Method for treatment of SLE

Abstract

Treatments have been developed for lupus patients using either anti-ID antibodies to dsDNA to block anti-dsDNA antibodies and/or kill the B cells producing the anti-dsDNA antibodies or ribosomal protein S1 peptides immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA antibodies. Examples demonstrate that (1) anti-dsDNA antibodies are cross-reactive with ribosomal protein S1, (2) anti-dsDNA antibodies suppress protein synthesis, presumably through inhibition of mRNA translation initiation, and (3) a normal human sera contains an anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-Id) to anti-dsDNA antibodies isolated from SLE patients which blocked the interactions between the anti-Id antibody fragment (Fab 2 ) and various anti-dsDNA preparations.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a lupus patient characterized by the presence of anti-dsDNA comprising administering to the patient a therapeutic composition in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for administration to a patient selected from the group consisting of peptides having sequence identity with ribosomal protein S1 which are immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA and anti-idiotypic antibody or antibody fragments immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA antibodies.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the peptide is between four and forty amino acids in length.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the peptide is conjugated to a carrier molecule or is a fusion protein.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is a peptide administered to a patient in an amount effective to induce tolerance.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is anti-idiotypic antibody immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA antibody.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the antibody is administered in a dosage effective to kill anti-dsDNA antibody producing cells.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the antibody is administered in a dosage effective to decrease the amount of anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the patient.  
     
     
         8 . A therapeutic composition in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for administration to a patient selected from the group consisting of peptides having sequence identity with ribosomal protein S1 which are immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA and anti-idiotypic antibody or antibody fragments immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA antibodies.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the peptide is between four and forty amino acids in length.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the peptide is conjugated to a carrier molecule or is a fusion protein.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the composition is a peptide administered to a patient in an amount effective to induce tolerance.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the composition is anti-idiotypic antibody immunoreactive with anti-dsDNA antibody.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the antibody is administered in a dosage effective to kill anti-dsDNA antibody producing cells.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the antibody is administered in a dosage effective to decrease the amount of anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the patient.