Induced activation in dendritic cells

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a composition and method which to treat diseases and to enhance a regulated immune response. More particularly, the present invention is drawn to compositions that are based on dendritic cells modified to express an inducible form of a co-stimulatory polypeptide.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An ex vivo cell comprising a nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide that encodes a chimeric protein, wherein the chimeric protein comprises:
 (a) a CD40 cytoplasmic polypeptide region lacking the CD40 extracellular domain, and   (b) a ligand binding region comprising a FKBP12(V36) polypeptide.   
     
     
         20 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 19 , wherein the cell is an antigen presenting cell. 
     
     
         21 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 19 , wherein the cell is a dendritic cell. 
     
     
         22 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 19 , wherein the ligand binding region comprises two or more FKBP12(V36) polypeptides. 
     
     
         23 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 22 , wherein the ligand binding region is amino terminal to the CD40 cytoplasmic polypeptide region of the chimeric protein. 
     
     
         24 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 19 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a vector. 
     
     
         25 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 24 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a viral vector. 
     
     
         26 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 24 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a plasmid vector. 
     
     
         27 . An ex vivo cell comprising a nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide that encodes a chimeric protein, wherein the chimeric protein comprises:
 (a) a CD40 cytoplasmic polypeptide region lacking the CD40 extracellular domain, and   (b) an FK506 ligand binding polypeptide region that binds to AP1903 or AP20187.   
     
     
         28 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 27 , wherein the cell is an antigen presenting cell. 
     
     
         29 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 27 , wherein the cell is a dendritic cell. 
     
     
         30 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 27 , wherein the FK506 ligand binding region comprises two or more FK506 ligand binding polypeptides. 
     
     
         31 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 27 , wherein the ligand binding polypeptide region is amino terminal to the CD40 cytoplasmic polypeptide region of the chimeric protein. 
     
     
         32 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 27 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a vector. 
     
     
         33 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 32 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a viral vector. 
     
     
         34 . The ex vivo cell of  claim 32 , wherein the nucleic acid is contained within a plasmid vector.