Abstract
CD40/CD154-interaction is critical in the development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE; mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis). Culprit CD4(+)CD40(+) T cells drive a more severe form of EAE than conventional CD4 T cells. Blocking CD40/CD154-interaction with CD154-antibody prevents or ameliorates disease but had thrombotic complications in clinical trials. We targeted CD40 using a CD154-sequence based peptide. Peptides in human therapeutics demonstrate good safety. A small peptide, KGYY(6), ameliorates EAE when given as pretreatment or at first symptoms. KGYY(6) binds Th40 and memory T cells, affecting expression of CD69 and IL-10 in the CD4 T cell compartment, ultimately hampering disease development.