Abstract: Antibodies specific for an MHC class II-autoantigen complex.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to therapeutic compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases, comprising molecules that disrupt or prevent the assembly of the trimolecular complex required for the T cell immune response comprising the autoantigen, the MHC class II molecule, and the T cell receptor implicated in the autoimmune disease.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the development and treatment of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases can result from tissue damage caused by the activation of autoreactive T cells by autoantigens. For example, peptide fragments of naturally occurring proteins (i.e., for example, chromogranin A) may activate autoreactive T cells that result in the destruction of pancreatic ? islet cells, possibly by the release of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., for example, interferon-?). One naturally occurring biologically active chromogranin A peptide fragment, WE14, may comprise a diabetogenic autoantigen. Truncation and extension analysis of WE14 indicates that the stimulating binding register of WE14 occupies only half of the mouse IAg7 peptide binding groove, leaving positions p1 to p4 empty.