Assays for determining the effect of an immune cell on a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease

摘要

An in vitro assay is provided for determining the effect of an immune cell on a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease. Also provided is an in vitro assay for determining the effect of an activated CD8+ T-cell on a sensitized melanoma cell. A method for improving the specific cytolytic activity (SCA) of an immune cell comprising contacting an immune cell with an antigen and an antigen-independent pro-inflammatory agent is provided. A method for ex vivo expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells with enhanced specific cytolytic activity (SCA) comprising culturing the antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells in a suitable culture media comprising an amino acid. An in vitro assay is provided for determining the effect of an immune cell on a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease. A method of treating a subject suffering from an infectious or neoplastic disease with immuno therapy is described.

主权项

1. An in vitro assay for determining the effect of an immune cell on a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease comprising:
(a) providing a gel comprising:
(i) collagen and fibrin, which gel is sufficient to support viability of an immune cell and growth of a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease and(ii) an immune cell and a cell from an infectious or neoplastic disease disposed within the gel; (b) incubating the gel under conditions that support viability of the immune cell and growth of the cell from the infectious or neoplastic disease for a period of time sufficient to determine whether the immune cell has an effect on the cell from the infectious or neoplastic disease; (c) determining the number of viable cells from the infectious or neoplastic disease, if any, that are present after step (b),wherein the determining step comprises carrying out a clonogenic assay to determine how many, if any, cells from the infectious or neoplastic disease are present.