The project thus aims at obtaining a thorough understanding of the autoimmune mechanisms that lead to rheumatism, while also attempting to inhibit the disease by induction of tolerance. Cytotoxic T cells are considered to constitute an important line of defence in cancer. Tumour cells often express specific carbohydrate antigens on their cell surface towards which it is desirable to direct the immune system. In an enlarged study cytotoxic T cell clones will now be generated and the possibility of directing such cells to the disaccharide galabiose and the sialyl Tn-antigen on the surface of tumour cells will be investigated. The project is also directed towards development of improved methods for synthesis of glycopeptides containing sialic acid.
Applications are foundin treatment of cancer.