Summary of Invention
Dr. van den Brink and his colleagues have demonstrated that IL-22 promotes thymic rejuvenation following thymic insult. The thymus is the organ that produces and ’educates’ T-cells, the major cell type of the adaptive immune system. Thymopoiesis is a highly complex process involving interactions between developing thymocytes and their supporting stromal microenvironment, namely thymic epithelial cells. Thymic epithelial cells are susceptible to damage from a variety of insults, including organ and bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, complications related to HIV/AIDS, the natural aging process, malnutrition, and radiation poisoning due to nuclear disaster. Damage to thymic epithelial cells increases the rate of thymic atrophy, reducing the capacity of the thymus to educate maturing T- cells, and ultimately compromises immune function.
Currently, there are no effective clinical interventions to promote in vivo restoration and rejuvenation of thymic function following insult. The inventors have addressed this unmet need by demonstrating that systemic administration of recombinant IL-22 following thymic insult promotes the growth of the thymic epithelial cells critical to thymic rejuvenation and, thereby overcomes thymic atrophy and restores proper immune function.
Advantages
Mitigates iatrogenic immune effects associated with organ or bone marrow transplantation and with chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer, thereby allowing more patients to benefit from such therapies.
Areas of Application
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Therapy in the setting of:
- organ or bone marrow transplantation,
- chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer,
- complications related to HIV/AIDS,
- the natural aging process,
- malnutrition,
- radiation poisoning due to nuclear disaster;
- Restoration of bone marrow function;
- Vaccine adjuvant to boost T-cell production in response to vaccination in immunocompromised patients.
Stage of Development
- In vivo proof-of-concept established in two mouse models of thymic injury: total body irradiation and syngeneic bone marrow transplantation;
- Work in progress supports the use of IL-22 to restore bone marrow function;
- Initial proof-of-concept work underway for use of IL-22 as a vaccine adjuvant.
Lead Inventor
Marcel van den Brink, MD, PhD, Laboratory Head, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Patent Information
U.S. Basic and Divisional Patents issued.