Use of interleukin-15

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system, such as manipulating viability and/or responsiveness of said memory cells. The IL-15 activity enhancing compound is for example lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The invention further relates to the use of IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system. Such inhibiting or eliminating compounds are for example anti-IL-15 antibodies, anti-IL-15Rα antibodies, fragments of these antibodies, e.g. the Fab or F(ab′) 2 fragment, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins consisting of soluble IL-15Rα, and Fc fragment, compounds, e.g. peptides, binding and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.

1 . A method of suppressing formation of memory cells of the immune system of a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds to the mammal.  
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the memory cells are CD4 +  T lymphocytes.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of an anti-IL-15 antibody, anti-IL-15Rα antibody, fragments of these antibodies, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins comprising soluble IL-1 5Rα and Fc fragment, compounds binding and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, and IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  for use in the treatment of auto-immune diseases or in treatment before, during or after transplantation.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  for use in the treatment of immune deficiency diseases or in treatment before, during or after vaccination.  
   
   
       6 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds, optionally together with a suitable excipient.  
   
   
       7 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the IL-15 activity enhancing compound is lipopolysaccharide (LPS).  
   
   
       8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds, optionally together with a suitable excipient.  
   
   
       9 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of an anti-IL-15 antibody, anti-IL-15Rα antibody, fragments of these antibodies, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins comprising soluble IL-15Rα and Fc fragment, compounds binding and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, and IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.