Substances

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a polypeptide which comprises i) a first portion comprising the part of human Fc which binds to CD64, and ii) a second portion comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes for stimulating a cytotoxic T cell response. The polypeptide may be an antibody which may be used to stimulate an cytotoxic T cell response against pathogens and tumour cells in patients in need of such treatment.

1 . The use of a polypeptide which comprises (i) a first portion comprising the part of human Fc which binds to CD64, and (ii) a second portion comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes in the manufacture of a medicament for stimulating a cytotoxic T cell response.  
     
     
         2 . The use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises the Fc segment of human IgG.  
     
     
         3 . The use as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the IgG is human IgG1.  
     
     
         4 . The use as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first portion comprises human FcγI.  
     
     
         5 . The use as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the second portion is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         6 . The use as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the Fab fragment is non-human, preferably from mouse.  
     
     
         7 . The use as claimed  claim 5 , wherein the Fab fragment is from human.  
     
     
         8 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the heterologous T cell epitope is a pathogen epitope.  
     
     
         9 . The use as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the heterologous T cell epitope is a non-pathogen epitope.  
     
     
         10 . The use as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the non-pathogen epitope is a tumour epitope.  
     
     
         11 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the polypeptide is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         12 . The use as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the polypeptide is a protein domain-Fc construct.  
     
     
         13 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the medicament stimulates cytotoxic and helper T cell responses.  
     
     
         14 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the medicament is for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cancer.  
     
     
         15 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the medicament is for intramuscular and/or intradermal administration.  
     
     
         16 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising the use of a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide which comprises (i) a first portion comprising the part of human Fc which binds to CD64, and (ii) a second portion comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes in the manufacture of a medicament for stimulating a cytotoxic T cell response.  
     
     
         17 . The use as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the medicament further comprises an adjuvant  
     
     
         18 . A method for stimulating a cytotoxic T cell response in a patient such as a mammal, including human, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide which comprises (i) a first portion comprising the part of human Fc which binds to CD64, and (ii) a second portion comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes.  
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  modified by the features of any one of  claims 1  to  17 .  
     
     
         20 . The constant region of a human antibody capable of binding CD64 fused to a polypeptide comprising one or more T cell.  
     
     
         21 . The constant region of a human antibody as claimed in  claim 20 , modified by the features of any one of claims  2 - 10 .  
     
     
         22 . A nucleic acid encoding the constant region of a human antibody as claimed in  claim 20  or  claim 21.