Abstract:
Methods for causing T cell anergy, treating allograft transplant rejection, treating graft versus host disease, and preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis are presented, the methods comprising co-administration of a molecule that binds to the B7 antigen and an immunosuppressive agent.
Abstract:
Methods for preventing or treating an antibody-mediated diease in a patient are presented, the methods comprising administration of a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to a human CD40 antigen located on the surface of a human B cell, wherein the binding of the antibody to the CD40 antigen prevents the growth or differentiation of the B cell. Monoclonal antibodies useful in these methods, and epitopes immunoreactive with such monoclonal antibodies are also presented.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of generating antibodies directed against cell surface antigens. The method uses as immunogen recombinant insect cells into which have been transfected coding regions for a molecule containing a cell surface antigen. Host animals are immunized with these transfected insect cells to generate antibodies directed against the cell surface antigen. Antibody-producing cells from the host animal are used to generate monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma cells. Sera and hybridoma supernatants can be tested for the presence of antibodies against the surface antigen, using the transfected cells in a screening assay.