ZP3 PEPTIDE VACCINE THAT INDUCES ANTIBODY AND REVERSIBLE INFERTILITY WITHOUT AUTOIMMUNE OOPHORITIS

Autoantibodies to ZP3, a major glycoprotein of the zona pellucida (ZP) with sperm receptor function, can block sperm/oocyte interaction. How ever, only mice of certain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) hapl otype respond to the ZP3 peptide. Moreover, ZP3-specific T cells can m ediate ovarian autoimmune disease. A chimeric peptide has been designe d that induces antibody to native ZP3 regardless of the MHC haplotype of the inbred mice tested. This results in reduction in fertility that is reversible. Infertility correlates well with ZP antibody titer, an d the mice do not develop concomitant autoimmune oophoritis. The vacci ne contains (i) a promiscuous foreign T-cell peptide capable of elicit ing a T-cell response regardless of the animals' MHC haplotype, and (2 ) a modified native B-cell peptide of ZP3.