Patent ID: 6270746
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: A61P,G01N

Abstract:
A screening method for identifying agents having IgE suppressor activity, the method comprising:(a) determining the IgE responsiveness to antigen of an animal before and after administration to the animal of a candidate IgE suppressor, wherein the animal has been treated with an IgE enhancer prior to performance of the screening method, the steps for determining such IgE responsiveness comprising:(i) sensitizing the animal to a sensitizing antigen within a day of treatment of the animal with the IgE enhancer;(ii) delivering a primary immunization dose of an antigen to the animal, wherein the antigen is immunologically related to the sensitizing antigen;(iii) measuring levels of IgE in the animal;(iv) delivering the candidate IgE suppressor to the animal; and,(v) measuring levels of IgE in the animal; then,(b) comparing the measurements obtained in step (a)(iii) with the measurements obtained in step (a)(v), wherein a decline in any of the measured values so compared indicates that the candidate IgE suppressor suppresses the production and/or activity of IgE in the animal.