Adoptive immunotherapy using macrophages sensitized with heat shock protein-epitope complexes

摘要

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for enhancing immunological responses and for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases or primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases based on the administration of macrophages and/or other antigen presenting cells (APC) sensitized with heat shock proteins non- covalently bound to peptide complexes and/or antigenic components. APC are incubated in the presence of hsp-peptide complexes and/or antigenic components in vitro. The sensitized cells are reinfused into the patient with or without treatment with cytokines including but not limited to interferon-, interferon-, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and tumor neurosis factor.