Dna vaccines encoding heat shock proteins

Abstract

A method of treating a T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease by administering to an individual in need thereof an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant construct of a nucleic acid sequence encoding heat shock protein 90 (HSP 90), or an active fragment thereof, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to one or more transcription control sequences. The disease is other than insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or rheumatoid arthritis. The administering of the immunogenic composition results in a shift of the immune response to a Th2 response, thereby treating the disease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease, which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant construct of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heat shock protein 90 (HSP 90), or an active fragment thereof, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to one or more transcription control sequences, thereby treating the disease, wherein the disease is other than insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or rheumatoid arthritis, and wherein the administering of the immunogenic composition results in a shift of the immune response to a Th2 response. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a delivery vehicle selected from the group consisting of liposomes, micelles, emulsions and cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered to the individual prior to the appearance of disease symptoms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of: systemic lupus erythematosus, collagen II arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune neuritis, psoriasis, Sjogren's disease, thyroid disease, sarcoidosis, autoimmune uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis) and autoimmune hepatitis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease is inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, topical, intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian HSP is human HSP90. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is a human. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of (a) obtaining cells from the individual; (b) transfecting the cells ex vivo with the composition comprising the recombinant construct of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the heat shock protein or the active fragment thereof; and (c) reintroducing the transfected cells to the individual. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease, which comprises administering to an individual in need thereof an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant construct of a nucleic acid sequence encoding mammalian heat shock protein HSP90 (full length), wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to one or more transcription control sequences, and wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by direct injection, thereby treating the disease, wherein the disease is other than insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or rheumatoid arthritis, and wherein the administering of the immunogenic composition results in a shift of the immune response to a Th2 response. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of: systemic lupus erythematosus, collagen II arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune neuritis, psoriasis, Sjogren's disease, thyroid disease, sarcoidosis, autoimmune uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis) and autoimmune hepatitis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the T cell-mediated inflammatory autoimmune disease is inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises a delivery vehicle selected from the group consisting of liposomes, micelles, emulsions and cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered to the individual prior to the appearance of disease symptoms. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, topical, intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising the steps of (a) obtaining cells from the individual; (b) transfecting the cells ex vivo with the composition comprising the recombinant construct of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the heat shock protein or the active fragment thereof; and (c) reintroducing the transfected cells to the individual. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the HSP90 is human HSP90. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the individual is a human.