IL-12 enhancement of immune responses to T-independent antigens

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of modulating an immune response to a T-cell or thymus independent antigen in a host (e.g., mammalian, including human), comprising administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and the T-cell independent antigen. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing an immune response to a TI antigen in a host (e.g., mammalian, including human), which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and the TI antigen. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of enhancing an immune response against a TI antigen in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and the TI antigen. The methods of the present invention can be used, for example, to induce and or enhance a humoral immune response (IgG2a and/or IgG3 humoral immune response).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of inducing an immune response to a T-cell independent antigen in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 and the T-cell independent antigen.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a carbohydrate, a lipid, a glycolipid, a carrier conjugate, a lipopolysaccharide and a phage.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the carbohydrate antigen is a polysaccharide antigen.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the polysaccharide antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a bacterial capsular antigen and a bacterial cell wall antigen.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is from bacteria selected from the group consisting of:  Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningiditis  and  Haemophilus influenzae.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the humoral immune response results in an enhanced IgG2a and IgG3 antibody response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the interleukin-12 is administered as a polynucleotide under conditions in which the interleukin-12 is expressed in vivo.  
     
     
         9 . A method of enhancing an immune response against a T-cell independent antigen in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 and the T-cell independent antigen.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a carbohydrate, a lipid, a glycolipid, a carrier conjugate, a phosphorylcholine, a lipopolysaccharide and a phage.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the carbohydrate antigen is a polysaccharide antigen.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polysaccharide antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a bacterial capsular antigen and a bacterial cell wall antigen.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is from bacteria selected from the group consisting of:  Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningiditis  and  Haemophilus influenzae.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the humoral immune response results in an enhanced IgG2a and IgG3 antibody response.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the interleukin-12 is administered as a polynucleotide under conditions in which the interleukin-12 is expressed in vivo.  
     
     
         17 . A method of inducing an immune response to  Streptococcus pneumoniae  in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 and a T-cell independent antigen of  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the humoral immune response results in an enhanced IgG2a and IgG3 antibody response.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the interleukin-12 is administered as a polynucleotide under conditions in which the interleukin-12 is expressed in vivo.  
     
     
         21 . A method of inducing an immune response to  Neisseria meningiditis  in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 and a T-cell independent antigen of  Neisseria meningiditis.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the humoral immune response results in an enhanced IgG2a and IgG3 antibody response.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the interleukin-12 is administered as a polynucleotide under conditions in which the interleukin-12 is expressed in vivo.  
     
     
         25 . A composition comprising interleukin-12 and a T-cell independent antigen.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a carbohydrate antigen, a lipid antigen, a glycolipid antigen, a carrier conjugate antigen, a phosphorylcholine antigen, a lipopolysaccharide antigen and a phage antigen.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26  wherein the carbohydrate antigen is a polysaccharide antigen.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27  wherein the polysaccharide antigen is selected from the group consisting of: a bacterial capsular antigen and a bacterial cell wall antigen.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 25  wherein the T-cell independent antigen is from bacteria selected from the group consisting of:  Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningiditis  and  Haemophilus influenzae.