78 results about "Myelin sheath structure" patented technology

There is provided a method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide by selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing. There is also provided a peptide selected by such a method and its use in a pharmaceutical composition and a method to treat and / or prevent a disease. The present invention also relates to a composition which comprises the following myelin basic protein (MBP) peptides: MBP 30-44; MBP 83-99; MBP 131-145; and MBP 140-154. The composition may be used to treat a disease, in particular multiple sclerosis and / or optical neuritis and the invention also relates to such uses and methods.

A method and a kit for detecting myelin basic protein are provided. The method comprises administering an agent, which binds to myelin basic protein (MBP), to a subject at risk of or diagnosed with a myelin-associated neuropathy, and determining myelination by detecting the agent resided in the subject. The amount of the agent present in the subject is indicative of a myelin-associated neuropathy. A method of quantifying an amount of MBP present in a tissue sample is also provided, wherein the method comprises contacting the tissue sample with the same agent, detecting the agent present in the tissue sample; and quantifying an amount of the agent present in the tissue sample.

Human myelin basic protein (h-MBP) has a molecular weight of 18.5 KD and contains 170 amino acid residues. Synthetic peptides ranging in length from about 8 to 25 residues and covering the entire length of the protein have been produced. Antibodies to h-MBP (anti-MBP) were found to be neutralized by the synthetic peptides, in vitro, which span the h-MBP from about amino acid residue 61 to about amino acid residue 106. The peptides, which cover both the amino (about residues 1 to 63) and carboxy (about residues 117 to 162) terminals of h-MBP did not neutralize purified anti-MBP. Intrathecal administratin of peptide MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) produced complete binding-neutralization of free (F) anti-MBP with no change in bound (B) levels. A control peptide MBP35-58 had no effect on F or B anti-MBP levels. Intravenous administration of MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) resulted in significant decline of F and B CSF anti-MBP levels. Administration of MBP synthetic peptides to MS patients either intrathecally or intravenously did not have any adverse neurological effects and systemic complications did not occur. The MBP epitope for MS anti-MBP has been localized to an area between amino acid 86 and amino acid 95.

The present invention relates to agents capable of binding to myelin basic protein in a subject. Also provided are methods for the detection of myelin-associated neuropathy comprising identifying a subject at risk of or diagnosed with a myelin-associated neuropathy, administering to a subject an agent that binds specifically to myelin basic protein, and determining myelination in the subject by detecting the agent present in the subject. A kit containing the agent or its derivatives for use in detecting myelin basic protein is also provided.