AUTOANTIGEN AND PROTEINS STRUCTURALLY RELATED THERETO FOR USE IN IMMUNOTHERAPY OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

摘要

The present invention relates to the use of autoantigen HC gp-39, and proteins c omprising an amino acid sequence which exhibits at least 50 % homology with the amino acid sequence of HC gp-39, more p articular with the amino acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREGDGSCFPDALDR-FLCTHIIYSFANISND (SEQ ID NO:1) in antigen-specific t reatment of articular cartilage destruction in autoimmune diseases in mammals to induce systemic tolerance of th e immune system. The autoantigen HC gp-39, and the arthritogenic proteins comprising an amino acid sequence which exhibits at l east 50 % homology with the amino acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREGDGSCFPDALDR-FLCTHIIYSFANISND (SEQ ID NO:1) are also suitable to induce arthritis in animals, preferably mice. The invention furthermore relates to pharmaceutical composition s comprising said autoantigen and/or said arthritogenic proteins, a diagnostic method for the detection of autoreactive T cells in a tes t sample and test kits to be used in said method.