Patent ID: 8404482
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: A61K,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for screening to identify an agent that modulates human Th-IL17+ cell differentiation in vitro, the method comprising the steps of: a) isolating a population of CD4+T cells from a human wherein said CD4+ T cells are isolated from cord blood, buffy coats of adult humans, cell that express CD34 (CD34+ cells) or human embryonic stem cells and dividing the population into at least a first and second sub-population of CD4+ T cells; b) incubating a first sub-population of CD4+T cells in serum-free culture medium comprising TGF-β, IL-1β, and any one of IL-6, IL-21 or IL-23, wherein the incubating promotes differentiation of human Th-IL17+ cells; c) incubating a second sub-population of CD4+T cells in serum-free culture medium comprising TGF-β, IL-1β, any one of IL-6, IL-21 or IL-23, and an agent; d) detecting expression of IL17, IL17F, IL23R, RORC, IL26, or FOXP3 in each of said first and second sub-populations of CD4+T cells incubated without or with the agent; e) comparing the expression of IL17, IL17F, IL23R, RORC, IL26, or FOXP3 in each of said first and second sub-populations of CD4+T cells generated following incubation without or with the agent, wherein a change in expression of IL17, IL17F, IL23R, RORC, IL26, or FOXP3 following incubation with the agent relative to the expression of IL17, IL17F, IL23R, RORC, IL26, or FOXP3 following incubation without the agent indicates that the agent is a modulator of human Th-IL17+ cell differentiation in vitro.