Recombinant antibodies with the antigen-specific, MHC restricted specificity of T cells: novel reagents for basic and clinical investigations and immunotherapy.
MHC class I and II molecules play a central role in the immune response against a variety of invading microorganisms and cells that have undergone malignant transformation by shaping the T cell repertoire in the thymus and by presenting peptide antigens from endogenous and exogenous antigens in the periphery to CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ helper T cells. In certain situations MHC-peptide complexes may, however, also initiate and perpetuate an autoimmune attack mediated by autoaggressive T cells leading to diseases such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Such MHC-peptide complexes are a desirable target for novel approaches in immunotherapy. Targeted delivery of toxins or other cytotoxic drugs to cells which express specific MHC-peptide complexes that are involved in the immune response against cancer or viral infections and specific masking of MHC-peptide complexes that are involved in autoimmune reactions would allow for a specific immunotherapeutic treatment of these diseases. We have recently demonstrated that antibodies with the antigen-specific, MHC restricted specificity of T cells can be readily generated by taking advantage of the selection power of phage display technology.
Engberg
J
J
Department of Pharmacology, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen.
Krogsgaard
M
M
Fugger
L
L
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011994:Recombinant Proteins