Use of L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine to obtain the differentiation of monocytes in mature dendritic cells in vitro

Abstract

A method for treating and/or preventing certain ailments by administering to a person in need thereof L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine as an agent for activating the immune system of the person. Also, vaccine compositions that include L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine.

1 . A method of treating and/or preventing, in a person, an infection of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic origin or an infection caused by a yeast, said method comprising administering L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine as an agent for activating the immune system of the person. 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating or preventing cancer in a person, said method comprising administering L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine as an agent for activating the immune system of the person. 
     
     
         3 . A method for preventing an inflammation and/or for combating an inflammatory disease and/or an autoimmune disease in a person, said method comprising:
 administering to the person an inhibitor of L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine, in which the inhibitor is a lipid emulsion comprising triglycerides, phospholipids and glycerol.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the lipid emulsion comprises:
 from 15 to 25% of triglycerides,   from 0.5 to 1.5% of phospholipids, and   from 1.8 to 2.6% of glycerol.   
     
     
         5 . A method for preventing an inflammation and/or for combating an inflammatory disease and/or an autoimmune disease in a person, said method comprising administering to the person an inhibitor of L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine, wherein the inhibitor is a PPARgamma agonist. 
     
     
         6 . A vaccine composition, comprising:
 L-α-lysophosphatidylcholine as an agent for activating the immune system, and   a biological agent selected from the group consisting of an antigen, a nucleic acid that encodes an antigen, and a lysate of autologous or heterologous tumor cells.   
     
     
         7 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein said biological agent is an antigen selected from the group consisting of a bacterial antigen, a viral antigen, a yeast antigen, a parasite antigen, a fungal antigen, and a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         8 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein said biological agent is a nucleic acid that encodes an antigen selected from the group consisting of a bacterial antigen, a viral antigen, a yeast antigen, a parasite antigen, a fungal antigen, and a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         9 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein said biological agent is a lysate of autologous or of heterologous tumor cells. 
     
     
         10 . The vaccine composition of  claim 6 , wherein said vaccine composition is formulated for parenteral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, topical, intratracheal, rectal, or transdermal administration. 
     
     
         11 . The vaccine composition of  claim 10 , wherein said biological agent is an antigen selected from the group consisting of a bacterial antigen, a viral antigen, a yeast antigen, a parasite antigen, a fungal antigen, and a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         12 . The vaccine composition of  claim 10 , wherein said biological agent is a nucleic acid that encodes an antigen selected from the group consisting of a bacterial antigen, a viral antigen, a yeast antigen, a parasite antigen, a fungal antigen, and a tumor antigen. 
     
     
         13 . The vaccine composition of  claim 10 , wherein said biological agent is a lysate of autologous or of heterologous tumor cells. 
     
     
         14 . The vaccine composition of  claim 10 , wherein said vaccine composition is formulated for parenteral administration.