TREATMENT OF ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS TO MODULATE ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELL FUNCTION

摘要

Provided herein is the discovery of a novel mechanism by which the ability of antigen presenting cells to stimulate T-cell function is inhibited by the formation of immunosuppresive complexes comprising the antigen presenting cell membrane-associated βglycan and cytokine TGF-β. Also provided are methods for restoring T-cell stimulatory function of antigen presenting cells of an individual, having such function suppressed by βglycan-TGF-β complex formation, by either removing TGF-β from the cell surface of the antigen presenting cells, removing β-glycan or βglycan complexed to TGF-β from the cell surface of the antigen presenting cells, or by contacting the antigen presenting cells with one or more antigen presenting cell activating factors which overcome the suppression of the T-cell stimulatory function of antigen presenting cells.