Materials and methods to inhibit hodgkin and reed sternberg cell growth

Abstract

Materials and methods are disclosed for modulating proliferation of cell types associated with Hodgkin's disease through inhibition of IL-13 and components in IL-13 associated signal transduction pathways. Methods to identify inhibitors, compositions comprising the inhibitors, and methods using the inhibitors to treat Hodgkin's disease are also disclosed.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for inhibiting IL-13 dependent proliferation of Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg (H/RS) cell types comprising the step of contacting the H/RS cells with a compound that inhibits expression of IL-13. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the compound that inhibits IL-13 expression is an antisense polynucleotide that specifically recognizes a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the compound that inhibits IL-13 expression is a ribozyme that specifically recognizes and acts on a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         10 . A method for inhibiting IL-13 dependent proliferation of Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg (H/RS) cell types comprising the step of contacting the H/RS cells with a compound that inhibits expression of IL-13 receptor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the compound that inhibits IL-13 receptor expression is an antisense polynucleotide that specifically recognizes a polynucleotide encoding the IL-13 receptor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the compound that inhibits IL-13 expression is a ribozyme that specifically recognizes and acts on a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method to identify a compound that inhibits IL-13 dependent proliferation of Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg (H/RS) cell types comprising the steps of:
 a) growing H/RS cell types   b) measuring IL-13 expression   c) incubating the cells with a candidate inhibitor compound   d) measuring IL-13 expression with the candidate compound   e) identifying the candidate compound as an inhibitor when lower levels of IL-13 expression are measured with the candidate compound than in an absence of the candidate compound.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the candidate inhibitor compound is an anti-sense polynucleotide that specifically binds to a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the candidate inhibitor compound is a ribozyme that specifically recognizes and acts on a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for treating Hodgkin's Disease comprising the steps of administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that inhibits IL-13 expression. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the inhibitor is an antisense polynucleotide that specifically binds a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  herein the candidate inhibitor compound is a ribozyme that specifically recognizes and acts on a polynucleotide encoding IL-13. 
     
     
         30 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for treating Hodgkin's Disease comprising the step of administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that inhibits IL-13 receptor expression. 
     
     
         34 - 39 . (canceled)