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: Epitopes derived from two regions of [alpha]-synuclein elicit immune responses in patients with Parkinson's disease, involving IL-5-secreting CD4 T cells, as well as IFN[gamma]-secreting CD8 cytotoxic T cells.

Genetic studies have shown the association of Parkinson's disease with alleles of the major histocompatibility complex 1,2,3. Here we show that a defined set of peptides that are derived from [alpha]-synuclein, a protein aggregated in Parkinson's disease 4, act as antigenic epitopes displayed by these alleles and drive helper and cytotoxic T cell responses in patients with Parkinson's disease. These responses may explain the association of Parkinson's disease with specific major histocompatibility complex alleles.

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