IMPFUNG UND METHODEN GEGEN KRANKHEITEN, DIE VON PATHOLOGISCHEN REAKTIONEN DER SPEZIFISCHEN T-ZELLEN ABSTAMMEN

The present invention provides vaccines and a means of vaccinating a mammal so as to prevent or control specific T cell mediated pathologies or to treat the unregulated replication of T cells. The vaccine is composed of a T cell receptor (TCR) or a fragment thereof corresponding to a TCR present on the surface of T cells mediating the pathology. The vaccine fragment can be a peptide corresponding to sequences of TCRs characteristic of the T cells mediating said pathology. Means of determining appropriate amino acid sequences for such vaccines are also provided. The vaccine is administered to the mammal in a manner that induces an immune response directed against the TCR of T cells mediating the pathology. This immune response down regulates or deletes the pathogenic T cells, thus ablating the disease pathogenesis. The invention additionally provides a specific beta -chain variable region of the T cell receptor, designated V beta 17, which is central to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also provided are means to detect, prevent and treat RA.