Lymphotactin uses

Abstract

This invention relates to the use of lymphotactin or lymphotactin antagonists for administration to an animal. The administration of these therapeutic entities will attract certain cell types, or can be blocked to prevent such attraction. It also provides means to protect stem cells.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of increasing the numbers of NK and/or CTL cells at a location in an animal, said method comprising administering an amount of lymphotactin effective to increase said numbers.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said increasing is by recruitment of cells to said location.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said recruitment is to a tumor cell.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said tumor cell is from a solid tumor.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said increasing is by proliferation of said cells.  
     
     
         6 . The method of increasing of CTL cells of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a rodent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount is between 20 and 800 μg.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is parenteral.  
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing allogeneic reaction from tissue transplant in an animal, comprising a step of administering an effective amount of an antagonist of lymphotactin to said animal.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said antagonist comprises an antigen binding site from an antibody which neutralizes mouse lymphotactin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antibody is administered: 
 a) at a dose of about 1-10 mg/kg body weight; or    b) at about 10 to about 100 μg per milliliter of patient sera.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said tissue is an organ.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said antagonist reduces the influx of NK or CTL cells to said tissue.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said tissue is an organ transplant, or bone marrow transplant.  
     
     
         16 . A method of inducing cell cycle quiescence in a hematopoietic stem cell, comprising a step of administering to said stem cell an effective amount of lymphotactin.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said lymphotactin is a primate lympotactin.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said quiescence imparts insensitivity to a cell cycle dependent cytotoxic treatment.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said treatment is a chemotherapy or radiation therapy.