Soluble tnf receptors and their use in treatment of disease

Abstract

The present invention relates to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists and corresponding nucleic acids derived from tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) and their use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. These proteins are soluble secreted decoy receptors that bind to TNF and prevent TNF from signaling to cells. In particular, the proteins are mammalian TNFRs that lack exon 7 and which can bind TNF and can act as a TNF antagonist.

1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . An oligomer having a nucleoside sequence selected from the group consisting of: CCACAATCAGTCCTAG (SEQ ID NO: 14), CACAATCAGTCCTA (SEQ ID NO: 21) and ACAATCAGTCCT (SEQ ID NO: 23), having alternating 2′-deoxy- and 2′-O-4′-(methylene)-bicyclic-ribonucleosides, wherein the 5′-terminal nucleoside is a 2′-O-4′-(methylene)-bicyclic-ribonucleoside and the 3′-terminal nucleoside is a 2′-deoxyribonucleoside and wherein the internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate linkages.