IL-12 ENHANCEMENT OF IMMUNE RESPONSES TO T-INDEPENDENT ANTIGENS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of modulating an immune response to a T-cell or thymus independent antigen in a host (e.g., mammalian, including human), comprising administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and the T-cell independent antigen. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing an immune response to a TI antigen in a host (e.g., mammalian, including human), which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and the TI antigen. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of enhancing an immune response against a TI antigen in a host, which comprises administering to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and the TI antigen. The methods of the present invention can be used, for example, to induce and or enhance a humoral immune response (IgG2a and/or IgG3 humoral immune response).