VACCINATION AND METHODS AGAINST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RESULTING FROM PATHOGENIC RESPONSES BY SPECIFIC T CELL POPULATIONS

摘要

The present invention provides vaccines and a means of vaccinating a mammal so as to prevent or control specific T cell mediated pathologies or to treat the unregulated replication of T cells. The vaccine is composed of a T cell receptor (TCR) or a fragment thereof corresponding to a TCR present on the surface of T cells mediating the pathology. The vaccine fragment can be a peptide corresponding to sequences of TCRs characteristic of the T cells mediating said pathology. The vaccine is administered to the mammal in a manner that induces an immunologically effective response so as to affect the course of the disease. The invention additionally provides specific β-chain variable regions of the T cell receptor, designated Vβ6.2/3, Vβ6.5, Vβ2, Vβ5.1, Vβ13 and Vβ7, which are central to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).