IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE BLOOD CELLS AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE SAME
The present invention refers to a method of producing immunosuppressive blood cells that can be used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis, organ graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A method of producing immunosuppressive blood cells comprising:
(a) exposing an isolated blood cell sample to a chemotherapeutic agent; and
(b) optionally exposing the isolated blood cell sample to an autoantigen or a derivative thereof.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the exposure takes place in vitro.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the blood cell sample is first treated with the autoantigen and subsequently with the chemotherapeutic agent.
19 . A method for treating a patient suffering from an autoimmune disease, the method comprising:
(a) obtaining a blood cell sample;
(b) treating the blood cell sample with a chemotherapeutic agent and an autoantigen; and
(c) administering such treated blood cells to the patient;
wherein the treated blood cells ameliorate the autoimmune disease in the patient.
20 . A method for treating an inflammatory disease, organ graft rejection or graft-versus-host disease in a patient comprising administering to the patient a composition comprising
(a) isolated blood cells treated with a therapeutically effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent and optionally an autoantigen or a derivative thereof, and
(b) optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of mitomycin C, C2 ceramide, tunicamycin, mycophenolate-mofetil, tryptophan metabolites, semisynthetic derivates thereof, proteasome inhibitors, and a combination of two or more agents.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is mitomycin C.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the autoantigen is selected from the group consisting of natural antigens, synthetic peptides and natural peptides.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the autoantigen is a synthetic peptide of the myelin basic protein.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the synthetic peptide of the myelin basic protein is copaxone.
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the disease is organ graft rejection or graft-versus-host disease and the blood cells are only treated with a chemotherapeutic agent.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is mitomycin C.
28 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the isolated blood cells are whole blood or peripheral blood mononuclear cells.