Method of Regulating Interleukin-12 (IL-12) Production by Administering CCR5 Agonists and Antagonists
Description of Invention:
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine produced by the body which is necessary for the development of effective cellular immunity against many microbial agents. Increasing IL-12 production has been shown to both enhance the immune clearance of microbial agents as well as augment the protection induced by vaccines. At the same time a number of inflammatory diseases are associated with the excess production of this cytokine. Therefore, methods are needed to both boost IL-12 production for the induction of host resistance as well as suppress it to treat these immunopathologic disorders.
The present invention relates to methods for increasing IL-12 production in a cell by administering CCR5 agonists and methods for decreasing IL-12 production in a cell administering CCR5 antagonists. The invention also relates to methods for increasing IL-12 production by administering CCR5 agonists and to methods for decreasing IL-12 production in a subject by administering CCR5 antagonists.
Inventors:
Sher et al. (NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-066-2000/0 Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Sally Hu PhD MBA
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5606
Email: hus@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
