Leukocyte inactivation module

Abstract

The present invention provides a module for reducing the activity of leukocytes which comprises a carrier and a ligand that is linked to the carrier and is suitable for interacting with a leukocyte receptor. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for reducing the activity of leukocytes using said module. The advantage of the present invention is that after binding the activated leukocytes in the leukocyte inactivaton module (LIM), the damaging effect of the cells is inhibited within minutes.

1 . A module for reducing the activity of leukocytes, which comprises a carrier and a ligand that is linked to the carrier and is suitable for interacting with a leukocyte receptor.  
     
     
         2 . The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the ligand is a protein that is suitable for interacting specifically with the receptor.  
     
     
         3 . The module according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the ligand is linked to a binding mediator that is linked to the carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The module according to  claim 3 , wherein the binding mediator is a cell.  
     
     
         5 . The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the binding mediator is a cell and the ligand is the FasL protein.  
     
     
         6 . The module according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the ligand is an antibody against the leukocyte receptor.  
     
     
         7 . The module according to  claim 6 , wherein the ligand is an antibody against the Fas protein of leukocytes.  
     
     
         8 . A process for reducing the activity of leukocytes by contacting with ligands in a module according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 .  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the leukocytes, after contacting with the ligands, secrete cytokines and/or enzymes and/or oxygen radicals in lower amount than before contacting.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the interaction of the ligand linked to a cell with the leukocyte receptor reduces the activity of the leukocytes in terms of binding affinity to the cell.