Interleukin-18 pretreatment as a cryoprotectant for lymphocytes
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorsNeil Sheppard, Abdulla Berjis
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Abstract
The present invention includes methods useful for cryopreserving immune cells, including natural killer cells (NK cells) and T cells comprising pre-treating the cells with IL-18 and IL-15 cytokine. Also provided is an IL-18/CD4 fusion protein. In some embodiments, the invention includes compositions comprising said pre-treated, cryopreserved cells.
Claims23
A method for cryopreserving an isolated immune cell or precursor cell thereof, said method comprising:
- a. pre-treating the isolated immune cell or precursor cells thereof for at least 24 hours with IL-18 at a concentration between 1.0 and 500 ng/ml;
- b. resuspending the pre-treated immune cell or precursor cell thereof in a cryoprotective medium and freezing the cell at −80° C.;
- and
- c. storing the cryopreserved cell in liquid nitrogen (N2);
- wherein the method maintains viability and cytotoxic function of the cryopreserved immune cell or precursor cell thereof after thawing.
8-9. (canceled)
A fusion protein comprising a first protein domain and a second protein domain separated by a linker, wherein the first protein domain comprises IL-18 peptide and the second protein domain comprises a human CD4 receptor.
19-43. (canceled)
A method for producing a composition comprising an isolated immune cell or precursor cell thereof, said method comprising:
- a. co-culturing the isolated immune cell or precursor cell thereof with a composition comprising an IL-18-CD4 fusion protein;
- b. resuspending the pre-treated immune cell or precursor cell thereof in a cryoprotective medium and freezing the cell at −80° C.;
- c. storing the cryopreserved cell in liquid nitrogen (N2);
- and
- d. thawing cryopreserved cell and resuspending it in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or diluent.
48-67. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.