Cell Reactivity to Urushiol Haptenated Peptides

Many drugs and environmental compounds are low molecular weight molecules that can coupleto proteins and function as haptens, evoking deleterious T lymphocyte responses. Current treatmentsare generally directed to amelioration of symptoms. However, advances in understanding the mechanismof T-cell antigen recognition suggests that therapies directed to specific T cells may be possible. Thelong-term objective of this research is to develop an immunotherapeutic approach to anergize orotherwise deviate hapten-specific effector T cells. The approach is to define simple compounds that arerecognized by hapten-specific T cells in the context of class II Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)molecules, and later to use such compounds to test desensitization of individuals sensitive to specifichaptens.