Treatment of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by a rationally designed cyclic analogue of myelin basic protein (MBP) epitope 72–85

In this report the rational design, synthesis and pharmacological properties of an amide-linked cyclic antagonist analogue of the guinea pig myelin basic protein epitope MBP 72–85 are described. Design of the potent cyclic analogue was based on 2D NOESY nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular dynamics studies carried out in the linear antagonist Ala 81MBP 72–85. The cyclic antagonist completely prevented the induction of experimental allergic/autoimmune encephalomyelitis when coinjected with linear and cyclic agonist analogues MBP 72–85 and cyclo(2–9)MBP 72–85.