Molecules preferentially associated with effector T cells and methods of their use

Abstract

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of certain genes which are absent from T regulatory cells and present on effector T cells (Th1 and Th2), e.g., Protein Kinase C Theta (PKC theta). Furthermore, a pathway essential for the production of inflammatory cytokines and cellular proliferation of inflammatory, effector T cells is not utilized by regulatory T cells. Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides. methods for promoting regulatory T cell function in immune cells relative to effector T cell function, comprising contacting immune cells with an agent that inhibits a protein kinase C theta pathway in the immune cells. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for treating a subject having a condition that would benefit from promoting regulatory T cell function relative to effector T cell function in the subject, comprising administering an agent that inhibits a protein kinase C theta pathway in immune cells of the subject. In still another aspect, the invention provides assays for screening compounds that specifically modulate a effector T cell function without modulating regulatory T cell function comprising contacting a protein kinase C theta pathway molecule with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the protein kinase C theta pathway molecule activity, wherein modulation of a protein kinase C theta pathway molecule activity indicates that the test compound is a specific modulator of a effector T cell function.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.