Method for enhancing immune responses in mammals

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for enhancing an immune response in a mammal to facilitate the elimination of a chronic pathology. The method involves the removal of immune system inhibitors from the circulation of the mammal, thus, enabling a more vigorous immune response to the pathogenic agent. The removal of immune system inhibitors is accomplished by contacting biological fluids of a mammal with one or more binding partner(s) capable of binding to and, thus, depleting the targeted immune system inhibitor(s) from the biological fluids. Particularly useful in the invention is an absorbent matrix composed of an inert, biocompatible substrate joined covalently to a binding partner, such as an antibody, capable of specifically binding to the targeted immune system inhibitor.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . An extracorpeal system for reducing the amount of a targeted immune system inhibitor in blood of a donor mammal, the extracorpeal system comprising:
 an apheresis device in fluid communication with a whole blood source from the donor mammal that separates the whole blood component into a conduit containing a cellular component and a conduit containing an acellular component or a fraction of an acellular component, the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component containing the targeted immune system inhibitor comprising a soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factor α or a soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factor β;   an absorbent matrix in fluid communication with the apheresis device by the conduit containing the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component, the absorbent matrix having at least one binding partner attached to an inert medium, the at least one binding partner that is capable of specifically binding to the targeted immune system inhibitor to produce an altered acellular component or an altered fraction of the acellular component contained in a conduit exiting the absorbent matrix; and   a volumetric pump in fluid communication with the apheresis device that provides a pressure differential to the conduit containing the cellular component and the conduit containing the altered acellular component or the altered fraction of the acellular component to combine the cellular component with the altered acellular component or the altered fraction of the acellular component to produce an altered whole blood source adapted to be administered to a recipient mammal.   
     
     
         51 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the conduit containing the cellular component is a first conduit and the conduit containing the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component is a second conduit. 
     
     
         52 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the donor mammal of the whole blood source and the recipient mammal administered the altered whole blood source is the same mammal. 
     
     
         53 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , further comprising a positive displacement blood pump that removes the whole blood source from the donor mammal. 
     
     
         54 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a synthetic peptide. 
     
     
         55 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one binding partner is covalently joined to the inert medium. 
     
     
         56 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one binding partner is conjugated to a carrier. 
     
     
         57 . The extracorporeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the inert medium is selected from the group consisting of a hollow fiber, a macroporous bead, a cellulose-based fiber, a synthetic fiber, a flat membrane, a pleated membrane, and a silica-based particle. 
     
     
         58 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a polyclonal antibody preparation, a monoclonal antibody preparation or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a fragment of a natural binding partner. 
     
     
         60 . An extracorpeal system for reducing the amount of a targeted immune system inhibitor in blood of a donor mammal, the extracorpeal system comprising:
 an apheresis device in fluid communication with a whole blood source from the donor mammal that separates the whole blood component into a conduit containing a cellular component and a conduit containing an acellular component or a fraction of an acellular component, the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component containing the targeted immune system inhibitor comprising a soluble receptor for interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6 or interleukin-7;   an absorbent matrix in fluid communication with the apheresis device by the conduit containing the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component, the absorbent matrix having at least one binding partner attached to an inert medium, the at least one binding partner that is capable of specifically binding to the targeted immune system inhibitor to produce an altered acellular component or an altered fraction of the acellular component contained in a conduit exiting the absorbent matrix; and   a volumetric pump in fluid communication with the apheresis device that provides a pressure differential to the conduit containing the cellular component and the conduit containing the altered acellular component or the altered fraction of the acellular component to combine the cellular component with the altered acellular component or the altered fraction of the acellular component to produce an altered whole blood source adapted to be administered to a recipient mammal.   
     
     
         61 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the conduit containing the cellular component is a first conduit and the conduit containing the acellular component or the fraction of the acellular component is a second conduit. 
     
     
         62 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the donor mammal of the whole blood source and the recipient mammal administered the altered whole blood source is the same mammal. 
     
     
         63 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , further comprising a positive displacement blood pump that removes the whole blood source from the donor mammal. 
     
     
         64 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a synthetic peptide. 
     
     
         65 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one binding partner is covalently joined to the inert medium. 
     
     
         66 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one binding partner is conjugated to a carrier. 
     
     
         67 . The extracorporeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the inert medium is selected from the group consisting of a hollow fiber, a macroporous bead, a cellulose-based fiber, a synthetic fiber, a flat membrane, a pleated membrane, and a silica-based particle. 
     
     
         68 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a polyclonal antibody preparation, a monoclonal antibody preparation or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         69 . The extracorpeal system of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one binding partner is a fragment of a natural binding partner.