Abstract:
The present invention relates to tumor specific antigens and functional proteins of a tumor cell preparable by identifying protein presents in the tumor cell that are selectively immunogenic for tumor patients. The present invention still further provides a process of making a peptide library of tumor specific humoral antigens, a process of increasing the immunogenic specificity of a tumor-associated antigen, an assay kit for detecting the presence of an antibody immunoreactive with a tumor-specific antigen, and a process of making T cells sensitized to a tumor-specific antigen.
Abstract:
Diseases caused by or affected by specific antibodies and/or T lymphocytes that complex with self-molecules in a subject are detected by identifying antigen specific antibodies and/or effector T lymphocytes against the antigen, in a biological fluid of an affected subject. This identification opens up treatment possibilities, for example, by desensitization.
Abstract:
A storage-stable, high potency allergenic extract is prepared by ultrafiltration, retaining fractions having molecular weights of from 1000 to 100,000, and treating the solution with gel polymer and/or carbon absorbents. The extract is dried to a moisture content of less than one weight percent water. The purified solution and aqueous reconstituted solutions of the dried extract provide a transparent, colorless solution which has greatly increased stability, remaining transparent and colorless for extended periods.
Abstract:
The present invention provides peptides and methods for diagnosing and treating multiple sclerosis and wherein the method can also be applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of other immune disorders.
Abstract:
This invention provides purified antigens which are indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque. Different concentrations of these antigens have been found to coincide with the progression of atherosclerosis. The subject invention also provides different hybridoma cell lines which produce monoclonal antibodies directed to antigens associated with atherosclerosis and a hybridoma cell line which produces monoclonal antibodies directed to antigen associated with normal artery and not with plaque. The atherosclerotic plaque antigen, and monoclonal antibodies made thereto, are used in various methods for detecting in a biological sample an antigen present in, and indicative of the presence of, atherosclerotic plaque. The monoclonal antibodies are also used in methods of imaging atherosclerotic plaque, and treating atherosclerosis. The methods of treating atherosclerosis include a method of digesting atherosclerotic plaque with enzymes, and a method of ablating atherosclerotic plaque using radiation. The subject invention also provides a method of treating atherosclerotic plaque by directly delivering a drug to the plaque. The subject invention further provides a method for treating atherosclerosis by blocking the synthesis of atherosclerotic plaque or by blocking binding of antibodies to the antigen.
Abstract:
A method for identifying and quantifying allergen specific IgE levels in patent serum by conjugating the IgE in the serum with allergens adhering to an insoluble support, conjugating the serum IgE with an enzyme labeled anti-IgE antibody, contacting the enzyme label with a solution of a substrate which will yield a fluorescent product in the presence of the enzyme, and measuring the level of fluorescence in the solution. Special reagents and their manufacture are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An inhibition assay for measuring the potency of allergen extracts by incubating a mixture of allergen extract and reference allergen specific IgE in a buffered solution with an insoluble support to which reference allergen is adhered. The conjugated IgE adhering to the insoluble support is reacted with an enzyme labeled anti-IgE antibody and the enzyme label is contacted with a solution of a substrate which will yield a fluorescent product in the presence of the enzyme. The level of fluoresence in the solution is measured. The percentage of inhibition of the allergen specific IgE is determined from fluorescence levels measured for various extract concentrations.
Abstract:
Optimization and validation of a serum test confirms symptomatic autoimmune diseases e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) or rheumatoid arthritis, and identifies early, silent diseases. The methods involve testing of subject sera for the presence of epitope-specific serum IgE and also non-IgE antibodies. The tests are immunoassays wherein serum autoantibodies complex with peptides structurally mimicking humoral, autoimmune epitopes on, for example, myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and proteolipid protein (PLP) for MS. Each peptide: (1) is 5-6 amino acids long; (2) structurally and functionally mimics the surface region of its parent protein; and (3) offers a correct fit for the antigen binding site of a single specific autoantibody. Relapse prediction tests and therapies employ the peptides.
Abstract:
This invention relates to novel general methods and compositions that provide cancer-specific or highly cancer-associated antigens useful for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Abstract:
An antigen comprising 5,7 cholestadien-3.beta.-ol (7-dehydrocholesterol) or a compound having a structure similar to 5,7 cholestadien-3.beta.-ol and a quaternary ammonium salt is provided. Also provided is a method of generating an antibody using the aforementioned antigen, as well as antibodies produced thereby and fragments of such antibodies. The invention also provides a rat myeloma cell line Z2D3 73/30 1D10 and a murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody produced thereby. A CDR-grafted antibody comprising a CDR region amino acid sequence from hybridoma Z2D3 or hybridoma Z2D3/3E5 and framework and constant region amino acid sequences from a human immunoglobulin is further provided. Also provided are methods for imaging atherosclerotic plaque, ablating atherosclerotic plaque, detecting and quantitatively determining in a sample an antigen indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, reducing the amount of atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel, and treating atherosclerosis in a subject. The invention also provides peptides having amino acid sequences which are the same or substantially the same as those of the aforementioned murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody, as well as isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding therefore.