Abstract: The invention describes a method and compounds for the prevention of immune responses towards allofactors, towards viral vectors used for gene therapy and gene vaccination, towards proteins to which subjects are naturally exposed, towards genetically-modified organisms and towards undesirable effects related to vaccine administration for allergic or infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a viral vector antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to viral vectors and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and compounds for the prevention of immune responses towards allofactors, towards viral vectors used for gene therapy and gene vaccination, towards proteins to which subjects are naturally exposed, towards genetically-modified organisms and towards undesirable effects related to vaccine administration for allergic or infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a soluble allofactor and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to said soluble allofactor and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The application relates to methods for determining a parameter such as toxicity and pharmacokinetic behavior for a pharmaceutical compound against a disease or disorder. The test animals being used are non-human animals not suffering from or is not showing symptoms or signs of the disorder and which do not provoke an immune response against said pharmaceutical compound. These animals are obtainable by administration of a peptide comprising an oxidoreductase motif further comprising an NKT peptide epitope or an MCH class II T cell epitope of said pharmaceutical compound, wherein said motif and said epitope are separated by a linker of between 0 and 4 amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of obtaining antigen-specific regulatory cells in vitro or in vivo. The regulatory cells are obtainable by inducing apoptosis of antigen-presenting cells by NKT cells. In particular, NKT cells are elicited, in vitro or in vivo, by exposure to CD1d-restricted NKT cell peptide epitopes either in natural configuration or modified as to contain a thioreductase motif within flanking residues. The present invention discloses methods to elicit immature antigen-presenting cells loaded with apoptotic cells or with apoptotic bodies for suppressing or preventing diseases such as autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and allergic diseases, and medicaments related thereto. Further disclosed are the use of antigen-specific regulatory cells for suppressing or preventing diseases such as autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and allergic diseases, and medicaments related thereto. Further disclosed are populations of antigen-specific regulatory cells obtained by this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to CD4+ T cells, more specifically cytolytic or cytotoxic CD4+ T-cells and methods of obtaining and identifying them.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel peptides and homologues thereof. The peptides of the invention comprise (i) a T-cell epitope of an antigen (self or non-self) with a potential to trigger an immune reaction presented by a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinant and recognised by CD4+ T cell more specifically of an allergen or auto-antigen, coupled, optionally through the use of a linker to (ii) an amino acid sequence having a reducing activity, such as a thioreductase sequence. The peptides of the invention have been shown to be useful a medicine, more in particular for the prevention or treatment of immune disorders, more specifically of allergic disorders or autoimmune diseases. The present invention thus provides for the use of said peptides for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of an immune disorder and further provides for methods of treatment or preventing immune disorders by using said peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from an allograft antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or treatment of allograft rejection and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates an in vitro method for detecting class II restricted CD4+ T cells in a sample. Herein a sample is contacted with an isolated complex of an MHC class II molecule and a peptide. This peptide comprises an MHC class II restricted T cell epitope of an antigenic protein and immediately adjacent thereof, or separated by a linker of at most 7 amino acids a sequence with a [CST]-xx-C or C-xx-[CST] motif. CD4+ T cells are detected by measuring the binding of the complex with cells in the sample, wherein the binding of the complex to a cell is indicative for the presence of CD4+ T cells in the sample. The present invention further relates to an isolated complex of an MHC Class II molecule and a peptide comprising an MHC class II restricted T cell epitope of an antigenic protein and immediately adjacent thereof, or separated by a linker of at most 7 amino acids a sequence with a [CST]-xx-C or C-xx-[CST] motif.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from an allograft antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or treatment of allograft rejection and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The peptides of the invention comprise (i) a T-cell epitope of an antigen (self or non-self) with a potential to trigger an immune reaction presented by a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinant and recognized by a CD4+ T cell, more specifically, of an allergen or autoantigen, coupled, optionally, through the use of a linker to (ii) an amino acid sequence having a reducing activity, such as a thioreductase sequence. The peptides may be used for the prevention or treatment of immune disorders, more specifically, of allergic disorders or autoimmune diseases. The present invention thus provides methods of treatment or preventing immune disorders by using such peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a viral vector antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to viral vectors and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a viral vector antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to viral vectors and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to elicit immature antigen-presenting cells loaded with apoptotic cells or apoptotic bodies. The present invention also relates to methods of obtaining antigen-specific regulatory T cells in vitro or in vivo. Cells loaded with apoptotic bodies/cells and regulatory T cells are obtainable by inducing apoptosis of antigen-presenting cells by cytolytic CD4+ T cells. The cells are used for suppressing or preventing diseases such as autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and allergic diseases, and medicaments related thereto. Further disclosed are the use of antigen-specific regulatory T cells for suppressing or preventing diseases such as autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and allergic diseases, and medicaments related thereto. Further disclosed are populations of antigen-specific regulatory T cells obtained by said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a tumour-associated antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the treatment of a tumour or in the treatment or prevention of a tumour relapse, and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a tumour-associated antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the treatment of a tumour or in the treatment or prevention of a tumour relapse, and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The invention describes factor VIII molecules with reduced capacity to elicit activation of NKT cells for use in the treatment of congenital and/or acquired haemophilia A and in bleeding disorders. Said factor VIII molecule is obtainable by: a. identification of at least one NKT cell epitope wherein said epitope comprises hydrophobic aminoacid residues in position P1 and/or P7 b. modification of said epitope(s) by eliminating at least one hydrophobic aminoacid residues in position P1 and/or P7, substituting at least one hydrophobic aminoacid residue in position P1 and/or P7 with a non-hydrophobic residue, or adding a non-hydrophobic residue in position P1 and/or P7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from an intracellular pathogen-associated antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or treatment of infection with an intracellular pathogen and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope. Said peptides are modified such that CD4+ T-cell responses are obtainable that are much stronger than the CD4+ T-cell responses obtained with the same peptides not comprising said modification. In particular, the modification is the addition of a cysteine, insertion of a cysteine or mutation into a cysteine of a residue at a position adjacent to but outside the MHC-binding site of the peptide. Further disclosed are the use of such modified peptides in treating, suppressing or preventing diseases such as infectious or allergic diseases and autoimmune diseases, in preventing or suppressing graft rejection, or in the eradication of tumor cells.