Diagnostic and therapeutic methods based upon V.alpha.24J.alpha.QT cells
AssigneeThe Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Hafler, Jack L. Strominger, Brian Wilson, Sally C. Kent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods that can be used for diagnosing whether an individual either has, or is likely to develop, an autoimmune disease. The methods are based upon determining the level of CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cells present in the individual being tested or the pattern of cytokine secretion evidenced by these cells. In addition, the invention is directed to a therapeutic method for treating or preventing autoimmune disease which is based upon the specific expansion of the CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cell population.
Claims5
A method for determining the likelihood that a human subject has type 1 diabetes, comprising:
- a) isolating CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cells from said human subject;
- b) stimulanting said t cells with a T cell activating factor and determining the amount of IL-4 and IFN-.gamma. secreted by said CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.- V.alpha.24J.alpha.Q.sup.+ T cells;
- c) based upon the determination of step b), calculating the ratio of IL-4 to IFN-.gamma.;
- and
- d) correlating the ratio determined in step c) with the likelihood that said human subject has type 1 diabetes, wherein said likelihood increases as said ratio decreases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.