Appeal No. 2002-1355 Page 4
Application No. 08/907,783
Id. “The ability of dendritic antigen presenting cells to induce a primary immune
response to a novel antigen is probably a function of the high expression of
co-stimulatory molecules by these cells.” Id. Such co-stimulatory signals are
essential for inducing T-cell proliferation. See id., pages 2-3. Dendritic cells,
however, “are difficult to isolate in significant numbers, which greatly limits their
application to a commercial assay.” Id., page 2.
The specification discloses a method for achieving “primary in vitro
sensitization without the use of dendritic cells. This is achieved, in one
embodiment, by adding Epstein Barr virus (EBV) transformed human B-cells as a
source of co-stimulatory molecules. The human B-cell line used as a source of
co-stimulatory molecules lacks the major histocompatibility transplantation
antigens HLA-DR, and HLA-A,B,C. This permits the use of these B-cells with
lymphocytes from unrelated donors. . . . Culture of these co-stimulatory B-cells
lacking transplantation antigens, with human lymphocytes, monocytes, and
allergen, induces primary in vitro sensitization of T-lymphocytes to the allergen.
Peripheral blood monocytes function as antigen presenting cells in this system,
since the co-stimulatory B-cells lack antigen presenting molecules. . . . This
culture system . . . can function as an in vitro screen for allergenic compounds.”
Page 9.
Discussion
The claims are directed to a method for screening a test compound (i.e., a
potential allergen) for the ability to induce a response in naive T-cells. The
claimed method comprises obtaining a sample of human blood that contains
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