Novel human beta2 integrin alpha subunit

Abstract

Methods to inhibit inflammation and macrophage infiltration following spinal cord injury are disclosed along with methods to modulate TNFα release from cells expressing α d are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for inhibiting macrophage infiltration at the site of a central nervous system injury comprising the step of administering to an individual an effective amount of an anti-α d  monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to claim I wherein the anti-α d  monoclonal antibody blocks binding between α d  and a binding partner.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the binding partner is VCAM-1.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  where the anti-α d  monoclonal antibody is selected from the group consisting of the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 226H and the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 236L.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to any one of claims  1  through  4  wherein the central nervous system injury is a spinal cord injury.  
     
     
         6 . A method for reducing inflammation at the site of a central nervous system injury comprising the step of administering to an individual an effective amount of an anti-α d  monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the anti-α d  monoclonal antibody blocks binding between α d  and a binding partner.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the binding partner is VCAM-1.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6  where the anti-α d  monoclonal antibody is selected from the group consisting of the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 226H and the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 236L.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to any one of claims  6  through  9  wherein the central nervous system injury is a spinal cord injury.  
     
     
         11 . A method for modulating TNFα release from macrophages comprising the step of contacting said macrophages with an affective amount of an immunospecific ad monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         12 . A method for modulating TNFα release from splenic phagocytes comprising the step of contacting said phagocytes with an affective amount of an immunospecific α d  monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  where in the anti-α d  monoclonal antibody inhibits TNFα release.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the immunospecific anti-α d  monoclonal antibody is selected from the group consisting of the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 205C and the monoclonal antibody secreted by hybridoma 205E.