193 results about "MHC class I" patented technology

The present invention relates to utrons, RNA molecules which contain promoter regulatory motif(s) and DNA analogs thereof and DNA molecules that can be transcribed to produce the foregoing. In particular, the invention provides gene promoter suppressing nucleic acids which suppress transcription from a promoter of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides the TSU gene, nucleotide sequences of the TSU gene and RNA, as well as fragments, homologs and derivatives thereof. Methods of isolating TSU genes are also provided. Therapeutic and diagnostic methods and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. In particular, the invention relates to methods for cell replacement therapy, gene therapy or organ transplantation wherein TSU nucleic acids suppress MHC class I and II gene expression, thus preventing immuno-rejection of non-autologous cells or organs. The invention also provides methods for treatment of diseases or disorders by suppression of MHC class I, MHC class II, ICAM-1, B7-1, B7-2, and/or Fc gamma R expression by provision of TSU function.

Embodiments relate to methods and compositions for eliciting, enhancing, and sustaining immune responses, preferably against MHC class I-restricted epitopes. The methods and compositions can be used for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes.

The present invention provides synthetic vaccines against a variety of pathogenic organisms and tumor cells in humans and other mammals based on biodegradable polymers containing polyester amide (PEA), polyester urethane (PEUR), and polyester urea (PEU) and immunostimulatory adjuvants. The vaccines can be formulated as a liquid dispersion of polymer particles or molecules in which are dispersed an immunostimulatory adjuvant, such as a TLR agonist, and whole protein or peptidic antigens containing MHC class I or class II epitopes derived from organism or tumor cell proteins. Methods of inducing an immune response via intracellular mechanisms to the pathogenic organism or tumor cells specific for the antigen in the invention compositions are also included.

A new method to capture, purify and expand antigen-specific T lymphocytes has been developed using magnetic beads coated with recombinant MHC class I molecules. This method was optimized using homogenous populations of naive T cells purified from mice transgenic for the 2C T cell receptor (TCR). These T cells were captured on beads coated with MHC class I molecules and the relevant antigenic peptides. MHC and peptide specificity was confirmed by the usage of irrelevant MHC peptide combinations. An enrichment of 800 to 1600 fold was measured, using 2C T cells mixed with irrelevant T cells, starting from a 2C T cell frequency of 1/3000. The same approach was used to purify antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells from total CD8⁺ T cells from naive mice. The recovered cells could be expanded and specifically kill target cells in vitro; they had a significant effect in vivo as well. We expect this procedure to be suitable to purify and expand in vitro tumor- and virus-specific killer T cells for use in cell therapy.

Disclosed are synthetic nanocarrier methods, and related compositions, comprising administering immunosuppressants and MHC Class I-restricted and/or MHC Class II-restricted epitopes that can generate tolerogenic immune responses (e.g., antigen-specific T effector cell deletion).

The present invention relates to cancer vaccines composed of the signal peptide domain of tumor associated antigens or proteins. The peptide vaccines of the invention are characterized by having multiple MHC class I and class II epitopes which are highly abundant in the population. Therefore, these vaccines are likely to induce a strong, comprehensive immune response against the target proteins in the majority of the vaccinated population, and thereby induce an immune reaction against tumors expressing such target proteins. Specifically, the invention relates to peptide vaccines composed of the signal peptide domain of Mucin (MUC1), BAGE-1 or ARMET, and their use for the treatment of cancers which express Mucin (MUC1), BAGE-1 or ARMET.

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to methods and compositions for bypassing the involvement of CD4+ cells when generating antibody and MHC class I-restricted immune responses, controlling the nature and magnitude of the response, and promoting effective immunologic intervention in viral pathogenesis. More specifically, embodiments relate to immunogenic compositions for vaccination particularly therapeutic vaccination, against HIV and other microbial pathogens that impact functioning of the immune system, their nature, and the order, timing, and route of administration by which they are effectively used.

Improved molecular vaccines comprise nucleic acid vectors that encode a fusion polypeptide that includes polypeptide or peptide physically linked to an antigen. The linked polypeptide is one that (a) promotes processing of the expressed fusion polypeptide via the MHC class I pathway and/or (b) promotes development or activity of antigen presenting cells, primarily dendritic cells. These vaccines employ one of several types of nucleic acid vectors, each with its own relative advantages: naked DNA plasmids, self-replicating RNA replicons and suicidal DNA-based on viral RNA replicons. Administration of such a vaccine results in enhance immune responses, primarily those mediated by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, directed against the immunizing antigen part of the fusion polypeptide. Such vaccines are useful against tumor antigens, viral antigens and antigens of other pathogenic microorganisms and can be used in the prevention or treatment of diseases that include cancer and infections.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response and the prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases and infectious diseases. The methods of the invention comprise administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a complex, in which the complex consists essentially of a heat shock protein (hsp) noncovalently bound to an antigenic molecule. "Antigenic molecule" as used herein refers to the peptides with which the hsps are endogenously associated in vivo as well as exogenous antigens/immunogens (i.e., with which the hsps are not complexed in vivo) or antigenic/immunogenic fragments and derivatives thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the complex is autologous to the individual. The effective amounts of the complex are in the range of 10-600 micrograms for complexes comprising hsp70, 50-1000 micrograms for hsp90, and 10-600 micrograms for gp96. The invention also provides a method for measuring tumor rejection in vivo in an individual, preferably a human, comprising measuring the generation by the individual of MHC Class I-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific to the tumor. Methods of purifying hsp70-peptide complexes are also provided.

MHC Class I-restricted peptides derived from the tumor associated antigen, survivin, which peptides are capable of binding to Class I HLA molecules at a high affinity, capable of eliciting INF-gamma-producing cells in a PBL population of a cancer patient and capable of in situ detection of cytotoxic T cells in a tumor tissue, therapeutic and diagnostic composition comprising the peptide and uses hereof.

The present invention relates generally to a methodology for the isolation, purification and identification of peptide ligands presented by MHC positive cells. In particular, the methodology of the present invention relates to the isolation, purification and identification of these peptide ligands from soluble class I and class II MHC molecules which may be from uninfected, infected, or tumorigenic cells. The methodology of the present invention broadly allows for these peptide ligands and their cognate source proteins thereof to be identified and used as markers for infected versus uninfected cells and/or tumorigenic versus nontumorigenic cells, with said identification being useful for marking or targeting a cell for therapeutic treatment or priming the immune response against infected/tumorigenic cells.

The invention provides processes and compositions for enhancing the immunogenicity of TAP-1 expression-deficient cells by increasing the presentation of MHC Class I surface molecules for detection by cytotoxic T-lymphocyte cells through increased TAP-1 expression, which comprises administering to the TAP-1 expression-deficient cells a TAP-1 expression increasing amount of a bio-acceptable substance that promotes transcription of TAP-1 gene in the cells to cause enhanced MHC Class I surface expression of the cells. The bio-acceptable substance may be a histone H3 deacetylase inhibitor, such as trichostatin A, a transcriptional co-activator having intrinsic histone acetyl transferase activity or a histone acetyl transferase comprising at least one member of the CBP/p300 protein family. The process and compositions increase the immunogenicity of the target cells to enhance their destruction by cytotoxic lymphocytes.

A nucleic acid molecule encoding an amino acid sequence consisting of an agonist of a MHC class I binding native sequence of CEA having an amino acid substitution and enhanced immunogenicity compared to the native sequence is described. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule, host cell comprising the vector and a kit comprising the encoded agonist peptide are also described.