Use of Soluble Gamma/Delta T Cell Receptor as a Therapy for Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer

Tech ID: 02-03

Summary - Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered that delivery of specific soluble gamma/delta T cell receptors (TCR) can be used as a means to inhibit the activity of the subset of gamma/delta T cells targeted. They have demonstrated that the use of gamma/delta TCR can significantly decrease Listeria infection in mice without the appearance of any inflammatory damages. Since gamma/delta T cells can have a pro- or anti-inflammatory function depending on the type of gamma/delta TCR they carry, the use of specific soluble gamma/delta TCR can constitute a treatment for inflammatory diseases and infections.

Potential Applications - Therapy for inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases and any pathology where gamma/delta T cells are implicated, such as cancer.

Advantages of Invention

  • This method targets the innate immune response
  • Soluble gamma/delta TCR are specific to the subset of gamma/delta T cells targeted, therefore limiting side effects.
  • The effect on gamma/delta T cells can be observed within 3 days or possibly before.
  • Soluble gamma/delta TCR can be administered through various delivery routes (i.v. injection, inhalation etc).
  • The use of gamma/delta TCR does not transiently activate gamma/delta T cells.
  • The affinity of the gamma/delta TCR with its ligand is high enough that the monomeric form can be used, but the use of a multimeric form is also applicable.

State of Development - Preliminary results show that in mice infected with Listeria and treated with soluble monomeric Vgamma6/Vdelta1 TCR:

  • the expansion of Vgamma6/Vdelta1 T cells was greatly reduced or prevented in the liver and spleen.
  • Vgamma6 and Vdelta1 levels in infected mice treated with Vgamma6/Vdelta1 TCR were near levels seen in uninfected mice, as demonstrated by northern blots.
  • the mice ability to clear Listeria was increased in early infection
  • the expansion of Vgamma1+ and Vgamma4+ gamma/delta T cells was not affected.

In addition, the technology has also been proven to prevent eosinophil accumulation in an asthma mouse model treated with gamma/delta TCRs.

Further R&D Required - Additional in vivo studies focused on other therapeutic applications of the technology.

Licensing Potential - Available for licensing.

Patent Status - Published U.S. Patent Application # 20070269426 and International Patent Application # WO03/060097.

Inventors - Rebecca L. O'Brien, PhD, Willi K. Born, PhD, Christina L. Roark, PhD and Kemal Aydintug, D.V.M., PhD

Publication -  Aydintug et al. J Immunol. 2004 Apr 1; 172(7):4167-75 .

Related publications

For Further Information, Contact:
Emmanuel Hilaire, PhD
Licensing Associate
Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Program
National Jewish Health
1400 Jackson Street, Room M206b
Denver, CO 80206
Voice: (303) 398-1262
Fax: (303) 270-2352
HilaireE@njc.org

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