Isolated high affinity entities with t-cell receptor like specificity towards native complexes of mhc class ii and glutamic acid decarboxylase (gad) autoantigenic peptides

Abstract

Provided are isolated complexes comprising a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and a type I diabetes-associated GAD autoantigenic peptide, the isolated complex having a structural conformation which enables isolation of a high affinity entity which comprises an antigen binding domain capable of specifically binding to a native conformation of a complex composed of the MHC class II and the type I diabetes-associated GAD autoantigenic peptide; and isolated high affinity entities comprising an antigen binding domain capable of specifically binding the complex, wherein the isolated high affinity entity does not bind to the MHC class II in an absence of the diabetes-associated GAD autoantigenic peptide, wherein the isolated high affinity entity does not bind to the diabetes-associated GAD autoantigenic peptide in an absence of the MHC class II; and methods and kits using same for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.