Future drug developments that may be used for the treatment of autoimmune disease

Question 1

MS susceptibility factors

Answer 1

HLA-DR2
Viral infection

Question 2

T-cell receptor antagonism - peptide based immunotherapy aims

Answer 2

Develop a peptide that can be administered as a drug
Must form a complex with MHC
Must bind to the T-cell receptor without inducing signals that activate the T-cell
Must prevent the native peptide from co-ordinating with the T-cell receptor

Question 3

T-cell receptor antagonism - peptide based immunotherapy example

Answer 3

COP-1, a peptide of 18 amino acids in length, competes with myelin antigens for T-cell receptor binding sites

Question 4

COP-1

Answer 4

Authorised drug (copaxone)
Synthetic peptide composed of aa’s L-ala, L-glu, L-lys, L-tyr
Suppresses experimental models of MS and slow disease progression in humans

Question 5

T-cell receptor antagonism - peptide based immunotherapy - the future

Answer 5

An altered peptide ligand may vary from the native antigen by as little as one amino acid

Question 6

RA susceptibility factors

Answer 6

H:A-DR1 and 4
Viral infection