title: Immunity to TCR peptides in multiple sclerosis. I. Successful immunization of patients with synthetic V beta 5.2 and V beta 6.1 CDR2 peptides.
abstract: Immunization with disease-associated TCR V region peptides is an effective treatment for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Myelin basic protein-specific T cells, which induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in many animal strains, may be important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Myelin basic protein-specific T cell clones from some multiple sclerosis patients preferentially use TCR V genes from the V beta 5.2 and V beta 6.1 families. To assess the safety and immunogenicity of TCR V beta 5.2 and V beta 6.1 peptides, we injected 11 multiple sclerosis patients with varying doses of two synthetic peptides, TCR V beta 5.2(39-59) and V beta 6.1(39-59), encompassing the CDR2 region of these V gene families. Low doses (100 to 300 micrograms) of peptide induced T cell immunity in 7 of 11 patients to one or both peptides. Delayed type hypersensitivity skin responses to the peptides were observed in three of seven responders, and TCR peptide-specific Ab occurred in two of seven T cell responders. Low doses of TCR peptides produced no side effects and did not cause broad spectrum immunosuppression. Synthetic TCR V region peptides can induce T cell immunity safely in humans and may prove useful in treating human autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR 97201.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bourdette
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Whitham
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liefeld
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vandenbark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007114:Immunization; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta