Lysing or blocking unwanted cells with IL-2 receptor-specific binding substance

Abstract

A method of lysing unwanted, non-malignant cells in a mammal, the cells having on their surfaces a receptor for a growth factor, and the method including administering to the mammal a cell-lysing amount of a substance characterized in that it has specific affinity for the receptor of the growth factor and has the ability to effect the lysis of the cells.

1 . A method of lysing unwanted, non-malignant cells in a mammal, 
 said cells having on their surfaces a receptor for a growth factor, and    said method comprising administering to said mammal a cell-lysing amount of a substance characterized in that it has specific affinity for said receptor of said growth factor and has the ability to effect said lysis of said cells.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cells are lymphocytes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said lymphocytes are T-lymphocytes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said lymphocytes are B-lymphocytes.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receptor is an IL-2 receptor.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said substance comprises an antibody to said receptor.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said substance comprises said growth factor or an analog thereof, linked to a cytotoxin.  
     
     
         8 . A method of inhibiting the T-lymphocyte-induced rejection of an allograft in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal, following said allograft, a substance characterized in that it has specific affinity for IL-2 receptors on said T-lymphocytes and has the ability either to effect the lysis of said T-lymphocytes, or to interfere with the binding of IL-2 to said T-lymphocytes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said substance has the ability to effect the lysis of said T-lymphocytes.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said substance is administered when said T-lymphocytes are undergoing, in response to said allograft, a proliferative burst characterized by the presence of said IL-2 receptors on the surfaces of said T-lymphocytes.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said substance comprises an antibody to said IL-2 receptor.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said antibody is of the IgG or IgM isotype.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said substance comprises IL-2 or an IL-2 receptor-specific analog thereof linked to a cytotoxin.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a patient having an acute autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of lymphocytes bearing IL-2 receptors, said method comprising administering to said patient a substance characterized in that it has specific affinity for IL-2 receptors on said lymphocytes and has the ability either to effect the lysis of said lymphocytes, or to interfere with the binding of IL-2 to said lymphocytes.