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:
May. 27, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2005
Catherine Rachel Ettinger, Bethesda, MD (US);
Peter E. Lipsky, Rockville, MD (US);
Warren J. Leonard, Bethesda, MD (US);
Rosanne Spolski, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Herbert C. Morse, Iii, Rockville, MD (US);
Catherine Rachel Ettinger, Bethesda, MD (US);
Peter E. Lipsky, Rockville, MD (US);
Warren J. Leonard, Bethesda, MD (US);
Rosanne Spolski, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Herbert C. Morse, III, Rockville, MD (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed herein for inducing differentiation of a B cell progenitor into a memory B cells and/or a plasma cell. The method includes contacting a population of cells including a mature B cell or a B cell progenitor with an effective amount of IL-21, and isolating memory B cells or plasma cells. In one embodiment, the B cell progenitor is an immature B cell. A method is also disclosed for enhancing an immune response. The method includes contacting a population of cells including a B cell progenitor with an effective amount of IL-21, and isolating memory B cells or plasma cells. The memory B cells and/or the plasma cell are then introduced into the subject to enhance the immune response. A method is also disclosed for treating a subject with a condition comprising a specific deficiency of at least one of memory B cells and plasma cells. A method is disclosed for identifying an agent with a physiological effect on one or more of a memory B cell and a plasma cell differentiation. A method is also disclosed for identifying agents that inhibit an activity of IL-21. Methods are also disclosed for inducing apoptosis of a B cell and for decreasing the number of B cells. A method is also described for producing a B cell hybridoma.