Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: Artificial antimicrobial peptides are obtained by alterations in alpha helical portions of a known antimicrobial protein, granulysin. The peptides obtained have significantly improved antimicrobial activity and lack the ability to lyse mammalian cells, which may be toxic to a host. The peptides may be designed according to certain guidelines, and may further be modified by the addition of altered residues and alterations in normal peptide secondary and tertiary structure, including modifications in quaternary (multimeric) structure.

Abstract: Artificial antimicrobial peptides are obtained by alterations in alpha helical portions of a known antimicrobial protein, granulysin. The peptides obtained have significantly improved antimicrobial activity and lack the ability to lyse mammalian cells, which may be toxic to a host. The peptides may be designed according to certain guidelines, and may further be modified by the addition of altered residues and alterations in normal peptide secondary and tertiary structure, including modifications in quaternary (multimeric) structure.

Abstract: Peptide-like compounds and their variants having immunomodulating activity including the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof of up to 60 amino acids wherein the peptide-type compound comprises the formula: ??? wherein: ? and ? are the same or different and are of the formula: {R aa76-77 L}(aa79-84)(SEQ ID NO:1) ??(a) or (aa84-79){L aa77-76 R}(SEQ ID NO:2) ??(b) wherein: aa76 is E or V; aa77 is D, S or N; aa79 is R or G; aa80 is I or N; aa81 is a hydrophobic or small amino acid; aa82 is R or L; aa83 is G or R; aa84 is a hydrophobic or small amino acid; wherein the sequence in the brackets may optionally be absent or truncated at any peptide type bond within the brackets may be used by themselves or in combination with immunosuppressant drugs, to reduce CTL activation, particularly in association with transplantation.

Abstract: Compounds having immunomodulatory activity which are peptide-type compounds, or variants or fragments thereof, including the N-terminal acylated and C-terminal amidated or esterified forms of up to 30 amino acids wherein the peptide-type compound comprises the formula: (a) R aa76-77 L aa79-84 or (b) aa84-79 L aa77-76 R wherein: aa76 is E or V; aa77 is D, S or N; aa79 is R or G; aa80 is I or N; aa81 is a small or hydrophobic amino acid aa82 is R or L; aa83 is G or R; aa84 is a small or hydrophobic amino acid; wherein, in said compounds, at least one of the amino acids is the D isomer are used by themselves or in combination with immunosuppressant drugs, to reduce CTL activation, particularly in association with transplantation.

Abstract: Present invention based on the identification of the molecular interaction that forms the basis of the immunosuppressive activity of peptides comprising residues 71-80 of an MHC Class II protein (Class II peptides). Specifically the present invention discloses that Class II peptides bind to members of the PCNA family of proteins. Based on this observation, present invention provides methods for identifying agents that can be used to modulate immune system activity.

Abstract: Fragments from the polymorphic domains of Class I HLA antigen domains are used to modulate T-cell activity. The peptides are from the .alpha.1- or .alpha.2 domains, particularly of the HLA-A, and B antigens. The peptides may be conjugated to other compounds to be used in diagnosis and therapy. The peptides may block lysis, CTL proliferation or have other regulating effects.

Abstract: Fragments from the polymorphic domains of Class I HLA antigen domains are used to modulate T-cell activity. The peptides are from the .alpha.1- or .alpha.2 domains, particularly of the HLA-A, and B antigens. The peptides may be conjugated to other compounds to be used in diagnosis and therapy. The peptides may block lysis, CTL proliferation or have other regulating effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising a peptide having between about 7 and about 20 amino acid residues, the peptide being capable of binding a CD8 molecule on a cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursor and inhibiting differentiation of the CTL precursor to a mature CTL. The peptides have amino acid sequences substantially homologous to a sequence in an .alpha.3 domain of a human Class I MHC molecule. The sequence from the .alpha.3 domain is preferably between residue 220 and residue 235. The peptides typically comprise the sequences DQTQDTE (SEQ. ID No. 1) or EDQTQDTELVETRP (SEQ. ID No. 2).