Abstract: Methods are provided for inducing differentiation of blood monocytes into functional antigen presenting dendritic cells. The blood monocytes are treated by exposing the monocytes to proteins adhered to the surface of a treatment device to induce differentiation of the monocytes in to dendritic cells. Differentiation of the monocytes may also be induced by physical perturbation of the monocytes during treatment. The treated monocytes may be co-incubated with disease effector agents, which may be phagocytized by the immature dendritic cells.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inducing differentiation of blood monocytes into functional antigen presenting dendritic cells. The blood monocytes are treated by exposing the monocytes to proteins adhered to the surface of a treatment device to induce differentiation of the monocytes in to dendritic cells. The treated monocytes may be co-incubated with disease effector agents which have been rendered apoptotic or other source of antigens. The apoptotic disease effector cells are phagocytized by the maturing dendritic cells. In a preferred embodiment, the blood monocytes are treated in the plastic device without use of a photoactivatable agent and light.

Abstract: Methods are provided to enhance the expression on certain disease-effector cells of MHC peptides and/or the amount of disease-associated antigens presented by such MHC peptides. These methods relate to certain incubation times for such cells following photopheresis treatment and also relate to appropriate incubation containers. Overall, these methods enhance a subject's immune response to disease-associated antigens expressed, for example, by clonal T-cell or B-cell malignancies and in T-cell or B-cell mediated autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the immune response of a mammal to a specific antigen are provided. The methods include treating an antigen presenting cell to enhance expression of a major histocompatibility complex molecule and reacting the treated antigen presenting cell with the antigen extracorporeally to form an antigen-associated antigen presenting cell.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy for treating a subject having an internal solid tumor malignancy are disclosed. The methods include irradiating the tumor to release tumor-derived antigens in vivo, preparing a cellular vaccine including the isolated antigens admixed with a preparation of altered antigen presenting cells and administering the cellular vaccine to the subject. In the preferred embodiments, the antigen presenting cells are leukocytes that have been photochemically altered by subjecting the cells to photopheresis.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the immune response of a mammal to a specific antigen are provided. The methods include treating an antigen presenting cell to enhance expression of a major histocompatibility complex molecule and reacting the treated antigen presenting cell with the antigen extracorporeally to form an antigen-associated antigen presenting cell.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modifying the immune response of a mammal are provided. The pharmaceutical compositions include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a plurality of cells containing psoralen-DNA monoadducts and substantially no psoralen-DNA crosslinks. The preparation is formed by irradiating a suspension of cells with visible light radiation in the presence of psoralen.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for non-specifically enhancing the immune system response of a mammal to an antigen which comprises the steps of (a) withdrawing leukocyte containing material from the mammal, (b) treating the withdrawn leukocytes in a manner to alter the cells, and (c) returning the treated leukocytes to the mammal. In one embodiment, the method for non-specifically enhancing the immune system response of a mammal is carried out in conjunction with artificially contacting the mammal's immune system with an antigen for a suitable period of time to stimulate the immune system. In another embodiment, the mammal's immune system is naturally exposed to the antigen prior to the non-specific enhancement of the immune system. In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed at a method for preparing an autologous non-specific leukocyte adjuvant.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the function of targeted DNA in a viable cell comprising administering to a viable cell containing targeted DNA a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable composition comprising the UVA irradiation product of a compound that has two photoactivatable functional groups, and an oligonucleotide of DNA whose sequence of bases (a) contains at least one TA or AT sequence and (b) is substantially complementary to a segment of cellular DNA of the targeted DNA in the cell, and irradiating the cell with UVA light.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for non-specifically enhancing the immune system response of a mammal to an antigen which comprises the steps of (a) withdrawing leukocyte containing material from the mammal, (b) treating the withdrawn leukocytes in a manner to alter the cella, and (c) returning the treated leukocytes to the mammal. The one embodiment, the method for non-specifically enhancing the immune system response of a mammal is carried out in conjunction with artificially contacting the mammal's immune system with an antigen for a suitable period of time to stimulate the immune system. In another embodiment, the mannal's immune system is naturally exposed to the antigen prior to the non-specific enhancement of the immune system. In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed at a method for preparing an autologous non-specific leukocyte adjuvant.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparations are provided for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases in which the active principle is activated T-lymphocyte cells, specific for the autoimmune disease to be treated, which cells have been treated by incubation with a photoactivatable psoralen cross-linking agent, such as 8-methoxypsoralen, and then photoactivated. The active principle may also be the membrane fraction of such cells. Such preparations may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions and administered to prevent or treat autoimmune disesases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein Y is biotin or iminobiotin, X is CH.sub.2, P is psoralen or a psoralen derivative, r is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and s is an integer equal to or greater than 1.The invention also provides a method for preparing a biotinylated psoralen or a biotinylated psoralen derivative.Further provided are methods for detecting, purifying, and isolating nucleic acids, and methods for delivering an iminobiotinylated psoralen to a cell.

Abstract: A method is provided for specifically altering the immune system response of a mammal to a specific antigen. The method comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the mammal's immune system with the specific antigen for a suitable time period so as to artificially stimulate said immune system; (b) withdrawing blood cell containing material, including antigen stimulated blood cells, from the mammal; (c) treating the withdrawn material or cells so as to alter the stimulated cells; and (d) returning the material and treated cells to the mammal.

Abstract: A chemical agent is disclosed which is useful for reducing the population of a selected blood constituent having receptor sites. The chemical agent includes a carrier having a strong affinity for the receptor sites on the blood constituent and a photoactive agent physically incorporated within or chemically bound to the carrier moiety which interferes with the metabolism of the selected blood constituent when activated by UV radiation. The photoactive agent may be a photocytotoxin selected from the group consisting of psoralen, pyrene, cholesteryloleate, acridine, porphyrin, fluorescein, rhodamine, 16-diazocortisone, ethidium, transistion metal complexes of bleomycin, transition metal complexes of deglycobleomycin and organoplatinum complexes.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile hormonal hormonal receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile hormonal hormonal receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of from about 1 nanogram to 100 micrograms per ml of blood, of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile hormonal receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed throught an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of from about 1 nanogram to 100 micrograms per ml of blood, of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile cortisone receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of from about 1 nanogram to 100 micrograms per ml of blood, of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile cortisone receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for externally treating human blood, with the objective of reducing the functioning lymphocyte population in the blood system of a human subject. According to the method, blood is withdrawn from the subject and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field in the presence of from about 1 nanogram to 100 micrograms per ml of blood, of a dissolved photoactive agent capable of forming photo-adducts with lymphocytic-DNA, mobile cortisone receptors or antigen sites to thereby effect covalent bonding between the photoactive agent and the same, thereby inhibiting the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes or complexing them; and thereupon returning the irradiated blood to the subject. The withdrawn blood may be formed into an extracorporeal stream and flowed through a treatment station whereat the irradiation is effected, as for example by exposure to UV radiation; and such flow process may be conducted on a continuous basis.