Method for Treating Inflammatory Diseases Using Heat Shock Proteins

Tech ID: 98-07

Summary - Mycobacterial heat shock proteins-65 (HSP-65), a member of the HSP-60 heat shock protein family, are known to be potent inducers of cellular immune responses. Researchers at National Jewish Health in Denver USA and the National Heart and Lung Institute in London UK have discovered that treatment of a mouse model of asthma with HSP-65 induces a dramatic reduction in airway hyperreactivity. Therefore, the use of HSP-65 could constitute a treatment for asthma and other eosinophilia associated with an inflammatory response.

Potential Applications - Therapy for airway hyperresponsiveness (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Advantages of Invention

  • HSP can be delivered directly to the lungs in an aerosolized fashion.
  • HSP is likely to induce fewer side effects than current therapies for asthma.
  • HSP can be produced in high quantity by recombinant technology.
  • The delivery of HSP is confined to the airways without affecting the peripheral immune system.

State of Development - The scientists have demonstrated that in ovabulmin-sensitized mice treated with HSP-65:

  • T cell proliferative response was upregulated in splenocyte and peribronchial lymph node.
  • Splenic mononuclear cells were activated in vivo.
  • Splenic mononuclear cells produced increased amounts of interferon gamma and IgG2a, whereas IL-4, IL-5 and IgE production was downregulated.
  • No eosinophil and therefore inflammation were detected in the bronchial alveolar lavage.
  • No increase in lung resistance and therefore no airway hyperresponsiveness were detected.

Further R&D Required -  Using the state grant to define the ideal time for administration and whether the effects are allergen-specific or carry over to other exposures, enabling us to specifically design therapeutic approaches to be taken in human clinical trials.

Licensing Potential - This technology is available for licensing.

Patent Status - Published U.S. Patent Application #20070179087 .  International patents pending.  Published International Patent Application # WO 99/37319.

Inventors - E. Gelfand, MD , A. Haczku, PhD and K. Lukacs, PhD

Publications - Rha et al. J Immunol. 2002 Nov 1;169(9):5300-7

For Further Information, Contact:
Emmanuel Hilaire, PhD
Licensing Associate
Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization Program
National Jewish Health
1400 Jackson Street, Room M206a
Denver, CO 80206
Voice: (303) 398-1053
Fax: (303) 270-2352
hilairee@njc.org

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