MODIFIED MYELIN PROTEIN MOLECULES.

摘要

Compositions and methods are provided for the clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis. The compositions of the invention are molecules related to the human proteolipid protein (PLP) and/or human myelin basic protein (MBP), and include nucleic acids and polypeptides. The nucleic acid molecules of the invention are useful in the production of modified PLP polypeptides and modified MBP polypeptides, such polypeptides being useful for assaying T cells for responsiveness to PLP and MBP epitopes. The polypeptides of the invention are also useful as therapeutic agents that act by inducing T cell responses, including anergy and apoptosis, as a means of treating multiple sclerosis.