TREATMENT OF B CELLS WITH IL-21 AND B CELL ACTIVATORS INDUCES GRANZYME B PRODUCTION

摘要

The present invention involves the combined use of IL-21 and TLR agonists such as CpG oligonucleotides in the treatment of B cell cancers and B cell-related immune pathologies such as autoimmune diseases. In addition, it is demonstrated that human B cells produce and secrete varying amounts of Granzyme B in response to IL-21 depending on their activation state, and at the same order of magnitude as those secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In CpG ODN-treated B-CLL cells, Granzyme B secretion in response to IL-21 can be cytotoxic.