Abstract: A composition for treating an airway inflammatory disease having high molecular weight, crosslinked hyaluronan and at least one aeroallergen is provided. A method of inducing immune tolerance to one or more aeroallergens in a mammalian subject suffering from or at risk of developing an airway inflammatory disease, and a method of treating a human subject suffering from or at risk of developing an airway inflammatory disease or condition of the lungs are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and peptide analogues designed from a human pancreatic islet beta cell autoantigen GAD65. In particular, it relates to antagonistic peptides and peptide analogues that antagonize autoimmune T cell activation in response to GAD65. The invention also relates to methods of using such peptides and peptide analogues for the treatment and prevention of type I diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Abstract: Methods for identifying individuals at increased risk of diabetes are disclosed. The methods disclosed utilize the discovery of the DQw3.2 variant, which identifies a specific allelic polymorphism at a sinle gene locus. One preferred method utilizes a labeled probe to detect the DQw3.2 allele. This method involves estimating the size of the hybridizable DNA fragment generated by a specific restriction endonuclease and therefrom determining the presence of the allele. A second preferred method involves the serologic detection of the DQw3.2 allele. Within this method, immunocomplexes formed between two different MAb's and separate portions of a cell collection are detected and the presence or absence of the allele determined.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide probes for diagnosing predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis, capable of specifically hybridizing with5'-TACGGGGTTGR.sub.1 GAGAGCTT-3'or3'-AR.sub.2 GCCCCAACR.sub.3 CR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 CGAA-5'wherein A is adenine, C is cytosine, G is guanine, T is thymine, R.sub.1 is GT or TG, R.sub.2 is T or uracil, and R.sub.3 is CA or AC. Or, capable of specifically hybridizing with5'-GGAGCAGAR.sub.2 GCGGGCCGCGG-3'or3'-CCR.sub.2 CGR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 CGCCCGGCGCC-5'wherein R.sub.1 is A or G, R.sub.2 is T or uracil, and R.sub.3 is R.sub.2 or C.