Method for reducing neuronal degeneration by administering cns-derived peptides or activated t cells

A method for reducing or inhibiting secondary neuronal degeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS), comprising

• (a) administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of a peptide obtained by modification of a self-peptide derived from a CNS-specific antigen, which modification consists in the replacement of one or more amino acid residues of the self-peptide by different amino acid residues, said modified CNS peptide still being capable of recognizing the T-cell receptor recognized by the self-peptide but with less affinity (hereinafter “modified CNS peptide”), wherein said modified CNS peptide is administered in such a manner as to activate T cells in vivo, thereby producing a population of T cells that accumulate at a site of injury, disease, disorder or condition of the CNS or PNS;
• or
• (b) administering an effective amount of T cells that are activated against said modified CNS peptide, said T cells accumulating at a site of injury, disease, disorder or condition of the CNS or PNS;
• thereby reducing secondary neuronal degeneration at that site and thus ameliorating the effects of said injury, disease, disorder or condition in the CNS or PNS.