A new type of antibody called "immune-induced TCR-like antibody (iTab)," which selectively suppresses the activity of T cells that respond to specific antigens during immune responses, has been discovered to be naturally produced in mice. It was found that iTab recognizes antigen peptides and MHC class II molecules, and suppresses antigen-specific immune responses by preventing the T cell receptor from recognizing the antigen peptides. It was also clarified that "flanking residues" at both ends of the antigen peptide are crucial for the induction of iTab. In mouse models of autoimmune diseases, pre-immunization with peptides that induce iTab, or administration of iTab itself, was demonstrated to suppress disease progression. This discovery is expected to contribute to the development of antigen-specific immune control methods for autoimmune diseases and allergies, as well as to the design of optimal vaccine antigens.

These research findings were published in the international scientific journal Nature Communications on Thursday, April 16.

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Prof. Hisashi Arase

arasebiken.osaka-u.ac.jp

Immunochemistry