B Cell Activation and Polypeptides Having CD14 Activity

Abstract

A novel protein purified from bovine colostral whey and isolated nucleotide sequences encoding the protein is identified. The isolated bovine protein is termed Bovine Lactation Associated Immunotropic (Bo-LAIT) protein. The human homologue of Bo-LAIT protein, Hu-LAIT protein, is also described. A method of activating B cells, and particularly of activating B cells in a mammal, such as a human, in need of such activation by administering LAIT protein is described. LAIT protein can be incorporated into infant formula. LAIT protein can be administered to an infant, as by feeding to the infant such formula. LAIT protein can be incorporated as part of a vaccination. LAIT protein can be administered to a patient having a T cell immune deficiency, for example, a particular T cell dysfunction in which gp39 (CD40L) is under expressed on or totally absent from the cell surface of patient T cells. Preparation of medicaments including LAIT protein for activating B cells in a mammal in need of such activation is described. Natural or recombinant LAIT protein can be used.

1 . A method of vaccinating a mammal comprising administering an antigen other than CD14 and a polypeptide to the patient, wherein the polypeptide activates B cells, and is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide consists essentially of the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen and the polypeptide are conjugated to each other.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the antigen and the polypeptide are conjugated to each other.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the mammal is an infant.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mammal is an infant.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mammal is an infant.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mammal is an infant.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the human is suffering a T cell immunedeficiency, or an allergy.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the human is suffering a T cell immunedeficiency, or an allergy.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the human is suffering a T cell immunedeficiency, or an allergy.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the human is suffering a T cell immunedeficiency, or an allergy.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the human has CD40L negative or CD40L deficient T cells.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the human has CD40L negative or CD40L deficient T cells.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the human has CD40L negative or CD40L deficient T cells.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the human has CD40L negative or CD40L deficient T cells.  
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing infant formula which comprises incorporating a polypeptide thereinto wherein the polypeptide has the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, or SEQ ID NO:6,or fragment of said polypeptide which retains biological activity of said polypeptide; or a variant of said polypeptide which retains biological activity of said polypeptide; a conservatively substituted variant of the polypeptide; or conjugates of the fragment or variant thereof having biological activity of said polypeptide.  
     
     
         22 . A kit for the preparation of a vaccination comprising a predetermined amount of an antigen other than CD14 and a predetermined amount of a polypeptide of  claim 21.