Therapeutic compositions that alter the immune response

Abstract

The invention is therapeutic methods and compositions that alter the immunogenicity of the host.

1 . A method for inducing a host immune response against a multi-epitopic in vivo antigen that does not elicit an effective host immune response, the method comprising contacting the antigen with a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to a first epitope on the antigen, the binding agent present in the composition being non-radiolabeled; and allowing the binding agent to form a binding agent/antigen pair, whereby a host immune response is elicited against a second epitope on the antigen. 
     
     
         2 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for altering a host immune response against an antigen comprising administering to the host a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to the antigen and alters the immune response against the antigen, the binding agent present in the composition being non-radiolabeled, and being present in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 2 mg per kg of body weight of the host. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for inducing a host immune response against a multi-epitopic in vivo antigen, the method comprising contacting the multi-epitopic antigen with a composition comprising a binding agent exclusive of B43.13 that specifically binds to a first epitope on the antigen, and allowing the binding agent to form a binding agent/antigen pair, whereby a host immune response is elicited against a second epitope on the antigen. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for altering the host immune response against an antigen comprising administering to the host a composition comprising a binding agent exclusive of B43.13 that specifically binds to the antigen and alters the immune response against the antigen, the binding agent being present in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 2 mg per kg of body weight of the host. 
     
     
         29 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method for inducing a host immune response against a pre-determined multi-epitopic antigen present in a host's serum, which antigen does not elicit an effective host immune response, the method comprising contacting the antigen with a composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to the antigen and allowing the binding agent to form a binding agent/antigen pair wherein a beneficial host immune response is elicited against the antigen. 
     
     
         44 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A therapeutic composition for inducing a host immune response against a multi-epitopic in vivo antigen that does not elicit an effective host immune response, the composition comprising a binding agent that specifically binds a first epitope on the antigen to form a binding agent/antigen pair whereby a host immune response is elicited against a second epitope on the antigen, said binding agent present in the composition being non-radiolabeled. 
     
     
         58 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A therapeutic composition for altering a host immune response against an antigen comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to the antigen and alters the immune response against the antigen, the binding agent present in the composition being non-radiolabeled, and being present in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 2 mg per kg of body weight of the host. 
     
     
         75 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A therapeutic composition for inducing a host immune response against a multi-epitopic in vivo antigen comprising a binding agent exclusive of B43.13, that specifically binds to a first epitope on the antigen to form a binding agent/antigen pair, whereby a host immune response is elicited against a second epitope on the antigen. 
     
     
         80 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A therapeutic composition for altering the host immune response against an antigen comprising a binding agent exclusive of B43.13 that specifically binds to the antigen and alters the immune response against the antigen, wherein the binding agent is present in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to about 2 mg per kg of body weight of the host. 
     
     
         85 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . A therapeutic composition for inducing a host immune response against a pre-determined multi-epitopic antigen present in a host's serum, which antigen does not elicit an effective host immune response, comprising a binding agent that specifically binds to the antigen to form a binding agent/antigen pair, whereby a beneficial host immune response is elicited against the antigen. 
     
     
         100 . A composition for ameliorating or eliminating a disease or condition associated with a poorly immunogenic antigen, the composition comprising an immunogenic complex comprising the antigen and a binding agent joined to a molecule that mediates an effector function. 
     
     
         101 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the composition further comprises a carrier, a vehicle, or a delivery system. 
     
     
         102 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of liposomes, nanospheres, micelles and microspheres. 
     
     
         103 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the composition increases the immunogenicity of the antigen without affecting its antigenicity. 
     
     
         104 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the antigen is soluble. 
     
     
         105 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the administration of the composition results in the induction or mediation of a comprehensive immune response. 
     
     
         106 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the administration of the composition results in the induction or mediation of cellular or humoral immunity. 
     
     
         107 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the antigen is modified. 
     
     
         108 . The composition of  claim 107 , wherein the antigen is modified by the binding agent. 
     
     
         109 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the molecule that mediates an effector function is joined to a monoclonal antibody; a chimeric monoclonal antibody; a humanized antibody; a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody; a fragment of monoclonal antibody; a single-chain antibody; an antigen-binding peptide; a tumor-binding peptide; a protein or a fragment or combination of fragments thereof. 
     
     
         110 . The composition of  claim 109 , wherein the joining is accomplished by fusing genes to create a fusion protein. 
     
     
         111 . The composition of  claim 109 , wherein the antibody gene is fused to a nucleic acid sequence imparting a signal amplification moeity, a charged moeity, a cytokine moeity, a toxic moeity, a catalytic moeity, a chelating moeity, or a phagocytosis enhancer. 
     
     
         112 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the composition is administered to overcome immunotolerance. 
     
     
         113 . The composition of  claim 112 , wherein the tolerated antigen is a tumour antigen, a viral antigen, a bacterial antigen, a fungal antigen, one associated with a dermatological condition or disorder, or one associated with an autoimmune disorders. 
     
     
         114 . The composition of  claim 112 , wherein overcoming immunotolerance includes at least one of the following: stabilization of disease; production of antibodies against the immunogenic complex; induction of the immune system; induction of one or more components of the immune system; cellular immunity and the molecules involved in its production; humoral immunity and the molecules involved in its production; ADCC immunity and the molecules involved in its production; CDC immunity and the molecules involved in its production; natural killer cells; cytokines and chemokines and the molecules and cells involved in their production; antibody-dependent cytotoxicity; complement-dependent cytotoxicity; natural killer cell activity; and antigen-enhanced cytotoxicity. 
     
     
         115 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the antigen is soluble. 
     
     
         116 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the immunogenic complex is soluble. 
     
     
         117 . The composition of  claim 100 , wherein the molecule that mediates an effector function is xenotypic to the host. 
     
     
         118 . The composition of  claim 100 , comprising one or more immunoglobulin chains. 
     
     
         119 . The composition of  claim 118 , comprising part of an immunoglobulin light chain. 
     
     
         120 . The composition of  claim 118 , comprising part of an immunoglobulin heavy chain. 
     
     
         121 . The composition of  claim 118 , comprising a linker. 
     
     
         122 . A method for ameliorating or eliminating a disease or condition that produces an antigen, the method comprising: administering a composition comprising an immunogenic complex comprising an immunological recognition unit of the antigen, wherein the immunogenic complex further comprises a binding agent joined to a molecule that mediates an effector function. 
     
     
         123 . A method for ameliorating or eliminating a disease or condition that produces a foreign molecule in a host in which the recognition or response phase of immunity has been disrupted, comprising administering a binding agent specific for the foreign molecule to restore the host's ability to recognize said foreign molecule as an immunogenic antigen, or to restore the host's ability to respond to the foreign molecule. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein binding to the foreign molecule increases immunogenicity without diminishing antigenicity. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the foreign molecule is a multi-epitopic antigen. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the binding agent specifically binds to a first epitope on the multi-epitopic in vivo antigen and forms a complex with the antigen, and wherein an effective host immune response against the antigen in the complex is elicited. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the host's ability to recognize said foreign molecule is restored. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the host's ability to respond to the foreign molecule is restored.