Abstract: Method for the treatment or diagnosis of pathologies either expressed in injured or pathological multiple sites in tissues or in the body or expressed in injured or pathological sites of tissues or cells in sites of the body, which are difficult to access, with said sites or areas in immediate proximity to said sites being the source of the release of chemotactic factors for endogenous macrophages, either spontaneously or upon suitable stimulation, wherein said treatment is carried out by administration to the body of an appropriate amount of exogenous monocyte derived cells, said monocyte derived cells being, in the case of treatment, loaded with corrective agents with respect to the pathologies to be treated, and with said monocyte derived cells having the properties of mobilisation towards the source of the above-said released chemotactic factors and in target the cells present in the vicinity of the said released chemotactic factors, and in the case of diagnosis, loaded with a marker enabling the detectio

Abstract: The invention relates to macrophages which have at least one of the following properties: their cytotoxic activity without IFN-&ggr; is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%; their cytotoxic activity with IFN-&ggr; is increased by about 20 to about 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%; the extension of the deactivation of the cytotoxic activity in reply to an activation of IFN-&ggr; is in a ratio such that after 60h of activation with IFN-&ggr;, the cytotoxic activity is higher than or equal to 30%, preferably of about 55%, compared to the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-&ggr; activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as the percentage of inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells.

Abstract: Monocyte derived cells with immunosuppressive properties including an increase in at least one of the following PGE-2, IL-10 and IL-4. Monocyte derived cells with a decreased level of expression and secretion of inflammatory and immunostimulating cytokines and a decrease on the membrane of activation or accessory molecules in the presence of polylysine-cDNA in the nucleus of the monocyte derived cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to macrophages which have at least one of the following properties: their cytotoxic activity without IFN-&ggr; is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%; their cytotoxic activity with IFN-&ggr; is increased by about 20 to 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%; the extension of the deactivation of the cytotoxic activity in reply to an activation of IFN-&ggr; is in a ratio such that after 60 h of activation with IFN-&ggr;, the cytotoxic activity is higher than or equal to 30%, preferably of about 55%, compared to the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-&ggr; activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as the percentage of inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to macrophages which have at least one of the following properties: their cytotoxic activity without IFN-7 is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%; their cytotoxic activity with IFN-&ggr; is increased by about 20 to about 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%; the extension of the deactivation of the cytotoxic activity in reply to an activation of IFN-&ggr; is in a ratio such that after 60h of activation with IFN-&ggr;, the cytotoxic activity is higher than or equal to 30%, preferably of about 55%, compared to the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-&ggr; activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as the percentage of inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to monocytes derived antigen presenting cells (MD-APCs) characterized in that they have the following properties: they present on their surface: antigen CD14 and CD64 with a mean intensity of about 5 to about 200; antigen CD80 and CD86 with a mean intensity of about 20 to about 200; antigen CD40 and mannose receptor with a mean intensity of 50 to 500; they are substantially devoid of the surface antigens CD1a and CD1c; they present a phagocytosis property; and they have the property of stimulating the proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to monocytes derived antigen presenting cells (MD-APCs) characterized in that they have the following properties: they present on their surface: antigen CD14 and CD64 with a mean intensity of about 5 to about 200; antigen CD80 and CD86 with a mean intensity of about 20 to about 200; antigen CD40 and mannose receptor with a mean intensity of 50 to 500; they are substantially devoid of the surface antigens CD1a and CD1c; they present a phagocytosis property; and they have the property of stimulating the proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to stimulated monocyte derived cells presenting the following characteristics: 1) increased release, with respect to normal monocyte derived cells, of for instance PDGF (platelet derived growth factor), and increased presence, on their membranes, with respect to normal monocyte derived cells, of for instance CD1&agr;, and/or: 2) presence in their nucleus of at least one exogenous nucleic acid which has been integrated in the absence of the monocyte derived cell division. These stimulated monocyte derived cells can be the active substance of pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising macrophages, optionally activated, and/or cells derived from-monocytes with a strong potential for antigen presentation, said process comprising a stage of culture of monocytes present in the starting composition, this stage being preceding and/or followed by a stage of elimination of all or part of the constituents other than the monocytes present in the starting composition, with the aid of antibodies directed against said constituents, and/or followed by a stage of elutriation. The invention also concerns the compositions of kits of reducing this process to practice.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising macrophages, optionally activated, and/or cells derived from monocytes with a strong potential for antigen presentation, said process comprising a stage of culture of monocytes present in the starting composition, this stage being preceding and/or followed by a stage of elimination of all or part of the constituents other than the monocytes present in the starting composition, with the aid of antibodies directed against said constituents, and/or followed by a stage of elutriation. The invention also concerns the compositions of kits for reducing this process to practice.

Abstract: The invention relates to macrophages which have at least one of the following properties: their cytotoxic activity without IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%; their cytotoxic activity with IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to about 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%; the extension of the deactivation of the cytotoxic activity in reply to an activation of IFN-.gamma. is in a ratio such that after 60 h of activation with IFN-.gamma., the cytotoxic activity is higher than or equal to 30%, preferably of about 55%, compared to the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-.gamma. activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as the percentage of inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to macrophages which have at least one of the following properties: their cytotoxic activity without IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%; their cytotoxic activity with IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to about 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%; the extension of the deactivation of the cytotoxic activity in reply to an activation of IFN-.gamma. is in a ratio such that after 60 h of activation with IFN-.gamma., the cytotoxic activity is higher than or equal to 30%, preferably of about 55%, compared to the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-.gamma. activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as the percentage of inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising macrophages, optionally activated, and/or cells derived from monocytes with a strong potential for antigen presentation, said process comprising a stage of culture of monocytes present in the starting composition, this stage being preceding and/or followed by a stage of elimination of all or part of the constituents other than the monocytes present in the starting composition, with the aid of antibodies directed against said constituents, and/or followed by a stage of elutriation. The invention also concerns the compositions of kits for reducing this process to practice.

Abstract: Macrophages have been developed, which possess at least one of the following properties:their cytotoxic activity without IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to 30% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 70%;their cytotoxic activity with IFN-.gamma. is increased by about 20 to about 40% with respect to standard macrophages, and is preferably of about 93%;deactivation of the cytotoxic activity following activation of IFN-.gamma. is such that sixty hours after activation with IFN-.gamma., the residual cytotoxic activity is at least 30%, preferably about 55%, of the maximum cytotoxic activity presented by the macrophages due to IFN-.gamma. activation, with said cytotoxic activity being measured as a percentage of the inhibition of 3-H thymidine incorporation by target tumoral cells, particularly U 937 cells. The macrophages are prepared by culturing healthy human monocytes and lymphocytes in a culture medium containing 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 and GM-CSF.