Directed cytolysis of target cells, agents and compositions causing cytolysis, and compounds that can be used to produce the agents

摘要

A method for inactivating target cells in the presence of T cells by bringing the two types of cells in contact with a superantigen (SAG) in the presence of an immune modulator, characterized in that at least one of the superantigen and the immune modulator is in the form of a conjugate between a "free" superantigen (Sag) and a moiety targeting the conjugate to the target cells. A superantigen conjugate complying with the formula (1): (T)SUBx/SUB(Sag)SUBy/SUB(IM)SUBz/SUB; a) T is a targeting moiety, Sag corresponds to a free superantigen, IM is an immune modulator that is not a superantigen and T, Sag and IM are linked together via organic linkers B; b) x, y and z are integers that typically are selected among 0-10 and represent the number of moieties T, Sag and IM, respetively, in a given conjugate molecule, with the provision that y0 and also one or both of x and z0. The superantigen conjugate is preferably a triple fusion protein. A targeted immune modulator, characterized in that it is a conjugate between a targeting moiety (T''') and a modified immune modulator (IM'''). The conjugate complies with a formula analogous to formula (I) except for the imperative presence of the modified immune modulator. A superantigen moiety may be present. A DNA molecule encoding a superantigen and an immune modulator.