 20; RGW07D);   (ii) is a longer peptide of up to 30 amino acids in length comprising the sequence of RGW07D;   (iii) is a variant of RGW07D having at least 90% homology thereto;   (iv) is a variant of RGW07D comprising one or two amino acid substitutions; or   is a fragment of RGW07D derived by removal of one or two amino acids from the N- or C-terminal ends thereof, or by removal of one amino acid from the N-terminal end thereof and one amino acid from the C-terminal end thereof.