 Morpholino-subunit combinatorial library and method |
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| Method of producing transgenic animals |
| What is claimed is: 1. A method for transferring DNA into fertilized eggs of a non-human mammal, ... |
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| Humanized immunoglobulins |
| OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, novel means of designing humanized ... |
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| Recombinant retroviruses |
| Briefly stated, the present invention provides recombinant retroviruses carrying a vector construct ... |
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| Transgenic bovine |
| In accordance with the above objects, the invention includes transgenes for producing recombinant ... |
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| Lipid binding protein 4 |
| 1. An isolated polypeptide selected from one of the groups consisting of: (a) a polypeptide encoded ... |
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| Humanized anti-ErbB2 antibodies and treatment with anti-ErbB2 antibodies |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Definitions An "ErbB receptor" is a receptor protein tyrosine ... |
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| Tumor killing effects of enterotoxins, superantigens, and related compounds |
| What is claimed is: 1. A mammalian cell comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a ... |
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Superantigen based methods and compositions for treatment of diseases
| Details |
Inventors: Terman, David Stephen;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Bansal; Geetha P.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Venable, Livnat; Shmuel
The present invention relates to therapeutic methods and compositions employing superantigens. Methods and compositions employing superantigens and immunotherapeutic proteins in combination with one another have been found to provide more effective treatment than either component used alone. Superantigens, in conjunction with one or more additional immunotherapeutic antigens, may be used to either induce a therapeutic immune response directed against a target or to inhibit a disease causing immune response. Specific combinations of superantigens and immunotherapeutic antigens are used to treat specific diseases. The induction (or augmentation) of a desired immune against a target may be used, for example, to kill cancer cells or kill the cells or an infectious agent. The inhibition of an immune response, e.g., through the induction of T cell anergy, may be used to reduce the symptoms of an autoimmune disease. Diseases that may be treated by the methods and compositions of the invention include neoplastic diseases, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. One aspect of the invention is to provide methods for the treatment of diseases comprising the steps of administering an effective amount of a superantigen and an immunotherapeutic so as to have the desired therapeutic effect. The superantigen and immunotherapeutic antigen may be administered together as a mixture. Alternatively, the superantigen and immunotherapeutic antigen may be administered separately. In one embodiment of the invention, the superantigen and immunotherapeutic antigen are administered to the patient in the form of a immunotherapeutic antigen-superantigen polymer of the invention. Another aspect of the invention is to provide methods for the treatment of diseases comprising the steps of incubating a lymphocyte population ex vivo a superantigen and an immunotherapeutic protein so as to either activate or anergize T cells within the selected population. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A pharmaceutical compound comprising a therapeutic antigen and superantigen, wherein said super antigen is conjugated to the therapeutic antigen and wherein the therapeutic antigen does not comprise an antigen binding region of an antibody.
2.
A pharmaceutical compound according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic antigen is a tumor specific antigen.
3.
A pharmaceutical compound according to claim 2, wherein the tumor specific antigen is selected from the group consisting of MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MART-1, and tyrosinase.
4.
A pharmaceutical compound according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic antigen is chemically conjugated to the therapeutic antigen.
5.
A pharmaceutical compound according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic antigen is chemically conjugated to the therapeutic antigen as a fusion protein.
6.
A method of making an immunotherapeutic polymer, said method comprising the steps of mixing a plurality of first subunits with a plurality of second subunits, wherein the first subunits are superantigens and the second subunits are immunotherapeutic antigens that are tumor specific antigens, crosslinking the first and second subunits in random combination.
7.
An immunotherapeutic polymer made by the process of claim 6.
Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention in the field of immunology, more particularly the therapeutic use of superantigens.
BACKGROUND ART The immune system plays a central role in both preventing and causing many diseases.
It is of interest to provide methods and compositions for the induction of immune response directed against harmful cells and viruses.
Similarly, it is of interest to provide methods and compositions to inhibit unwanted immune responses in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or transplanted organ rejection.
Superantigens, such as some bacterial enterotoxins, have been found to have profound effects on the proliferation of T cell populations.
The invention described herein relates to methods and compositions for using superantigens to exert desirable therapeutic effects on the immune system
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Drugs 
