Maturation of dendritic cells with immune response modifying compounds

Abstract

A method of inducing the maturation of dendritic cells by stimulating immature dendritic cells with an imidazoquinoline type immune response modifying compound. Dendritic cells that have been matured in this manner display increased antigen presenting ability and may be used as immunotherapeutic agents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preparing a cellular adjuvant for the treatment of a disease comprising: 
 (a) maturing dendritic cells in vitro by treating the dendritic cells with an imidazoquinoline type immune response modifying compound and    (b) exposing the mature dendritic cells to an antigen associated with said disease.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disease is a neoplastic disease and the antigen is derived from neoplastic cells.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the disease is caused by an infectious agent and the antigen is derived from the infectious agent.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antigen is recombinantly derived.  
     
     
         5 . A method of treating a disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of the cellular adjuvant of  claim 1  to a mammal in need of such treatment.  
     
     
         6 . A method of treating a disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of dendritic cells that have been matured by stimulation with an imidazoquinoline type IRM to mammal in need of such treatment.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the disease is a neoplastic disease.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the disease is a Th2 mediated disease.  
     
     
         9 . A cellular adjuvant prepared by the method of  claim 1.