Claims
- 1. An in vitro assay system for identifying compositions useful for stimulating the release of antibody by B cells comprising:
- a) dextran conjugated to anti-immunoglobin antibodies, wherein said anti-immunoglobin antibodies are directed against IgD or IgM; and
- b) a highly purified population of B cells, wherein said population is more than 99% B cells.
- 2. An in vitro method for identifying compositions useful for stimulating the release of antibody by B cells comprising:
- a) providing an assay system comprising
- 1) dextran conjugated to anti-immunoglobin antibodies, wherein said anti-immunoglobin antibodies are directed against IgD or IgM; and
- 2) a highly purified population of B cells, wherein said population is more than 99% B cells,
- b) adding a sample composition to be tested; and
- c) detecting the secretion of Ig by B cells, wherein the secretion is indicative of the usefulness of the tested compound as an agent for stimulating the release of antibody by B cells.
- 3. The in vitro assay system of claim 1 wherein the B cells are electronically sorted.
- 4. The in vitro assay system of claim 3 further comprising at least one cytokine.
- 5. The in vitro assay system of claim 4 wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, GM-CSF, IFN-.gamma..
- 6. The in vitro method of claim 2 wherein the B cells are electronically sorted.
- 7. The in vitro method of claim 6 further comprising at least one cytokine.
- 8. The in vitro method of claim 7, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, GM-CSF, IFN-.gamma..
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 08/315,492, filed Sep. 30, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/150,510, filed Nov. 10, 1993, herein incorporated by reference.
GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured, licensed, and used for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties to the inventors or assignee.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
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0 351 876 |
Jan 1990 |
EPX |
WO 9513089 |
May 1995 |
WOX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
315492 |
Sep 1994 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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150510 |
Nov 1993 |
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