MATTHEW JAMES SCHUCHERT
Medical Practice in Pittsburgh, PA

2004014, Jul 22, 2004

Feb 27, 2003

10/375376

Yolonda Colson - Needham MA, US
Matthew Schuchert - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh

A61K038/17, C07K014/47

514/008000, 530/395000

The present invention relates to the isolation and identification of cellular proteins and protein complexes that promote the engraftment of allogeneic stem cells and the induction of immunologic tolerance in recipient transplant hosts. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel 33 kD glycoprotein, p33, that can form a complex with the T cell receptor (TCR) chain, alone or in association with the CD3 antigen. The presence of the p33 protein, the TCR/p33 complex or the CD3/TCR/p33 complex of the invention on the surface of cells correlates with the ability of those cells to facilitate allogeneic engraftment in vivo. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful for promoting the engraftment of allogeneic cells and tissues in vivo, for the reduction of Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) which occurs in connection with transplantation of allogeneic cells in vivo and for the induction of immunologic tolerance to donor cells and tissue in vivo, e.g., in solid organ or tissue transplantation or in bone marrow transplantation used in connection with the treatment of leukemia or other hematological diseases.