Novel human beta-2 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.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A method for inhibiting TNF-α release from macrophages comprising the step of contacting said macrophages with an effective amount of an α d  monoclonal antibody immunospecific for an α d  polypeptide 
 wherein said α d  polypeptide is encoded by a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:    a) SEQ ID NO: 1;    b) a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; and    c) a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the complement of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b), under conditions that include a final wash in 1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 65° C.,    and wherein said α d  polypeptide retains a biological activity of α d .    
     
     
         12 . A method for inhibiting TNF-α release from splenic phagocytes comprising the step of contacting said phagocytes with an effective amount of an α d  monoclonal antibody immunospecific for an α d  polypeptide 
 wherein said α d  polypeptide is encoded by a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:    a) SEQ ID NO: 1;    b) a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; and    c) a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the complement of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b), under conditions that include a final wash in 1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 65° C.,    and wherein said α d  polypeptide retains a biological activity of α d .    
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  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.