Development of antigen-specific therapies for autoimmune disease.

Reversal of autoimmune disease with monoclonal antibodies to polymorphic determinants associated with class II gene products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and to T-cell receptor variable region segments has been demonstrated in animal models. Recent studies have shown that it is also possible to use mutant peptides to block recognition of self-antigen associated with MHC by T-cells that mediate autoimmune disease. These mutant peptides have been used to prevent the model autoimmune condition experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The possibility of extending these approaches to human disease is discussed.