Compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune conditions

Abstract

The methods include selectively reducing or expanding T cells according to the antigenic specificity of the T cells. Therefore, the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic T cells that recognize autoantigens, such as beta cell specific T cells. As such, the present invention can be used to prevent, treat or ameliorate autoimmune diseases such as IDDM. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to expand desirable T cells, such as anti-pathogenic T cells to prevent, treat and/or ameliorate autoimmune diseases.

1 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of preventing or treating an autoimmune disorder, comprising administering to a subject a peptide antigen-MHC complex operatively coupled to a non-liposomal nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle is less than 1 μM in diameter, wherein the peptide antigen is an antigen relevant for ovarian failure, scleroderma, Sjogren's disease, lupus, vilelego, alopecia (baldness), polyglandular failure, Grave's disease, hypothyroidism, polymyosititis, pemphigus, autoimmune hepatitis, hypopituitarism, myocardititis, Addison's disease, autoimmune skin diseases, uveititis, pernicious anemia, hypoparathyroidism, or rheumatoid arthritis, and wherein the antigen-MHC complex is administered in an amount sufficient to expand non-pathogenic autoreactive T cells. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the antigen is derived from an autoantigen involved in the autoimmune response or a mimic thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the MHC component is a MHC class I component. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-E, HLA-F, HLA-G or CD-1 molecule. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein, the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A molecule. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A*0201 MHC class I molecule. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the MHC component is a MHC class II component. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the MHC class II component comprises all or part of a HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, or HLA-DP. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises a metal or an oxide thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the metal is iron. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the antigen is covalently coupled to MHC component. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the complex is coupled to the nanoparticle via a linker. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the linker is a peptide linker. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the T cells expanded by the treatment have been pre-activated by the disease process and have a memory phenotype. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the T cells expanded by the treatment arise from autoreactive precursors recognizing the target epitope with low avidity. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the administration of the antigen-MHC complex is prior to onset of clinical symptoms of an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the administration of the antigen-MHC complex is after to onset of clinical symptoms of an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising assessing the subject's autoimmune status. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the T cell is a CD4 +  or a CD8 +  T cell.