Abstract: Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to the B7 family member B7H6, including antibodies capable of inhibiting the interaction of B7H6 with NKp30. Also disclosed are anti-B7H6 antibody-drug conjugates comprising an anti-B7H6 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a therapeutic agent. The anti-B7H6 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates are useful in methods for exerting therapeutic effects against B7H6-expressing cells, as well as in diagnostic methods for the detection of B7H6 or B7H6-expressing cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy, a method of selecting an appropriate chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer, a method of screening or identifying a compound suitable for improving the treatment of a cancer, and corresponding kits. The method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy typically comprises a step a) of determining, in a biological sample from said subject, the presence, absence or expression level of at least one of a soluble B7H6 (sB7H6 or sB7-H6) and a soluble MIC (sMIC) and, when the expression level is determined, a step b) of comparing said expression level to a reference expression level, thereby assessing or monitoring whether the subject having a tumor is responsive or resistant to the chemotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy, to a method of selecting an appropriate chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer, to a method of screening or identifying a compound suitable for improving the treatment of a cancer, and to corresponding kits. The method of predicting or monitoring the sensitivity of a subject having a tumor to a chemotherapy typically comprises a step a) of determining, in a biological sample from said subject, the presence, absence or expression level of at least one of a soluble B7H6 (sB7H6 or sB7-H6) and a soluble MIC (sMIC) and when the expression level is determined a step b) of comparing said expression level to a reference expression level, thereby assessing or monitoring whether the subject having a tumor is responsive or resistant to the chemotherapy.

Abstract: Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to the B7 family member B7H6, including antibodies capable of inhibiting the interaction of B7H6 with NKp30. Also disclosed are anti-B7H6 antibody-drug conjugates comprising an anti-B7H6 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a therapeutic agent. The anti-B7H6 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates are useful in methods for exerting therapeutic effects against B7H6-expressing cells, as well as in diagnostic methods for the detection of B7H6 or B7H6-expressing cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to the B7 family member B7H6, including antibodies capable of inhibiting the interaction of B7H6 with NKp30. Also disclosed are anti-B7H6 antibody-drug conjugates comprising an anti-B7H6 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a therapeutic agent. The anti-B7H6 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates are useful in methods for exerting therapeutic effects against B7H6-expressing cells, as well as in diagnostic methods for the detection of B7H6 or B7H6-expressing cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds (e.g. antibodies) that specifically bind and inhibit NKp46. Such compounds are capable, when administered to a mammal, capable of increasing the frequency of reactive and/or active NK cells. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical composition and methods of using the antibodies and compositions to treat or prevent diseases, e.g. cancer, infection, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to the B7 family member B7H6, including antibodies capable of inhibiting the interaction of B7H6 with NKp30. Also disclosed are anti-B7H6 antibody-drug conjugates comprising an anti-B7H6 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a therapeutic agent. The anti-B7H6 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates are useful in methods for exerting therapeutic effects against B7H6-expressing cells, as well as in diagnostic methods for the detection of B7H6 or B7H6-expressing cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel means for diagnosing, preventing, compensating, treating an abnormal or unwanted functioning of KAR receptors (Killer cell Activatory Receptor), counterparts of non-inhibiting KIR receptors (Keller cell Inhibitory Receptors) of the immunoglobulin or lectin type. The invention concerns in particular, novel KARAP (KAR-Associated Proteins) polypeptides and their biological applications. A KARAP polypeptide is naturally associated with a KAR receptor, and in the absence of such a KARAP, said KAR receptor is naturally incapable of transducing an activating signal that can be detected. The application also concerns methods for obtaining or identifying such KARAP polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expression constructs and methods of specifically marking NK cells in nonhuman mammals. Specifically, methods are presented that allow the specific expression of foreign genes in the NK cells of a nonhuman mammal. Such methods are useful for the generation of animal models for disorders involving NK cells, and for the evaluation of genes or compounds with respect to their effects on NK cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro method for documenting a repetoire in NKR immunoreceptors and/or NKR counterparts, consisting of (i) using at least a pair of oligonucleotides 3? and 5? capable of hybridizing with a target NKR receptor, or NKR counterpart, and not capable of being hybridized with a functional counterpart of said target receptor; (ii) contacting said pair of oligonucleotides 3? and 5? with the DNA or DNA of a sample under study; and (iii) detecting the ultimately formed hybrids. The invention also concerns the biological applications of said method, in particular for screening banks of organs, tissues and cells for transplant, and kits for its implementation.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel means for diagnosing, preventing, compensating, treating an abnormal or unwanted functioning of KAR receptors (Killer cell Activatory Receptor, counterparts of non-inhibiting KIR receptors (Keller cell Inhibitory Receptors) of the immunoglobulin or lectin type. The invention concerns in particular, novel KARAP (KAR-Associated Proteins) polypeptides and their biological applications. A KARAP polypeptide is naturally associated with a KAR receptor, and in the absence of such a KARAP, said KAR receptor is naturally incapable of transducing an activating signal that can be detected. The application also concerns methods for obtaining or identifying such KARAP polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro method for documenting a repetoire in NKR immunoreceptors and/or NKR counterparts, consisting of (i) using at least a pair of oligonucleotides 3′ and 5′ capable of hybridizing with a target NKR receptor, or NKR counterpart, and not capable of being hybridized with a functional counterpart of said target receptor; (ii) contacting said pair of oligonucleotides 3′ and 5′ with the DNA or DNA of a sample under study; and (iii) detecting the ultimately formed hybrids. The invention also concerns the biological applications of said method, in particular for screening banks of organs, tissues and cells for transplant, and kits for its implementation.

Abstract: The present application relates to transgenic animals over-expressing KARAP, knock-in animals bearing non functional KARAP, and to method and kits for the identification of compounds capable of inhibiting a KARAP-transduced immune signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds for modulating cell negative regulations and biological applications thereof. It particularly relates to compounds capable of cross-linking a simulatory receptor with a KIR (Killer-cell inhibitory receptor).

Abstract: The invention relates to an in vitro method for documenting a repetoire in NKR immunoreceptors and/or NKR counterparts, consisting of (i) using at least a pair of oligonucleotides 3′ and 5′ capable of hybridizing with a target NKR receptor, or NKR counterpart, and not capable of being hybridized with a functional counterpart of said target receptor; (ii) contacting said pair of oligonucleotides 3′ and 5′ with the DNA or DNA of a sample under study; and (iii) detecting the ultimately formed hybrids. The invention also concerns the biological applications of said method, in particular for screening banks of organs, tissues and cells for transplant, and kits for its implementation.

Abstract: A novel natural killer cell-specific molecule, designated as PEN5, consisting essentially of a glycoprotein pair called PEN5&agr; and PEN5&bgr;, having apparent molecular weights of 120-150 and 210-245 kdal, respectively. Monoclonal antibodies, including immunoreactive fragments and derivatives thereof, that bind to unique epitopes present on this NK, cell-specific molecule; hybridomas that produce the monoclonal antibodies; methods of using the antibodies and fragments and derivatives; and methods for detecting and/or removing natural killer cells from a sample containing a mixed population of cells are also provided.

Abstract: A novel natural killer cell-specific molecule, designated as PEN5, consisting essentially of a glycoprotein pair called PEN5.alpha. and PEN5.beta., having apparent molecular weights of 120-150 and 210-245 kdal, respectively. Monoclonal antibodies, including immunoreactive fragments and derivatives thereof, that bind to unique epitopes present on this NK cell-specific molecule; hybridomas that produce the monoclonal antibodies; methods of using the antibodies and fragments and derivatives; and methods for detecting and/or removing natural killer cells from a sample containing a mixed population of cells are also provided.