ABSTRACT
Monoclonal antibodies, directed against products of the immune response (IR) genes, or against T-cell structures involved with recognition of these IR gene products, are extraordinarily powerful agents for treatment of autoimmune diseases in experimental animals. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is an inflammatory disease of the concerns the correct, resulting in clinical paralysis. One of the primary pathologic events is the development of autoreactive T-cells to myelin basic protein. Therapy with antibody to IR gene products is clearly helpful in several experimental autoimmune conditions where susceptibility is linked to specific IR genes. Anti-I-A antibodies have been successful in disease prevention as well as in ameliorating clinical deficits in acute and chronic situations. Thus, anti-L3T4 antibody can block antigen-driven activation of antigen-specific T-cell clones. Therapeutic trials with either anti-la or -Leu-3 antibodies for diseases such as multiple sclerosis are currently being planned. If the results seen in animal models prove relevant, then the promise of these therapies would seem great.
