The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 27, 1991
Marit Otterlei, Trondheim, NO;
Terje Espevik, Trondheim, NO;
Gudmund Skjak-Brock, Trondheim, NO;
Olav Smidsrod, Trondheim, NO;
Nobipols Forskningsstiftelse, Trondheim, NO;
Protan Biopolymer A/S, Drammen, NO;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a material and method for the stimulation of the production of cytokines. Several polysaccharides, including polymers of different size of .sym.1-4 linked D-mannuronic acid (poly-M and M-blocks), chitosan and cellulose oxidized in C-6 position C60XY) induce human monocytes to produce the cytokines. Preferably, the molecular weights of poly-M and chitosan are above 50,000 and 20,000 respectively. Pretreatment of the monocytes with IFN-.gamma. increases the cytokine production from monocytes stimulated with all polysaccharides tested. The subject polysaccharides worked in vivo and in vitro. The present invention has therapeutic utility as vaccine adjuvants and components. Therapeutic compositions comprising biologically active quantities of the compositions of the present invention may be employed to potentiate antibody production in response to vaccine antigens. Anti-tumor, anti-bacteriological, anti-fungal and anti-viral effects may be expected.