VACCINATION WITH PEPTIDE OF MHC CLASS II MOLECULES FOR TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

摘要

The present invention provides immunogenic oligopeptides derived from the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) glycoprotein protein sequences for use in compositions and methods for the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of deleterious immune responses, such as autoimmunity and allergies. The peptides are capable of inducing an immune response against glycoproteins encoded MHC alleles associated with the target disease. In preferred embodiments the peptides of the invention are derived from a hypervariable region of the .beta. chain of an MHC Class II molecule associated with the deleterious immune response.