Table 2.

HLA-DR4 restricted cryptic epitopes identified within domain I with relative binding affinity.

LF peptide sequence	Relative binding affinity of peptide to HLA-DR molecules
	DR1	DR3	DR4	DR7	DR11	DR13	DR15
111 GGKIYIVDGDITKHISLEAL 130	122	>1000	61	15	75	21	6
161 VLVIQSSEDYVENTEKALNV 180	1702	82	29	66	168	>172	958
181 YYEIGKILSRDILSKINQPY 200	69	3	19	4	0.4	5	43
221 LLFTNQLKEHPTDFSVEFLE 240	909	>76	6	51	148	>172	193

The relative binding affinity of peptides to HLA-DR molecules were expressed as a relative activity (ratio of the IC₅₀ of the peptide to the IC₅₀ of a reference peptide which binds strongly to the individual HLA II molecule). Peptides with a high relative binding affinity of <10 are indicated in bold, while moderate binding is characterized by a range of relative affinity varying from 10 to 100. Means were calculated from at least three independent measurements.