SYNTHETIC GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE (GNRH) VACCINES INCORPORATING GNRH AND SYNTHETIC T-HELPER EPITOPES

A vaccine against the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is being developed as an immunological method for treatment of prostatic hypert rophy, based on the observation that active immunization against GnRH leads to the production of anti-GnRH antibodies which results in the s hrinkage of the prostate gland. We have been investigating the regulat ion of anti-GnRH antibody responses by carrier molecules. In previous studies we showed that the use of large protein molecules as carriers limits the use of such a vaccine owing to potential problems of carrie r-induced anti-haptenic suppression. In this report we show that synth etic T-helper epitopes can be used as carriers for the generation of a nti-GnRH antibody responses.