| abstract |
This invention relates to methods of preventing or reducing the severity of psoriasis. In one embodiment, the method involves administering to the individual a peptide having substantially the sequence of a non-conserved region sequence of a T cell receptor, present on the surface of T cells mediating psoriasis or a fragment thereof, wherein the peptide or fragment is capable of causing an effect on the immune system to regulate the T cells. In particular, the T cell receptor has the Vbeta region-Vbeta3, Vbeta13.1 or Vbeta17. In another embodiment, the method involves gene therapy. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosing psoriasis by determining the presence of psoriasis predominant T cell receptors. |