Compositions and methods for inactivating or suppressing inflammatory cells

摘要

Methods are provided for reducing the activity or function of an inflammatory cell by contacting a cell with, or administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a circumsporozoite protein or homolog thereof, or a fragment thereof. Methods of treating an inflammatory disease, or an autoimmune disease or for inducing tolerance are also disclosed as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a circumsporozoite protein or homolog thereof, or a fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

主权项

1. A method for reducing Kupffer cell-mediated inflammation in the liver of a subject suffering from an inflammatory liver disease or disorder associated with Kupffer cell activation by suppressing Kupffer cell activation comprising the steps of:
a) obtaining an isolated and substantially purified circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of a Plasmodium species selected from P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. berghei and P. Yoelii, and comprising any of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 14, 16 or 18, or a fragment thereof comprising the Region I and Region II-plus motifs thereof as set out in SEQ ID NOS: 21-30 and 31-40; b) administering the CSP, or the fragment thereof of (a) in an amount that suppresses Kupffer cell activation to a subject in need thereof; and c) monitoring the subject for reduced inflammation by measuring blood levels of liver enzymes; wherein the subject exhibits elevated liver enzymes and wherein reducing Kupffer-cell mediated inflammation in the subject with the CSP, or the fragment thereof results in normalizing liver enzyme levels.