31 results about "Accessory molecule" patented technology

Methods for inducing a population of T cells to proliferate by activating the population of T cells and stimulating an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule are described. T cell proliferation occurs in the absence of exogenous growth factors or accessory cells. T cell activation is accomplished by stimulating the T cell receptor (TCR) / CD3 complex or the CD2 surface protein. To induce proliferation of an activated population T cells, an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, such as CD28, is stimulated with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule. The T cell population expanded by the method of the invention can be genetically transduced and used for immunotherapy or can be used in methods of diagnosis.

Methods for inducing a population of T cells to proliferate by activating the population of T cells and stimulating an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule are described. T cell proliferation occurs in the absence of exogenous growth factors or accessory cells. T cell activation is accomplished by stimulating the T cell receptor (TCR) / CD3 complex or the CD2 surface protein. To induce proliferation of an activated population T cells, an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, such as CD28, is stimulated with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule. The T cell population expanded by the method of the invention can be genetically transduced and used for immunotherapy or can be used in methods of diagnosis.

Methods for inducing a population of T cells to proliferate by activating the population of T cells and stimulating an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule are described. T cell proliferation occurs in the absence of exogenous growth factors or accessory cells. T cell activation is accomplished by stimulating the T cell receptor (TCR) / CD3 complex or the CD2 surface protein. To induce proliferation of an activated population T cells, an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, such as CD28, is stimulated with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule. The T cell population expanded by the method of the invention can be genetically transduced and used for immunotherapy or can be used in methods of diagnosis.

The present invention relates to a novel soluble IL-1 receptor accessory molecule (IL-1R AcM) protein which is a member of the Ig superfamily. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human IL-1R AcM protein IL-1R AcM polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. Screening methods are further provided for identifying agonist and antagonists of IL-1 signal transduction. The invention further relates to methods for treating physiologic and pathologic disease conditions with IL-1R AcM antagonists.

Methods for inducing a population of T cells to proliferate by activating the population of T cells and stimulating an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule are described. T cell proliferation occurs in the absence of exogenous growth factors or accessory cells. T cell activation is accomplished by stimulating the T cell receptor (TCR) / CD3 complex or the CD2 surface protein. To induce proliferation of an activated population T cells, an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, such as CD28, is stimulated with a ligand which binds the accessory molecule. The T cell population expanded by the method of the invention can be genetically transduced and used for immunotherapy or can be used in methods of diagnosis.

The present invention relates to methods and polypeptides for detecting a compound in a sample. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of a cell-free composition comprising at least one G protein coupled receptor embedded in a lipid Mayer which when expressed in a cell the N-terminus of the G protein coupled receptor, or subunits thereof, is outside the cell and the C-terminus is inside the cell, and which is capable of binding the compound. Optionally, the composition also comprises at least one accessory molecule that directly or indirectly binds an intracellular loop and / or the C-terminus of the G protein coupled receptor. The G protein coupled receptor, and / or accessory molecule when present, in combination comprise a bioluminescent protein and an acceptor molecule, which enables bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET) to be used to detect the compound binding the receptor.

The present invention concerns artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) and methods of making and using the same, for example, to isolate, identify, and expand T cell populations specifically reactive against a disease-associated antigenic peptide, as well as to modulate responses of antigen-specific T cells both in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. Accordingly, the aAPCs of the invention can be used to treat conditions that would benefit from modulation of a T cell response, for example, autoimmune disorders, allergies, cancers, viral infections, and graft rejection. In certain preferred embodiments, the aAPCs are liposomes comprised of MHC:peptide complexes and accessory molecules. Other molecules, such as co-stimulatory molecules and adhesion molecules, can also be included in the compositions of the invention. In other embodiments, the aAPCs are comprised of a scaffold to which a plurality of MHC:peptide complexes and accessory molecules (as well as other molecules) can be attached at high density.

The present invention provides a novel family of polypeptides which are ligand-gated channel receptor accessory molecules or ligands, denoted Lynx. This invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a Lynx polypeptide in which the amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:15, including fragments, mutants, variants, analogs, homologs, or derivatives of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:15. This invention further provides an isolated immunogenic polypeptide; an isolated nucleic acid; pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use of the isolated polypeptides and nucleic acids of the present invention; assays for compounds which mimic, alter or inactivate the polypeptides of the present invention for use in therapy; and methods of isolating Lynx polypeptides and the nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides.

The present invention relates to synthetic antigen-presenting matrices, their methods of making and their methods of use. One such matrix is cells that have been transfected to produce MHC antigen-presenting molecules with one or more accessory molecules. The matrices are used to activate naive CD4+ T cells as well as shift the ongoing activation state into a preferred differentiated population of either Th1 or Th2 cells.

T cell responses are often diminished in humans with a compromised immune system. We have developed a method to isolate, stimulate and expand naive cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) to antigen-specific effectors, capable of lysing tumor cells in vivo. This ex vivo protocol produces fully functional effectors. Artificial antigen presenting cells (AAPCs; Drosophila melanogaster) transfected with human HLA class I and defined accessory molecules, are used to stimulate CD8.sup.+ T cells from both normal donors and cancer patients. The class I molecules expressed to a high density on the surface of the Drosophila cells are empty, allowing for efficient loading of multiple peptides that results in the generation of polyclonal responses recognizing tumor cells endogenously expressing the specific peptides. The responses generated are robust, antigen-specific and reproducible if the peptide epitope is a defined immunogen. This artificial antigen expression system can be adapted to treat most cancers in a significant majority of the population.

This invention relates to genes which encode accessory molecule ligands and their use for immunomodulation, vaccination and treatments of various human diseases, including malignancies and autoimmune diseases. This invention also describes the use of accessory molecule ligands which are made up of various domains and subdomain portions of molecules derived from the tumor necrosis factor family. The chimeric molecules of this invention contain unique properties which lead to the stabilization of their activities and thus greater usefulness in the treatment of diseases. Vectors for expressing genes which encode the accessory molecule ligands of this invention are also disclosed.

T cell responses are often diminished in humans with a compromised immune system. We have developed a method to isolate, stimulate and expand naive cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) to antigen-specific effectors, capable of lysing tumor cells in vivo. This ex vivo protocol produces fully functional effectors. Artificial antigen presenting cells (AAPCs; Drosophila melanogaster) transfected with human HLA class I and defined accessory molecules, are used to stimulate CD8.sup.+ T cells from both normal donors and cancer patients. The class I molecules expressed to a high density on the surface of the Drosophila cells are empty, allowing for efficient loading of multiple peptides that results in the generation of polyclonal responses recognizing tumor cells endogenously expressing the specific peptides. The responses generated are robust, antigen-specific and reproducible if the peptide epitope is a defined immunogen. This artificial antigen expression system can be adapted to treat most cancers in a significant majority of the population.