PURPOSE: To provide a new HLA-binding oligopeptide having a specific amino acid sequence, exhibiting human major histocompatibility antigen (HLA) binding capacity and useful as an immunomodulating agent for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, the treatment and prevention of viral infection diseases, etc.
CONSTITUTION: This new oligopeptide is expressed by formula (X1 is an amino acid residue such as Val, Trp, Met, Pro, Phe, Tyr, Leu, Ile, Ala or Gly; X2 is an amino acid residue such as Arg, His, Met, Leu, Ile or Val; Y1 to Y7 are each an arbitrary L-amino acid residue). It has a binding capacity to a human major histocompatibility antigen (HLA) HLA-DQ4 molecule and useful as an immunomodulating agent for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, viral infection diseases and allergy. The peptide can be produced by establishing the lymphocyte of rheumatoid arthritis DRBl*0405 patient with EB virus, treating the decomposed liquid of the cell with an anti-DQ antibody and separating the obtained HLA-oligopeptide conjugate.
NISHIMURA TAIJI
YONE KENJI
YAMAOKA KAZUYOSHI
YAMADA NAOKO
MOTOKI MASAMICHI
OGAWA HIROKO
