MHC-peptide labelled conjugates

摘要

The invention is directed to methods and materials useful in treating autoimmune diseases. The therapeutic agents are of the formula X<1>MHC<2>-peptide (1) or MHC<2>peptide<1>X (2), wherein X represents a labelling group; MHC is an effective portion of the MHC glycoprotein, said glycoprotein dissociated from the cell surface on which it normally resides; and "peptide" represents an antigenic peptide sequence associated with an autoantigen; <1> represents a covalent bond or a bivalent linker bound to X and MHC in formula (1) or to X and peptide in formula (2) by covalent bonds; and <2> represents a covalent bond, a noncovalent association, or a linker covalently bound to or associated with the MHC and peptide. These complexes can be used to monitor the therapy of autoimmune diseases.