Patents Examined by George G. Elliot
  • Patent number: 5795964
    Abstract: This invention relates to lymphotoxin-.beta., a lymphocyte membrane type protein. This protein is found on the surface of a number of cells, including phorbol ester (PMA) stimulated T cell hybridoma II-23.D7 cells. This invention also relates to complexes formed between lymphotoxin-.beta. and other peptides such as lymphotoxin-.alpha. and to complexes comprising multiple subunits of lymphotoxin-.beta.. These proteins and complexes are useful in holding LT-.alpha. formed within the cell on the cell surface where the LT-.alpha./LT-.beta. complex may act as an inflammation regulating agent, a tumor growth inhibiting agent, a T cell inhibiting agent, a T cell activating agent, an autoimmune disease regulating agent, or an HIV inhibiting agent. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of the LT-.alpha./LT-.beta. complex may be delivered to tumor cells by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) transfected with the gene for LT-.beta..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignees: Biogen, Inc., University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey Browning, Carl F. Ware