USE OF THE NEUTROPHIL ACTIVATING PROTEIN OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI (HP-NAP) AND/OR OF ITS PORTIONS AS ADJUVANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HELPER TYPE 1 (TH1) IMMUNE RESPONSES

摘要

Methods for modifying the quality of the T helper cell immune responses specific for antigens or allergens taking advantage of the Th1-promoting adjuvant effect of the Neutrophil Activating Protein (HP-NAP) of Helicobacter pylori. The adjuvant effect of HP-NAP protein is susceptible of therapeutic use in setting up vaccines or immunopotentiating strategies aimed to elicit Th1-type immune responses and/or to inhibit undesired Th2- or ThO- type immune responses. Clinical applications of the HP-NAP adjuvant effect for Th1 cell responses are: a) inhibition of immunopathogenic or undesired responses of Th0/Th2 type, b) potentiation of weak natural Th1 responses, that per se are unable to exert protection against pathogens or tumors .