DENDRITIC CELL ASSAY FOR IMMUNOMODULATORY MOLECULES

摘要

A method of determining the immunomodulatory activity of a candidate molecule, includes the step of contacting an immature dendritic cell with one or more candidate immunomodulators to thereby determine whether the one or more candidate immunomodulators has immunostimulatory properties or immunosuppressive properties. The method may include measuring expression of cell surface markers such as MHC-1; MHC-II; CD80; CD86 and/or CD70; and/or chemokine receptors CCR7 and/or CCR5, factors produced by the immature dendritic cell such as IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-6 and/or TNF-α, measuring phagocytosis cell and/or measuring antigen presentation by the immature dendritic cell. The method may also include administering the candidate immunomodulator to a mammal to further determine the immunomodulatory properties of the candidate immunomodulator in vivo.