The invention is related to
peptide constructs, i.e., polypeptides obtained by linking together two or more peptides based on or derived from different molecules, which are useful in the treatment or prevention of autoimmune diseases,
asthma, allergies, and host versus graft (or graft versus host) rejection, as well as to compositions containing same, methods for producing same and methods for using same; wherein the
peptide constructs have the formula P1-x-P2 where P1 is
a peptide associated with
autoimmune disease,
allergy,
asthma, host-versus-
graft rejection,
myocarditis, diabetes, and immune-mediated
disease, which binds to an
antigen receptor on a set or subset of T cells; P2 is
a peptide which will cause a Th2 directed immune response by the set or subset of T cells to which the
peptide P1 is attached or which will bind to a
T cell receptor which will cause the set or subset of T cells to which the peptide P1 is attached to initiate, but not complete, an immune response causing the set or subset of T cells to undergo anergy and
apoptosis; and x is a direct bond or
linker for covalently bonding P1 and P2.