Patent ID: 7993919

Claim:
A method for enhancing an immune response in a subject, comprising a) isolating a population of cells comprising one or more of a mature B cell and a B cell progenitor from the subject; b) contacting the population of cells comprising one or more of a mature B cell and a B cell progenitor with a composition comprising an IL-21 polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the population of cells optionally is contacted with at least one antigen, and wherein the composition induces differentiation of at least one of the mature B cell and the B cell progenitor into one or more of a memory B cell and a plasma cell; c) isolating or purifying one or more of the memory B cell and the plasma cell; and d) introducing at least one of the memory B cell and the plasma cell into the subject, thereby enhancing the immune response.