Modulation of yeast-based immunotherapy products and responses
View Patent ↗Disclosed are methods to modulate yeast-based immunotherapy products and the immune responses, prophylactic responses, and/or therapeutic responses elicited by such products. Also disclosed are modified yeast-based immunotherapy products, kits and compositions.
1. A method to inhibit the production or survival of CD4+ TH17 cells in a subject, comprising administering to a subject:
a) a yeast-based immunotherapy composition comprising a whole yeast and an antigen; and
b) an agent that inhibits the production or survival of CD4+ TH17 cells,
wherein the agent inhibits interleukin-6 (IL 6), and wherein the agent is selected from an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, or a soluble inactive form of IL-6 or its receptor;
wherein the administration of the agent is prior to, in conjunction with, and/or following administration of the yeast-based immunotherapy composition, and wherein the production or survival of CD4+ TH17 cells is inhibited in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject, as a result of administration of the yeast-based immunotherapy composition in the absence of the agent, produces statistically significantly (p>0.05) more IL-17 and/or has more TH17 CD4+ T cells than the average level of IL-17 production or average number of TH17 cells in CD4+ T cells isolated from the same source from a population of individuals who are generally healthy or, as a group, are not experiencing a particular disease or condition.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein T cells that have been isolated from the subject do not proliferate or proliferate weakly in response to contact with a yeast-based immunotherapy composition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein T cells that have been isolated from the subject have greater than normal retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γexpression and/or have greater than normal levels of IL-17 production.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yeast-based immunotherapy composition is administered in one or more doses over a period of time prior to commencing the administration of the agent.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is administered for a period of time sufficient to induce an initial immune response in the subject, followed by a period of time wherein the yeast-based immunotherapy composition is administered in the absence of the agent.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the whole yeast is a heat-inactivated whole yeast.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the whole yeast is from Saccharomyces.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the whole yeast is from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is anti-IL-6.
11. A composition comprising:
a) a yeast-based immunotherapy composition comprising a whole yeast and an antigen; and
b) an agent that inhibits the production or survival of CD4+ TH17 cells, wherein the agent
inhibits interleukin-6 (IL 6), and wherein the agent is selected from an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, or a soluble inactive form of IL-6 or its receptor.
12. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the agent is anti-IL-6.