LIMITED REGULATORY EFFECT OF T-CELL RECEPTOR-DERIVED PEPTIDES

T cell receptor (TCR)-derived peptides have been used to induce regula tory T cells which recognize T cells of specific elements and downregu late the autoimmune response. Consistent with these observations, prim ing of peptides corresponding to V beta 8 complementarity-determining region 2 (CDR2) was found to specifically suppress the proliferation o f V beta 8(+) T cells in the draining lymph nodes, Similarly, the gene ration of V beta 8-dominant T cell responses was prevented locally by vaccination with V beta 8 CDR2 peptides, There was a good correlation between the downregulation of V beta 8(+) T cells and the inhibition o f the corresponding T cell responses in different lymphoid tissues. No systemic inhibition could be detected even after an interval which wo uld allow the redistribution of the ''regulatory T cells.'' T cells sp ecific for V beta 8 CDR2 peptides was generated following peptide immu nization, However, the appearance of these TCR peptide-specific T cell s was independent of the downregulation of V beta 8(+) T cells, The tr ansient and localized inhibitory effects of TCR-derived peptides indic ate that these peptides have very limited use in regulating specific T cell response. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.