Patent ID: 6844314

Claim:
A method for reducing secondary neuronal degeneration that follows neuronal damage caused by an injury, disease, disorder or condition in the central or peripheral nervous system of an individual in need thereof, other than multiple sclerosis, comprising: causing T cells activated by Copolymer 1 or a Copolymer 1-related peptide or polypeptide that is a random copolymer that cross-reacts functionally with myelin basic protein (MBP) and is capable of competing with MBP on the MHC class II molecule in antigen presentation, to accumulate at the site of neuronal degeneration in the individual in need, thereby reducing neuronal degeneration at that site, wherein said causing step comprises— administering an effective amount of said Copolymer 1 or said Copolymer 1-related peptide or polypeptide in such a manner as to cause a T cell response thereto, such that T cells become activated by said Copolymer 1 or Copolymer 1 related peptide or polypeptide; or administering an effective amount of activated T cells that have been activated by said Copolymer 1 or said Copolymer 1-related peptide or polypeptide.