Breakthrough in Vaccines for Autoimmune Disorders

A novel T-cell modulation platform technology may represent a breakthrough in developing treatment vaccines for autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The research data were presented at the Immune Disorders Conference in London (UK).

In the new technology, compounds called LEAPS. consist of a peptide epitope associated with a disease-causing agent linked to a T-cell binding peptide ligand. Together they induce the immune system to mount either a cellular (T-cell), humoral (antibody), or a mixed immune response as a means to prevent or treat disease. In a study of mice with autoimmune heart disease, peptides based on the LEAPS. technology altered the immune responses of an autoimmune-inducing antigen that resulted in improved health for the animals.

The technology was developed by Dr. Daniel Zimmerman, senior vice president research, cellular immunology, at Cel-Sci Corp. (Vienna, VA, USA). The initial research was conducted in the mouse Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis model. Aiding the Cel-Sci scientists on the project were scientists at the laboratory of Noel Rose, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology and medicine at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (Baltimore, MD, USA). Dr. Rose is an expert in animal modeling of autoimmune diseases.

"We have succeeded in inducing a protective immune response in a mouse autoimmune disease model,” said Dr. Zimmerman. "Treatment vaccines, which teach the immune system to control and/or correct its faulty immune response, are thought by many to represent the future for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.”




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