Use of interleukin - 15

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system, such as manipulating viability ad/or responsiveness of said memory cells. The IL-15 activity enhancing compound is for example lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The invention further relates to the use of IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system. Such inhibiting or eliminating compounds are for example anti-IL-15 antibodies, anti-IL-15Rα antibodies, fragments of these antibodies, e.g. the Fab or F(ab′) 2 fragment, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins consisting of soluble IL-15Rα, and Fc fragment, compounds, e.g. peptides, binding-and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.

1 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system.  
     
     
         2 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds according to  claim 1  for manipulating viability of memory cells generated during encounter with antigen.  
     
     
         3 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds according to  claim 1  for manipulating responsiveness of memory cells to a new encounter with antigen.  
     
     
         4 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds according to  claim 1  or  2  to promote an immune response of said memory cells.  
     
     
         5 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds for inducing a resting phenotype in ex vivo propagated T lymphocytes.  
     
     
         6 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds for protecting ex vivo propagated T lymphocytes against cells death in absence of growth factor.  
     
     
         7 . Use of IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds according to  claims 1  to  6  wherein the memory cells are CD4 +  T lymphocytes.  
     
     
         8 . Use according to any one of the  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the IL-15 activity enhancing compound is lipopolysaccharide (LPS).  
     
     
         9 . Use of IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for manipulating memory cells of the immune system.  
     
     
         10 . Use of IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds according to  claim 9  wherein the memory cells are CD4 +  T lymphocytes.  
     
     
         11 . Use of IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of an anti-IL-15 antibody, anti-IL-15Rα antibody, fragments of these antibodies, e.g. the Fab or F(ab′) 2  fragment, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins consisting of soluble IL-15Rα and Fc fragment, compounds, e.g. peptides, binding and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.  
     
     
         12 . Pharmaceutical composition comprising IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds, optionally together with a suitable excipient.  
     
     
         13 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 12  for use in manipulating memory cells of the immune system.  
     
     
         14 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 12  or  13  for use in the treatment of auto-immune diseases or in treatment before, during or after transplantation.  
     
     
         15 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 12 ,  13  and  14 , wherein the IL-15 activity enhancing compound is lipopolysaccharide (LPS).  
     
     
         16 . Pharmaceutical composition comprising IL-15 inhibiting or eliminating compounds, optionally together with a suitable excipient.  
     
     
         17 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 16  for use in the repression of an immune response of memory cells of the immune system.  
     
     
         18 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 16  for use in the treatment of immune deficiency diseases, or in treatment before, during or after vaccination.  
     
     
         19 . Pharmaceutical composition according to claims  16 ,  17  and  18 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of an anti-IL-15 antibody, anti-IL-15Rα antibody, fragments of these antibodies, e.g. the Fab or F(ab′) 2  fragment, soluble IL-15Rα, fusion proteins consisting of soluble IL-15Rα and Fc fragment, compounds, e.g. peptides, binding and/or inhibiting functional IL-15 receptor, IL-15 antisense oligonucleotides.  
     
     
         20 . Pharmaceutical composition comprising ex vivo cultivated T lymphocytes, treated with IL-15 or active variants thereof and/or IL-15 activity enhancing compounds.