Materials and methods for modulating immune responses
The present invention provides materials and methods for modulating an immune response. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an initial artificial lymph-node homing environment, and a simultaneous, or subsequent, artificial spleen environment leading to the resolution of the activated immune responses. In one specific embodiment, the present invention can be used to prevent and/or treat pathogenic infection, cancer, allergenic reactions, and/or unwanted immune or auto-immune responses.
1. A method for inducing a protective immune response against a target autoantigen, wherein the method comprises administering, to a subject in need of such an immune response, a pro-inflammatory adjuvant and an anti-inflammatory adjuvant, wherein said method further comprises administering the target autoantigen;
wherein the pro-inflammatory adjuvant comprises one or more of the following: cytosine-guanosine (CpG) oligonucleotide (CpG-ODN) sequences, a CpG rich oligonucleotide, incomplete Freund's adjuvant, complete Freund's adjuvant, and Freund's adjuvant with muramyldipeptide (MDP);
wherein the anti-inflammatory adjuvant comprises one or more of the following: hemoglobin:haptoglobin, hemin, heme:hemopexin, ethyl pyruvate (EP), anti Thymocyte Globulin, and anti-CD3; and
wherein the target autoantigen is an autoantigen of Type 1 diabetes selected from insulin, proinsulin, the B chain of insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and insulinoma associated-2-protein (IA-2).
2. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-inflammatory adjuvant comprises one or more of the following: hemoglobin:haptoglobin, hemin, and ethyl pyruvate (EP).
3. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-inflammatory adjuvant is administered after the pro-inflammatory adjuvant.
4. The method, according to claim 1 , wherein the pro-inflammatory adjuvant and the anti-inflammatory adjuvant are administered simultaneously.
5. The method, according to claim 1 , further comprising administering an immuno-modulating molecule that induces the migration of an immune cell.
6. The method, according to claim 5 , wherein the immuno-modulating molecule is selected from GM-CSF, G-CSF, or both.