RECOMBINANT MHC MOLECULES USEFUL FOR MANIPULATION OF ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC T-CELLS

摘要

Two-domain MHC polypeptides useful for manipulation of antigen-specific Tcells are disclosed. These polypeptides include MHC class II-based molecules that comprise covalently linked .beta.1 and .alpha.1 domains, and MHC class Ibased molecules that comprise covalently linked .alpha.1 and .alpha.2 domains. These polypeptides may also include covalently linked antigenic determinants, toxic moieties, and/or detectable labels. The disclosed polypeptides can be used to target antigen-specific T-cells, and are useful, among other things, to detect and purify antigen-specific T-cells, to induce or activate T-cells, and to treat conditions mediated by antigen-specific T-cells.