MULTINERS OF CLASS I MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEXES CANTAINING MODIFIED BETA2-MICROGLOBULIN PROTEINS

摘要

The present invention provides a multimers of class I Major Histocompatibility Complexes (MHCs) having a modified beta2-microglobulin whose binding to CD8 is inhibited. Such MHCs are capable of inhibiting CD8<+> T cell response, particularly by inducing apoptosis or anergy of the T cell. The invention also provides nucleic acids encoding such molecules, and the use of such multimers and nucleic acids in immunosuppressive therapy, in particular as inhibitors of cytotoxic T cell responses.