MODIFIED LEUKOCYTE IG-LIKE RECEPTOR FAMILY MEMBERS (LIR' S) WITH INCREASED AFFINITY FOR CLASS I MHC AND THEIR USES IN MODULATING T CELL ACTIVATION

摘要

The present invention provides polypeptides having the property of binding to a given Class I pMHC CHARACTERISED IN THAT said polypeptide has a KSUBD/SUB for the said given Class I pMHC of less than or equal to lµM and/or has an off-rate (kSUBoff/SUB) for the said given Class I pMHC molecule of 2 SSUP-1/SUP or slower AND said polypeptide has at least a 45 % identity and/or 55 % similarity to SEQ ID NO: 7 AND said polypeptide inhibits CD8 binding to the given pMHC to a greater extent than the polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 3. Such polypeptides are useful, either alone or associated with a therapeutic agent, for the inhibition of cyto-toxic T cell (CTL) responses.