U.S. patent application number 16/166607 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-21 for immunostimulatory combinations.
The applicant listed for this patent is TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. Invention is credited to Cory L. AHONEN, Ross M. KEDL, Randolph J. NOELLE.
Application Number | 20190083592 16/166607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32713179 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190083592 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NOELLE; Randolph J. ; et
al. |
March 21, 2019 |
IMMUNOSTIMULATORY COMBINATIONS
Abstract
The present invention provides immunostimulatory combinations.
Generally, the immunostimulatory combinations include a TLR agonist
and a TNF/R agonist. Certain immunostimulatory combinations also
may include an antigen.
Inventors: |
NOELLE; Randolph J.;
(Plainfield, NH) ; AHONEN; Cory L.; (Enfield,
NH) ; KEDL; Ross M.; (Centennial, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE |
Hanover |
NH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
32713179 |
Appl. No.: |
16/166607 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14850529 |
Sep 10, 2015 |
10105426 |
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16166607 |
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13657032 |
Oct 22, 2012 |
9161976 |
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14850529 |
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13165916 |
Jun 22, 2011 |
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13657032 |
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12049874 |
Mar 17, 2008 |
7993659 |
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13165916 |
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10748010 |
Dec 30, 2003 |
7387271 |
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12049874 |
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60437398 |
Dec 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 31/18 20180101;
A61P 37/02 20180101; A61K 2039/572 20130101; A61P 37/00 20180101;
A61K 39/39541 20130101; A61K 31/7084 20130101; A61P 11/06 20180101;
A61P 31/04 20180101; A61P 35/02 20180101; A61K 39/12 20130101; A61P
43/00 20180101; A61K 31/4745 20130101; A61P 31/16 20180101; A61K
31/7115 20130101; A61K 38/08 20130101; A61K 39/0002 20130101; A61K
39/0011 20130101; A61K 2039/55516 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101;
A61P 33/02 20180101; A61P 7/00 20180101; A61P 17/02 20180101; A61K
31/5377 20130101; A61K 39/3955 20130101; A61K 2039/585 20130101;
A61P 25/00 20180101; A61P 17/00 20180101; A61K 45/06 20130101; A61K
39/39 20130101; A61P 17/14 20180101; A61P 37/04 20180101; A61P
31/20 20180101; A61P 31/12 20180101; A61P 27/16 20180101; A61P
31/10 20180101; A61K 2039/505 20130101; A61K 2039/55561 20130101;
A61K 38/10 20130101; A61K 2039/55511 20130101; A61K 31/739
20130101; A61K 38/164 20130101; A61P 31/22 20180101; A61K
2039/55572 20130101; A61P 33/00 20180101; A61P 31/00 20180101; A61P
37/08 20180101; A61K 39/02 20130101; A61K 31/4745 20130101; A61K
2300/00 20130101; A61K 39/39541 20130101; A61K 2300/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61K 39/00 20060101
A61K039/00; A61K 38/08 20190101 A61K038/08; A61K 31/7115 20060101
A61K031/7115; A61K 31/7084 20060101 A61K031/7084; A61K 31/5377
20060101 A61K031/5377; A61K 39/395 20060101 A61K039/395; A61K 45/06
20060101 A61K045/06; A61K 39/39 20060101 A61K039/39; A61K 38/10
20060101 A61K038/10; A61K 39/12 20060101 A61K039/12; A61K 31/4745
20060101 A61K031/4745; A61K 38/16 20060101 A61K038/16; A61K 39/02
20060101 A61K039/02; A61K 31/739 20060101 A61K031/739 |
Claims
1. An immunostimulatory combination comprising: at least one TLR
agonist and at least one TNF/R agonist, each in an amount that, in
combination with the other(s), is(are) effective to synergistically
increase a subject's immune response to a desired antigen, wherein
the at least one TNF/R agonist comprises a 4-1BB agonist.
2. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 1 wherein the at
least one TLR agonist is an agonist of at least one of TLR1, TLR2,
TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, or any combination
of any of the foregoing.
3. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 2 wherein the TLR
agonist comprises an IRM compound or an agonist of TLR2, or
comprises MALP-2, LPS, polyIC, or CpG.
4. (canceled)
5. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 3 wherein the IRM
compound comprises an imidazoquinoline amine, a
tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amine, an imidazopyridine amine, a
1,2-bridged imidazoquinoline amine, a 6,7-fused
cycloalkylimidazopyridine amine, an imidazonaphthyridine amine, a
tetrahydroimidazonaphthyridine amine, an oxazoloquinoline amine, a
thiazoloquinoline amine, an oxazolopyridine amine, a
thiazolopyridine amine, an oxazolonaphthyridine amine, or a
thiazolonaphthyridine amine.
6. (canceled)
7. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 1 wherein the at
least one TNF/R agonist further comprises an agonist of CD40
ligand, OX40 ligand, CD27, CD30 ligand (CD153), TNF.alpha.,
TNF-.beta., RANK ligand, LT-.alpha., LT-.beta., GITR ligand, LIGHT
and/or further comprises an agonist of CD40, OX40, 4-1BB, CD70
(CD27 ligand), CD30, TNFR2, RANK, LT-BR, HVEM, GIFR, TROY, or
RELT.
8-9. (canceled)
10. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 1 wherein the at
least one TNF/R agonist comprises an agonistic antibody.
11. A method of inducing a synergistic antigen-specific T.sub.H1
immune response and/or synergistically activating CD8.sup.+ T cells
specific to a desired antigen and/or elicit a synergistic
cell-mediated immune response specific to a desired antigen in a
subject with a disease condition associated with cells which
express said desired antigen comprising: co-administering to the
subject at least one TLR agonist and at least one TNF/R agonist,
each in an amount that, when in combination with the other, is
effective to induce a synergistic T.sub.H1 immune response and/or
synergistically activating CD8.sup.+ T cells specific to a desired
antigen, wherein the at least one TNF/R agonist comprises a 4-1BB
agonist.
12-15. (canceled)
16. The method of claim 11 which further includes the
administration of a desired antigen against which said synergistic
T.sub.H1immune response is elicited and/or to which antigen said
activated CD8.sup.+ T cells are specific.
17-18. (canceled)
19. The method of claim 11 wherein activating CD8.sup.+ T cells
comprises expansion of CD8.sup.+ effector T cells and/or generating
antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ memory T cells.
20-26. (canceled)
27. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one TNF/R agonist
comprises an agonistic antibody.
28. The method of activating or expanding antigen-specific memory
CD8.sup.+ T cells and/or generating antigen-specific CD8.sup.+
memory T cells of claim 19, wherein the subject has had prior
exposure to the desired antigen.
29-42. (canceled)
43. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises a
neoplastic disease.
44-45. (canceled)
46. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises an
infectious disease.
47-48. (canceled)
49. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 1, which further
comprises a desired antigen against which said synergistic immune
response is elicited.
50-56. (canceled)
57. The immunostimulatory combination of claim 49 wherein the
antigen comprises a tumor antigen, a viral antigen, a bacterial
antigen, or a parasitic antigen.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/437,398, filed Dec. 30, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There has been a major effort in recent years, with
significant success, to discover new drug compounds that act by
stimulating certain key aspects of the immune system, as well as by
suppressing certain other aspects (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,039,969 and 6,200,592). These compounds, referred to herein as
immune response modifiers (IRMs), appear to act through basic
immune system mechanisms known as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to
induce selected cytokine biosynthesis. They may be useful for
treating a wide variety of diseases and conditions. For example,
certain IRMs may be useful for treating viral diseases (e.g., human
papilloma virus, hepatitis, herpes), neoplasias (e.g., basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, melanoma),
and T.sub.H2-mediated diseases (e.g., asthma, allergic rhinitis,
atopic dermatitis, multiple sclerosis), and are also useful as
vaccine adjuvants.
[0003] Many of the IRM compounds are small organic molecule
imidazoquinoline amine derivatives (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
4,689,338), but a number of other compound classes are known as
well (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,446,153; 6,194,425; and
6,110,929) and more are still being discovered. Other IRMs have
higher molecular weights, such as oligonucleotides, including CpGs
(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,388).
[0004] In view of the great therapeutic potential for IRMs, and
despite the important work that has already been done, there is a
substantial ongoing need to expand their uses and therapeutic
benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, the invention provides immunostimulatory
combinations that include a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist, each
in an amount that, in combination with the other, is effective for
increasing the immune response by a subject against an antigen. In
some embodiments, the immunostimulatory combination can further
include an antigen in an amount that, in combination with the other
components of the combination, is effective for inducing an immune
response by a subject against the antigen. In another aspect, the
present invention provides a method of inducing a T.sub.H1 immune
response in a subject. The method includes co-administering to the
subject a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist, each in an amount that,
when in combination with the other, is effective to induce a
T.sub.H1 immune response. In some embodiments, the method further
includes co-administering an antigen in an amount effective to
induce the subject to generate an immune response against the
antigen.
[0006] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of activating antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells in a subject. The
method includes co-administering to the subject a TLR agonist and a
TNF/R agonist, each in an amount that, in combination with the
other, is effective to activate CD8.sup.+ T cells. In some
embodiments, the method further includes co-administering an
antigen in an amount effective to induce the subject to generate an
immune response against the antigen. In some embodiments,
activating CD8.sup.+ cells can include expansion of CD8.sup.+
effector T cells. In alternative embodiments, activating CD8.sup.+
T cells can include generating CD8.sup.+ memory T cells.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of activating antigen-specific memory CD8.sup.+ l T cells in a
subject having prior exposure to an antigen. The method includes
administering to the subject the antigen in an amount effective to
induce antigen-specific CD8+ memory T cells to become activated,
thereby generating antigen-specific CD8+ effector T cells. In some
embodiments, the method further includes co-administering a TLR
agonist in an amount effective to induce antigen-specific
CD.sup.+memory T cells to become activated, thereby generating
antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ effector T cells.
[0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of treating a condition in a subject. The method includes
co-administering to the subject a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist,
each administered in an amount that, when in combination with the
other, is effective for stimulating a cell-mediated immune
response. In some embodiments, the method further includes
co-administering an antigen associated with the condition in an
amount effective for inducing a cell-mediated immune response.
[0009] Various other features and advantages of the present
invention should become readily apparent with reference to the
following detailed description, examples, claims and appended
drawings. In several places throughout the specification, guidance
is provided through lists of examples. In each instance, the
recited list serves only as a representative group and should not
be interpreted as an exclusive list.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 1.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 2.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 3.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 4.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 5.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing the results of Example 6.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a line graph showing the results of Example 7.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing the results of Example 8.
[0018] FIG. 9 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 9.
[0019] FIG. 10A shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 10.
[0020] FIG. 10B is a bar graph showing the results of Example
10.
[0021] FIG. 11 shows flow cytometry data showing the results of
Example 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0022] The present invention provides immunostimulatory
combinations and therapeutic and/or prophylactic methods that
include administering an immunostimulatory combination to a
subject.
[0023] In general, the immunostimulatory combinations can provide
an increased immune response compared to other immunostimulatory
combinations and/or compositions. Thus, methods and
immunostimulatory combinations of the invention can improve the
efficacy of certain immunological treatments and/or provide
effective treatment while using less of a component of the
combination. This may be desirable if a particular component, while
useful for generating a desired immunological response, is
expensive, difficult to obtain, or generates undesirable side
effects.
[0024] As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth:
[0025] "Agonist" refers to a compound that, in combination with a
receptor, can produce a cellular response. An agonist may be a
ligand that directly binds to the receptor. Alternatively, an
agonist may combine with a receptor indirectly by, for example, (a)
forming a complex with another molecule that directly binds to the
receptor, or (b) otherwise resulting in the modification of another
compound so that the other compound directly binds to the receptor.
An agonist may be referred to as an agonist of a particular
receptor or family of receptors (e.g., a TLR agonist or a TNF/R
agonist).
[0026] "Antigen" refers to any substance that is capable of being
the target of an immune response. An antigen may be the target of,
for example, a cell-mediated and/or humoral immune response raised
by a subject organism. Alternatively, an antigen may be the target
of a cellular immune response (e.g., immune cell maturation,
production of cytokines, production of antibodies, etc.) when
contacted with immune cells.
[0027] "Co-administered" refers to two or more components of a
combination administered so that the therapeutic or prophylactic
effects of the combination can be greater than the therapeutic or
prophylactic effects of either component administered alone. Two
components may be co-administered simultaneously or sequentially.
Simultaneously co-administered components may be provided in one or
more pharmaceutical compositions. Sequential co-administration of
two or more components includes cases in which the components are
administered so that each component can be present at the treatment
site at the same time. Alternatively, sequential co-administration
of two components can include cases in which at least one component
has been cleared from a treatment site, but at least one cellular
effect of administering the component (e.g., cytokine production,
activation of a certain cell population, etc.) persists at the
treatment site until one or more additional components are
administered to the treatment site. Thus, a co-administered
combination can, in certain circumstances, include components that
never exist in a chemical mixture with one another.
[0028] "Immunostimulatory combination" refers to any combination of
components that can be co-administered to provide a therapeutic
and/or prophylactic immunostimulatory effect. The components of an
immunostimulatory combination can include, but are not limited to,
TLR agonists, TNF/R agonists, antigens, adjuvants, and the
like.
[0029] "Mixture" refers to any mixture, aqueous or non-aqueous
solution, suspension, emulsion, gel, cream, or the like, that
contains two or more components. The components may be, for
example, two immunostimulatory components that, together, provide
an immunostimulatory combination. The immunostimulatory components
may be any combination of one or more antigens, one or more
adjuvants, or both. For example, a mixture may include two
adjuvants so that the mixture forms an adjuvant combination.
Alternatively, a mixture may include an adjuvant combination and an
antigen so that the mixture forms a vaccine.
[0030] "Synergy" and variations thereof refer to activity (e.g.,
immunostimulatory activity) of administering a combination of
compounds that is greater than the additive activity of the
compounds if administered individually.
[0031] "TLR" generally refers to any Toll-like receptor of any
species of organism. A specific TLR may be identified with
additional reference to species of origin (e.g., human, murine,
etc.), a particular receptor (e.g., TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, etc.), or
both.
[0032] "TLR agonist" refers to a compound that acts as an agonist
of a TLR. Unless otherwise indicated, reference to a TLR agonist
compound can include the compound in any pharmaceutically
acceptable form, including any isomer (e.g., diastereomer or
enantiomer), salt, solvate, polymorph, and the like. In particular,
if a compound is optically active, reference to the compound can
include each of the compound's enantiomers as well as racemic
mixtures of the enantiomers. Also, a compound may be identified as
an agonist of one or more particular TLRs (e.g., a TLR7 agonist, a
TLR8 agonist, or a TLR7/8 agonist).
[0033] "TNF/R" generally refers to any member of either the Tumor
Necrosis Factor (TNF) Superfamily or the Tumor Necrosis Factor
Receptor (TNFR) Superfamily. The TNF Superfamily includes, for
example, CD40 ligand, OX40 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, CD27, CD30 ligand
(CD153), TNF-.alpha., TNF-.beta., RANK ligand, LT-.alpha.,
LT-.beta., GITR ligand, and LIGHT. The TNFR Superfamily includes,
for example, CD40, OX40, 4-1BB CD70 (CD27 ligand), CD30, TNFR2,
RANK, LT-.beta.R, HVEM, GITR, TROY, and RELT. "TNF/R agonist"
refers to a compound that acts as an agonist of a member of either
the TNF Superfamily or the TNFR Superfamily. Unless otherwise
indicated, reference to a TNF/R agonist compound can include the
compound in any pharmaceutically acceptable form, including any
isomer (e.g., diastereomer or enantiomer), salt, solvate,
polymorph, and the like. In particular, if a compound is optically
active, reference to the compound can include each of the
compound's enantiomers as well as racemic mixtures of the
enantiomers. Also, a compound may be identified as an agonist of a
particular member of either superfamily (e.g., a CD40 agonist).
[0034] "Treatment site" refers to the site of a particular
treatment. Depending upon the particular treatment, the treatment
site may be an entire organism (e.g., a systemic treatment) or any
portion of an organism (e.g., a localized treatment).
[0035] "Type I interferon" refers, collectively, to IFN-.alpha.,
IFN-.beta., or any mixture or combination thereof.
[0036] "Vaccine" refers to a pharmaceutical composition that
includes an antigen. A vaccine may include components in addition
to the antigen such as, for example, one or more adjuvants, a
carrier, etc.
[0037] In one aspect, the invention provides immunostimulatory
combinations that include a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist. Each
component may, by itself, possess a certain immunostimulatory
activity. In many cases, the combination of components can provide
greater immunostimulatory activity than either component can
provide alone. In certain cases, the combination of components can
provide synergistic immunostimulatory activity.
[0038] In certain embodiments, immunostimulatory combinations of
the invention may be used to induce a T.sub.H1 immune response in a
subject to which the immunostimulatory combination is administered.
As used herein, "inducing a T.sub.H1 immune response" can include
instances in which the immunostimulatory combination induces a
mixed T.sub.H 1/T.sub.H2 response. In certain embodiments, however,
the immunostimulatory combinations can induce a T.sub.H1 immune
response with little or substantially no induction of a T.sub.H2
immune response.
[0039] In some embodiments, immunostimulatory combinations of the
invention may be used as an immunostimulatory adjuvant, i.e.,
combined with one or more antigens, either with or without
additional adjuvants. Thus, in some cases, an immunostimulatory
combination may form a vaccine. In other cases, an
immunostimulatory combination may serve as an adjuvant that may be
used in connection with a vaccine.
[0040] As shown in the Examples that follow, an immunostimulatory
combination that includes a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist can
enhance the expansion of activated CD8.sup.+ T cells, the
generation of memory CD8.sup.+ T cells, or both. Thus, methods and
immunostimulatory combinations of the invention can enhance
antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity in a subject that receives
the immunostimulatory combination or treatment according to a
method described in detail below.
[0041] The TLR agonist may be an agonist of any TLR desirable for a
particular application. TLRs have been identified in various
mammalian species including, for example, humans, guinea pigs, and
mice. The TLR agonist may be an agonist of any TLR (e.g., TLR6,
TLR7, TLR8, etc.) from any species. In some embodiments, the TLR
agonist is an agonist of a human TLR. In many cases, the TLR is a
TLR from the organism to which the immunostimulatory combination
will be administered, although such a correlation is not
necessary.
[0042] Certain TLRs are known to bind certain pathogen-associated
ligands. In some cases the ligands are pathogen-derived, while in
other cases the ligands are subject-derived. For example, TLR3
recognizes polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyIC), a "mimic" of
double-stranded viral RNA; TLR4 recognizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
of many Gram-negative bacteria; TLR5 binds certain flagellins; and
TLR9 binds certain CpG oligonucleotides. Certain small molecule IRM
compounds are known to be agonists of one or more TLRs including,
for example, TLR6, TLR7, and TLR8.
[0043] In some embodiments, the TLR agonist may be an agonist of at
least one of TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. In certain embodiment, the
TLR agonist can be an agonist of TLR7 and/or TLR8. In alternative
embodiments, the TLR agonist may be a TLR8-selective agonist. In
other alternative embodiments, the TLR agonist can be a
TLR7-selective agonist.
[0044] As used herein, the term "TLR8-selective agonist" refers to
any compound that acts as an agonist of TLR8, but does not act as
an agonist of TLR7. A "TLR7-selective agonist" refers to a compound
that acts as an agonist of TLR7, but does not act as an agonist of
TLR8. A "TLR7/8 agonist" refers to a compound that acts as an
agonist of both TLR7 and TLR8.
[0045] A TLR8-selective agonist or a TLR7-selective agonist may act
as an agonist for the indicated TLR and one or more of TLR1, TLR2,
TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR9, or TLR10. Accordingly, while
"TLR8-selective agonist" may refer to a compound that acts as an
agonist for TLR8 and for no other TLR, it may alternatively refer
to a compound that acts as an agonist of TLR8 and, for example,
TLR6. Similarly, "TLR7-selective agonist" may refer to a compound
that acts as an agonist for TLR7 and for no other TLR, but it may
alternatively refer to a compound that acts as an agonist of TLR7
and, for example, TLR6.
[0046] The TLR agonism for a particular compound may be assessed in
any suitable manner. For example, assays for detecting TLR agonism
of test compounds are described, for example, in U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/432,650, filed Dec. 11, 2002, and
recombinant cell lines suitable for use in such assays are
described, for example, in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/432,651, filed Dec. 11, 2002.
[0047] Regardless of the particular assay employed, a compound can
be identified as an agonist of a particular TLR if performing the
assay with a compound results in at least a threshold increase of
some biological activity mediated by the particular TLR.
Conversely, a compound may be identified as not acting as an
agonist of a specified TLR if, when used to perform an assay
designed to detect biological activity mediated by the specified
TLR, the compound fails to elicit a threshold increase in the
biological activity. Unless otherwise indicated, an increase in
biological activity refers to an increase in the same-biological
activity over that observed in an appropriate control. An assay may
or may not be performed in conjunction with the appropriate
control. With experience, one skilled in the art may develop
sufficient familiarity with a particular assay (e.g., the range of
values observed in an appropriate control under specific assay
conditions) that performing a control may not always be necessary
to determine the TLR agonism of a compound in a particular
assay.
[0048] The precise threshold increase of TLR-mediated biological
activity for determining whether a particular compound is or is not
an agonist of a particular TLR in a given assay may vary according
to factors known in the art including but not limited to the
biological activity observed as the endpoint of the assay, the
method used to measure or detect the endpoint of the assay, the
signal-to-noise ratio of the assay, the precision of the assay, and
whether the same assay is being used to determine the agonism of a
compound for multiple TLRs. Accordingly it is not practical to set
forth generally the threshold increase of TLR-mediated biological
activity required to identify a compound as being an agonist or a
non-agonist of a particular TLR for all possible assays. Those of
ordinary skill in the art, however, can readily determine the
appropriate threshold with due consideration of such factors.
[0049] Assays employing HEK293 cells transfected with an
expressible TLR structural gene may use a threshold of, for
example, at least a three-fold increase in a TLR-mediated
biological activity (e.g., NF.kappa.B activation) when the compound
is provided at a concentration of, for example, from about 1 .mu.M
to about 10 .mu.M for identifying a compound as an agonist of the
TLR transfected into the cell. However, different thresholds and/or
different concentration ranges may be suitable in certain
circumstances. Also, different thresholds may be appropriate for
different assays.
[0050] In certain embodiments, the TLR agonist can be a natural
agonist of a TLR or a synthetic IRM compound. IRM compounds include
compounds that possess potent immunomodulating activity including
but not limited to antiviral and antitumor activity. Certain IRMs
modulate the production and secretion of cytokines. For example,
certain IRM compounds induce the production and secretion of
cytokines such as, e.g., Type I interferons, TNF-.alpha., IL-1,
IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, MIP-1, and/or MCP-1. As another example,
certain IRM compounds can inhibit production and secretion of
certain T.sub.H2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-5. Additionally,
some IRM compounds are said to suppress IL-1 and TNF (U.S. Pat. No.
6,518,265).
[0051] Certain IRMs that are useful as TLR agonists in
immunostimulatory combinations of the invention are small organic
molecules (e.g., molecular weight less than about 1000 Daltons, and
less than about 500 Daltons in some cases), as opposed to large
biological molecules such as proteins, peptides, and the like.
Certain small molecule IRM compounds are disclosed in, for example,
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,338; 4,929,624; 4,988,815; 5,037,986;
5,175,296; 5,238,944; 5,266,575; 5,268,376; 5,346,905; 5,352,784;
5,367,076; 5,389,640; 5,395,937; 5,446,153; 5,482,936; 5,693,811;
5,741,908; 5,756,747; 5,939,090; 6,039,969; 6,083,505; 6,110,929;
6,194,425; 6,245,776; 6,331,539; 6,376,669; 6,451,810; 6,525,064;
6,545,016; 6,545,017; 6,558,951; and 6,573,273; European Patent 0
394 026; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0055517; and
International Patent Publication Nos. WO 01/74343; WO 02/46188; WO
02/46189; WO 02/46190; WO 02/46191; WO 02/46192; WO 02/46193; WO
02/46749 WO 02/102377; WO 03/020889; WO 03/043572 and WO
03/045391.
[0052] Additional examples of small molecule IRMs include certain
purine derivatives (such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,376,501, and 6,028,076), certain imidazoquinoline amide
derivatives (such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,149),
certain benzimidazole derivatives (such as those described in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,387,938), and certain derivatives of a 4-aminopyrimidine
fused to a five membered nitrogen containing heterocyclic ring
(such as adenine derivatives described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,376,501;
6,028,076 and 6,329,381; and in WO 02/085905).
[0053] Other IRMs include large biological molecules such as
oligonucleotide sequences. Some IRM oligonucleotide sequences
contain cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) and are described, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,388; 6,207,646; 6,239,116;
6,339,068; and 6,406,705. Some CpG-containing oligonucleotides can
include synthetic immunomodulatory structural motifs such as those
described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,426,334 and 6,476,000.
Other IRM nucleotide sequences lack CpG and are described, for
example, in International Patent Publication No. WO 00/75304.
[0054] Small molecule 1RM compounds suitable for use as a TLR
agonist in immunostimulatory combinations of the invention include
compounds having a 2-aminopyridine fused to a five membered
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring. Such compounds include, for
example, imidazoquinoline amines including but not limited to
substituted imidazoquinoline amines such as, for example,
aminoalkyl-substituted imidazoquinoline amines, amide-substituted
imidazoquinoline amines, sulfonamide-substituted imidazoquinoline
amines, urea-substituted imidazoquinoline amines, aryl
ether-substituted imidazoquinoline amines, heterocyclic
ether-substituted imidazoquinoline amines, amido ether-substituted
imidazoquinoline amines, sulfonamido ether-substituted
imidazoquinoline amines, urea-substituted imidazoquinoline ethers,
and thioether-substituted imidazoquinoline amines;
tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines including but not limited to
amide-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines,
sulfonamide-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines,
urea-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines, aryl
ether-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines, heterocyclic
ether-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines, amido
ether-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines, sulfonamido
ether-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines,
urea-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline ethers, and
thioether-substituted tetrahydroimidazoquinoline amines;
imidazopyridine amines including but not limited to
amide-substituted imidazopyridine amines, sulfonamido-substituted
imidazopyridine amines, urea-substituted imidazopyridine amines;
aryl ether-substituted imidazopyridine amines, heterocyclic
ether-substituted imidazopyridine amines, amido ether-substituted
imidazopyridine amines, sulfonamido ether-substituted
imidazopyridine amines, urea-substituted imidazopyridine ethers,
and thioether-substituted imidazopyridine amines; 1,2-bridged
imidazoquinoline amines; 6,7-fused cycloalkylimidazopyridine
amines; imidazonaphthyridine amines; tetrahydroimidazonaphthyridine
amines; oxazoloquinoline amines; thiazoloquinoline amines;
oxazolopyridine amines; thiazolopyridine amines;
oxazolonaphthyridine amines; and thiazolonaphthyridine amines.
[0055] In certain embodiments, the TLR agonist may be an
imidazonaphthyridine amine, a tetrahydroimidazonaphthyridine amine,
an oxazoloquinoline amine, a thiazoloquinoline amine, an
oxazolopyridine amine, a thiazolopyridine amine, an
oxazolonaphthyridine amine, or a thiazolonaphthyridine amine.
[0056] In certain embodiments, the TLR agonist can be a
sulfonamide-substituted imidazoquinoline amine. In alternative
embodiments, the TLR agonist can be a urea-substituted
imidazoquinoline ether. In another alternative embodiment, the TLR
agonist can be an aminoalkyl-substituted imidazoquinoline
amine.
[0057] In one particular embodiment, the TLR agonist is
4-amino-.alpha.,.alpha.,2-trimethyl-1H
-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-ethanol. In an alternative particular
embodiment, the TLR agonist is
N-(2-{2-[4-amino-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl]ethoxy-
}ethyl)-N-methylmorpholine-4-carboxamide. In another alternative
embodiment, the TLR agonist is
1-(2-amino-2-methylpropyl)-2-(ethoxymethyl)-1H
-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine. In another alternative embodiment,
the TLR agonist is
N-[4-(4-amino-2-ethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl)butyl]methanesulfona-
mide. In yet another alternative embodiment, the TLR agonist is
N-[4-(4-amino-2-propyl-1H
-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl)butyl]methanesulfonamide.
[0058] In certain alternative embodiments, the TLR agonist may be a
substituted imidazoquinoline amine, a tetrahydroimidazoquinoline
amine, an imidazopyridine amine, a 1,2-bridged imidazoquinoline
amine, a 6,7-fused cycloalkylimidazopyridine amine, an
imidazonaphthyridine amine, a tetrahydroimidazonaphthyridine amine,
an oxazoloquinoline amine, a thiazoloquinoline amine, an
oxazolopyridine amine, a thiazolopyridine amine, an
oxazolonaphthyridine amine, or a thiazolonaphthyridine amine.
[0059] As used herein, a substituted imidazoquinoline amine refers
to an aminoalkyl -substituted imidazoquinoline amine, an
amide-substituted imidazoquinoline amine, a sulfonamide-substituted
imidazoquinoline amine, a urea-substituted imidazoquinoline amine,
an aryl ether-substituted imidazoquinoline amine, a heterocyclic
ether -substituted imidazoquinoline amine, an amido
ether-substituted imidazoquinoline amine, a sulfonamido
ether-substituted imidazoquinoline amine, a urea-substituted
imidazoquinoline ether, or a thioether-substituted imidazoquinoline
amines. As used herein, substituted imidazoquinoline amines
specifically and expressly exclude
1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine and
4-amino-.alpha.,.alpha.-dimethyl-2-ethoxymethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-
-l-ethanol.
[0060] The TNF/R agonist may be any suitable agonist of any member
of either the TNF Superfamily or the TNFR Superfamily. In many
cases, a member of one Superfamily can be an agonist of a
complementary member of the other Superfamily. For example, CD40
ligand (a member of the TNF Superfamily) can act as an agonist of
CD40 (a member of the TNFR Superfamily), and CD40 can act as an
agonist of CD40 ligand. Thus, suitable TNF/R agonists include, for
example, CD40 ligand, OX40 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, CD27, CD30 ligand
(CD153), TNF-.alpha., TNF-.beta., RANK ligand, LT-.alpha.,
LT-.beta., GITR ligand, LIGHT, CD40, OX40, 4-1BB, CD70 (CD27
ligand), CD30, TNFR2, RANK, LT-.beta.R, HVEM, GITR, TROY, and RELT.
Additionally, suitable TNF/R agonists include certain agonistic
antibodies raised against a TNF/R (e.g., 1C10 and FGK4.5, each of
which was raised against mouse CD40).
[0061] The TLR agonist and TNF/R agonist are provided (or
administered, as appropriate to the form of the immunostimulatory
combination) in an amount effective to increase the immune response
to a particular antigen. For example, the TLR agonist can be
administered in an amount from about 100 ng/kg to about 100 mg/kg.
In many embodiments, the TLR agonist is administered in an amount
from about 10 .mu.g/kg to about 10 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the
TLR agonist is administered in an amount from about 1 mg/kg to
about 5 mg/kg. The particular amount of TLR agonist that
constitutes an amount effective to increase the immune response to
a particular antigen, however, depends to some extent upon certain
factors including but not limited to the particular TLR agonist
being administered; the particular antigen being administered and
the amount thereof; the particular TNF/R agonist being administered
and the amount thereof; the state of the immune system (e.g.,
suppressed, compromised, stimulated); the method and order of
administration of the TLR agonist, the TNF/R agonist, and the
antigen; the species to which the formulation is being
administered; and the desired therapeutic result. Accordingly it is
not practical to set forth generally the amount that constitutes an
effective amount of the TLR agonist. Those of ordinary skill in the
art, however, can readily determine the appropriate amount with due
consideration of such factors.
[0062] Also, for example, the TNF/R agonist may be administered in
an amount from about 100 ng/kg to about 100 mg/kg. In certain
embodiments, the TNF/R agonist is administered in an amount from
about 10 .mu.g/kg to about 10 mg/kg. In some embodiments, the TNF/R
agonist is administered in an amount from about 1 mg/kg to about 5
mg/kg. The particular amount of TNF/R agonist that constitutes an
amount effective to increase the immune response to a particular
antigen, however, depends to some extent upon certain factors
including but not limited to the particular TNF/R agonist being
administered; the particular TLR agonist being administered and the
amount thereof; the particular antigen being administered and the
amount thereof; the state of the immune system; the method and
order of administration of the TLR agonist, the TNF/R agonist, and
the antigen; the species to which the formulation is being
administered; and the desired therapeutic result. Accordingly it is
not practical to set forth generally the amount that constitutes an
effective amount of the TNF/R agonist. Those of ordinary skill in
the art, however, can readily determine the appropriate amount with
due consideration of such factors.
[0063] In some embodiments, the immunostimulatory combination may
further include an antigen. When present in the immunostimulatory
combination, the antigen may be administered in an amount that, in
combination with the other components of the combination, is
effective to generate an immune response against the antigen. For
example, the antigen can be administered in an amount from about
100 ng/kg to about 100 mg/kg. In many embodiments, the antigen may
be administered in an amount from about 10 .mu.g/kg to about 10
mg/kg. In some embodiments, the antigen may be administered in an
amount from about 1 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. The particular amount
of antigen that constitutes an amount effective to generate an
immune response, however, depends to some extent upon certain
factors such as, for example, the particular antigen being
administered; the particular TLR agonist being administered and the
amount thereof; the particular TNF/R agonist being administered and
the amount thereof; the state of the immune system; the method and
order of administration of the TLR agonist, the TNF/R agonist, and
the antigen; the species to which the formulation is being
administered; and the desired therapeutic result. Accordingly, it
is not practical to set forth generally the amount that constitutes
an effective amount of the antigen. Those of ordinary skill in the
art, however, can readily determine the appropriate amount with due
consideration of such factors.
[0064] When present, the antigen may be administered simultaneously
or sequentially with any component of the immunostimulatory
combination. Thus, the antigen may be administered alone or in a
mixture with one or more adjuvants (including, e.g., a TLR agonist,
a TNF/R agonist, or both). In some embodiments, an antigen may be
administered simultaneously (e.g., in a mixture) with respect to
one adjuvant, but sequentially with respect to one or more
additional adjuvants.
[0065] Sequential co-administration of an antigen and other
components of an immunostimulatory combination can include cases in
which the antigen and at least one other component of the
immunostimulatory combination are administered so that each is
present at the treatment site at the same time, even though the
antigen and the other component are not administered
simultaneously. Sequential co-administration of the antigen and the
other components of the immunostimulatory combination also can
include cases in which the antigen or at least one of the other
components of the immunostimulatory combination is cleared from a
treatment site, but at least one cellular effect of the cleared
antigen or other component (e.g., cytokine production, activation
of a certain cell population, etc.) persists at the treatment site
at least until one or more additional components of the combination
are administered to the treatment site. Thus, it may be possible
that an immunostimulatory combination of the invention can, in
certain circumstances, include one or more components that never
exist in a mixture with another component of the combination.
[0066] The antigen can be any material capable of raising a
T.sub.H1 immune response, which may include one or more of, for
example, a CD8.sup.+ T cell response, an NK T cell response, a
.gamma./.delta. T cell response, or a T.sub.H1 antibody response.
Suitable antigens include but are not limited to peptides;
polypeptides; lipids; glycolipids; polysaccharides; carbohydrates;
polynucleotides; prions; live or inactivated bacteria, viruses or
fungi; and bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, tumor-derived, or
organism-derived antigens, toxins or toxoids.
[0067] Furthermore, it is contemplated that certain currently
experimental antigens, especially materials such as recombinant
proteins, glycoproteins, and peptides that do not raise a strong
immune response, can be used in connection with adjuvant
combinations of the invention. Exemplary experimental subunit
antigens include those related to viral disease such as adenovirus,
AIDS, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, dengue, feline leukemia, fowl
plague, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HSV-1, HSV-2, hog cholera,
influenza A, influenza B, Japanese encephalitis, measles,
parainfluenza, rabies, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus,
wart, and yellow fever.
[0068] In certain embodiments, the antigen may be a cancer antigen
or a tumor antigen. The terms cancer antigen and tumor antigen are
used interchangeably and refer to an antigen that is differentially
expressed by cancer cells. Therefore, cancer antigens can be
exploited to differentially target an immune response against
cancer cells. Cancer antigens may thus potentially stimulate
tumor-specific immune responses. Certain cancer antigens are
encoded, though not necessarily expressed, by normal cells. Some of
these antigens may be characterized as normally silent (i.e., not
expressed) in normal cells, those that are expressed only at
certain stages of differentiation, and those that are temporally
expressed (e.g., embryonic and fetal antigens). Other cancer
antigens can be encoded by mutant cellular genes such as, for
example, oncogenes (e.g., activated ras oncogene), suppressor genes
(e.g., mutant p53), or fusion proteins resulting from internal
deletions or chromosomal translocations. Still other cancer
antigens can be encoded by viral genes such as those carried by RNA
and DNA tumor viruses.
[0069] Examples of tumor antigens include MAGE, MART-1/Melan-A,
gp100, Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), adenosine deaminase-binding
protein (ADAbp), cyclophilin b, Colorectal associated antigen
(CRC)-0017-1A/GA733, Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and its
antigenic epitopes CAP-1 and CAP-2, etv6, aml1, Prostate Specific
Antigen (PSA) and its antigenic epitopes PSA-1, PSA-2, and PSA-3,
prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), T-cell
receptor/CD3-.zeta. chain, MAGE-family of tumor antigens (e.g.,
MAGE-AL MAGE-A2, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A5, MAGE-A6, MAGE-A7,
MAGE-A8, MAGE-A9, MAGE-A10, MAGE-A11, MAGE-A12, MAGE-Xp2 (MAGE-B2),
MAGE-Xp3 (MAGE-B3), MAGE-Xp4 (MAGE-B4), MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, MAGE-C3,
MAGE-C4, MAGE-C5), GAGE-family of tumor antigens (e.g., GAGE-1,
GAGE-2, GAGE-3, GAGE-4, GAGE-5, GAGE-6, GAGE-7, GAGE-8, GAGE-9),
BAGE, RAGE, LAGE-1, NAG, GnT-V, MUM-1, CDK4, tyrosinase, p53, MUC
family, HER2/neu, p21ras, RCAS1, .alpha.-fetoprotein, E-cadherin,
.alpha.-catenin, .beta.-catenin, .gamma.-catenin, p120ctn,
gp100.sup.Pmel117, PRAME, NY-ESO-1, cdc27, adenomatous polyposis
coli protein (APC), fodrin, Connexin 37, Ig -idiotype, p15, gp75,
GM2 and GD2 gangliosides, viral products such as human papilloma
virus proteins, Smad family of tumor antigens, Imp-1, P1A,
EBV-encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1, brain glycogen phosphorylase,
SSX-1, SSX-2 (HOM-MEL -40), SSX-3, SSX-4, SSX-5, SCP-1 and CT-7,
and c-erbB-2.
[0070] Cancers or tumors and specific tumor antigens associated
with such tumors (but not exclusively), include acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (etv6, aml1, cyclophilin b), B cell lymphoma
(Ig-idiotype), glioma (E-cadherin, .alpha.-catenin, .beta.-catenin,
.gamma.-catenin, p120ctn), bladder cancer (p21ras), biliary cancer
(p21ras), breast cancer (MUC family, HER2/neu, c-erbB-2), cervical
carcinoma (p53, p21ras), colon carcinoma (p21ras, HER2/neu,
c-erbB-2, MUC family), colorectal cancer (Colorectal associated
antigen (CRC)-0017-1A/GA733, APC), choriocarcinoma (CEA),
epithelial cell cancer (cyclophilin b), gastric cancer (HER2/neu,
c-erbB-2, ga733 glycoprotein), hepatocellular cancer
(.alpha.-fetoprotein), Hodgkins lymphoma (Imp-1, EBNA-1), lung
cancer (CEA, MAGE-3, NY-ESO-1), lymphoid cell-derived leukemia
(cyclophilin b), melanoma (p15 protein, gp75, oncofetal antigen,
GM2 and GD2 gangliosides, Melan-A/MART-1, cdc27, MAGE-3, p21ras,
gp100.sup.Pmel117), myeloma (MUC family, p21ras), non-small cell
lung carcinoma (HER2/neu, c-erbB-2), nasopharyngeal cancer (Imp-1,
EBNA-1), ovarian cancer (MUC family, HER2/neu, c-erbB-2), prostate
cancer (Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and its antigenic epitopes
PSA-1, PSA-2, and PSA-3, PSMA, HER2/neu, c-erbB-2, ga733
glycoprotein), renal cancer (HER2/neu, c-erbB-2), squamous cell
cancers of the cervix and esophagus (viral products such as human
papilloma virus proteins), testicular cancer (NY-ESO-1), and T cell
leukemia (HTLV-1 epitopes).
[0071] Immunostimulatory combinations of the invention that include
an antigen may form a vaccine. Such vaccines can contain additional
pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients, excipients, carriers, and
the like well known to those skilled in the art.
[0072] Immunostimulatory combinations of the invention can be
administered to animals, e.g., mammals (human and non-human), fowl,
and the like according to conventional methods well known to those
skilled in the art (e.g., orally, subcutaneously, nasally,
topically).
[0073] The invention also provides therapeutic and/or prophylactic
methods that include administering an immunostimulatory combination
of the invention to a subject.
[0074] Unless a specific sequence of administration is provided,
components of the immunostimulatory combination may be administered
simultaneously with the antigen (together in admixture or
separately, e.g., orally or by separate injection) or subsequent to
administering one or more other components of the immunostimulatory
combination. For example, a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist may be
administered simultaneously with one another or sequentially with
respect to each other. Also, when an antigen is present as a
component of the immunostimulatory combination, it may be
administered simultaneously with, or sequentially with respect to,
any other component of the combination.
[0075] Components of the immunostimulatory combination can be
administered simultaneously or sequentially in any order. When the
components are administered simultaneously, they can be
administered in a single formulation or in distinct formulations.
When administered as distinct formulations, whether simultaneously
or sequentially, the components may be administered at a single
site or at separate sites. Also, when administered as distinct
formulations, each formulation may be administered using a
different route. Suitable routes of administration include but are
not limited to transdermal or transmucosal absorption, injection
(e.g., subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous,
etc.), ingestion, inhalation, and the like. When administered
sequentially, the time between administration of the components can
be determined, at least in part, by certain factors such as, for
example, the length of time a particular component persists, either
systemically or at the administration site; or the length of time
that the cellular effects of the component persist, either
systemically or at the administration site, even after the
component has been cleared.
[0076] Certain small molecule IRM compounds can induce biosynthesis
of antiviral cytokines. Therefore, for certain embodiments that
include a live viral antigen and a small molecule IRM compound as
the TLR agonist component of the immunostimulatory combination, it
may be desirable to administer the antigen prior to administering
the IRM compound so that the viral infection can be
established.
[0077] In one aspect, methods of the invention can include
administering a vaccine including an immunostimulatory combination
of the invention to induce a T.sub.H1 immune response in a subject.
As noted above, certain small molecule IRMs, alone, may be useful
as a vaccine adjuvant. An immunostimulatory combination that
includes a TLR agonist (e.g., a small molecule IRM) and a TNF/R
agonist can provide an even greater immune response than either an
antigen alone, an antigen combined with a TLR agonist, or an
antigen combined with a TNF/R agonist. In some cases, an
immunostimulatory combination that includes a TLR agonist and a
TNF/R agonist can synergistically increase an immune response
compared to either a TLR agonist or TNF/R agonist.
[0078] Methods of the invention also include inducing an immune
response from cells of the immune system regardless of whether the
cells are in vivo or ex vivo. Thus, an immunostimulatory
combination of the invention may be useful as a component of a
therapeutic vaccine, a component of a prophylactic vaccine, or as
an immunostimulatory factor used in ex vivo cell culture. When used
to elicit an immune response ex vivo, the immune cells activated ex
vivo may be reintroduced into a patient. Alternatively, factors
secreted by the activated immune cells in the cell culture, (e.g.,
antibodies, cytokines, co-stimulatory factors, and the like) may be
collected for investigative, prophylactic, or therapeutic uses.
[0079] Methods of the invention also include activating naive
CD8.sup.+ T cells in an antigen-specific manner in vivo. The
population of activated antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ l T cells
produced in response to co-administration of an antigen and an
immunostimulatory combination--whether or not the antigen is
explicitly a component of the immunostimulatory combination--may be
divided into two functionally distinct sub-populations. One
population of antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells includes effector
T cells,--CD8.sup.+ T cells actively engaged in providing a
cell-mediated immune response. A second population of
antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells includes memory T cells,
CD8.sup.+ T cells that are not themselves involved in providing an
immune response, but can be readily induced to become
antigen-specific effector cells upon a later contact with the same
antigen. Activation of CD8.sup.+ T cells according to the following
method may induce expansion of antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ effector
T cells, generate antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ memory T cells, or
both.
[0080] An immunostimulatory combination that includes an antigen
may be administered to a subject. After sufficient incubation in
the subject, CD8.sup.+ T cells will mature to antigen-specific
CD8.sup.+ effector T cells in response to the immunization. A
greater percentage of CD8.sup.+ effector T cells will be
antigen-specific in subjects immunized with an immunostimulatory
combination that includes a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist
compared to subjects immunized with only antigen, antigen and a
TNF/R agonist, or antigen and a TLR agonist. FIG. 1 shows flow
cytometry data demonstrating the increased expansion of
antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ effector T cells when a subject is
immunized with an immunostimulatory combination of the
invention.
[0081] Generally, the incubation time between immunization and the
generation of CD8.sup.+ effector T cells is from about 4 days to
about 12 days. In certain embodiments, CD8.sup.+effector T cells
may be generated in about 5 days after immunization. In other
embodiments, CD8.sup.+ effector T cells may be generated in about 7
days after immunization.
[0082] If the antigen is a protein, it may not be necessary to
administer the entire protein to the subject. FIG. 2 shows
expansion kinetics of CD8.sup.+ T cells in response to whole
chicken ovalbumin, but FIG. 1 shows expansion of CD8.sup.+ T cells
using an eight amino acid peptide from chicken ovalbumin (SIINFEKL,
SEQ ID NO:1). Similarly, FIG. 3 shows expansion of CD8.sup.+ T
cells in response to a TRP2-.DELTA.V peptide (SIYDFFVWL, SEQ ID
NO:2).
[0083] Thus, a method that includes administering to a subject an
immunostimulatory combination of the invention may be used to
elicit an antigen-specific response in CD8.sup.+ cytotoxic T
lymphocytes (CTLs) of the subject. Such a response may be directed
against many conditions including, for example, tumors and
virus-infected cell populations. In some embodiments of the
invention, a vaccine of the invention may be administered
prophylactically to provide a subject with a protective
antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity directed against, for
example, tumors and/or viral infections.
[0084] In an alternative embodiment, immunostimulatory combinations
of the present invention may be used to develop antigen-specific
CD8.sup.+ memory T cells in vivo. The antigen-specific CD8.sup.+
memory T cells may be capable of generating a secondary T.sub.H1
immune response upon a second exposure to the antigen. CD8.sup.+ l
effector T cells may be generated from the re-activated CD8.sup.+
memory T cells in as little as 2 hours after re-exposure to the
antigen. The second exposure to the antigen may be by immunization
(i.e., a booster immunization) or natural exposure.
[0085] FIG. 4 shows re-activation of antigen-specific
CD8.sup.+memory T cells four weeks after being generated by
co-administration of an antigen, a TLR agonist, and a TNF/R
agonist. Re-activation of the CD8.sup.+ memory T cells is induced
by challenge with an antigen (panel B), but is even greater when
challenged with co-administered antigen and TLR agonist (panel C).
In certain cases, the antigen-specific cell-mediated immunologic
memory described above may be supplemented by antigen-specific
humoral immunologic memory provided by circulating antibodies
resulting from a T.sub.H2 immune response to one or more components
of a vaccine.
[0086] An immunostimulatory combination of the invention can be
used to therapeutically treat a condition treatable by a
cell-mediated immune response. Such a combination can contain at
least a therapeutically effective amount of a TLR agonist and a
therapeutically effective amount of a TNF/R agonist. In many
embodiments, a therapeutic combination can further include a
therapeutically effective amount of an antigen.
[0087] A therapeutic combination can be provided in further
combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
Because the TLR agonist, TNF/R agonist, and antigen (if present in
the combination) may be co-administered sequentially, at different
sites, and/or by different routes, a therapeutic combination may be
provided in two or more formulations. When provided in two or more
formulations, each formulation can include a carrier similar or
different than the carrier or carriers included in the remaining
formulations. Alternatively, the TLR agonist, TNF/R agonist, and
antigen (if present in the combination) may be provided in a single
formulation, which can include a single carrier or a combination of
carriers.
[0088] Each component or mixture of components may be administered
in any suitable conventional dosage form such as, for example,
tablets, lozenges, parenteral formulations, syrups, creams,
ointments, aerosol formulations, transdermal patches, transmucosal
patches and the like.
[0089] Therapeutic immunostimulatory combinations can be
administered as the single therapeutic agent in the treatment
regimen. Alternatively, a therapeutic immunostimulatory combination
of the invention may be administered in combination with another
therapeutic combination of the invention, with one or more
pharmaceutical compositions, or with other active agents such as
antivirals, antibiotics, additional IRM compounds, etc.
[0090] Because of their ability to induce the T.sub.H1 immune
response and generate a pool of CD8.sup.+ effector T cells, certain
immunostimulatory combinations of the invention can be particularly
useful for treating viral diseases and tumors. This
immunomodulating activity suggests that immunostimulatory
combinations and vaccines of the invention are useful in treating
conditions such as, but not limited to:
[0091] (a) viral diseases such as, for example, diseases resulting
from infection by an adenovirus, a herpesvirus (e.g., HSV-I,
HSV-II, CMV, or VZV), a poxvirus (e.g., an orthopoxvirus such as
variola or vaccinia, or molluscum contagiosum), a picornavirus
(e.g., rhinovirus or enterovirus), an orthomyxovirus (e.g.,
influenzavirus), a paramyxovirus (e.g., parainfluenzavirus, mumps
virus, measles virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)), a
coronavirus (e.g., SARS), a papovavirus (e.g., papillomaviruses,
such as those that cause genital warts, common warts, or plantar
warts), a hepadnavirus (e.g., hepatitis B virus), a flavivirus
(e.g., hepatitis C virus or Dengue virus), or a retrovirus (e.g., a
lentivirus such as HIV);
[0092] (b) bacterial diseases such as, for example, diseases
resulting from infection by bacteria of, for example, the genus
Escherichia, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Shigella,
Listeria, Aerobacter, Helicobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus,
Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Pneumococcus,
Neisseria, Clostridium, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium,
Campylobacter, Serratia, Providencia, Chromobacterium, Brucella,
Yersinia, Haemophilus, or Bordetella;
[0093] (c) other infectious diseases, such chlamydia, fungal
diseases including but not limited to candidiasis, aspergillosis,
histoplasmosis, cryptococcal meningitis, or parasitic diseases
including but not limited to malaria, pneumocystis carnii
pneumonia, leishmaniasis, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, and
trypanosome infection; and
[0094] (d) neoplastic diseases, such as, for example,
intraepithelial neoplasias, cervical dysplasia, actinic keratosis,
basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cell
carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma,
leukemias including but not limited to myelogeous leukemia, chronic
lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,
cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, and hairy cell
leukemia, and other cancers (e.g., cancers identified above);
and
[0095] (e) T.sub.H2-mediated, atopic, and autoimmune diseases, such
as atopic dermatitis or eczema, eosinophilia, asthma, allergy,
allergic rhinitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, essential
thrombocythaemia, multiple sclerosis, Ommen's syndrome, discoid
lupus, alopecia areata, inhibition of keloid formation and other
types of scarring, and enhancing would healing, including chronic
wounds.
[0096] Some embodiments of the immunostimulatory combinations of
the invention also may be useful as a vaccine adjuvant for use in
conjunction with any material that raises either humoral and/or
cell mediated immune response, such as, for example, live viral,
bacterial, or parasitic antigens; inactivated viral, tumor-derived,
protozoal, organism-derived, fungal, or bacterial antigens,
toxoids, toxins; self-antigens; polysaccharides; proteins;
glycoproteins; peptides; cellular vaccines; DNA vaccines;
recombinant proteins; glycoproteins; peptides; and the like, for
use in connection with, for example, BCG, cholera, plague, typhoid,
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza A, influenza B,
parainfluenza, polio, rabies, measles, mumps, rubella, yellow
fever, tetanus, diphtheria, hemophilus influenza b, tuberculosis,
meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines, adenovirus, HIV, chicken
pox, cytomegalovirus, dengue, feline leukemia, fowl plague, HSV-1
and HSV-2, hog cholera, Japanese encephalitis, respiratory
syncytial virus, rotavirus, papilloma virus, yellow fever, and
Alzheimer's Disease.
[0097] Immunostimulatory combinations of the invention may also be
particularly helpful in individuals having compromised immune
function. For example, IRM, compounds may be used for treating the
opportunistic infections and tumors that occur after suppression of
cell mediated immunity in, for example, transplant patients, cancer
patients and HIV patients.
[0098] The invention also provides a method of treating a viral
infection in an animal and a method of treating a neoplastic
disease in an animal comprising administering a therapeutically
effective amount of an immunostimulatory combination of the
invention to the animal. A therapeutically effective amount to
treat or inhibit a viral infection is an amount that will cause a
reduction in one or more of the manifestations of viral infection,
such as viral lesions, viral load, rate of virus production, and
mortality as compared to untreated control animals. A
therapeutically effective amount of a combination to treat a
neoplastic condition is an amount that will cause, for example, a
reduction in tumor size, a reduction in the number of tumor foci,
or slow the growth of a tumor, as compared to untreated
animals.
[0099] In one particular embodiment, an immunostimulatory
combination of the invention may be used to inhibit tumor growth in
vivo. Subjects having tumor cells expressing a particular antigen
may be immunized with a therapeutic combination that contains a TLR
agonist, a TNF/R agonist, and, optionally, the antigen. In some
embodiments, the therapy can include an initial immunization and a
second booster immunization. Tumors taken from subjects immunized
with a therapeutic combination of the invention were generally
smaller than the tumors harvested from either (a) non-immunized
subjects, or (b) subjects immunized with only the antigen (FIGS. 5
and 6).
[0100] FIG. 6 compares tumor size in mice challenged with melanoma
cells that express ovalbumin as a tumor antigen. Seven days after
challenge with the melanoma cells, the mice were immunized with
either (a) ovalbumin peptide, (b) ovalbumin peptide and TLR
agonist, or (c) ovalbumin peptide, TLR agonist, and TFNR agonist.
On day 21 (14 days after immunization), tumors were removed and
measured. The antigen/TLR agonist/TFNR agonist combination provided
superior protection against tumor growth compared to the protection
provided by immunization with the antigen or an antigen/TLR agonist
combination.
[0101] FIG. 7 compares tumor size in mice challenged with melanoma
cells that express ovalbumin as a tumor antigen, in which (a) the
mice received two immunizations against the tumor, and (b) the
antigen component of the immunization included tumor cell lysate
rather than ovalbumin peptide. FIG. 7 shows that immunization with
a combination of TNF/R agonist and antigen provided little or no
protection against tumor growth compared to mice immunized with
only antigen. Again, the antigen/TLR agonist/TFNR agonist
combination provided superior protection against tumor growth
compared to the protection provided by immunization with the
antigen or an antigen/TLR agonist combination.
[0102] In some cases, the extent to which the synergistic nature of
an immune response to an immunostimulatory combination depends upon
Type I interferon correlates with the Type I interferon stimulation
typically observed by activating the TLR that is activated by the
TLR agonist of the combination. FIG. 10 shows that the synergistic
nature of an immune response to an immunostimulatory combination
that includes, as the TLR agonist, an agonist of a TLR that
typically induces Type I interferons (e.g., TLR7, TLR3, TLR9, and
TLR4) can be significantly reduced in mice lacking receptors for
Type I interferons. Thus, the synergistic immune response to such
immunostimulatory combinations is at least partially dependent upon
Type I interferon.
[0103] FIG. 10 also shows, however, that the synergistic immune
response generated with an immunostimulatory combination that
includes an agonist of a TLR that typically induces very little or
no Type I interferon synthesis (MALP-2, a TLR2/6 agonist) is
independent of Type I interferon.
[0104] Furthermore, FIG. 11 shows that the interferon-independent
synergistic immune response induced by an immunostimulatory
combination that includes MALP-2 can be induced using other TLR2
agonists. For example, the TLR2 agonist Pam3cys also can induce a
synergistic immune response in IFN.alpha..beta. receptor knock out
mice (i.e., mice unable to process interferon-dependent cellular
signal).
[0105] Thus, it may be possible, using the methods of the
invention, to tailor an immunostimulatory combination according to
a desired level of Type I interferon induction, a desired Type I
interferon dependency of the immune response, or both. For example,
an immunostimulatory combination that includes a TLR7 agonist may
be desirable when a high level of interferon induction and/or an
immune response that is Type I interferon dependent is sought such
as, for example, for providing therapeutic or prophylactic
treatment against a viral infection. Alternatively, for cases in
which a synergistic immune response is sought without inducing Type
I interferon production, an immunostimulatory combination may
include a TLR2 agonist such as, for example, for providing
therapeutic or prophylactic treatment against a subcutaneous
bacterial infection or a parasitic infection.
[0106] Treatments according to the present invention may include
one or more than one immunization. When the treatment includes more
than one immunization, the treatment can include any suitable
number of immunizations administered at any suitable frequency. The
number and frequency of immunizations in a treatment regimen depend
at least in part upon one or more factors including but not limited
to the condition being treated and the stage thereof, the state of
the subject's immune system, the particular TLR agonist being
administered and the amount thereof, the particular TNF/R agonist
being administered and the amount thereof, and the particular
antigen being administered (if present) and the amount thereof.
[0107] In some embodiments, therapeutic combinations of the
invention may not require an antigen component. For certain
conditions (e.g., B cell lymphoma or chronic bacterial or viral
infections), effective treatment may be obtained using an
immunostimulatory combination that does not include an antigen.
Such conditions may be treatable in this way because, for example,
the condition may provide a sufficient quantity or variety of
condition-specific antigens to generate a cell-mediated immune
response capable of treating the condition.
EXAMPLES
[0108] The following examples have been selected merely to further
illustrate features, advantages, and other details of the
invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that while
the examples serve this purpose, the particular materials and
amounts used as well as other conditions and details are not to be
construed in a matter that would unduly limit the scope of this
invention.
[0109] Unless otherwise indicated, mice used in the following
examples are C57BL6 mice, available from Charles River
Laboratories, Inc., Wilmington, Mass.
[0110] TLR agonists used in the Examples that follow are identified
in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 TLR agonist Compound Name Reference IRM1
4-amino-.alpha.,.alpha.,2-trimethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5- U.S. Pat. No.
c]quinolin-1-ethanol 5,266,575 Example C1 IRM2
N-(2-{2-[4-amino-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-1H- WO 02/46191
imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl]ethoxy}ethyl)- Example 6
N-methylmorpholine-4-carboxamide IRM3
1-(2-amino-2-methylpropyl)-2-(ethoxy- U.S. Pat. No.
methyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine 6,069,149.sup.# IRM4
N-[4-(4-amino-2-ethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5- U.S. Pat. No.
c]quinolin-1-yl)butyl]-methanesulfonamide 6,331,539.sup.# IRM5
N-[4-(4-amino-2-propyl-1H-imidazo[4,5- U.S. Pat. No.
c]quinolin-1-yl)butyl]-methanesulfonamide 6,331,539.sup.#
.sup.#This compound is not specifically exemplified but can be
readily prepared using the synthetic methods disclosed in the cited
reference.
[0111] Ovalbumin peptide (SHNFEKL, SEQ ID NO:1) and TRP2-.DELTA.V
peptide (SIYDFFVWL, SEQ ID NO:2) were obtained from American
Peptide Co., Sunnyvale, Calif.
[0112] MHC tetrameric reagent was prepared using a eukaryotic
(Baculovirus) expression system as follows/described in Kedl et
al., JEM 192(8):1105-1113 (2000).
Example 1
[0113] 2-5 Mice were immunized intravenously with (A) 100 .mu.g
ovalbumin peptide, (B) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide+100 .mu.g
anti-CD40 antibody (1C10), (C) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide+200
.mu.g IRM1, or (D) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide+100 .mu.g IC10
anti-CD40 antibody+200 .mu.g IRM1. At five days after the
immunizations, the spleens were removed from the mice and
homogenized. The homogenized cell suspension was stained with a
major histocompatibility complex (MHC) tetrameric reagent for
detecting ovalbumin-specific T cells (Kedl et al., JEM
192(8):1105-1113 (2000)), a CD8 stain (BD Biosciences Pharmingen,
San Diego, Calif.), and a CD44 stain (BD Biosciences Pharmingen,
San Diego, Calif. When subjected to flow cytometry,
ovalbumin-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells are shown in the upper right
quadrant of the dot plots shown in FIG. 1. Expansion of the
ovalbumin-specific CD8.sup.+ T cell population after stimulation
with the combination of the anti-CD40 antibody and IRM was greater
than the expansion of the ovalbumin-specific CD8.sup.+ T cell
populations after stimulation with either the anti-CD40 antibody or
IRM alone.
Example 2
[0114] Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg ovalbumin
(Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.), 50 .mu.g FGK4.5 anti-CD40
antibody, and 220 .mu.g IRM1. Mice were sacrificed on each of days
four, five, six, nine, and twelve. The spleens were removed from
the sacrificed mice and homogenized. The homogenized cell
suspensions were stained and analyzed as described in Example 1.
When subjected to flow cytometry, ovalbumin-specific CD8.sup.+ T
cells (top) and ovalbumin-specific CD8.sup.+/CD44+ T cells (bottom)
were identified and are shown in the upper right quadrant of each
dot plot. The numbers in the upper right quadrant indicate the
percentage of cells in that quadrant. These data shown that the
synergistic effect on CD8.sup.+ T cell expansion observed in
Example 1 also is observed with (a) a different CD40 agonist, and
(b) full-sized ovalbumin protein as the antigen.
Example 3
[0115] Mice were immunized intravenously with 100 .mu.g FGK4.5
anti-CD40 antibody +200 .mu.g IRM1 and either (A) no peptide, (B)
100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide, or (C) 100 .mu.g TRP2-.DELTA.V
peptide. At five days after the immunizations, the spleens were
removed from the mice and homogenized. The homogenized cell
suspension was stained as in Example 1, except that the MHC
tetramer reagent was prepared for detecting TRP2-.DELTA.V-specific
T cells. When subjected to flow cytometry, TRP2-.DELTA.V-specific
CD8.sup.+ T cells are shown in the upper right quadrant of the dot
plots shown in FIG. 3. The numbers in the upper right quadrant
indicate the percentage of cells in that quadrant. The data show
synergistic expansion of antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells after
stimulation with the combination of the anti-CD40 antibody and an
IRM with yet another antigen.
Example 4
[0116] Mice were immunized intravenously on day 0 with 100 .mu.g
ovalbumin piptide+200 .mu.g IRM1+100 .mu.g of 1C10 anti-CD40
antibody. On day 28, the mice were either (A) left unchallenged,
(B) challenged intravenously with 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide, or
(C) challenged intravenously with 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide+200
.mu.g IRM1. On day 33, the mice were sacrificed, the spleens
removed and spleen cells homogenized. The homogenized cells were
stained and analyzed as described in Example 1. The data are shown
in FIG. 4. The synergistic expansion of CD8.sup.+ T cells that
occurs as a result of immunizing with an antigen, a CD40 agonist,
and an TLR agonist (shown in Example 1) generates a pool of
long-lived CD8.sup.+ memory T cells that can be reactivated by
treatment with IRM and the antigen, shown in (C).
Example 5
[0117] Mice were immunized intravenously as indicated in Table 2.
At five days, the mice were sacrificed, spleens harvested, and the
cells homogenized, stained, and analyzed as in Example 1. The data
are shown in FIG. 5. The numbers in the upper right quadrant
indicate the percentage of cells in that quadrant.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Immunization combinations for Example 5
Sample 3 mg ovalbumin 100 .mu.g CD40 agonist Stimulus A + + none B
+ - none C + + 50 .mu.g CpG D + - 50 .mu.g CpG E + + 30 .mu.g LPS F
+ - 30 .mu.g LPS G + + 50 .mu.g PolyIC H + - 50 .mu.g PolyIC I + +
200 .mu.g IRM1 J + - 200 .mu.g IRM1
Example 6
[0118] Mice were challenged intradermally on day 0 with
1.times.10.sup.5 melanoma B16ova tumor cells in PBS (Kedl et al.
PNAS 98(19):10811-10816). On day 7, the mice were immunized with
either (A) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide, (B) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin
peptide+200 .mu.g IRM1, or (C) 100 .mu.g ovalbumin peptide+200
.mu.g IRM1+100 .mu.g 1C10 anti-CD40 antibody. On day 21, the mice
were sacrificed and the tumors were measured in two dimensions by
caliper. Data are shown in FIG. 6. Immunization with antigen, IRM
and CD40 agonist resulted in slower tumor growth than immunization
with IRM alone.
[0119] Mice also were challenged as described above, and immunized
as described above except that IRM2 was substituted for IRM1. The
results observed using IRM2 in place of IRM1 were similar to the
results observed using IRM1.
Example 7
[0120] Mice were challenged with tu1.times.10.sup.6 cell
equivalents (CE) (A) tumor lysate, (B) 1.times.10.sup.6 CE tumor
lysate+200 .mu.g IRM1, (C) 1.times.10.sup.6 CE tumor lysate+100
.mu.g FGK4.5 anti-CD40 antibody, or (D) 1.times.10.sup.6 CE tumor
lysate+200 .mu.g IRM1+100 .mu.g FGK4.5 anti-CD40 antibody. Tumor
sizes were measured on the mice by caliper on days 14 and 20. The
data are shown in FIG. 7. Immunization with the combination of IRM
and anti-CD40 agonists resulted in slower tumor growth than
immunization with IRM alone or CD40 agonist alone.
Example 8
[0121] Mice were intraperitoneally injected on day 0 with 500 .mu.g
ovalbumin, 50 .mu.g CD40 agonist (FGK4.5), and either 500 .mu.g
IRM3, 200 .mu.g IRM4, 800 .mu.g IRM5, 800 .mu.g IRM2, or no IRM
(control). On day 6, the mice were sacrificed and spleen cells were
harvested and analyzed as described in Example 2. FIG. 8 shows the
average percentage of CD8.sup.+ T cells observed in each group of
mice (n=3 for each group). Synergistic expansion of CD8.sup.+T
cells is demonstrated using CD40 agonist in combination with
different IRM compounds.
Example 9
[0122] Mice were immunized on day 0 with 1 mg ovalbumin, 200 .mu.g
IRM1, and either 200 .mu.g CD40 ligand (FGK4.5), 200 .mu.g 4-1BB
ligand (anti-mouse 4-1BB antibody, clone 17B3, eBioscience, San
Diego, Calif.), or no TNF/R agonist (control). On day 6, the mice
were sacrificed and spleen cells were harvested and analyzed as
described in Example 2. The results are shown in FIG. 9.
Synergistic expansion of CD8.sup.+ T cells is demonstrated using
IRM1 in combination with different TNF/R agonists.
Example 10
[0123] On day 0, a set of wild-type mice (B6/129 Fl, Taconic,
Germantown, N.Y.) and a set of IFN.alpha..beta. receptor knockout
mice (National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver Colo.)
were injected intraperitoneally with 100 .mu.g SIINFEKL peptide, 50
.mu.g FGK45 (CD40 agonist), and either (a) nothing (CD40 only), (b)
100 .mu.g IRM1 (+TLR7), (c) 50 .mu.g poly IC (+TLR3), 100 .mu.g CpG
(+TLR9), 30 .mu.g LPS (+TLR4), or 25 .mu.g MALP-2 (+TLR2). On day
6, the mice were sacrificed and spleen cells were harvested and
analyzed as described in Example 2.
[0124] FIG. 10 shows the percentage of tetramer.sup.+T cells
generated in wild-type and IFN knockout mice after immunization of
mice with immunostimulatory combinations and, therefore, the IFN
dependency of the synergistic immune response when induce by
immunostimulatory combinations that include agonists of various
TLRs.
Example 11
[0125] A set of wild-type mice (B6/129 Fl, Taconic, Germantown,
N.Y.) and a set of IFN.alpha..beta. receptor knockout mice
(National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver Colo.) were
injected intraperitoneally with 50 .mu.g FGK45 (CD40 agonist) on
day 0. Four hours later, the mice were injected intravenously with
100 .mu.g SIINFEKL alone, or with either 100 .mu.g IRM1 (TLR7
agonist), 25 .mu.g MALP-2, 50 .mu.g Pam3cys (Alexis Biochemicals,
Corp., San Diego, Calif.), 100 .mu.g Pam3cys, or 250 .mu.g Pam3cys.
On day 6, the mice were sacrificed and spleen cells were harvested
and analyzed as described in Example 2. The results are shown in
FIG. 11. The interferon-independent synergistic immune response
observed when an immunostimulatory combination that includes
MALP-2, a TLR2/6 agonist, is also observed using an
immunostimulatory combination that includes Pam3cys, a TLR2
agonist.
[0126] The complete disclosures of the patents, patent documents
and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in
their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. In case
of conflict, the present specification, including definitions,
shall control.
[0127] Various modifications and alterations to this invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from
the scope and spirit of this invention. Illustrative embodiments
and examples are provided as examples only and are not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the
invention is limited only by the claims set forth as follows.
Sequence CWU 1
1
218PRTArtificialCD40 agonist peptide 1Ser Ile Ile Asn Phe Glu Lys
Leu1 529PRTArtificialCD40 agonist peptide 2Ser Ile Tyr Asp Phe Phe
Val Trp Leu1 5
* * * * *