Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

University of Texas System

Leland Stanford Junior University

Louis J Picker

Leon W Terstappen

Eugene C Butcher

Ellen S Vitetta

Jonathan W Uhr

Vernon C Maino

Richard H Scheuermann

Maria Suni

This invention comprises a novel approach to the assessment of antigen-specific T cells that quantitates and characterizes these cells with unprecedented clarity, and importantly, because it is performed in whole blood, is amenable to routine use in the clinical immunology laboratory. The methodology offers an improved flow cytometric intracellular cytokine assay in whole blood that can simultaneously measure multiple T cell subsets expressing multiple cytokines from a single whole blood culture. Evaluation of whole blood antigen specific cytokine responses has the important advantage of assessing T cell activation in the presence of ALL types of MHC autologous antigen presenting cells present in the native sample. It also has the advantage of enabling a culture system (whole blood) which can reflect effects of systemic environments (i.e. drug augmentation or suppression) on T cell responses to specific stimuli including antigen, by either culturing in the presence of such drug or analyzing the blood of a human or animal receiving such drug.

Method for detecting T cell response to specific antigens in whole blood

A population of T lymphocyte precursor cells is disclosed. In bone marrow, the earliest identifiable T lymphocyte precursor is CD34.sup.+, CD7.sup.+ and Leu 8.sup.+++. Methods of isolation and methods of therapeutic use of such cells also are disclosed.

T lymphocyte precursor

Disclosed are methods for the identification and characterization of tumor cell types present within malignant populations, and novel methods of cancer treatment. Tumor cells in cell cycle arrest have been identified, purified and characterized according to their size, altered morphology, surface phenotype and expression of oncogenes. Tumor cell cycle arrest can be induced in mice lacking an immune system solely upon administration of anti-idiotype antibodies. Methods of manipulating specific signals from the cell surface to alter the malignant phenotype of transformed cells are disclosed, as are methods for either eliminating or specifically maintaining tumor cells in cell cycle arrest.

Method for identifying tumor cells in cell cycle arrest

Methods and compositions are provided for determining neutrophil activation in a mammalian host by detecting the presence of shed LECAM-1 in the blood. By employing a monoclonal antibody which binds to a common epitope of lymphocyte and neutrophil LECAM-1 and a monoclonal antibody which binds to a sialylated Lewis X epitope which distinguishes between neutrophil and lymphocyte LECAM-1, the level of neutrophil activation can be determined. Various immunoassay protocols may be employed which detect the binding of the two antibodies to a common antigen.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

Louis J Picker