Use of interleukin-10 and an antigen or an CD-3 antibody to inhibit an antigen specific immune response

摘要

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in combination with an antigen or with an anti CD-3 antibody is used in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting an antigen-specific response including antigen-specific responses to subsequent presentation of the antigen by an immune system. Also disclosed is a population of cells wherein at least 40% of the cells are T-cells that exhibit antigen-specific anergy to an antigen. The T-cells are further characterized by production upon re-stimulation with the antigen of low IL-2, low IL-5, intermediate IFN-g, low GM-CSF and high IL-10. The production of IL-2, IL-5, IFN-g, GM-CSF and IL-10 is assayed when the T-cells are cultured in vitro in Yssel's medium supplemented with 10% FCS and 1% human serum. The production of: a) IL-2 is less than 500 pg/106 T-cell/ml; b) IL-5 is between 300 and 3000 pg/106 T-cell/ml; c) IFN-g is at least 1000 pg/106 T-cell/ml; d) GM-CSF is 300 to 3000 pg/106 T-cell/ml; and e) IL-10 is at least 3000 pg/106 T-cell/ml. The antigen is a protein antigen, particulate antigen, alloantigen or a MHC associated antigen.