Interleukin-2 Stimulated T-Lymphocyte Cell Death for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases, Allergic Disorders and Graft Rejection
Description of Invention:
T-cell apoptosis induced by administration of IL-2 and antigen offers an important new treatment for allergic disorders, which are due to the effects of antigen-activated T-cells. Antigen-activated T-cells cause the release of harmful lymphokines and the production of immunoglobulin E by B cells. Presently available methods for treating allergies have limitations because they are nonspecific in their action and have side effects and limited efficacy. IL-2 and antigen stimulates the programmed death of only antigen-specific T-cells while leaving the rest of the patient's T-cells and other immune cells intact. This invention is also useful in treating HIV. Both fields of use, allergies and HIV, are available for licensing.
Potential Area of Application:
allergies
HIV complications
Main Advantage of Invention:
precise for a specified antigen
does not compromise a patient's immune system
Inventors:
Michael J. Lenardo (NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-137-1991/0-US-03 -- U.S. Patent 6,083,503 issued 07 Jul 2000
DHHS Reference No. E-137-1991/0-US-04 -- U.S. Patent 5,989,546 issued 23 Nov 1999
Related Technologies:
DHHS Reference No. E-151-1992/0-US-11 -- U.S. Patent 5,935,575 issued 10 Aug 1999, "Interleukin-4 Stimulated T-Lymphocyte Cell Death for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases, Allergic Disorders and Graft Rejection", Lenardo et al.
Relevant Publication:
MK Racke, JM Critchfield, L Quigley, B Cannella, CS Raine, HF McFarland, MJ Lenardo. Intravenous antigen administration as a therapy for autoimmune demyelinating disease. Ann Neurol 1996 Jan; 39(1):46-56
JM Critchfield, MJ Lenardo. Antigen-induced programmed T cell death as a new approach to immune therapy. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1995 Apr; 75(1):13-9
HI McFarland, JM Critchfield, MK Racke, JP Mueller, SH Nye, SA Boehme, MJ Lenardo. Amelioration of autoimmune reactions by antigen-induced apoptosis of T cells. Adv Exp Med Biol 1995; 383:157-66
JM Critchfield, MK Racke, JC Zuniga-Pflucker, B Cannella, CS Raine, J Goverman, MJ Lenardo. T-cell deletion in high antigen dose therapy of autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Science 1994 Feb 25; 263(5150):1139-43
