T cell receptor Vbeta-Dbeta-Jbeta sequence and methods for its detection

A primer pair, comprising:

• (a) a first primer of about 15 to 30 nucleotides in length, comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, or the nucleic acid complementary thereto;
• and
• (b) a second primer comprising a nucleic acid of about 15 and 30 nucleotides in length that does not comprise the sequence of (a) and is found in the region from Vβ to Jβ of the Vβ13.1 gene in T cell receptor T cells,
• wherein the sequences of said first and second primers are not found on the same strand of the T cell receptor gene.

An oligonucleotide probe comprising:

• (a) an oligonucleotide of about 10 to 30 nucleotides in length, comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, or the nucleic acid complementary thereto;
• and
• (b) a labeling moiety.

A method of detecting MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells expressing a T cell receptor LGRAGLTY motif, comprising:

• (a) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells;
• (b) contacting the nucleic acid sample with a primer pair selected or derived from:
• (i) a first oligonucleotide of about 15 to 30 nucleotides in length, comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, or the nucleic acid complementary thereto;
• and
• (ii) a second oligonucleotide of about 15 and 30 nucleotides in length that does not comprise the sequence of the first oligonucleotide and is found in the region from Vβ to Jβ of the Vβ13.1 gene in T cell receptor T cells,
• wherein the sequences of the first and second oligonucleotides are not found on the same strand of the T cell receptor gene;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the nucleic acid encoding the LGRAGLTY motif.

A method of treating an autoimmune disease, in a human comprising:

• (a) obtaining MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells from a human;
• (b) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells;
• (c) contacting the nucleic acid sample with a primer pair selected or derived from:
• (i) a first oligonucleotide of about 15 to 30 nucleotides in length, comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, or the nucleic acid complementary thereto;
• and
• (iii) a second oligonucleotide of about 15 and 30 nucleotides in length that does not comprise the sequence of said first oligonucleotide and is found in the region from Vβ to Jβ of the Vβ13.1 gene in T cell receptor T cells,
• wherein the sequences of said first and second oligonucleotides are not found on the same strand of the T cell receptor gene;
• and
• (d) detecting the presence of the nucleic acid encoding the LGRAGLTY motif, and, if the nucleic acid is detected,
• (e) administering a peptide of from 8 to approximately 45 amino acids in length, peptide to the human;
• wherein the peptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 3.

A method of monitoring an autoimmune disease, comprising:

• (A) obtaining MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells from a human;
• (B) detecting the presence of a nucleic acid encoding a LGRAGLTY motif by
• (i) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from MBP83-99 Vβ13.1 T cells;
• (ii) contacting the nucleic acid sample with a primer pair selected or derived from:
• (a) a first oligonucleotide of about 15 to 30 nucleotides in length, comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, or the nucleic acid complementary thereto;
• and
• (b) a second oligonucleotide of about 15 and 30 nucleotides in length that does not comprise the sequence of said first oligonucleotide and is found in the region from Vβ to Jβ of the Vβ13.1 gene in T cell receptor T cells,
• wherein the sequences of said first and second oligonucleotides are not found on the same strand of the T cell receptor gene;
• and
• (c) detecting the presence of the nucleic acid encoding the LGRAGLTY motif;
• and, if the nucleic acid is detected,
• (C) quantifying the amount of the nucleic acid.