Stimulation of an immune response by enantiomers of cationic lipids
A composition and method for activating immune cells ex-vivo, or inducing an immune response in a subject including a composition comprising at least one chiral cationic lipid. The chiral cationic lipid in one embodiment comprises a nonsteroidal cationic lipid having a structure represented by formula (I); wherein in R 1 is a quaternary ammonium group, Y 1 is a spacer chosen from a hydrocarbon chain, an ester, a ketone, and a peptide, C* is a chiral carbon, R 2 and R 3 are independently chosen from a saturated fatty acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, an ester-linked hydrocarbon, phosphor-diesters, and combinations thereof.
1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunologically active enantiomer of a cationic lipid component and one or more antigens, wherein the cationic lipid component consists of R-DOTAP, and wherein the composition is effective to activate an immune system in a patient.
2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising additional lipids selected from the group consisting of lyso lipids, lysophosphatidylcholine, 1-oleoyl lysophosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, neutral phospholipids, dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC), lipophilic surfactants, Tween-80 and PEG-PE.
3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising lipids, modified lipids, proteins, polycations, receptor ligands, or targeting factors.
4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3 , wherein the targeting factors comprise asialoglycoprotein, insulin, low density lipoprotein (LDL), folate and monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal antibodies.
5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising physiologically compatible sterile buffer solution, phosphate buffered saline, isotonic saline, low ionic strength buffer, acetate or Hepes.
6. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered as an aerosol.
7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered as a liquid solution for intratumoral, intraarterial, intravenous, intratracheal, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration.
8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer.
9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises cholesterol, polyethylene glycol, polysaccharides, monosaccharides, proteins, saccharides, inorganic acids, or organic acids.
10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a controlled release preparation.
11. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 , wherein the composition further comprises polyesters, polyamino acids, methylcellulose, polyvinyl, poly(lactic acid), or hydrogels.
12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an oral preparation.
13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 12 , wherein the composition further comprises sucrose, lactose, methylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or gum Arabic.