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:
Aug. 25, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2003
Terry B. Strom, Brookline, MA (US);
Xian Chang LI, Newton, MA (US);
Xin Xiao Zheng, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Terry B. Strom, Brookline, MA (US);
Xian Chang Li, Newton, MA (US);
Xin Xiao Zheng, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc., Boston, MA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is based, in part, on expression studies of IL-2 and IL-15 receptor subunits by cycling T cells in vivo. In one embodiment, the invention generally features novel combinations of IL-2 and IL-15 antagonists and methods of suppressing the immune response by administering these antagonists. In each case, suppression is achieved by administration of a first agent that targets an IL-15 molecule or an IL-15 receptor (IL-15R) and a second agent that targets an IL-2 molecule or an IL-2 receptor (IL-2R). More generally, the invention features novel combinations of agents that, when administered to a patient (or to a transplant ex vivo), reduce the number of antigen-reactive T cells. For example, the invention features compositions (e.g., pharamaceutically acceptable compositions) that include two or more agents, each of which promote T cell death. Alternatively, the composition can contain at least one agent that promotes T cell death and at least one agent that inhibits T cell proliferation. The agent that promotes T cell death can promote AICD (activation induced cell death), passive cell death, ADCC (antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) or CDC (complement directed cytotoxicity).