WO1997040068A1

WO1997040068A1 - Novel peptides suitable for use in antigen specific immunosuppressive therapy

Info

Publication number: WO1997040068A1
Application number: PCT/EP1997/002051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anna Maria Helena Boots; Gijsbertus Franciscus Maria Verheijden
Original assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
Priority date: 1996-04-24
Filing date: 1997-04-22
Publication date: 1997-10-30
Also published as: NO984937D0; JP2000510106A; HUP9901375A2; US6184204B1; RU2199548C2; IL120561A0; AU2768597A; HUP9901375A3; TW575583B; NZ332427A; EP0920451A1; BR9708744A; TR199802135T2; AR006813A1; AU719481B2; CN1216551A; CA2251680A1; NO984937L; KR20000010561A; PL329618A1

Abstract

The invention relates to peptides consisting of 16 to 55 amino acid residues, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60), FLCTHIIYS (SEQ ID NO:61), IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62), LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID NO:63), FIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:64), FDGLDLAWL (SEQ ID NO:65), LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66), YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67), LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68), FISIMTYDF (SEQ ID NO:69), FRGQEDASP (SEQ ID NO:70), YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID NO:71), MLRLGAPAS (SEQ ID NO:72), LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73), LRGATVHRT (SEQ ID NO:74), YLKDRQLAG (SEQ ID NO:75), LAGAMVWAL (SEQ ID NO:76), VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:78). The peptides can be used in the treatment of T-cell mediated destruction of articular cartilage. Administration of pharmaceutical compositions based on these peptides can be used to induce systemic immunological tolerance to the autoantigens under attack of the autoreactive T-cells.

Description

NOVEL PEPTIDES SUITABLE FOR USE IN ANTIGEN SPECIFIC IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY

The invention relates to peptides and their use in treatment of chronic destruction of articular cartilage in autoimmune diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides, a diagnostic method for the detection of autoreactive T cells in a test sample and test kits to be used in said method.

The immune system is established on a principle of discrimination between foreign antigens (non-self antigens) and autoantigens (self antigens, derived from the individuals own body) achieved by a build in tolerance against the autoantigens.

The immune system protects individuals against foreign antigens and responds to exposure to a foreign antigen by activating specific cells such as T- and B lymphocytes and producing soluble factors like interleukins, antibodies and complement factors. The antigen to which the immune system responds is degraded by the antigen presenting cells (APCs) and a fragment of the antigen is expressed on the cell surface associated with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II glycoprotein. The MHC-glycoprotein-antigen-fragment complex is presented to a T cell which by virtue of its T cell receptor recognizes the antigen fragment conjointly with the MHC class II protein to which it is bound. The T cell becomes activated, i.e. proliferates and/or produces interleukines, resulting in the expansion of the activated lymphocytes directed to the antigen under attack (Grey et al. , Sci. Am., 2ϋl:38-46, 1989) .

Self antigens are also continuously processed and presented as antigen fragments by the MHC glycoproteins to T cells (Jardetsky et al . , Nature 353 =326-329, 1991) . Self recognition thus is intrinsic to the immune system. Under normal circumstances the immune system is tolerant to self antigens and activation of the immune response by these self antigens is avoided. When tolerance to self antigens is lost, the immune system Decomes activated against one or more self antigens, resulting m the activation of autoreactive T cells and the proαuction of autoantibodies. This phenomenon is referred to as autoimmunity. As the immune response in general is destructive, i.e. meant to destroy the invasive foreign antigen, autoimmune responses can cause destruction of the body's own tissue.

The contribution of T cells to autoimmune diseases nas neen established by several studies. In mice, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is mediated by a highly restricted group of T cells, linked by their specificity for a single epitope of myelin basic protein (MBP) complexed to an MHC class II molecule. In the Lewis rat, a species with high susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases, disease has been shown to be mediated by T cells.

In humans autoimmune diseases are also thougnt to be associated with the development of auto-aggressive T cells. A destructive autoimmune response has been implicated in various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) , in which the integrity of articular cartilage is destroyed by a chronic inflammatory process. The mere presence of cartilage appears necessary for sustaining the local inflammatory response: it has been shown that cartilage degradation is associated with the activity of cartilage-responsive autoreactive T cells m RA (Sigall et al . , Clin. Exp. Rheumat . jS:59, 1988, Giant et al . , Biochem. Soc. Trans. 12:796, 1990; Burmester et al . , Rheumatoid arthritis Smolen, Kalden, Maim (Eds⁾ Springer-verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 1992) . Furthermore, removal of cartilage from RA patients by surgery was shown to reduce the inflammatory process. The cartilage proteins are therefore considered to be target autoantigens which are competent of stimulating T cells. Activation of these autoreactive T cells leads to development of autoimmune disease. Hence it can be anticipated that functional elimination of these T cells could be beneficial in downregulation of the destructive autoimmune process. However, the identification of the autoantigemc components that play a role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis has so far remained elusory.

The inflammatory response resulting m the destruction of the cartilage can be treated by various drugs. However, these drugs are immunosuppressive drugs that are nonspecific and have toxic side effects. The disadvantages of nonspecific immunosuppression makes this a highly unfavourable therapy.

Antigen-specific, nontoxic immunosuppression, such as for instance described in WO-A-9510301, provides a very attractive alternative for nonspecific immunosuppression. The antigen- specific therapy involves the treatment of patients with synthetic T cell-reactive peptides which resemble or mimic the epitopes present on the autoantigen. These peptides can therefore be used to induce systemic immunological tolerance, i.e. specific T cell tolerance, both to themselves and to the autoantigen. The induced systemic immunological tolerance is based on the long-observed phenomenon that animals which have been fed or have inhaled an antigen or epitope are less capable of developing a systemic immune response towards said antigen or epitope when said antigen or epitope is introduced via a systemic route. To effectively use the peptide-induced systemic tolerance therapy to treat the T cell mediated cartilage destruction, there is a great need for T cell-reactive peptides which can desensitize patients against the self antigen that is activating the T cells responsible for the inflammatory process.

It is an object of the invention to provide peptides which are able to induce systemic immunological tolerance, more in particular specific T cell tolerance, to the responsible cartilage antigen in patients suffering from T cell-mediated cartilage destruction. It is another ob ect of the invention to provide a method for detecting autoreactive T cells involved in the destruction of articular cartilage and test kits to be used in said method.

The present invention provides for such peptides.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided for peptides consisting of 16 to 55 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising at least one of the ammo acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60), FLCTHIIYS (SEQ ID N0:61) , IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62), LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID NO:63) , FIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID

NO:64) , FDGLDLAWL (SEQ ID NO: 65) , LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66) ,

YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67) , LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68) , FISIMTYDF

(SEQ ID NO:69) , FRGQEDASP (SEQ ID NO:70) , YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID

NO:71) , MLRLGAPAS (SEQ ID NO:72) , LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73) , LRGATVHRT (SEQ ID NO:74), YLKDRQLAG (SEQ ID NO:75) , LAGAMVWAL

(SEQ ID NO:76), VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:78) .

In particular, the peptide according to the invention comprises at least one of the ammo acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) , YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) ,

LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5), THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12) , NTQSRRTFIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:16), TFIKSVPPFLRTHGFD (SEQ ID NO: 17) , PPFLRTHGFDGLDLAW (SEQ ID NO: 18), HGFDGLDLAWLYPGRR (SEQ ID NO:19) , DLAWLYPGRRDKQHFT (SEQ ID NO:20) , TIDSSYDIAKISQHLD (SEQ ID NO:28) , DIAKISQHLDFISIMT (SEQ ID NO:29) , QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , PASKLVMGIPTFGRSF (SEQ ID NO:39) , GTLAYYEICDFLRGAT (SEQ ID NO:46), EICDFLRGATVHRTLG (SEQ ID NO:47) , RGATVHRTLGQQVPYA (SEQ ID NO:48) , VKSKVQYLKDRQLAGA (SEQ ID NO:53) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54), LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) , WALDLDDFQGSFCGQD (SEQ ID NO:56) or DFQGSFCGQDLRFPLT (SEQ ID NO:57) .

Preferably, the peptide according to the present invention comprises one of the ammo acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l), YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2), LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5) , THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGΞ (SEQ ID NO:12) , QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) . More preferably, the peptide according to the invention comprises one or more of the amino acid sequences YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38), YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO: 54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) . The peptides according to the invention consist of 16 to 55, preferably 16 to 35, more preferably 16 to 25, most preferably 16 ammo acid residues.

Highly prefered peptides according to the invention are hexadecapeptides consisting of the ammo acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) ,

LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5) , THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12) , QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO: 54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) , more m paπcular the ammo acid sequences YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

Also withm the scope of the invention are multimers of the peptides according to the invention such as for example a dimer or trimer of the peptides according to the invention. A multimer according to the invention can either be a homomer, consisting of a multitude of the same peptide, or a heteromer consistmg of different peptides.

The characteristic amino acid sequences of the peptides according to the mvention can be flanked by random amino acid sequences. Prefered are flanking sequences, that have a stabilizing effect on the peptides, thus increasing their biological availability.

The present mvention is based on the unexpected discovery, that Human Cartilage glycoprotein 39 (herein after referred to as HC gp-39) is a target autoantigen in RA patients which activates specific T cells, thus causing or mediating the inflammatory process. HC gp-39 derived peptides were predominantly recognized by autoreactive T cells from RA patients but rarely by T cells from healthy donors, thus indicating that HC gp-39 is an autoantigen m RA. The arthritogemc nature of HC gp-39 was further substantiated in the Balb/c mouse. A single, subcutaneous injection of said protem in Balb/c mice was able to initiate arthritic signs in the animals The course of the HC gp-39- induced disease was characterized by relapses occuring periodically m fore paws and/or hind paws and gradually developed from a mild arthritis into a more severe form. Also, a symmetrical distribution of afflicted joints was observed which is, together with the observation of recurrent relapses and nodule formation, reminiscent of disease progression in arthritis, especially RA.

Even more surprisingly it was found that administration of

HC gp-39 resulted in immunological tolerance and, more importantly, m delayed and/or suppressed arthritic development.

The ammo acid sequences given m SEQ ID NO's 60-78, more specifically the sequences given in SEQ ID NO's 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 16-20, 28-30, 34, 37-39, 46-48, 53-57 resemble MHC class II restricted T cell epitopes which are present on HC gp-39. Thus, the peptides according to the mvention can also oe understood to encompass fragments of the autoantigen HC gp-39 which comprise one or more of the above identified MHC Class II restricted T-cell epitopes and they are also within the scope of the mvention.

Although HC gp-39 was disclosed m Hakala et al. , J.Biol .Chem. , Vol.268, No. 34, 25803 (1993) , in which it was described as a chitmase protein and suggested for use as a suitable marker for rheumatoid artnritis, any hint or suggestion towarαs tne arthritogemc nature of HC gp-39 was absent.

The peptides according to the invention can be prepared by well known organic chemical methods for peptide synthesis such as, for example, solid-phase peptide synthesis described for instance m J. Amer. Chem. Soc. £5.:2149 (1963) and Int. J. Peptide Protem Res. 3_5_:161-214 (1990) .

The peptides according to the invention can also be prepared by recombinant DNA techniques. A nucleic acid sequence coding for a peptide according to the invention or a multimer of said peptides is inserted mto an expression vector. Suitable expression vectors are, amongst others, plasmids, cosmids, virusses and YACs (Yeast Artificial Chromosomes) which comprise the necessary control regions for replication and expression. The expression vector can be brought to expression in a host cell. Suitable host cells are, for instance, bacteria, yeast cells and mammalian cells. Such techniques are well known in the art, see for instance Sambrooke et al , Molecular Clonmg:a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, 1989.

The peptides according to the invention are T-cell reactive peptides, which are recognized by and are able to stimulate activated, autoreactive T-cells. These autoreactive T cells are found m the blood of RA patients but rarely in healthy donors. Thus, according to the invention the synthetic peptides, said peptides resembling the MHC Class II restricted T-cell epitopes present on the target autoantigen HC gp-39, are very suitable for use m a therapy to induce specific T-cell tolerance to HC gp-39 in mammals, more specifically humans, suffering from T-cell mediated cartilage destruction, such as for example arthritis, more specifically rheumatoid arthritis.

Although WO 95/01995 and WO 95/02188 describe the diagnostic use of HC gp-39 as a marker for RA, the arthritogemc nature of HC gp-39 is neither disclosed nor suggested. Nowhere do they hint or suggest towards the use of fragments of HC gp-39 or T- cell reactive peptides according to the present mvention in the antigen or peptide specific therapy to induce T-cell specific tolerance to the HC gp-39 in the cartilage under attack.

According to the invention, patients suffering from T-cell mediated destruction of the articular cartilage can be treated with a therapeutical composition comprising one or more peptides according to the invention and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. Administration of the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention will induce systemic immunological tolerance, in particular tolerance of the specific autoreactive T cells of these patients, to the autoantigenic proteins in the articular cartilage under attack and other self antigens which display the identified MHC Class II binding T cell epitopes characterized or mimiced by the amino acid sequences of one or more of the peptides according to the invention. The induced tolerance thus will lead to a reduction of the local inflamma_tory response m the articular cartilage under attack.

Very suitable peptides to be used in a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention are the peptides having 16-55, preferably 16-35, more preferably 16-25, most preferably 16 ammo acid residues, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60⁾ , FLCTHIIYS

(SEQ ID NO:61) , IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62⁾ , LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID

NO:63) , FIKSVPPFL (SΞQ ID NO:64) , FDGLDLAWL ⁽SEQ ID NO: 65),

LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66) , YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67⁾ , LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68) , FISIMTYDF (SEQ ID NO:69⁾ , FRG^QEDAΞP (SEQ ID

NO:70) , YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID NO:71) , MLRLGAPAS ⁽SEQ ID NO:72) ,

LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73) , LRGATVHRT ⁽SEQ ID NO:74⁾ , YLKDRQLAG

(SEQ ID NO:7Ξ), LAGAMVWAL (SEQ ID NO:76⁾ , VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID

NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:7B) , more in particular one of the ammo acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG ⁽SEQ ID NO:l) , YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI ⁽SEQ ID NO:5) , THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS ⁽SEQ ID NO:12) , NTQSRRTFIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:16) , TFIKSVPPFLRTHGFD (SEQ ID NO:17) , PPFLRTHGFDGLDLAW (SEQ ID NO:18⁾ , HGFDGLDLAWLYPGRR (SΞQ ID NO:19) , DLAWLYPGRRDKQHFT (SEQ ID NO:20⁾ , TIDSSYDIAKISQHLD

(SEQ ID NO:28) , DIAKISQHLDFISIMT ⁽SE^Q ID NO:29) ,

QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRG^QEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38), PASKLVMGIPTFGRSF (SEQ ID NO:39) , GTLAYYEICDFLRGAT (SEQ ID NO:46), EICDFLRGATVHRTLG (SEQ ID NO:47) , RGATVHRTLGQQVPYA (SEQ ID NO:48) , VKSKVQYLKDRQLAGA (SEQ ID NO:53) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54), LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55), WALDLDDFQGSFCGQD (SEQ ID NO:56) or DFQGSFCGQDLRFPLT (SEQ ID NO:57) .

Specifically preferred in a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention are the peptides having 16-55, preferably 16-35, more preferably 16-25, most preferably 16 ammo acid residues, said peptides comprising at least one of the ammo acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) , YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2), LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5), THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6), PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12), QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

Highly preferred in a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention are peptides having 16-55, preferably 16-35, more preferably 16-25, most preferably 16 ammo acid residues, said peptides comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2), SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38), YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

Most preferred in a pharmaceutical composition according to the mvention are hexadecapeptides consisting of the ammo acid sequence YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5) , THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12), QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30), SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34), DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55), more m paricular the ammo acid sequences YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID

NO:2) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID

NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO: 55) .

The peptides according to the mvention have the advantage that they have a specific effect on the autoreactive T cells thus leaving the other components of the immune system intact as compared to the nonspecific suppressive effect of immunosuppressive drugs. Treatment with the peptides according to the invention will be safe and no toxic side effects will occur.

Systemic immunological tolerance can be attained by administering high or low doses of peptides according to the invention. The amount of peptide will depend on the route of administration, the time of administration, the age of the patient as well as general health conditions and diet.

In general, a dosage of 0.01 to 1000 μg of peptide per kg body weight, preferably 0.5 to 500 μg, more preferably 0.1 to

100 μg of peptide can be used.

Pharmaceutical acceptable carriers are well known to those skilled m the art and include, for example, sterile salm, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextrin, agar, pectin, peanut oil, olive oil, sesame oil and water. Other carriers may be, for example MHC class II molecules, if desired embedded in liposomes.

In addition the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention may comprise one or more adjuvants. Suitable adjuvants include, amongst others, aluminium hydroxide, aluminium phosphate, amphigen, tocophenols, monophosphenyl lipid A, muramyl dipeptide and saponins such as Quill A. Preferably, the adjuvants to be used in the tolerance therapy accordmg to the invention are mucosal adjuvants such as the cholera toxine B- subunit or carbomers, which bind to the mucosal epithelium. The amount of adjuvant depends on the nature of the adjuvant itself. Furthermore the pharmaceutical composition accordmg to the invention may comprise one or more stabilizers such as, for example, carbohydrates including sorbitol, mannitol, starch, sucrosedextrm and glucose, protems such as albumin or casein, and buffers like alkaline phosphates. Suitable administration routes are intramuscular injections, subcutaneous injections, intravenous injections or intraperitoneal injections, oral administration and nasal sprays.

The peptides according to the invention are also very suitable for use in a diagnostic method to detect the presence of activated autoreactive T cells involved in the chronic inflammation and destruction of the articular cartilage.

The diagnostic method according to the invention comprises the followmg steps: a) isolation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a blood sample of an individual, b) culture said PBMC under suitable conditions, c) incubation of said PBMC culture m the presence of one or more peptides according to the invention, and d) detection of a response of T cells, for example a proliferative response, indicating the presence of activated autoreactive T cells in the individual.

The detection of a proliferative response of T cells can be detected by, for example, the incorporation of ³H-thymιdme.

Also within the scope of the mvention are test kits which comprise one or more peptides accordmg to the invention. These test kits are suitable for use in a diagnostic method according to the invention.

The following examples are illustrative for the invention and should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the mvention.

EXAMPLES

METHODS

Patients

This study included 7 DR4 (DRB1*0401) -positive patients diagnosed as suffering from RA according to the ARA criteria (Arnett et al . , (1988), Arthritis Rheum. 31, 315) . Peripheral blood samples were obtained with informed consent . There were five women and two men aged 46-79 years. Their duration of disease ranged from over 10 to over 30 years. Three out of 7 patients had at least 3 swollen joints. Four patients did not show any signs of active disease. All patients were on medication: Four patients were treated with prednisone, three patients received anti-rheumatic agents and 4 patients were treated with NSAID' s as well.

Peripheral blood samples from 5 healthy donors carrying the DR4 (DRB1*0401) specificity were obtamed with informed consent and included m this study as a control .

Definition of HLA-DR polymorphisms

Patient and healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from heparmized peripheral blood by standard centrifugation on Ficoll-Paque were stimulated with PHA

(Welcome, Dartford, UK) to obtain 5 x 10⁶-10⁷ lymphocytes. The QIA amp blood kit (QIAGEN Ine, ) was used to purify chromosomal DNA from cultured cells accordmg to the manufacturers instructions. Chromosomal DNA extracts were analysed using a DR 'low resolution' SSP kit. DR4 subtypmg was performed using the Dynal DRB1*04-SSP kit. MHC DR typing was performed at the Transplant Serology Laboratory, University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Table I

Peptide synthesis

Peptides were synthesized at Eurosequence (Gronmgen, The Netherlands) . Peptides were synthesized from the C-termmus to the N-termmus on a 10 μmol scale using solid-phase FMOC chemistry. The crude peptides were partly purified by several other preparations. As indicated by the manufacturer, at least 35% of the lyophilized product contained the desired full length product. The rest contained salt and remaining solvent. The quality of the final product was checked by sequence analysis, ammo acid analysis and/or RF-HPLC. The sequences of the peptides synthesized are enlisted m Table II.

Table II: Ammo acid sequences of the peptides used m this study.

Peptide HLA-DR binding assay

DR4 (DRB1*0401) and DR4 (DRB1*0404) molecules were purified from the homozygous EBV-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell lines Hulyl38IC2 and BM92 using the mAb L243, directed against a monomorphic determinant on the DR-complex (Lampson, L.A. and R.

Levy (1980) , J. Immunol. 125:293-299) .

The peptide binding studies were performed using a semi- quantitative competition binding assay (Joosten et al 1994, Int. Immunol. 6, 751) . Briefly, purified HLA-DR molecules (30 nM DR4 (DRB1*0401) or 15 nM DR4 (DRB1*0404) were incubated at pH5.0 with 50 nM biotinylated marker peptide (HA 309_Y→F) and a concentration range of competitor peptide in a final volume of 25 μl binding buffer (PBS containing 0.01% NaN₃, 0.05% NP-40, 5%

DMSO, 1 mM AEBSF, 1 mM N-ethyl maleimide, 8 mM EDTA and 10 μM pepstatin A) . After 44 hr of incubation at RT, HLA-DR-bound marker peptide was separated from free marker peptide using a 96 well vacuum dotblot apparatus (Hybri.dot, BRL) and a nitrocellulose membrane (Hybond ECL, Amersham, UK) . The nitrocellulose filters were blocked with 0.5% DNA blocking reagent (Boehringer) in 0.1 M maleic acid, 150 mM NaCl, pH7.5. After 0.5-1 hr, the filters were washed m PBS, 0.05% Tween 20 ⁽Sigma) and mcubated with Streptavidin-HRPO (Southern Biotechnology) m a 1:10.000 dilution. Biotinylated peptides were detected by enhanced chemiluminescence using a Western Blot ECL kit (Amersham) . Exposure of the preflashed films (Hyperfilm- ECL, Amersham) was for 10 min. The spots were analysed by scanning the films and using Image Quant/Excel software for analysis.

The affinity of a given peptide for binding DRB1*0401- encoded molecules was related to competition with the marker peptide. This relative binding affinity was defined as the peptide concentration at which the signal was reduced to 50%

⁽IC₅₀ ⁾ •

Proliferative responses of blood mononuclear cells

In order to identify T-cell epitopes within HC gp-39, 59 peptides of 16 AA in length, overlapping by 10 AA were tested for their capacity to induce a proliferative response in PBMC from RA patients and healthy controls carrying the DR4 (DRB1*0401) specificity (Table 1) . Table 2 enlists the sequences of the peptides tested.

PBMC obtained from heparmized venous peripheral blood were isolated by standard centrifugation on a Ficoll-Paque gradient.

Cells were cultured in four-fold at a concentration of 1,5 x 10⁵ cells / well m medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated, autologous plasma, L-glutamme, 2-ME and antibiotics m flatbottomed microtiter plates. Cells were mcubated m medium alone or m the presence of phytohaemagglutinm (PHA) (2.5 μg/ml) to assert cell viability, or m the presence of 10 or 100 μg/ml of the HC gp-39-derιved peptides. In several cases, sets of 2 or 3 sequential peptides were tested due to limited PBMC numbers of individual donors. Cultures were mcubated m a total volume of 210 μl for 7 days at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 • Cultures were pulsed during the last 18 hours with

0.25 μCi ³H-thymιdιne ( [³H] TdR) . Cells were harvested on glassfiber filters and [ H]TdR incorporation was measured by gas scintillation (Packard Matrix 96 βcounter) . Only peptides inducing a proliferative response at both 10 and 100 μg/ml were considered to contain a T-cell epitope. Responses were defined positive if stimulation index values (SI, antigen-specific counts per 5mm (cp5m) / background cp5m) exceeded or equaled 2.

RESULTS

Identification of T-cell epitopes by proliferative responses of blood mononuclear cells

T-cell reactivity to HC gp-39-deπved peptides was analyzed by measuring the PBMC proliferative response in DR4 (DRB1*0401) - positive RA patients and healthy donors. Proliferative responses were tested in autologous plasma. In Table IIIA and 11IB the results of 7 experiments are presented showing the responses of RA patients (Table IIIA) and the responses of healthy donors (Table IIIB) to 59 overlapping sequences derived from HC gp-39. Donors found to respond to both concentrations (100 and 10 μg/ml) of a peptide were ranked as responders and donors which did not respond to both concentrations tested were ranked as non-responders (NR) .

Responses to the individual peptides 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 15, 30,

34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 54 and 55 (the numbers respond to the respective SEQ ID NO of each peptide, for example, peptide 30 means: peptide having ammo acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30) were 40068

20 observed in one cr more donors, thereby identifying these sequences as T-cell epitopes.

Interestingly, responses to peptides 2, 34, 38, 40, 54 and 55 were observed in RA patients only. On the other hand, peptides 12 and 41 induced only responses m healthy donors (230, 235) thus far.

In addition, as can be seen in Table 3, responses were found to the following sets of: peptides 1/2, 1/2/3, 4/5/6, 5/6, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20, 28/29/30, 29/30, 37/38, 37/38/39, 39/40, 46/47/48, 53/54, 55/56 and 55/56/57. These results are m accordance with most of the results of the individual peptides mentioned above. Moreover, the responses against the sets of peptides define regions that contain additional T-cell epitopes, i.e. the regions covered by petides 16-20 (residu 112-151) , 28- 29 (residu 184-205), 38-40 (residu 244-271) , 46-48 (residu 292- 319) and 53-57 (334-373) .

Six out of 7 DR4 (DRB1*0401) -positive RA patients responded to HC gp-39-derived peptides or sets of peptides and were therefore ranked as responders. In the healthy donor group (HD) , 3 out of Ξ donors were ranked as responders. In general, RA patients appeared to respond to many more HC gp-39 regions than healthy donors (healthy donor 230 being an exception) . For example, PBMC from RA patient 272, which were tested against individual peptides, appeared to respond to a total of 11 peptides ,L, 2, 5, 6, 30, 34, 37, 38, 40, 54 and 55⁾ . PBMC of the o_ther patients (patient 287 being an exception) showed responses against sets of peptides overlapping these 11 sequences and identified some additonal regions containing T- cell epitopes (peptides 14-20 and 46-48⁾ . PBMC derived from a healthy donor (230) further confirmed the presence of T-cell epitopes m peptides 1, 5, 6, 15, 30 and 37.

Overall, the peptides or sets of peptides most frequently recognized contain peptides 1/2, 5/6, 30, 37/38, 54/55) .

Correlation of T-cell epitopes and DRB4 (DRB1*0401) binding

Peptides 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 15, 30, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 54 and 55 were all found to stimulate peripheral blood derived T-cells. As a corrollary to this finding, all of these peptides were found to bind to DR4 (DRB1*0401) with relatively high affinity (except peptides 2 and 38 which bind with intermediate relative affinity) . Peptides 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 39, 46, 47, 48, 53, 56 and 57 were tested in sets rather than mdividualy. It is very likely that several of these peptides also contam relevant T-cell epitopes. In any case, these peptides all can bind DRB4 (DRB1*0401) with high to intermediate relative affinity (except for peptide 20 which binds with poor relative affinity) .

Table IIIA Peptide-mduced proliferative responses of PBMC from RA patients.

pos = positive responses to both 100 and 10 microgram/ml of peptide or sets of peptides (SI ≥ 2 were regarded positive) .

Together the peptides (16 AA in length and overlapping by 10

AA) cover the complete mature seguence of mature HC gp-39

(residu 22-383) . Peptides were synthesized at Eurosequence

(Groningen, The Netherlands) . RA = rheumatoid arthritis patient. 0401 = donor carrying the RA-associated HLA-DRB1*0401 specificity. NR = non -responder. R = responder. BG = mean of background counts per 5 minutes x 10^' measured in wells without antigen. +++ = high affinity binder (IC50<1 μM) ; ++ = good affinity binder (1<IC50<10 μM) ; + = intermediate binder

(10<IC50<100 μM) ; +/- = poor binder (100<IC50<1000 μM) ; - = non-binder (IC50>1000 μM) Table IIIB: Peptide-induced proliferative responses of PBMC from healthy donors.

pos = positive responses to both 100 and 10 microgram/ml of peptide or sets of peptides (SI > 2 were regarded positive) .

Together the peptides (16 AA m length and overlapping by 10

AA) cover the complete mature sequence of mature HC gp-39

(residu 22-383) . Peptides were synthesized at Eurosequence

(Groningen, The Netherlands) . HD = healthy donor. 0401 = donor carrying the RA-associated HLA-DRB1*0401 specificity. NR = non- responder. R = responder. BG = mean of background counts per 5 mmutes x 10³ measured in wells without antigen. +++ = high affinity binder (IC50<1 μM) ; ++ = good affinity binder

(1<IC50<10 μM) ; + = intermediate binder (10<IC50<100 μM) ,^• +/- = poor binder (100<IC50<1000 μM) ; - = non-binder (IC50>1000 μM)

ABBREVIATIONS

AEBSF: 4- (2-AmmoEthyl) -BenzeneSulfonyl Fluoride

BB: bmdmg buffer

BCA: Bicinchonmic Acid

BSA: bovine serum albumin DMSO: Dimethyl Sulfoxide

ECL: Enhanced Chemiluminescence

EDTA: EthyleneDiamme Tetra Acetic acid

FACS: Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter

HLA: Human Leukocyte Antigens HPLC: High Pressure Liquid Chormatography

HRP: Horse Radish Peroxidase

MHC CLASS II : Ma_jor Histocompatibility Complex class II NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

NP-40: Nonidet P-40

PBS: Phosphate Buffered Saline

PVDF: Polyvinylidene difluoride

RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis

SDS - PAGE : Sodium DodecylSulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

SEQUENCE LISTING

(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:

(i) APPLICANT:

(A) NAME: Akzo Nobel N.V.

(B) STREET: Velperweg 76

(C) CITY: Arnhem (E) COUNTRY: The Netherlands

(F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP) : 6824 BM

(G) TELEPHONE: 0421-666376 (H) TELEFAX: 0412-650592 (I) TELEX: 37503 akpha nl

(ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: Novel Peptides Suitable For Use In Antigen Specific Immunosuppressive Therapy

;iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 78

(iv) COMPUTER READABLE FORM:

(A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk

(B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible

(C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentln Release #1.0, Version #1.30

(EPO)

\ 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 1 :

( l ) SEQUENCE CHARACTERI STICS :

(A) LENGTH : 16 amino ac ids (B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:

Tyr Lys Leu Val Cys Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Trp Ser Gin Tyr Arg Glu Gly 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2:

Tyr Thr Ser Trp Ser Gin Tyr Arg Glu Gly Asp Gly Ser Cys Phe Pro 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:

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(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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Tyr Arg Glu Gly Asp Gly Ser Cys Phe Pro Asp Ala Leu Asp Arg Phe 1 5 10 15

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(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (Xl) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 4:

Ser Cys Phe Pro Asp Ala Leu Asp Arg Phe Leu Cys Thr His He He 1 5 10 15

⁽2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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Leu Asp Arg Phe Leu Cys Thr His He He Tyr Ser Phe Ala Asn He ¹ 5 10 15

⁽2⁾ INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:

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Thr His He He Tyr Ser Phe Ala Asn He Ser Asn Asp His He Asp 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7:

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Phe Ala Asn He Ser Asn Asp His He Asp Thr Trp Glu Trp Asn Asp 1 5 10 15

[ 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8:

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 8:

Asp His He Asp Thr Trp Glu Trp Asn Asp Val Thr Leu Tyr Gly Met 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: smgle

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Glu Trp Asn Asp Val Thr Leu Tyr Gly Met Leu Asn Thr Leu Lys Asn 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 10:

Leu Tyr Gly Met Leu Asn Thr Leu Lys Asn Arg Asn Pro Asn Leu Lys 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 11:

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(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 11: Thr Leu Lys Asn Arg Asn Pro Asn Leu Lys Thr Leu Leu Ser Val Gly 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 12:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 12

Pro Asn Leu Lys Thr Leu Leu Ser Val Gly Gly Trp Asn Phe Gly Ser 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 13:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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( ii ) MOLECULE TYPE : pept ide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 13:

Leu Ser Val Gly Gly Trp Asn Phe Gly Ser Gin Arg Phe Ser Lys He 1 5 10 15

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sn Phe Gly Ser Gin Arg Phe Ser Lys He Ala Ser Asn Thr Gin Ser 1 5 10 15

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(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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Phe Ser Lys He Ala Ser Asn Thr Gin Ser Arg Arg Thr Phe He Lys 1 5 10 15

[ 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 16

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 16:

sn Thr Gin Ser Arg Arg Thr Phe He Lys Ser Val Pro Pro Phe Leu 5 10 15

( 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 17 : (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

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Thr Phe He Lys Ser Val Pro Pro Phe Leu Arg Thr His Gly Phe Asp 1 5 10 15

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(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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Pro Pro Phe Leu Arg Thr His Gly Phe Asp Gly Leu Asp Leu Ala Trp 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 19:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(XI) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 19:

is Gly Phe Asp Gly Leu Asp Leu Ala Trp Leu Tyr Pro Gly Arg Arg 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 20:

(ι) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 20:

sp Leu Ala Trp Leu Tyr Pro Gly Arg Arg Asp Lys Gin His Phe Thr 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 21:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

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Pro Gly Arg Arg Asp Lys Gin His Phe Thr Thr Leu He Lys Glu Met 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 22:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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in His Phe Thr Thr Leu He Lys Glu Met Lys Ala Glu Phe He Lys 5 10 15

\ 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 23:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal ( xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ ID NO : 23 :

H e Lys Gl u Met Lys Ala Glu Phe He Lys Glu Al a Gin Pro Gly Lys 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 24:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 24

Glu Phe He Lys Glu Ala Gin Pro Gly Lys Lys Gin Leu Leu Leu Ser 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 25:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(11) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 25:

Gin Pro Gly Lys Lys Gin Leu Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala Gly 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 26:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 26:

Leu Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala Gly Lys Val Thr He Asp Ser 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 27:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

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Leu Ser Ala Gly Lys Val Thr He Asp Ser Ser Tyr Asp He Ala Lys 1 5 10 15

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(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 28:

Thr He Asp Ser Ser Tyr Asp He Ala Lys He Ser Gin His Leu Asp 1 5 10 15

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(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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sp He Ala Lys He Ser Gin His Leu Asp Phe He Ser He Met Thr 5 10 15

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Gin His Leu Asp Phe He Ser He Met Thr Tyr Asp Phe His Gly Ala 1 5 10 15

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(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

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Ser He Met Thr Tyr Asp Phe His Gly Ala Trp Arg Gly Thr Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 32:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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Phe His Gly Ala Trp Arg Gly Thr Thr Gly His His Ser Pro Leu Phe 1 5 10 15

[ 2 ) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 33:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 33:

Gly Thr Thr Gly His His Ser Pro Leu Phe Arg Gly Gin Glu Asp Ala 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 34:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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Ser Pro Leu Phe Arg Gly Gin Glu Asp Ala Ser Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 35:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

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in Glu Asp Ala Ser Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Asn Thr Asp Tyr Ala Val 5 10 15

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(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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sp Arg Phe Ser Asn Thr Asp Tyr Ala Val Gly Tyr Met Leu Arg Leu 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 37:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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sp Tyr Ala Val Gly Tyr Met Leu Arg Leu Gly Ala Pro Ala Ser Lys 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 38:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

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Met Leu Arg Leu Gly Ala Pro Ala Ser Lys Leu Val Met Gly He Pro 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 39:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

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Pro Ala Ser Lys Leu Val Met Gly He Pro Thr Phe Gly Arg Ser Phe 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 40:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

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Met Gly He Pro Thr Phe Gly Arg Ser Phe Thr Leu Ala Ser Ser Glu 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 41:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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Gly Arg Ser Phe Thr Leu Ala Ser Ser Glu Thr Gly Val Gly Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 42:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(Xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ ID NO : 42

Ala Ser Ser Glu Thr Gly Val Gly Ala Pro He Ser Gly Pro Gly He 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 43:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

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(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 43:

Val Gly Ala Pro He Ser Gly Pro Gly He Pro Gly Arg Phe Thr Lys 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 44:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

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(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 44:

Gly Pro Gly He Pro Gly Arg Phe Thr Lys Glu Ala Gly Thr Leu Ala 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 45:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

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Arg Phe Thr Lys Glu Ala Gly Thr Leu Ala Tyr Tyr Glu He Cys Asp

1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 46:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 46:

Gly Thr Leu Ala Tyr Tyr Glu He Cys Asp Phe Leu Arg Gly Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 47:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

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Glu He Cys Asp Phe Leu Arg Gly Ala Thr Val His Arg Thr Leu Gly 1 5 10 15

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(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

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(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 48:

Arg Gly Ala Thr Val His Arg Thr Leu Gly Gin Gin Val Pro Tyr Ala 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 49:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 49:

Arg Thr Leu Gly Gin Gin Val Pro Tyr Ala Thr Lys Gly Asn Gin Trp 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 50:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(11) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 50:

Val Pro Tyr Ala Thr Lys Gly Asn Gin Trp Val Gly Tyr Asp Asp Gin 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 51

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids (B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 51: Gly Asn Gin Trp Val Gly Tyr Asp Asp Gin Glu Ser Val Lys Ser Lys

1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 52:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 52:

Tyr Asp Asp Gin Glu Ser Val Lys Ser Lys Val Gin Tyr Leu Lys Asp 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 53:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear (il) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(Xl) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 53:

Val Lys Ser Lys Val Gin Tyr Leu Lys Asp Arg Gin Leu Ala Gly Ala 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 54:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

[ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 54:

Tyr Leu Lys Asp Arg Gin Leu Ala Gly Ala Met Val Trp Ala Leu Asp 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 55:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 55:

Leu Ala Gly Ala Met Val Trp Ala Leu Asp Leu Asp Asp Phe Gin Gly 1 5 10 15

[2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 56

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 ammo acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 56:

Trp Ala Leu Asp Leu Asp Asp Phe Gin Gly Ser Phe Cys Gly Gin Asp 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 57:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 57:

sp Phe Gin Gly Ser Phe Cys Gly Gin Asp Leu Arg Phe Pro Leu Thr 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 58:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 58:

Cys Gly Gin Asp Leu Arg Phe Pro Leu Thr Asn Ala He Lys Asp Ala 1 5 10 15

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 59:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 16 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 59:

Leu Arg Phe Pro Leu Thr Asn Ala He Lys Asp Ala Leu Ala Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 60:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 60

Leu Val Cys Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Trp Ser 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 61:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 61

Phe Leu Cys Thr His He He Tyr Ser 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 62:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 62

He He Tyr Ser Phe Ala Asn He Ser

1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 63:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(11) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 63

Leu Lys Thr Leu Leu Ser Val Gly Gly 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 64:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 64

Phe He Lys Ser Val Pro Pro Phe Leu 1 5 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 65:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 65:

Phe Asp Gly Leu Asp Leu Ala Trp Leu 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 66:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 66

Leu Tyr Pro Gly Arg Arg Asp Lys Gin 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 67:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 67

Tyr Asp He Ala Lys He Ser Gin His 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 68

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS (A) LENGTH: 9 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 68

Leu Asp Phe He Ser He Met Thr Tyr 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 69:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 ammo acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 69:

Phe He Ser He Met Thr Tyr Asp Phe 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 70:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 70

Phe Arg Gly Gin Glu Asp Ala Ser Pro

1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 71:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 71

Tyr Ala Val Gly Tyr Met Leu Arg Leu 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 72:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 72

Met Leu Arg Leu Gly Ala Pro Ala Ser 1 5 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 73:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 ammo acids

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 73:

Leu Ala Tyr Tyr Glu He Cys Asp Phe 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 74:

(l) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: ammo acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(n) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 74

Leu Arg Gly Ala Thr Val His Arg Thr 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 75:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 75:

Tyr Leu Lys Asp Arg Gin Leu Ala Gly 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 76:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 76.

Leu Ala Gly Ala Met Val Trp Ala Leu 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 77:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids

(B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS: single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(Xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ ID NO : 77 Val Trp Ala Leu Asp Leu Asp Asp Phe 1 5

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 78:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide

(v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 78

Leu Asp Leu Asp Asp Phe Gin Gly Ser 1 5

Claims

1. Peptides consisting of 16 to 55 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences LVCYYTSWS (SEQ ID NO:60), FLCTHIIYS (SEQ ID NO:61) , IIYSFANIS (SEQ ID NO:62) , LKTLLSVGG (SEQ ID NO:63) , FIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:64) , FDGLDLAWL (SEQ ID NO: 65), LYPGRRDKQ (SEQ ID NO:66) , YDIAKISQH (SEQ ID NO:67), LDFISIMTY (SEQ ID NO:68) , FISIMTYDF (SEQ ID NO:69) , FRGQEDASP (SEQ ID NO:70), YAVGYMLRL (SEQ ID NO: 71), MLRLGAPAS (SEQ ID NO:72) , LAYYEICDF (SEQ ID NO:73) , LRGATVHRT (SEQ ID NO:74) , YLKDRQLAG (SEQ ID NO:75), LAGAMVWAL (SEQ ID NO:76) , VWALDLDDF (SEQ ID NO:77) or LDLDDFQGS (SEQ ID NO:78) .

2. Peptide consisting of 16 to 55 amino acid residues, said peptide comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) , YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP

(SEQ ID NO:2), LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5) ,

THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12) , NTQSRRTFIKSVPPFL (SEQ ID NO:16) , TFIKSVPPFLRTHGFD

(SEQ ID NO:17) , PPFLRTHGFDGLDLAW (SEQ ID NO:18) ,

HGFDGLDLAWLYPGRR (SEQ ID NO: 19) , DLAWLYPGRRDKQHFT (SEQ ID

NO:20) , TIDSSYDIAKISQHLD (SEQ ID NO:28) , DIAKISQHLDFISIMT

(SEQ ID NO:29) , QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID

NO:37), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38), PASKLVMGIPTFGRSF

(SEQ ID NO:39) , GTLAYYEICDFLRGAT (SEQ ID NO:46) ,

EICDFLRGATVHRTLG (SEQ ID NO:47) , RGATVHRTLGQQVPYA (SEQ ID

NO:48) , VKSKVQYLKDRQLAGA (SEQ ID NO: 53) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54), LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) , WALDLDDFQGSFCGQD (SEQ ID NO:56) or DFQGSFCGQDLRFPLT (SEQ ID NO:57) .

3. Peptide according to claim 1 or 2, said peptide comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID NO:l) , YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5), THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO:6), PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID NO:12), QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37), MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO.-38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

4. Peptide according to any of claims 1 to 3 , said peptide comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS (SEQ ID NO:34) , MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38) , YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

5. Hexadecapeptide according to claim 1 to 4, said hexadecapeptide consisting of one of the amino acid sequences YKLVCYYTSWSQYREG (SEQ ID N0:1) YTSWSQYREGDGSCFP (SEQ ID NO:2), LDRFLCTHIIYSFANI (SEQ ID NO:5),

THIIYSFANISNDHID (SEQ ID NO: 6) , PNLKTLLSVGGWNFGS (SEQ ID

NO:12) , QHLDFISIMTYDFHGA (SEQ ID NO:30) , SPLFRGQEDASPDRFS

(SEQ ID NO:34), DYAVGYMLRLGAPASK (SEQ ID NO:37) ,

MLRLGAPASKLVMGIP (SEQ ID NO:38), YLKDRQLAGAMVWALD (SEQ ID NO:54) or LAGAMVWALDLDDFQG (SEQ ID NO:55) .

6. Peptide according to any of the claims 1 to 5 for use as a medical substance.

7. Pharmaceatical composition comprising one or more peptides according to any of the claims 1 to 5, and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.

8. A diagnostic method for the detection of activated autoreactive T cells comprising the following steps: a) isolation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a blood sample of an individual, b) culture of said PBMC under suitable conditions, c) incubation of said PBMC culture in the presence of one or more peptides according to any of the claims 1 to 5, and d) detection of a response of T cells, for example a proliferative response, indicating the presence of activated autoreactive T cells in the individual .

9. Testkit, for the detection of activated autoreactive T cells, said test kit comprising one or more peptides according to any of the claims 1 to 5.