Abstract: The described invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutic amount of an educated mononuclear cell product, a process for preparing the educated mononuclear cell product, and a method for treating a disease characterized by lymphocyte autoreactivity. Mononuclear cells from a diseased subject are co-cultured with a viable population of adherent umbilical cord blood stem cells at at least 80% confluence to form an educated mononuclear cell product. A therapeutic amount of the educated mononuclear cell product is returned by infusion intravascularly to the subject. The therapeutic amount is effective to modulate autoreactivity in a T cell compartment of the subject and to reduce symptoms of the disease characterized by lymphocyte autoreactivity.

Abstract: The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and MHC, class II, gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 1400 and 400 that mimic three portions of the human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen. The portions are residues 29-35, the C—C? loop of the D1 domain; residues 317-323, the C—C? loop of the D4 domain; and residues 346-353, the CDR3 or FG ridge of the D4 domain of the CD4 molecule. Specific examples of such compounds include cyclic peptides and peptidomimetic.

Abstract: The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and MHC, class II, gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 1400 and 400 that mimic three portions of the human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen. The portions are residues 29-35, the C-C? loop of the D1 domain; residues 317-323, the C-C? loop of the D4 domain; and residues 346-353, the CDR3 or FG ridge of the D4 domain of the CD4 molecule. Specific examples of such compounds include cyclic peptides and peptidomimetic.

Abstract: The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and MHC, class II, gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 1400 and 400 that mimic three portions of the human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen. The portions are residues 29-35, the C—C′ loop of the D1 domain; residues 317-323, the C—C′ loop of the D4 domain; and residues 346-353, the CDR3 or FG ridge of the D4 domain of the CD4 molecule. Specific examples of such compounds include cyclic peptides and peptidomimetic.

Abstract: Peptides which mimic a loop on the &ggr;-chain that either interact with a cytokine or a &ggr;-chain partner receptor chain of a heterodimeric cytokine receptor are disclosed. The peptides consist of 5-25 amino acids and inhibit signal transduction mediated by cytokine:receptor binding of cytokines that bind to receptors that comprise a &ggr;-chain. Pharmaceutical compositions that comprise the peptides are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting signal transduction mediated by cytokine:receptor binding of cytokines that bind to receptors that comprise a &ggr;-chain, methods of inhibiting cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity, methods of treating patients suffering from a disease disorder or condition characterized by cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity and methods of preventing a condition characterized by cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity are disclosed.

Abstract: Peptides which mimic a loop on the &ggr;-chain that either interact with a cytokine or a &ggr;-chain partner receptor chain of a heterodimeric cytokine receptor are disclosed. The peptides consist of 5-25 amino acids and inhibit signal transduction mediated by cytokine:receptor binding of cytokines that bind to receptors that comprise a &ggr;-chain. Pharmaceutical compositions that comprise the peptides are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting signal transduction mediated by cytokine:receptor binding of cytokines that bind to receptors that comprise a &ggr;-chain, methods of inhibiting cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity, methods of treating patients suffering from a disease disorder or condition characterized by cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity and methods of preventing a condition characterized by cytokine mediated cell growth, proliferation, function or activity are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients by using L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester (LLME) to eliminate selective cytotoxic T cells in donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). LLME has been shown to inhibit GVHD in animal models by selectively inducing apoptosis in natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells. The application of LLME to the human clinical HSCT situation, however, has been hampered by HSC toxicity when unseparated marrow is treated at the concentrations necessary to purge GVHD-inducing T cells prior to infusion. In the present invention, this problem is circumvented by the LLME ex vivo treatment of DLI administered following transplantation of T cell-depleted HSC. In this setting, the effects of LLME on HSC contained within the DLI are irrelevant for clinical outcome.

Abstract: Compounds that inhibit CD8 mediated T cell activation and that have a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 38-46 and/or 53-56 and/or 60-67 and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting activation of a human T cell are disclosed. The methods comprise contacting a T cell with a compound that inhibits CD8 mediated T cell activation and that has a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 38-46 and/or 53-56 and/or 60-67. Methods of treating an individual suspected of suffering from or susceptible to graft versus host disease and/or organ rejection are disclosed. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of a compound that inhibits CD8 mediated T cell activation and that has a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 34-46 and/or 53-56 and/or 60-67.

Abstract: The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4.sup.+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and class II MHC gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4.sup.+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 500 and 150 that bind to the GFCC'C" portion of the D1 domain of human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating interaction between IgE and Fc.epsilon.R1. The present invention also relates to compounds that modulate IgE binding to Fc.epsilon.R1.

Abstract: Compounds which display a surface similar to the surface presented by one of five distinct lateral domains of CD4 are disclosed. Methods of treating individuals suspected of suffering from or susceptible to conditions characterized by an undesired immune response comprising administering to the individual at least one compound which mimics a portion of the lateral surface of the CD4 glycoprotein are disclosed.

Abstract: The application concerns a method of identifying compounds that can be used to inhibit undesired human CD4.sup.+ T cell immune responses by identifying compounds that block the interaction of CD4 and MHC, class II, gene products and a method of treatment which comprises administering such an identified compound. The compounds that inhibit undesired human CD4.sup.+ T cell immune responses can be used to treat disease such as multiple sclerosis and to prevent graft rejection and graft versus host disease. More specifically, the application concerns compounds having molecular weights between about 1400 and 400 that mimic three portions of the human CD4 lymphocyte cell surface antigen. The portions are residues 29-35, the C-C' loop of the D1 domain; residues 317-323, the C-C' loop of the D4 domain; and residues 346-353, the CDR3 or FG ridge of the D4 domain of the CD4 molecule. Specific examples of such compounds include cyclic peptides and peptidomimetic.

Abstract: Compounds that inhibit CD8 mediated T cell activation and that have a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 53-56 and/or 60-67 and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds are disclosed. Method of inhibiting activation of a human T cell are disclosed. The methods comprise contacting a T cell with a compound that inhibits CD8 mediated T cell activation and that has a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 53-56 and/or 60-67. Methods of treating an individual suspected of suffering from or susceptible to graft versus host disease and/or organ rejection are disclosed. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of a compound that inhibits CD8 mediated T cell activation and that has a molecular surface that corresponds to the molecular surface of human CD8 at amino acids 53-56 and/or 60-67.

Abstract: Compounds which display a surface similar to the surface presented by one of five distinct lateral domains of CD4 are disclosed. Methods of treating individuals suspected of suffering from or susceptible to conditions characterized by an undesired immune response comprising administering to the individual at least one compound which mimics a portion of the lateral surface of the CD4 glycoprotein are disclosed.