Peptide-based immunization therapy for treatment of atherosclerosis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fragment of apolipoprotein B, for immunization for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of mammals, including humans, against ischemic cardiovascular diseases, in particular myocardial infarction or stroke, as well as diagnosing the presence or absence of antibodies related to increased or decreased risk of developing ischemic cardiovascular diseases including stroke, using said peptide in an assay, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptide. The invention further encompasses a particular peptide sequence aggravating disease, which sequence then can be used for diagnostic assays.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A vaccine for immunization of mammals, including humans, against ischemic cardiovascular diseases comprising a therapeutically effective amount of purified or recombinantly produced antibodies against the said native and/or MDA modified sequence
   NH 2 -PTVMDFRKFSRNYQLYKSVSLPS-COOH  (SEQ. ID. NO. 1)   
     or an active part of this peptide. 
   
   
       19 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a mammal, including a human being, suffering from atherosclerosis or facing the risk of developing ischemic cardiovascular diseases, whereby a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of purified, or recombinantly produced antibodies against native and MDA-modified sequence to produce a passive immunization is administered. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the conditions are one or more of unstable atherosclerotic plaques in which oxidized LDL is likely to contribute to inflammation, cell toxicity and risk for plaque rupture, as well as coronary heart disease in older individuals. 
   
   
       23 - 30 . (canceled)