Using heat shock proteins and alpha-2-macroglobulins to increase the immune response to vaccines comprising heat shock protein-peptide complexes or alpha-2-macroglobulin-peptide complexes

摘要

The present invention provides a method of improving or prolonging a subject's immune response to a vaccine composition comprising heat shock protein (HSP)-peptide complexes or alpha-2-macroglobulin (2M)-peptide complexes (hereinafter HSP/2M vaccine composition). The HSP-peptide complexes or 2M-peptide complexes of the vaccine composition comprise HSP(s) or 2M complexed to a component against which an immune response is desired to be induced. In particular the invention is directed to methods of improving or prolonging a subject's immune response comprising administering an HSP/2M vaccine composition in conjunction with a preparation comprising HSP or 2M, alone or complexed to a peptide that is not the component against which an immune response is desired to be induced (hereinafter HSP/2M preparation), i.e., the HSP/2M preparation does not display the immunogenicity of the component. In particular, HSP/2M vaccine compositions are administered in conjunction with HSP/2M preparation to improve or prolong the immune response of a subject against an infectious disease or cancer.