Patent ID: 7175843

Claim:
A method for inducing a population of T cells to proliferate to sufficient numbers for use in therapy, comprising: (a) activating a population of T cells in vitro with an agent which stimulates a TCR/CD3 complex-associated signal in the T cells, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD3 antibody or a CD3-binding fragment thereof, an anti-CD2 antibody or a CD2-binding fragment thereof, and an antigen in a form suitable to trigger a primary activation signal in the T cell when complexed with the TCR/CD3 complex, wherein said agent is attached on a surface; and (b) stimulating a CD28 accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells in vitro with a ligand that binds the CD28 accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, wherein the ligand is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD28 antibody or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, B7-1 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, and B7-2 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, wherein said ligand is attached on the same surface as said agent; the activating and stimulating steps thereby inducing proliferation of the T cells to sufficient numbers for use in therapy.