Baff receptor (bcma), an immunoregulatory agent

Abstract

A novel receptor in the TNF family is provided: BAFF-R. Chimeric molecules and antibodies to BAFF-R and methods of use thereof are also provided.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method of treatment of an autoimmune disease comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a BAFF-R polypeptide or fragment thereof;   (b) a chimeric molecule comprising a BAFF-R polypeptide or fragment thereof fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence; and   (c) an anti-BAFF-R antibody homolog.   
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the BAFF-R polypeptide is soluble. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the soluble BAFF-R polypeptide comprises a BAFF-R extracellular domain. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the BAFF-R extracellular domain is fused to an immunoglobulin. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the BAFF-R polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of
 a) an isolated native sequence BAFF-R polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof;   b) an isolated BAFF-R polypeptide having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity with native sequence BAFF-R polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof;   c) an isolated BAFF-R polypeptide having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity with native sequence BAFF-R polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 184 of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof;   d) an isolated BAFF-R polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 51 of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof; and   e) an isolated BAFF-R polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 8 to 41 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the anti-BAFF-R antibody homolog is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the anti-BAFF-R antibody homolog comprises BCMA-IgG. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the animal is a mammal. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the mammal is human. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of inhibiting inflammation comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody specific for a BAFF-R or an epitope thereof. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled)