Lipids as synthetic vectors to enhance antigen processing and presentation ex-vivo in dendritic cell therapy

Abstract

The invention covers the use of certain classes of lipids including cationic lipids in ex-vivo dendritic cell therapies. The cationic lipids enhance antigen uptake, processing and presentation of the processed antigens by dendritic cells to CD8 + and CD4 + T-cells via the MHC classes I and II presentation pathways respectively. Antigen uptake via cationic lipid by dendritic cells result in significant lowering of the population of the immune suppressive regulatory T cells in the tumors and a significant increase of the tumor targeting cytotoxic T-cells. Loss of regulatory T cells and increase of tumor specific cytotoxic cells are conducive to effective elimination of the tumors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An immunotherapy composition comprising at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of T-cell, wherein the at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of T-cell may be administered in combination or separately. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  where the T-cell comprises an antigen specific T-cell. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  where the T-cell comprises an adoptively transferred T-cell. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  where the T-cell comprises an autologous T-cell. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  where the T-cell comprises a CD4 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  where the T-cell comprises a CD8 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  where the cationic lipid comprises DOTAP, DDA, DOTMA or DOEPC, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating or preventing a disease, comprising the administration of a composition to a subject in need thereof, wherein the composition comprises at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of T-cell, wherein the at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of T-cell may be administered in combination or separately. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the T-cells comprise adoptively transferred T-cells. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , resulting in the priming and boosting of the adoptively transferred T-cells. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , where the disease comprises cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , where the disease comprises an infectious disease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , where the T-cell comprises a CD4 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , where the T-cell comprises a CD8 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  where the T-cell comprises an autologous T-cell. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  where the cationic lipid comprises DOTAP, DDA, DOTMA or DOEPC, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating or preventing a disease by inducing the in vivo expansion of adoptively transferred T-cells, comprising the administration of a composition to a subject in need thereof, wherein the composition comprises at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of adoptively transferred T-cell, wherein the at least one cationic lipid and at least one type of adoptively transferred T-cell may be administered in combination or separately. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  where the T-cell comprises an antigen specific T-cell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  where the T-cell comprises an autologous T-cell. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  where the T-cell comprises a CD4 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  where the T-cell comprises a CD8 +  T-cell. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  where the cationic lipid comprises DOTAP, DDA, DOTMA or DOEPC, and combinations thereof.