The use of cd4-binding small molecules to inhibit immune responses

摘要

The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and class II MHC gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 500 and 150 that bind to the GFCC'C'' portion of the D1 domain of human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen.