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US 7,731,946 B2Granted
Methods and compositions for modulating T helper (TH) cell development and function
AssigneesWyeth, President and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsMichael J. Grusby, Andrea Wurster, Deborah Young, Mary Collins, Matthew Whitters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and compositions for modulating T helper (Th) cell development and function using modulators of IL-21, e.g., human IL-21, activity or level.
Claims10
A method for inhibiting interferon gamma (IFNγ) levels in a T cell or T cell population, comprising:
- contacting said T cell or T cell population with an interleukin-21 (IL-21) agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit IFNγ in said T cell or T cell population, wherein the agonist is an IL-21 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:
- 2 and which is capable of binding to an interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R) and wherein IFNγ levels in said T cell or said T cell population are measured following contact with said agonist.
A method for promoting differentiation of a Th precursor (Thp) cell or Thp cell population into a Th2 cell or Th2 cell population, comprising:
- contacting said Thp cell or Thp cell population with an IL-21 agonist in an amount sufficient to induce differentiation of said Thp cell or Thp cell population into a Th2 cell or Th2 cell population, wherein the agonist is an IL-21 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 and which is capable of binding to an IL-21R, and wherein said Th2 cell or said Th2 cell population is measured following contact with said agonist.
A method of inhibiting differentiation of a Thp cell or Thp cell population into a Th1 cell or Th1 cell population, comprising:
- contacting said Thp cell or Thp cell population with an IL-21 agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit differentiation of said Thp cell or Thp cell population into a Th1 cell or Th1 cell population, wherein the agonist is an IL-21 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 and which is capable of binding to an IL-21R, and wherein said Th1 cell or said Th1 cell population is measured following contact with said agonist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.