Induction of antigen-specific unresponsiveness with synthetic peptides: specific immunotherapy for treatment of allergic and autoimmune conditions.

Current drug-based therapies for autoimmune and allergic conditions are non-specific and often associated with severe side effects. Recent advances in our knowledge of how T cells see antigens points to an improved strategy. T lymphocytes recognise processed forms of antigen which can be mimicked by synthetic peptides designed and built in the laboratory. It is clear from recent work that these synthetic peptides, when given systemically in solution, induce a state of hyporesponsiveness in naive T cells thereby specifically preventing a subsequent immune response. Moreover systemic administration of soluble peptides can inhibit ongoing immune responses. Taken together this new information offers great promise for future development of antigen-based drugs for the treatment of autoimmune and allergic diseases.