Methods and Compositions for Transforming Dendritic Cells and Activating T Cells
Description of Invention:
T cells mediate most forms of cellular immunity. Typically T cells do not respond to free antigenic peptides, but instead T cells interact with a specialized set of cell surface proteins, which are the class I and class II major histocompatibility complexes, or MHC. Specialized antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophage and dendritic cells, present antigenic peptides on the surface cells in conjunction with the MHC molecules, and induce cytotoxic T cells to proliferate. T cells are induced by these antigen-presenting cells to recognize corresponding antigens expressed on MHC antigens on the surface of target cells, and destroy these target cells.
This invention describes a novel method for making transformed dendritic cells with any recombinant nucleic acid, which have been difficult to transduce using existing methods. Recombinant dendritic cells are made by transforming a stem cell and differentiating the stem cell into a dendritic cell. The resulting dendritic cell is an antigen-presenting cell that activates T cells against MHC class I-antigen targets. The present invention provides a valuable tool for the treatment of cancer, and viral and parasitic infections using the recombinant dendritic cells. The invention also provides therapeutic compositions and pharmaceutical compositions.
Relevant Publication:
This research is described in Reeves et al., “Retroviral Transduction of Human Dendritic Cells with a Tumor-Associated Antigen Gene,” Cancer Res. 1996 Dec15, 56(24):5672-5677.
Portfolios: Gene Based Therapies Cancer
Cancer -Therapeutics-Biological Response Modifiers-Cytokines Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics-Gene Therapy-Delivery Systems Cancer -Therapeutics Gene Based Therapies -Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michelle A. Booden Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)451-7337
Email: boodenm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
