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. An isolated T-cell epitope polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the T-cell epitope polypeptide of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 further comprising an effective amount of an antigen or allergen.
4. A method for expanding a population of regulatory T cells, comprising:
(a) providing a biological sample from a subject;
(b) isolating regulatory T-cells from the biological sample; and
(c) 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 increase in number to yield an expanded regulatory T-cell composition,
thereby expanding the regulatory T-cells in the biological sample.
5. A method for stimulating regulatory T cells in a biological sample, comprising:
(a) providing a biological sample from a subject;
(b) isolating regulatory T-cells from the biological sample; and
(c) 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.
6. A method of suppressing an antigen-specific immune response to a target antigen in a subject comprising administering 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.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suppressive effect is mediated by natural Treg.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suppressive effect is mediated by adaptive Treg.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suppresses T cell epitope polypeptide an effector T cell response.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suppresses T cell epitope polypeptide a helper T cell response.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the suppresses T cell epitope polypeptide a B cell response.
12. 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: 5.
13. The kit of claim 12 , further comprising an effective amount of an antigen or allergen.