Abstract: The invention relates to the use of novel peptides in a peptide induced tolerance therapy to prevent autoimmune disorders and in particular their use in treatment of chronic destruction of articular cartilage. The invention furtermore embraces pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides and a diagnostic method for the detection of autoreactive T cells in a test sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to peptides consisting of 16 to 55 amino acids, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60), FLCTHIIYS (SEQ ID NO:61), IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62), LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID NO:63), FIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:64), FDGLDLAWL (SEQ ID NO:65), LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66), YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67), LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68), FISIMTYDF (SEQ ID NO:69), FRGQEDASP (SEQ ID NO:70), YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID NO:71), MLRLGAPAS (SEQ ID NO:72), LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73), LRGATVHRT (SEQ ID NO:74), YLKDRQLAG (SEQ ID NO:75), LAGAMVWAL (SEQ ID NO:76), VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:78). The peptides can be used in the treatment of T cell-mediated destruction of articular cartilage. Administration of pharmaceutical compositions based on these peptides can be used to induce systemic immunological tolerance to the autoantigens under attack of the autoreactive T-cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of novel peptides in a peptide-induced tolerance therapy for the induction of tolerance to autoaggressive T cells associated with T-cell mediated articular cartilage destruction in autoimmune diseases, more specifically arthritis. The invention furthermore embraces pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides and a diagnostic method for the detection of autoreactive T cells in a test sample, said T cells being associated with T-cell mediated articular cartilage destruction in autoimmune diseases and test kits to be used in said method.

Abstract: This invention relates to peptides consisting of 16 to 55 amino acids, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60), FLCTHIIYS (SEQ ID NO:61), IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62), LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID NO:63), FIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:64), FDGLDLAWL (SEQ ID NO:65), LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66), YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67), LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68), FISIMTYDF (SEQ ID NO:69), FRGQEDASP (SEQ ID NO:70), YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID NO:71), MLRLGAPAS (SEQ ID NO:72), LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73), LRGATVHRT (SEQ ID NO:74), YLKDRQLAG (SEQ ID NO:75), LAGAMVWAL (SEQ ID NO:76), VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:78). The peptides can be used in the treatment of T cell-mediated destruction of articular cartilage. Administration of pharmaceutical compositions based on these peptides can be used to induce systemic immunological tolerance to the autoantigens under attack of the autoreactive T-cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptides derived from the autoantigen HC gp-39, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences FGRSFTILAS (SEQ ID No. 1), FTLASSETG (SEQ ID No. 2), YDDQESVKS (SEQ ID No. 3) and FSKIASNTQ (SEQ ID No. 4). The peptides resemble MHC Class II restricted T-cell epitopes present on the autoantigen HC gp-39 in articular cartilage. HC gp-39, proteins comprising an amino acid sequence which exhibits at least 50% homology with the amino acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREGDGSCFPDALDRFLCTHIIYSFANISND (SEQ ID No: 10) and said peptides can be used in antigen-specific treatment of articular cartilage destruction in autoimmune diseases in mammals to induce systemic tolerance of the immune system. The autoantigen HC gp-39, proteins comprising an amino acid sequence which exhibits at least 50% homology with the amino acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREGDGSCFPDALDRFLCTHIIYSFANISND (SEQ ID NO: 10) and said peptides are also suitable to induce arthritis in animals, preferably mice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptides derived from the autoantigen HC gp-39, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences FGRSFTLAS (SEQ ID No. 1), FTLASSETG (SEQ ID No. 2), YDDQESVKS (SEQ ID No. 3) and FSKIASNTQ (SEQ ID No. 4). The peptides resemble MHC Class II restricted T-cell epitopes present on the autoantigen HC gp-39 in articular cartilage. HC gp-39 and said peptides can be used in antigen-specific treatment of articular cartilage destruction in autoimmune diseases to induce tolerance of the immune system. The autoantigen HC gp-39 and said peptides are also suitable to induce arthritis in non-human animals, preferably mice. The invention furthermore relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said autoantigen and/or said peptides, a diagnostic method for the detection of autoreactive T cells in a test sample and test kits to be used in said method.