摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to the application of genetic engineering to provide a treatment of autoimmune disease. This is achieved preferably through the introduction of one or more recombinant genes encoding self antigens which are the target of an autoimmune response. In particular the invention provides a method of designing and constructing a gene encoding an encephalitogenic epitope of proteolipid protein, and to the in vivo expression of the gene product by a recombinant retroviral vector. The expression and secretion of the encephalitogenic epitope ameliorates the histophathological and clinical characteristics of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS).</p> |