The present invention is directed to polypeptides containing at least
three amino acids randomly joined in a linear array; wherein at least one
of the three amino acids is an aromatic amino acid, at least one of the
three amino acids is a charged amino acid and at least one amino acid is
an aliphatic amino acid. In a preferred embodiment the polypeptide
contains three or four of the following amino acids: tyrosine, alanine,
glutamic acid or lysine. According to the present invention, the present
polypeptides bind to antigen presenting cells, purified human lymphocyte
antigens (HLA) and/or Copolymer 1-specific T cells. Moreover, according
to the present invention, these polypeptides can be formulated into
pharmaceutical compositions for treating autoimmune disease. The present
invention further contemplates methods of treating an autoimmune disease
in a mammal by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of any
one of the present polypeptides to the mammal.