Novel ligand

Abstract

The invention provides an isolated protein which is a member of the TNF ligand superfamily and comprises: i) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 ; or ii) a variant of the polypeptide of i).

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of inhibiting the interaction in a mammal between a receptor on B-cells and a homotrimeric polypeptide comprising a first polypeptide having 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, said method comprising administering to said mammal an antibody or a fragment thereof that specifically binds a second polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 in trimeric form. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the extracellular domain of said second polypeptide. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         25 . A method of inhibiting the binding of a receptor on B-cells with a homotrimeric polypeptide comprising a first polypeptide having 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, said method comprising contacting said homotrimeric polypeptide with an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds a second polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 in trimeric form. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the extracellular domain of said second polypeptide. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         28 . A method of inhibiting the interaction in a mammal between a receptor on B-cells and a homotrimeric polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 in trimeric form, said method comprising administering to said mammal an antibody or a fragment thereof that specifically binds said polypeptide. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the extracellular domain of said polypeptide. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         32 . A method of inhibiting the binding of a receptor on B-cells with a homotrimeric polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 in trimeric form, said method comprising contacting said homotrimeric polypeptide with an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds said polypeptide. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds to the extracellular domain of said polypeptide. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.