REGULATORY T CELL EPITOPES, COMPOSITIONS AND USES THEREOF
The invention is directed to T cell epitopes wherein said epitopes comprises a peptide or polypeptide chain comprising at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant or variable region. The invention also relates to methods of using and methods of making the epitopes of the invention.
1 - 23 . (canceled)
24 . An isolated T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
25 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
26 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 25 further comprising a T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
27 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 25 further comprising an effective amount of an antigen or allergen.
28 . A kit for repressing an antigen-specific immune response in a subject, wherein the kit comprises a T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
29 . The kit of claim 28 further comprising a T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
30 . The kit of claim 28 further comprising an effective amount of an antigen or allergen.
31 . A method for expanding a population of regulatory T cells, comprising:
(a) isolating regulatory T-cells from a biological sample from a subject; and
(b) contacting the isolated regulatory T-cells with an effective amount the T-cell epitope polypeptide of claim 1 under conditions wherein the T-regulatory cells increase in number to yield an expanded regulatory T-cell composition, thereby expanding the regulatory T-cells in the biological sample.
32 . The method of claim 31 further comprising contacting the isolated regulatory T-cells with an effective amount of the T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
33 . A method for stimulating regulatory T cells in a biological sample, comprising:
(a) isolating regulatory T-cells from a biological sample from a subject; and
(b) contacting the isolated regulatory T-cells with an effective amount of the T-cell epitope polypeptide of claim 1 under conditions wherein the T-regulatory cells are stimulated,
thereby stimulating the regulatory T-cells in the biological sample.
34 . The method of claim 33 further comprising contacting the isolated regulatory T-cells with an effective amount of the T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
35 . A method of suppressing an antigen-specific immune response to a target antigen in a subject comprising administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising the T-cell epitope polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the T-cell epitope polypeptide is either covalently bound, non-covalently bound or in admixture with the target antigen resulting in the diminution of immune response against the target antigen.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the suppressive effect is mediated by natural Treg.
37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the suppressive effect is mediated by adaptive Treg.
38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the T cell epitope polypeptide suppresses an effector T cell response.
39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the T cell epitope polypeptide suppresses a helper T cell response.
40 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the T cell epitope polypeptide suppresses a B cell response.
41 . The method of claim 35 further comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.