Compositions and methods for modulating an immune response

Abstract

Described herein are compositions for increasing IL-12 production comprising IgG or a fragment thereof or a variant thereof and uses of said compositions for treating cancer and infectious diseases. Also described herein are compositions for decreasing IL-12 production comprising an agent that inhibits signaling mediated by interaction between FcRn and IgG and uses of said compositions for treating autoimmune diseases. Further described herein are methods for assessing efficacy of treatment by monitoring levels of various cytokines in the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining the efficacy of treatment in a subject in need thereof comprising: (a) administering to the subject a treatment comprising a composition comprising an anti-FcRn antibody that inhibits signaling mediated by interaction between FcRn and IgG; (b) providing a sample from the subject, wherein the sample is blood, plasma or tissue; (c) assaying the level of TNF-α in the sample; and (d) determining that the treatment is efficacious if the level of TNF-α in the sample from the subject is lower relative to the level in a reference sample or determining that the treatment is not efficacious if the level of TNF-α in the sample from the subject is higher relative to the level in a reference sample, wherein the subject has an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of a monoclonal antibody or a fragment thereof, a polyclonal antibody or a fragment thereof, chimeric antibody, humanized antibody and single chain antibody.