| abstract |
A conjugate comprising an essentially non-toxic peptidic T cell antigen, which is capable of forming a complex with MHC class I or II molecules, and a binding partner for a surface receptor on mammalian target cells, wherebyn a) the binding partner has a high degree of selectivity for said target cells by binding to substances which are expressed on the surface of said cells, b) the conjugate comprising the binding partner and the T cell antigen is internalized in said cells after binding of the binding partner to its surface receptor on said cells, c) the T cell antigen is processed from the conjugate and expressed on the cell surface in the form of a complex with MHC molecules, whereby said complex is recognized by the T cell receptor, thereby inducing cytotoxicity of T cells for the aforesaid target cells, is useful to induce specific cytotoxicity of T cells in the treatment of cancer autoimmune diseases, diabetes or allergic reactions. |