Method to target T cell regulatory pathways for treatment of immunological diseases
This technology is therapeutic method to manipulate T cells a priori of disease-causing antigens for the treatment of immunological disease.
Unmet Need: Strategy for treatment of immunological disorders without interfering with normal immune function
A major drawback of immunotherapeutic drugs used to treat autoimmune disorders or prevent rejection of organ transplants is unwanted suppression of protective immunity, such as reduced anti-infection and anti-tumor immunity. A previously described “avidity model” to understand how peripheral immune responses, to both self and foreign antigens, are regulated permits clinical interventions to treat autoimmune diseases by selectively inhibiting intermediate avidity T cells. However, while the recognition of T cell targets can be successfully blocked, the actual target structure that can be used for this technique is not known, limiting the development of additional therapies.
The Technology: Strategy to selectively manipulate T cell regulatory pathways for treatment of immunological disease
This technology is a therapeutic approach to treat immunological disorders without interfering with normal immune responses to foreign pathogens or the mechanisms of self non-self discrimination. Specifically, this technology provides a means to selectively regulate T cells and induce tolerance by utilizing a common target structure preferentially expressed on self-reactive T cells that induce autoimmune disease. This approach is based on the finding that HLA class I histocompatibility antigen alpha chain E (HLA-E) restricted CD8+ T cells can be manipulated to keep self-reactive T cells in check without abrogating the immune system’s capacity to react to the invasion of foreign pathogens. This technology can improve current treatments for immune disorders, such as graft rejection, cancer, and AIDS, by increasing specificity and reducing side effects.
This technology has been validated in vivo in several mouse models of autoimmune disorders.
Applications:
- Development of therapies for autoimmunity, graft rejection, infectious disease, and allergic disorders
- Development of peptide-based vaccines
- Development of anti-tumor therapy to prevent the recurrence of tumors in combination with other therapies
- Research methods for developing assays T cell function
- Research methods for developing animal models to investigate autoimmune diseases
Advantages:
- Allows development of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting previously unknown mechanisms
- Enables treatment of autoimmune disorders without impairing normal immunological function
- Can improve current treatments for immune disorders by increasing specificity and reducing harmful side effects
- Widely applicable to immunology research
- Permits a considerably more comprehensive understanding mechanisms of peripheral tolerance
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR 1779-a
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik