Leland Stanford Junior University

Pedro Jose Ruiz

Lawrence Steinman

Hideki Garren

William H Robinson

Paul J Utz

David L Hirschberg

Paulo Fontoura

A pro-inflammatory T cell response is specifically suppressed by the injection into a recipient of DNA encoding an autoantigen associated with autoimmune disease. The recipient may be further treating by co-vaccination with a DNA encoding a Th2 cytokine, particularly encoding IL4. In response to the vaccination, the proliferation of autoantigen-reactive T cells and the secretion of Th1 cytokines, including IL-2, IFN-&#x3b3; and IL-15, are reduced.

DNA vaccination for treatment of multiple sclerosis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This invention provides a method for determining the antibody specificity profile in an individual. This specificity profile reveals the individual's immune response to multiple antigens and/or epitopes of autoantigens, allergens, graft antigens, etc. The antibody specificity profile is determined through the binding of patient samples comprising antibodies to the arrays. The array can comprises antigens and epitopes. The invention also provides the means and methods for determining antigen or epitope specificity profiles that can be used in the development of either generic and individualized diagnosis and treatment for immune related diseases, including autoimmune disease, allergy and graft rejection.

Therapeutic and diagnostic uses of antibody specificity profiles

DNA vaccination for treatment of autoimmune disease

This invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disease in an animal associated with one or more self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s), or -peptide(s) that is present or involved in a non-physiologic process in the animal comprising administering to the animal a self-vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) associated with the disease. Administration of the self-vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) modulates an immune response to the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s) or -peptide(s) expressed from administration of the self-vector. The invention also provides a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding one or more self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s), or -peptide(s) that is present non-physiologically in a treated animal useful in treating or preventing a disease associated with the self-protein(s), -polypeptide(s), or -peptide(s) present in and/or the target of a non-physiologic process in the animal.

Polynucleotide therapy

Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment of demyelinating autoimmune disease. Therapeutic doses are administered of an ordered peptide comprising a repeated motif {SEQ ID NO: 1} [EYYK], where n is from 2 to 6. Some specific peptides of interest include those having the sequence {SEQ ID NO:4} EYYKEYYKEYYK. The peptide may consist only of the ordered repeats, or may be extended at either termini by the addition of other amino acid residues. For therapy, the peptides may be administered topically or parenterally, e.g. by injection at a particular site, including subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intravascularly, or the like or transdermally, as by electrotransport. In a preferred embodiment, subcutaneous injection is used to deliver the peptide. The subject methods are used for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes. The compositions of the invention may also contain other therapeutically active agents, e.g. immunosuppressants, &#x3b2;-interferon, steroids, etc.

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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Pedro Jose Ruiz