ACTIVATED T CELLS, NERVOUS SYSTEM-SPECIFIC ANTIGENS AND THEIR USES

摘要

Compositions and methods are provided for treating injury to or disease of t he central or peripheral nervous system. In one embodiment, treatment is effect ed using activated T cells that recognize an antigen of the nervous system or a peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration within the nervo us system. Treatment involves administering an NS-specific antigen or peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof, or a nucleotide sequence encoding said antigen or peptide, to promote nerve regeneration or to prevent or inhibit neuronal degeneration in the nervous system, either the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system. The NS-specific activated T cells can be administered alone or in combination with NS-specific antigen o r peptide derived therefrom or a derivative thereof or a nucleotide sequence encoding said antigen or peptide, or any combination thereof.