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 ß1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class H al domain, wherein the amino terminus of the al domain is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the ß1 domain; or wherein the first domain is an MHC class I al domain and the second domain is an MHC class I a2 domain, wherein the amino terminus of the a2 domain is covalently linked to the carboxy terminus of the al 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.