Monoclonal Antibody for Delineating CD8+ T Cell Population Subsets (C1.7)

Inventors:    Giorgio Trinchieri

Tech ID:    TG01RR

Description: CD8+ T cells have been traditionally classified as cytotoxic lymphocytes. However, a number of studies have suggested that the CD8+ T cell population is in fact functionally heterogeneous. For example, research has demonstrated that cytotoxic or regulatory (suppressor) activities and an ability to release distinct cytokine profiles distinguish subsets within the CD8+ T cell population. Specifically, research has classified CD8+ T cells as Type I (producing IFN, GMCSF, and TNF) or Type II (producing IL-4, IL-10, GMCSF, and TNF).

Antibody: Wistar scientists have developed a monoclonal antibody designated C1.7 that recognizes a novel surface marker (p38) expressed on all NK cells and 50% of peripheral CD8+ T cells. The C1.7+ CD8+ T Cell subset has been shown to have higher cytotoxic activity and predominantly release a type I cytokine profile. The C1.7- subset has a lower cytotoxic activity and some of the cells may release a type II cytokine profile. On NK cells, C1.7 is a signaling molecule that when crosslinked, induces cytotoxic activity and release of cytokines.

keywords: Diagnostic, therapeutic, T cell, cytoxic T cells

Application: C1.7 binds to a unique surface marker expressed by a functionally distinct subset of CD8+ T cells. C1.7 can potentially provide a more accurate means of establishing and correlating CD8+ T cell subset predominance in certain diseases. The antibody could significantly advance studies to define the phenotypes, cytotoxic activity and cytokine profiles of CD8+ T cell subset populations.

Intellectual Property Position: United States Patent No. 5,688,690 has been issued.

Contact:

Meryle J. Melnicoff, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development The Wistar Institute
Phone: (215) 898-0049
melnicoff@wistar.org