Generation of HLA-Ig based Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells

Adoptive immunotherapy involves stimulation of viral- or tumor-specific T cells, ex vivo, followed by transfer of expanded numbers of activated autologous T cells back into patients. While adoptive immunotherapy holds promise as a treatment for both infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients as well as for cancer, development of adaptive immunotherapy has been impeded by the lack of a reproducible and economical method for generating therapeutic numbers of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Scientists at Johns Hopkins have solved this problem by replacing cellular antigen presenting cells with an artificial Antigen Presenting Cell (aAPC), made by coupling HLA-Ig and anti-CD28 to beads. Artificial APCs were found to compare favorably with the "gold standard" dendritic cell (DC)-mediated expansion of antigen-specific CTL with respect to cell expansion, but are far superior in the ease of preparation and reproducibility. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) The artificial antigen presenting cells described in this invention can be used to rapidly and reliably expand antigen-specific CTLs in the presence of relevant peptides. CTLs generated using this approach have many applications including use in immunotherapy and treating cancer.

Inventor(s): Schneck, Jonathan

Type of Offer: Licensing



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