Methylated, SmD homologous peptides, reactive with the antibodies from sera of living beings affected with systemic lupus erythematosus
AssigneeInnogenetics N.V.
InventorsLydie Meheus, Reinhard Georg Luhrmann, Ann Union, Joseph Raymackers
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of producing certain peptides containing methylated arginines that are followed by a glycine residue and that constitute immunogenic determinants of antibodies present in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, or Epstein-Barr virus and wherein the methylation is a prerequisite for reacting with said antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of said peptides for diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and related diseases, and diseases in which Epstein-Barr virus has been implicated.
Claims22
1) Peptide containing less than 50 amino acids, comprising at least one dimer of the type XG, wherein X stands for a NG-mono- or NG-NG-dimethylated arginine, that is able to react with antibodies and with said methylation being crucial for the reaction between said peptide and said antibodies and wherein said antibodies are present in sera from patients with:
- systemic lupus erythematosus, or
- infectious, recurrent or chronic mononucleosis or infection, or
- certain cancers which are related to infection with Epstein-Barr virus, such as Burkitt's lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.