RECOMBINANT T CELL LIGANDS AND ANTIBODIES THAT BIND B CELLS FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

摘要

Methods are disclosed for treating or inhibiting an autoimmune disease in a subject. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of one or more Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules including covalently linked first, second and third domains; wherein the first domain is an MHC class II beta1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class II alpha1 domain, wherein the amino terminus of the alpha1 domain is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the beta1 domain; or wherein the first domain is an MHC class I alpha1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class I alpha2 domain, wherein the amino terminus of the alpha2 domain is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the alpha1 domain; and wherein the third domain is covalently linked to the first domain and comprises an antigen associated with the autoimmune disorder. The method also includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies that bind to B cells, for example an antibody that specifically binds CD20. In specific non-limiting examples, the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis.