초록 ▼

The methods include selectively reducing or expanding T cells according to the antigenic specificity of the T cells. Therefore, the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic T cells that recognize autoantigens, such as beta cell specific T cells. As such, the present invention

The methods include selectively reducing or expanding T cells according to the antigenic specificity of the T cells. Therefore, the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic T cells that recognize autoantigens, such as beta cell specific T cells. As such, the present invention can be used to prevent, treat or ameliorate autoimmune diseases such as IDDM. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to expand desirable T cells, such as anti-pathogenic T cells to prevent, treat and/or ameliorate autoimmune diseases.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of treating type I diabetes or prediabetes, in a patient which method comprises: identifying a patient having type I diabetes or prediabetes; andadministering to said patient an antigen-MHC complex operatively coupled to a non-liposomal nanoparticle in an amount sufficient to expand low

1. A method of treating type I diabetes or prediabetes, in a patient which method comprises: identifying a patient having type I diabetes or prediabetes; andadministering to said patient an antigen-MHC complex operatively coupled to a non-liposomal nanoparticle in an amount sufficient to expand low avidity anti-pathogenic autoreactive T cells;wherein the antigen is a type I diabetes relevant; andfurther wherein said nanoparticle has a diameter of less than 1 μm. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the MHC component is a MHC class I component. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-E, HLA-F, HLA-G or CD-1 molecule. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein, the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A molecule. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the MHC class I component comprises all or part of a HLA-A*0201 MHC class I molecule. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a metal ion. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metal ion is iron (III). 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antigen-MHC complex is covalently bound to the nanoparticle. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the complex is bound to the nanoparticle via a linker. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the linker is one or more of the group a peptide linker, ethylene glycol, biotin, and strepdavidin. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the T cells expanded by the treatment have been preactivated by type I diabetes and have a memory phenotype. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the T cell is a CD4+ or CD8+ T cell. 13. A method of treating type I diabetes or prediabetes in a patient in need thereof which method comprises: identifying a patient having type I diabetes or prediabetes; andadministering to said patient a peptide-MHC complex operatively coupled to a non-liposomal nanoparticle in an amount sufficient to expand low avidity anti-pathogenic autoreactive T cells;wherein the peptide is a type I diabetes relevant and the MHC is a classical MHC molecule;wherein said nanoparticle has a diameter of less than 1 μm; andfurther wherein the peptide is an epitope from an autoantigen expressed by pancreatic beta cells. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the autoantigen is islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein, insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase or IA-2 protein. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the autoantigen is an epitope derived from an endocrine or neurocrine component. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the endocrine or neuroendocrine component is peri-islet Schwann cells. 17. The method of claim 1 or 13, wherein the method treats type I diabetes. 18. The method of claim 1 or 13, wherein the method treats prediabetes. 19. A method of treating type I diabetes or prediabetes in a patient which method comprises: identifying a patient having type I diabetes or prediabetes; andadministering to said patient an antigen-MHC class II complex operatively coupled to a non-liposomal nanoparticle in an amount sufficient to expand low avidity anti-pathogenic autoreactive T cells;wherein the antigen is a type I diabetes relevant antigen; andwherein said nanoparticle has a diameter of less than 1 μm. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the MHC class II component comprises all or part of a HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, or HLA-DP. 21. The method of any one of claims 1, 13 and 19, wherein the non-liposomal nanoparticle comprises a solid core.