IMMUNOMODULATORY PEPTIDES DERIVED FROM HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

A method of modulating an immune response in a subject is disclosed. The invention is based on the discovery that an effective therapeutic strategy f or ameliorating the inflammation-related symptoms of an immune-mediated disease , such as arthritis, can be achieved by modulation of the underlying immune response itself, rather than by merely addressing the resulting inflammation . This strategy can be used to regulate the inflammatory response and is applicable to a variety of contexts in which immune modulation is desired, such as mucosal tolerization, DNA vaccination, anergy induction, active immunization, and ex vivo modulation of antigen-specific T cells. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to the subject a bacterial dn aJ peptide or a human homolog or a non-homologous human isoform thereof.