Ex-vivo treatment of peripheral blood leukocytes with IFN-λ
The present invention provides a method of treating Th2-associated diseases and disorders by modulating the expression or secretion of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 using interferon lambda (IFN-λ). For Th2-associated diseases and disorders, cells of a patient having a Th2-associated disease or disorder are treated ex vivo, with IFN-λ and returned to the patient. The present invention also provides a method of ex vivo treatment, in conjunction with co-administration of IFN-λ.
1. A method of ex vivo treatment of mononuclear cells, comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining peripheral blood from a human subject;
(b) isolating mononuclear cells from said peripheral blood;
(c) exposing said isolated mononuclear cells to interferon lambda (IFN-λ); and
(d) administering said exposed cells to said human subject,
wherein said IFN-λ is present in an amount sufficient to inhibit a stimulus-induced cytokine release, and
wherein said stimulus is selected from the group consisting of Concanavalin A and anti-CD2/3/28 beads and said cytokine is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said IFN-λ is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, and IFN-λ3.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said IFN-λ amount is the range about 1 ng/mL to about 200 μg/mL.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said IFN-λ amount is in the range of about 100 ng/mL to about 10 μg/mL.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing step is performed for about 1 hour to about 24 hours.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing step is performed for about 6 hours to about 12 hours.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said human subject is suffering form asthma.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said asthma is virus-induced or allergen-induced.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mononuclear cells are the range of about 1×10 7 cells to about 1×10 9 cells.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mononuclear cells are about 1×10 8 cells.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating the step (a) through step (d).
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step (e) of administering a composition comprising IFN-λ to the human subject.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said IFN-λ composition is administered nasally, intravenously, or orally.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said step (e) is performed simultaneously or sequentially with step (d).