| 摘要 |
Subsequent to reports that Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) was present in the CSF of a subset of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a 20-mer peptide from a protein specific to C. pneumoniae (Cpn) which shares a seven amino acid motif with a critical epitope of myelin basic protein (MBP), a major central nervous system antigen targeted by the autoimmune response in MS was identified. This bacterial peptide induces a Th1 response accompanied by severe clinical and histological experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats, a condition closely reflective of many aspects of MS. Various non-encephalitogenic peptide analogues and derivatives are disclosed and are useful for inhibiting such Th1 responses, inducing protective Th2 responses, and for treating a subject having MS or delaying onset of preventing MS in a subject at risk. |
