Use of IL-15 to increase thymic output and to treat lymphopenia
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsGeorge N. Pavlakis, Barbara K. Felber, Antonio Valentin, Cristina Bergamaschi
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Abstract
The present invention provides method for promoting the maturation and export of T cells from thymic tissue by contacting the thymic tissue with supraphysiological levels of interleukin (IL)-15. The present invention also provides methods for preventing, alleviating, reducing, and/or inhibiting lymphopenia or peripheral depletion of lymphocytes in a patient in need thereof by administering to the patient IL-15.
Claims11
A method of reducing or inhibiting depletion of lymphocytes and/or promoting repopulation of depleted lymphocytes in peripheral tissue in a human subject, administering a composition comprising a purified IL-15/IL-15Rα heterodimer consisting of IL-15 bound to a soluble form of IL-15Rα, wherein the soluble form of IL-15Rα comprises amino acids 31 to 200 of SEQ ID NO:20.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.