Using heat shock proteins to increase immune response

A method of inducing an immune response by a vaccine composition in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a heat shock protein preparation;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced, the vaccine composition being in an amount that is sub-immunogenic for the component in the absence of step(a),
• such that an immune response to the component is induced in the subject, and wherein the heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component.

A method for producing an immune response in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been contacted with a heat shock protein preparation, and wherein the heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• such that an immune response to the component is produced in the subject.

A method of inducing an immune response by a vaccine composition in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been activated by contacting the antigen presenting cells with a heat shock protein preparation;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced, the vaccine composition being in an amount that is sub-immunogenic for the component in the absence of step (a),
• such that an immune response to the component is induced in the subject, and wherein the heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component.

A method for producing an immune response in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced;
• (b) administering to the subject a first heat shock protein preparation, wherein the first heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• and
• (c) administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been activated by contacting the antigen presenting cells with a second heat shock protein preparation which does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• such that an immune response to the component is produced in the subject.

A method of inducing an immune response by a vaccine composition in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a first heat shock protein preparation;
• (b) administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been activated by contacting the antigen presenting cells with a second heat shock protein preparation;
• and
• (c) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced, the vaccine composition being in an amount that is sub-immunogenic for the component in the absence of step(a) and/or step(c);
• such that an immune response to the component is induced in the subject, and wherein the first and the second heat shock protein preparations do not display the immunogenicity of the component.

A method of treating or preventing an infectious disease in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component that displays the antigenicity of an infectious agent that causes the infectious disease;
• (b) administering to the subject an amount of a first heat shock protein preparation effective in combination with step (a) and/or (c) to induce or increase an immune response to the component in the subject, wherein the first heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• and
• (c) administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells effective in combination with step (a) and/or (b) to induce or increase an immune response to the component in the subject, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been activated by contacting the antigen presenting cells with a second heat shock protein preparation which does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• such that an immune response to the component is produced in the subject.

A method of treating or preventing a cancer in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component that displays the antigenicity of a cancer cell;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject an amount of a first heat shock protein preparation effective in combination with step (a) and/or (c) to induce or increase an immune response in the subject to the component, wherein the first heat shock protein preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• and
• (c) administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising activated antigen presenting cells effective in combination with step (a) and/or (b) to induce or increase an immune response to the component in the subject, wherein the antigen presenting cells have been activated by contacting the antigen presenting cells with a second heat shock protein preparation which does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• such that an immune response to the component is produced in the subject.

A method for producing an immune response in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject a α2M preparation, wherein the α2M preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component;
• such that an immune response to the component is produced in the subject.

A method of inducing an immune response by a vaccine composition in a subject comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering to the subject an α2M preparation;
• and
• (b) administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced, the vaccine composition being in an amount that is sub-immunogenic for the component in the absence of step(a),
• such that an immune response to the component is induced in the subject, and wherein the α2M preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component.