Assay for the identification of IgE antibody suppressors
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A screening method for identifying agents having IgE suppressor activity, the method comprising:
- (a) determining the IgE responsiveness to antigen of an animal before and after administration to the animal of a candidate IgE suppressor, wherein the animal has been treated with an IgE enhancer prior to performance of the screening method, the steps for determining such IgE responsiveness comprising;
(i) sensitizing the animal to a sensitizing antigen within a day of treatment of the animal with the IgE enhancer;
(ii) delivering a primary immunization dose of an antigen to the animal, wherein the antigen is immunologically related to the sensitizing antigen;
(iii) measuring levels of IgE in the animal;
(iv) delivering the candidate IgE suppressor to the animal; and
, (v) measuring levels of IgE in the animal;
then, (b) comparing the measurements obtained in step (a)(iii) with the measurements obtained in step (a)(v), wherein a decline in any of the measured values so compared indicates that the candidate IgE suppressor suppresses the production and/or activity of IgE in the animal.
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Abstract
The invention provides an IgE and antigen-specific screening assay for use in identifying agents which suppress the IgE mediated immune response to antigen. The assay is performed in vivo in animals which hyper respond to antigen by producing exaggerated levels of IgE. The animals are sensitized to an antigen during a specific window of sensitivity which closes a day after the animal has been treated to produce the IgE hyper responsive phenotype. The screening assay is performed in the animals by treating them with a candidate IgE suppressor agent in conjunction with further immunization made after closure of the window of sensitivity defined by the invention. Positive results (indicating that the candidate agent has IgE suppressive activity) are obtained in the assay through measurement of a decline in antigen-specific IgE in the animal following its treatment with the candidate agent. The screening assay may also be utilized to measure other components of the immune response to antigen, including IgG1 and IgG2a antibody production.
3 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A screening method for identifying agents having IgE suppressor activity, the method comprising:
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(a) determining the IgE responsiveness to antigen of an animal before and after administration to the animal of a candidate IgE suppressor, wherein the animal has been treated with an IgE enhancer prior to performance of the screening method, the steps for determining such IgE responsiveness comprising;
(i) sensitizing the animal to a sensitizing antigen within a day of treatment of the animal with the IgE enhancer;
(ii) delivering a primary immunization dose of an antigen to the animal, wherein the antigen is immunologically related to the sensitizing antigen;
(iii) measuring levels of IgE in the animal;
(iv) delivering the candidate IgE suppressor to the animal; and
,(v) measuring levels of IgE in the animal;
then,(b) comparing the measurements obtained in step (a)(iii) with the measurements obtained in step (a)(v), wherein a decline in any of the measured values so compared indicates that the candidate IgE suppressor suppresses the production and/or activity of IgE in the animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification