B Cell Activation and Polypeptides Having CD14 Activity

Abstract

A novel protein purified from bovine colostral whey and isolated nucleotide sequences encoding the protein is identified. The isolated bovine protein is termed Bovine Lactation Associated Immunotropic (Bo-LAIT) protein. The human homologue of Bo-LAIT protein, Hu-LAIT protein, is also described. A method of activating B cells, and particularly of activating B cells in a mammal, such as a human, in need of such activation by administering LAIT protein is described. LAIT protein can be incorporated into infant formula. LAIT protein can be administered to an infant, as by feeding to the infant such formula. LAIT protein can be incorporated as part of a vaccination. LAIT protein can be administered to a patient having a T cell immune deficiency, for example, a particular T cell dysfunction in which gp39 (CD40L) is under expressed on or totally absent from the cell surface of patient T cells. Preparation of medicaments including LAIT protein for activating B cells in a mammal in need of such activation is described. Natural or recombinant LAIT protein can be used.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10 / 734,149, filed Dec. 15, 2003, which application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 313,177, filed May 18, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,905, which issued Jan. 13, 2004, which application is a continuation of PCT / CA97 / 00880, filed Nov. 18, 1997 and published May 28, 1998 under WO98 / 22580, which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 746,883, filed Nov. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,693, which issued Jul. 25, 2000, the specifications of each of these applications being incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention, in the fields of immunology, biochemistry and cell and molecular biology, relates to proteins or proteins that are co- and / or post-translationally modified, termed LAIT proteins, that activate B cells. This invention is also directed to the use of such protein in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038] An “antigen” is a molecule or a portion of a molecule capable of being bound by an antibody which is additionally capable of inducing an animal to produce an antibody capable of binding to an epitope of that antigen. An antigen may have one, or more than one epitope. When an antibody is said to be “specific for” a polypeptide, fragment, or variant thereof or is said to be “capable of binding” to a polypeptide, fragment, or variant thereof it is meant that the antigen will react in a highly selective manner, with its corresponding antibody and not with the multitude of other antibodies which may be evoked by other antigens.

Problems solved by technology

However, the specific interaction of the molecules which mediate the MHC restricted interaction between the two lymphocyte lineages, specifically, the T cell receptor for antigen (TcR), and the MHC / antigen complex expressed by the B cells, do not predicate the induction of B cell growth and differentiation (Eur. J. Immunol. 18:375, 1988).

B cell susceptibility to these cytokines is for the most part limited by prior contact with a T cell.

Each signal drives the B cell to another stage of activation, rendering it susceptible to subsequent progression signals.

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