Use of Urea-Adjuvated Polypeptides for Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Therapy

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for infiltration of polypeptides in cells. The invention further relates to the use of the cells and urea-adjuvated polypeptides for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of diseases. The invention further relates to the detection of polypeptide-specific immune cells.

1 . A method for polypeptide transfer into APC cells comprising the steps of:
 a) incubating polypeptides with a urea solution,   b) incubating cells with the polypeptides present in the urea solution.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the urea solution in step a) has a concentration in the range of about 0.01 mol/litre to about 10 mol/litre. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptides in step a) have a concentration in the range of about 0.01 μg/μl to about 50 μg/μl. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptides in step b) have a concentration in the range of about 0.1 μg to about 200 μg for approximately 10 6  cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the urea concentration in step b) has a final concentration in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.3 mol/litre or less than 0.001 mol/litre or more than 0.3 mol/litre. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the urea solution additionally contains NaCl with a concentration in the range of about 0.25 mmol/litre to about 75 mmol/litre and/or DTE with a concentration in the range of about 0.25 nmol/litre to about 75 nmol/litre. 
     
     
         8 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step b) is performed in vivo in an animal or human subject. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptides in step b) have a concentration in the range of about 0.1 μg to about 200 μg for approximately 10 6  cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein step b) further comprises the use of an adjuvant.