T-cell adjuvant and its use for therapeutic or prophylactic vaccination

摘要

The present invention relates in a first aspect to a polypeptide complex comprising IL-6 and a soluble IL-6 receptor or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the same for use as an adjuvant. It has been recognized that the polypeptide complex comprising IL-6 and a soluble IL-6 receptor, in particular, Hyper-IL-6, represents an adjuvant directly acting on T-cells. It is submitted that the polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the same according to the present invention represents the first direct acting T-cell adjuvant described in the art. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide complex or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the same comprising IL-6 and a soluble IL-6 receptor according to the present invention as an adjuvant, a pharmaceutical active ingredient and, optionally, additional components whereby the pharmaceutical composition is a therapeutic or prophylactic vaccine. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of the polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the same according to the present invention comprising IL-6 and a soluble IL-6 receptor for activation of effector and memory T-cells in a subject, in particular, in a human. Particularly, the T-cells are cytotoxic T-cells, CD8⁺ T-cells.