AU774498B2 - A tumor necrosis factor related ligand - Google Patents

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: Biogen, Inc. and The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva Jeffrey L Browning; Yves Chicheportiche CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Ligand Divisional of acceptance no. 736289 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 19 1 11 1 "I I Wy L~U~I~~ la-- A TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR RELATED LIGAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to Tumor Necrosis Factor Related ligand or "TRELL", a polypeptide which is a member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Family. The protein or its receptor may have anti-cancer and/or immunoregulatory applications. Furthermore, cells transfected with the gene for TRELL may be used in gene therapy to treat tumors, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases or inherited genetic disorders.

The invention described herein was made in part during the course of work under the grant #31-42275.94 and 32-41729.94 to Irene Garcia from the Swiss National Fund.

Reserved rights described in paragraphs #28 and #29 of the Swiss National Fund statute.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-related cytokines are mediators of host defense and immune regulation. Members of this family exist in membrane-anchored forms, acting locally through cell-to-cell contact, or as secreted proteins capable of diffusing to more distant targets. A parallel family of receptors signals the presence of these molecules leading to the initiation of cell death or cellular proliferation and differentiation in the target tissue.

Presently, the TNF family of ligands and receptors has at least 9 recognized receptor-ligand pairs, including: TNF:TNF-R; LT-a:TNF-R; LT-a/p:LT-p-R; FasL:Fas; CD40L:CD40; CD30L:CD30; CD27L:CD27; OX40L:OX40 and 4-1BBL:4-1BB. The DNA sequences encoding these ligands have only about 25% to about 30% identity in even the most related 20 cases, although the amino acid relatedness is about The defining feature of this family of cytokine receptors is found in the cysteine rich extracellular domain initially revealed by the molecular cloning of two distinct TNF receptors.' This family of genes encodes glycoproteins characteristic of Type I transmembrane proteins with an extracellular ligand binding domain, a single membrane spanning region and a cytoplasmic region involved in activating cellular functions. The cysteine-rich ligand binding region exhibits a tightly knit disulfide linked core domain, which, IA3Y~kr jjtAWl l I 1 w depending upon the particular family member, is repeated multiple times. Most receptors have four domains, although there may be as few as three, or as many as six.

Proteins in the TNF family of ligands are characterized by a short N-terminal stretch of normally short hydrophilic amino acids, often containing several lysine or arginine residues thought to serve as stop transfer sequences. Next follows a transmembrane region and an extracellular region of variable length, that separates the C-terminal receptor binding domain from the membrane. This region is sometimes referred to as the "stalk". The C-terminal binding region comprises the bulk of the protein, and often, but not always, contains glycosylation sites. These genes lack the classic signal sequences characteristic of type I membrane proteins, having type II membrane proteins with the C terminus lying outside the cell, and the short N-terminus residing in the cytoplasm. In some cases, TNF and LT-a, cleavage in the stalk region can occur early during protein processing and the ligand is then found primarily in secreted form. Most ligands, however, exist in a membrane form, mediating localized signalling.

15 The structure of these ligands has been well-defined by crystallographic analyses of TNF, LT-a. and CD40L. TNF and lymphotoxin-a (LT-a) are both structured into a sandwich of two anti-parallel P-pleated sheets with the "jelly roll" or Greek key topology.

2 The rms deviation between the Ca and P-strand residues is 0.61 C, suggesting a high degree of similarity in their molecular topography. A structural feature emerging from molecular studies of CD40L, TNF and LT-a is the propensity to assemble into oligomeric complexes.

Intrinsic to the oligomeric structure is the formation of the receptor binding site at the junction between the neighboring subunits creating a multivalent ligand. The quaternary structures of TNF, CD40L and LT-a have been shown to exist as trimers by analysis of their crystal structures. Many of the amino acids conserved between the different ligands are in stretches of the scaffold p-sheet. It is likely that the basic sandwich structure is preserved in all of these molecules, since portions of these scaffold sequences are conserved across the various family members. The quaternary structure may also be maintained since the subunit conformation is likely to remain similar.

TNF family members can best be described as master switches in the immune system controlling both cell survival and differentiation. Only TNF and LTa are currently recognized 1~1~j~)L4~j 9 A~4~AL -3as secreted cytokines contrasting with the other predominantly membrane anchored members of the TNF family. While a membrane form of TNF has been well-characterized and is likely to have unique biological roles, secreted TNF functions as a general alarm signaling to cells more distant from the site of the triggering event Thus TNF secretion can amplify an event leading to the well-described changes in the vasculature lining and the inflammatory state of cells. In contrast, the membrane bound members of the family send signals though the TNF type receptors only to cells in direct contact. For example T cells provide CD40 mediated "help" only to those B cells brought into direct contact via cognate TCR interactions. Similar cell-cell contact limitations on the ability to induce cell death apply to the well-studied Fas system.

The ability to induce programmed cell death is an important and well-studied feature of several members of the TNF family. Fas mediated apoptosis appears to play a role in the regulation of autoreactive lymphocytes in the periphery and possibly the thymus (Castro et al., 1996) and recent work has also implicated the TNF and CD30 systems in the survival of T 15 cells and large cell anaplastic lymphoma lines (Amakawa et al., 1996; Gruss et al., 1994; Sytwu et al., 1996; Zheng et al., 1995). We and others had previously shown the death of this S. line in response to TNF, Fas or LTb receptor signaling to have features of apoptosis (Abreu-Martin et al., 1995; Browning et al., 1996).

It appears that one can segregate the TNF ligands into three groups based on their 20 ability to induce cell death (Table III). First, TNF, Fas ligand and TRAIL can efficiently induce cell death in many lines and their receptors mostly likely have good canonical death domains. Presumably the ligand to DR-3 (TRAMP/WSL-1) would also all into this category.

Next there are those ligands which trigger a weaker death signal limited to few cell types and TRELL, CD30 ligand and LTalb2 are examples of this class. How this group can trigger cell 25 death in the absence of a canonical death domain is an interesting question and suggests that a separate weaker death signaling mechanism exists. Lastly, there those members that cannot efficiently deliver a death signal. Probably all groups can have antiproliferative effects on some cell types consequent to inducing cell differentiation e.g. CD40 (Funakoshi et al., 1994) The TNF family has grown dramatically in recent years to encompass at least 11 different signaling pathways involving regulation of the immune system. The expression Y IINU~~IUUIYI*I~I_ ln~ ~I patterns of TRELL and TRAIL indicate that there is still more functional variety to be uncovered in this family. This aspect has been especially highlighted in recent the discovery of two receptors that affect the ability of rous sacroma and herpes simplex virus to replicate as well as the historical observations that TNF has anti-viral activity and pox viruses encode for decoy TNF receptors (Brojatsch et al., 1996; Montgomery et al., 1996; Smith, 1994; Vassalli, 1992). The generation soluble TRELL and the identification of the TRELL receptor should provide the tools to elucidate the biological function of this interesting protein.

TNF is a mediator of septic shock and cachexia 3 and is involved in the regulation of hematopoietic cell development.

4 It appears to play a major role as a mediator of inflammation and defense against bacterial, viral and parasitic infections 5 as well as having antitumor activity.

6 TNF is also involved in different autoimmune diseases.

7 TNF may be produced by several types of cells, including macrophages, fibroblasts, T cells and natural killer cells.

8 TNF binds to two different receptors, each acting through specific intracellular signaling molecules, thus resulting in different effects of TNF.9 TNF can exist either as a S. 15 membrane bound form or as a soluble secreted cytokine.l 0 LT-a shares many activities with TNF, i.e. binding to the TNF receptors, 1 but unlike TNF, appears to be secreted primarily by activated T cells and some B-lymphoblastoid tumors.

2 The heteromeric complex of LT-a and LT-P is a membrane bound complex which binds to the LT- receptor.

1 3 The LT system (LTs and LT-R) appears to be involved in the development of peripheral lymphoid organs since genetic disruption of LT-P leads to disorganization of T and B cells in the spleen and an absence of lymph nodes.

1 4 The LT-P system is also involved in cell death of some adenocarcinoma cell lines.' Fas-L, another member of the TNF family, is expressed predominantly on activated T cells." It induces the death of cells bearing its receptor, including tumor cells and HIV- 00 25 infected cells, by a mechanism known as programmed cell death or apoptosis.' 7 Furthermore, deficiencies in either Fas or Fas-L may lead to lymphoproliferative disorders, confirming the role of the Fas system in the regulation of immune responses." The Fas system is also involved in liver damage resulting from hepatitis chronic infection 19 and in autoimmunity in HIV-infected patients.

2 0 The Fas system is also involved in T-cell destruction in HIV patients.

2 TRAIL, another member of this family, also seems to be involved in the death of a wide variety of transformed cell lines of diverse origin.

22 another member of the TNF family, is expressed on T cells and induces the regulation of CD40-bearing B cells.

23 Furthermore, alterations in the CD40-L gene result in a disease known as X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome.

2 The CD40 system is also involved in different autoimmune diseases 25 and CD40-L is known to have antiviral properties.

26 Although the CD40 system is involved in the rescue of apoptotic B cells, 27 in non-immune cells it induces apoptosis 28 Many additional lymphocyte members of the TNF family are also involved in costimulation.

29 Generally, the members of the TNF family have fundamental regulatory roles in controlling the immune system and activating acute host defense systems. Given the current progress in manipulating members of the TNF family for therapeutic benefit, it is likely that members of this family may provide unique means to control disease. Some of the ligands of this family can directly induce the apoptotic death of many transformed cells eg. LT, TNF, Fas ligand and TRAIL (Nagata, 1997). Fas and possibly TNF and CD30 receptor activation can induce cell death in nontransformed lymphocytes which may play an immunoregulatory 15 function (Amakawa et al., 1996; Nagata, 1997; Sytwu et al., 1996; Zheng et al., 1995). In general, death is triggered following the aggregation of death domains which reside on the cytoplasmic side of the TNF receptors. The death domain orchestrates the assembly of various signal transduction components which result in the activation of the caspase cascade (Nagata, 1997). Some receptors lack canonical death domains, e.g. LTb receptor and (Browning et al., 1996; Lee et al., 1996) yet can induce cell death, albeit more weakly. It is likely that these receptors function primarily to induce cell differentiation and the death is an aberrant consequence in some transformed cell lines, although this picture is unclear as studies on the CD30 null mouse suggest a death role in negative selection in the thymus (Amakawa et al., 1996). Conversely, signaling through other pathways such as CD40 is 25 required to maintain cell survival. Thus, there is a need to identify and characterize additional molecules which are members of the TNF family thereby providing additional means of controlling disease and manipulating the immune system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a polypeptide, a tumor necrosis factor related ligand called TRELL which substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to All, -6the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. The inventor has discovered a new member of the TNF family ofcytokines, and defined both the human and murine amino acid sequence of the protein, as well as the DNA sequences encoding these protein. The claimed invention may be used to identify new diagnostics and therapeutics for numerous diseases and conditions as discussed in more detail below, as well as to obtain information about, and manipulate, the immune system and its processes. Additionally, the claimed invention is involved in the induction of cell death in carcinoma.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent form the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the compositions and methods particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as in the appended drawings.

Thus, to achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a DNA sequence 15 encoding TRELL. The nucleotide sequence for mouse TRELL (mTRELL) is shown in SEQ ID. NO. 1, and for human TRELL (hTRELL) in SEQ ID. NO. 3. Specifically, the invention relates to DNA sequences which encode a TRELL having the amino acid sequence identified in SEQ. ID. NO. 2 (mTRELL) or 4 (hTRELL). In other embodiments, the invention relates to sequences that have at least 50% homology with the DNA encoding the C terminal receptor binding domain of TRELL and hybridize to the claimed DNA sequences or fragments thereof, and which encode TRELL having the sequence identified in SEQ. ID. NO. 4 or SEQ ID. NO.

2.

The invention in certain embodiments furthermore relates to a DNA sequence encoding TRELL where the sequence is operatively linked to an expression control sequence.

25 Any suitable expression control sequence is useful in the claimed invention, and can easily be selected by one skilled in the art.

The invention also contemplates a recombinant DNA comprising a sequence encoding TRELL, or a fragment thereof, as well as hosts with stably integrated TRELL sequences introduced into their genome, or possessing episomal elements. Any suitable host may be used in the invention, and can easily be selected by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation.

4, a rrrrrrr "I'll -1 IVARAWW13 W-1- -7- In other embodiments, the invention relates to methods of producing substantially pure TRELL comprising the step of culturing transformed hosts, and TRELL essentially free of normally associated animal proteins.

The invention encompasses TRELL having the amino acid sequence identified in SEQ. ID. NO. 4 or SEQ ID. NO. 2 as well as fragments or homologs thereof. In various embodiments, the amino acid and/or the DNA sequence of TRELL may comprise conservative insertions, deletions and substitutions, as further defined below or may comprise fragments of said sequences.

The invention relates in other embodiments to soluble TRELL constructs, which may be used to directly trigger TRELL mediated pharmacological events. Such events may have useful therapeutic benefit in the treatment of cancer or the manipulation of the immune system to treat immunologic diseases. Soluble TRELL forms could be genetically reengineered to incorporate an easily recognizable tag, thereby facilitating the identification of TRELL receptors.

15 In yet other embodiments the invention relates to methods of gene therapy using the TRELL's disclosed and claimed herein.

The pharmaceutical preparations of the invention may, optionally, include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants, fillers, or other pharmaceutical compositions, and may be administered in any of the numerous forms or routes known in the art.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several 25 embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an amino acid sequence comparison of human (SEQ ID NO:4) and mouse (SEQ ID NO:2) TRELL.

Figures 2A and 2B are an amino acid comparison of human members of the TNF family.

£LrFX iilgIwj l iW1LTA&i, l' WJ,,WW l' J.u I AUWA***.1 1 14.

Figure 3 is a northern analysis of TRELL mRNA expression in different mouse cell lines and tissues. Lanes are duplicated and contained RNA from thioglycolate induced peritoneal macrophages, bone marrow, spleen, and liver.

Figure 4 is a northern analysis of TRELL mRNA expression in different human tissues.

Figure 5: SDS-PAGE of recombinant TNF, LTa and TRELL (designated here as TWEAK) under reducing and nonreducing conditions.

Figure 6: TRELL is cytotoxic to the human adenocarcinoma line HT29.

A. Ability of the TNF, TRELL, LTa/1 and anti-Fas to block the growth of the HT29 line in the presence of human interferon-g. Cells were grown for 4 days in the presence of the various agents and growth was assessed using MTT staining.

B. Morphology of the cells undergoing cell death. Cells were.pregrown for 2 days and then treated for 24 hours with 80 U/ml interferon-g with no further addition, or the addition of 100 ng/ml recombinant TRELL Cells were fixed with ethanol and stained with 1 gg/ml Hoescht dye to reveal the nuclei. Top .o panels show phase contrast images and the bottom panels show Hoescht dye stained chromatin".

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention. This invention relates to DNA sequences that code for human or mouse TRELL, fragments and homologs thereof, and expression of those DNA sequences in hosts transformed with them. The invention relates to uses of these DNA sequences and the peptides encoded by them. Additionally, the invention encompasses both human and mouse amino acid sequences for TRELL, or fragments thereof, as well as pharmaceutical 25 compositions comprising or derived from them.

A. DEFINITIONS "Homologous", as used herein, refers to the sequence similarity between sequences of molecules being compared. When a position in both of the two compared sequences is occupied by the same base or amino acid monomer subunit, if a position in each of two DNA molecules is occupied by adenine, then the molecules are homologous at that position.

I. _n.rl~Yy~C7"" ~YlflYI~Pl~~lil~~" -9- The percent of homology between two sequences is a function of the number of matching or homologous positions shared by the two sequences divided by the number of positions compared x 100. For example, if 6 of 10, of the positions in two sequences are matched or homologous then the two sequences are 60% homologous. By way of example, the DNA sequences ATTGCC and TATGGC share 50% homology. Generally, a comparison is made when two sequences are aligned to give maximum homology.

A "purified preparation" or a "substantially pure preparation" of a polypeptide, as used herein, means a polypeptide that has been separated from other proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids with which it naturally occurs. Preferably, the polypeptide is also separated from other substances, antibodies, matrices, etc., which are used to purify it.

"Transformed host" as used herein is meant to encompass any host with stably integrated sequence, i.e. TRELL sequence, introduced into its genome or a host possessing sequence, i.e. TRELL, encoding episomal elements.

A "treatment", as used herein, includes any therapeutic treatment, the 15 administration of a therapeutic agent or substance, a drug.

A "substantially pure nucleic acid", a substantially pure DNA, is a nucleic acid which is one or both of: not immediately contiguous with either one or both of the sequences, coding sequences, with which it is immediately contiguous one at the 5' end and one at the 3' end) in the naturally-occurring genome of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived; or which is substantially free of a nucleic acid sequence with which it occurs in the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. The term includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule a cDNA or a genomic DNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction 25 endonuclease treatment) independent of other DNA sequences. Substantially pure DNA also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding TRELL.

The terms "peptides", "proteins", and "polypeptides" are used interchangeably herein.

"Biologically active" as used herein, means having an in vivo or in vitro activity which may be performed directly or indirectly. Biologically active fragments of TRELL may have, for example, 70% amino acid homology with the active site of TRELL, more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably, at least 90% homology. Identity or homology with respect i;Y~Yly~iZL~iY1;~1~-I^r~ll~~l~~dl~l*j~j~ iOlll__U1HI(CI(*~WWqe-*iWUls*l~lrhfliY* to TRELL is defined herein as the percentage of amino acid residues in the candidate sequence which are identical to the TRELL residues in SEQ. ID. NOS. 2 or 4.

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology, transgenic biology, microbiology, recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art.

Such techniques are described in the literature.

30 B. DNA SEOUENCES OF THE INVENTION As described herein, one aspect of the invention features a substantially pure (or recombinant) nucleic acid which includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a TRELL polypeptide, such as the DNA described in SEQ. ID. NO. 1 or 3 and/or equivalents of such nucleic acids. The term nucleic acid as used herein can include fragments and equivalents, such as, for example, sequences encoding functionally equivalent peptides. Equivalent nucleotide sequences may include sequences that differ by one or more nucleotide substitutions, additions or deletions, such as allelic variants, mutations, etc. and include 15 sequences that differ from the nucleotide sequence encoding TRELL shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. The inventors have sequenced a human 1936 Sbp DNA which contains an open reading frame encoding a TRELL polypeptide, having the 248 amino acid sequence as identified in SEQ. ID. NO. 4.

The inventor describes herein both human and murine sequences; the invention will be described generally by reference to the human sequences, although one skilled in the art will understand that the mouse sequences are encompassed herein. A striking feature of TRELL is the extensive sequence conservation of the receptor binding domain between mouse and man; only the Fas ligand approaches this level of conservation. Both the murine and human :TRELL proteins have all of the characteristics of the TNF family, a type II membrane protein organization and conservation of the sequence motifs involved in the folding of the protein into the TNF ant-parallel p-sheet structure.

The nucleotide sequence for mTRELL is set forth in SEQ. ID. NO. 1; the amino acid sequence for mTRELL is described in SEQ. ID. NO. 2. The DNA and amino acid sequences for hTRELL are described in SEQ. ID. NOS. 3 and 4 respectively.

~'~~rumr -il"~r~~ii V~ ,iI,1jWA"."LJMfn!4 jA'' IHlR~~.Vr~~g j~iY 11 The sequences of the invention can be used to prepare a series of DNA probes that are useful in screening various collections of natural and synthetic DNAs for the presence of DNA sequences that code for TRELL or fragments or derivatives thereof. One skilled in the art will recognize that reference to "TRELL", as used herein, refers also to biologically active derivatives, fragments or homologs thereof.

The DNA sequences encoding TRELL of the invention can be employed to produce TRELL peptides on expression in various prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts transformed with them. These TRELL peptides may be used in anti-cancer, and immunoregulatory applications. In general, this comprises the steps of culturing a host transformed with a DNA molecule containing the sequence encoding TRELL, operatively-linked to an expression control sequence.

The DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules of the present invention can be expressed using a wide variety of host/vector combinations. For example, useful vectors may consist of segments of chromosomal, non-chromosomal or synthetic DNA sequences. The *o 15 expression vectors of the invention are characterized by at least one expression control sequence that may be operatively linked to a TRELL DNA sequence inserted in the vector, in order to control and to regulate the expression of the DNA sequence.

Furthermore, within each expression vector, various sites may be selected for insertion of a TRELL sequence of the invention. The sites are usually designated by a restriction endonuclease which cuts them, and these sites and endonucleases are well recognized by those skilled in the art. It is of course to be understood that an expression vector useful in this invention need not have a restriction endonuclease site for insertion of the desired DNA fragment. Instead, the vector may be cloned to the fragment by alternate means. The expression vector, and in particular the site chosen therein for insertion of a selected DNA 25 fragment, and its operative linking therein to an expression control sequence, is determined by a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the size of the protein to be expressed, the susceptibility of the desired protein to proteolytic degradation by host cell enzymes, number of sites susceptible to a particular restriction enzyme, contamination or binding of the protein to be expressed by host cell proteins which may prove difficult to remove during purification. Additional factors which may be considered include expression characteristics such as the location of start and stop codons relative to the vector sequences, LYLZVLI ~^~YC~^~II~LU~IILI~!1Lfl~tl -12and other factors which will be recognized by those skilled in the art. The choice of a vector and insertion site for the claimed DNA sequences is determined by a balancing of these factors, not all selections being equally effective for a desired application. However, it is routine for one skilled in the art to analyze these parameters and choose an appropriate system depending on the particular application.

One skilled in the art can readily make appropriate modifications to the expression control sequences to obtain higher levels of protein expression, i.e. by substitution of codons, or selecting codons for particular amino acids that are preferentially used by particular organisms, to minimize proteolysis or to alter glycosylation composition. Likewise, cysteines may be changed to other amino acids to simplify production, refolding or stability problems.

Thus, not all host/expression vector combinations function with equal efficiency in expressing the DNA sequences of this invention. However, a particular selection of a host/expression vector combination may be made by those of skill in the art. Factors one may consider include, for example, the compatibility of the host and vector, toxicity to the host of 15 the proteins encoded by the DNA sequence, ease of recovery of the desired protein, expression characteristics of the DNA sequences and expression control sequences operatively linked to them, biosafety, costs and the folding, form or other necessary post-expression modifications of the desired protein.

!The TRELL and homologs thereof produced by hosts transformed with the sequences of the invention, as well as native TRELL purified by the processes of this invention, or produced from the claimed amino acid sequences, are useful in a variety of compositions and methods for anticancer and immunoregulatory applications. They are also useful in therapy and methods directed to other diseases.

This invention also relates to the use of the DNA sequences disclosed herein to 25 express TRELL under abnormal conditions, i.e. in a gene therapy setting. TRELL may be expressed in tumor cells under the direction of promoters appropriate for such applications.

Such expression could enhance anti-tumor immune responses or directly affect the survival of the tumor. Cytokines such as TRELL can also affect the survival of an organ graft by altering the local immune response. In this case, the graft itself or the surrounding cells would be modified with an engineered TRELL gene.

I,~

-13- Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the isolated nucleic acid encoding TRELL in "antisense" therapy. As used herein, "antisense" therapy refers to administration or in situ generation of oligonucleotides or their derivatives which specifically hybridize under cellular conditions with the cellular mRNA and/or DNA encoding TRELL, so as to inhibit expression of the encoded protein, i.e. by inhibiting transcription and/or translation. The binding may be by conventional base pair complementarity, or, for example, in the case of binding to DNA duplexes, through specific interactions in the major groove of the double helix. In general, "antisense" therapy refers to a range of techniques generally employed in the art, and includes any therapy which relies on specific binding to oligonucleotide sequences.

An antisense construct of the present invention can be delivered, for example, as an expression plasmid, which, when transcribed in the cell, produces RNA which is complementary to at least a portion of the cellular mRNA which encodes TRELL.

Alternatively, the antisense construct can be an oligonucleotide probe which is generated ex vivo. Such oligonucleotide probes are preferably modified oligonucleotides which are resistant to endogenous nucleases, and are therefor stable in vivo. Exemplary nucleic acids **molecules for use as antisense oligonucleotides are phosphoramidates, phosphothioate and methylphosphonate analogs of DNA (See, 5,176,996; 5,264,564; and 5,256,775).

Additionally, general approaches to constructing oligomers useful in antisense therapy have S 20 been reviewed, for example, by Van Der Krol et al., (1988) Biotechniques 6:958-976; and Stein et al. (1988) Cancer Res 48: 2659-2668, specifically incorporated herein by reference.

0.

C. TRELL AND ITS AMINO ACID SEOUENCES The Tumor Necrosis Factor Family Related Protein (TRELL) of the invention, as discussed above, is a member of the TNF family. The protein, fragments or homologs thereof may have wide therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

TRELL is present in many tissues, in a pattern that is relatively unique among members of the TNF family. Since members of the TNF family are involved in the regulation of a cell death and survival, and cell differentiation, it is possible that TRELL is also involved in cell survival, differentiation, and repair in various tissues.

AIL~U1 ~i 4~J~- -14- Although the precise three dimensional structure of TRELL is not known, it is predicted that, as a member of the TNF family, it may share certain structural characteristics with other members of the family. Both mouse and human TRELL are disclosed herein.

Mouse TRELL, as deduced from the existing cDNA sequence, comprises a stretch of at least 21 hydrophobic amino acids, which presumably acts as a membrane anchoring domain for a type II membrane protein. The amino acid sequence of mTRELL is described in SEQ ID.

NO. 2.

Human TRELL comprises an N-terminal hydrophilic cytoplasmic domain, a roughly 27 amino acid hydrophobic, transmembrane type II domain and a 204 amino acid extracellular domain. The amino acid sequence ofhTRELL is described in SEQ. ID. NO. 4.

Figure 1 depicts an amino acid sequence comparison of human and mouse TRELL.

While a 52 amino acid N-terminal region can be predicted from an open reading frame in the cDNA clone, the exact starting methionine cannot be predicted. Met-36 has a reasonable consensus Kozak sequence which may make it the preferred starting codon.

15 Comparison of the TRELL sequence with other members of the human TNF family reveals considerable structural similarity. For example, as can be seen in Figures 2A and 2B, all the proteins resemble Type II membrane proteins, and share several regions of sequence conservation in the extracellular domain. Regions with bars over the sequences indicate those sequences in TNF and LTa involved in a 0 strand organization of the molecules. Putative N- 20 linked glycosylation sites are underlined. Asterisks indicate the cysteines involved in a disulfide linkage in TNF. The conserved domains are likely to be involved in intersubunit interactions and sheet organization.

An EST search revealed a human clone of 345 bases which is highly homologous to the mouse TRELL. A human TRELL amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ.ID. NO. 4.

25 The open reading frames encoded by the EST do not contain the sequence motifs which would allow one to characterize this sequence as a member of the TNF family of ligands, e.g.

the motif used by Wiley et al. to identify a TRAIL EST within the existing database.

The novel polypeptides of the invention specifically interact with a receptor, which has not yet been identified. However, the peptides and methods disclosed herein enable the identification of receptors which specifically interact with TRELL or fragments thereof.

Ii W~Iff.~i SLi'~!JL k~1 The claimed invention in certain embodiments includes peptides derived from TRELL which have the ability to bind with TRELL receptors. Fragments of TRELL can be produced in several ways, recombinantly, by PCR, proteolytic digestion or by chemical synthesis.

Internal or terminal fragments of a polypeptide can be generated by removing one or more nucleotides from one end or both ends of a nucleic acid which encodes the polypeptide.

Expression of the mutagenized DNA produces polypeptide fragments. Digestion with "endnibbling" endonucleases can thus generate DNA's which encode a variety of fragments.

DNA's which encode fragments of a protein can also be generated by random shearing, restriction digestion or a combination of the above discussed methods.

Polypeptide fragments can also be chemically synthesized using techniques known in the art such as conventional Merrifield solid phase f- moc or t-boc chemistry. For example, peptides and DNA sequences of the present invention may be arbitrarily divided into fragments of desired length with no overlap of the fragment, or divided into overlapping 4*9O0 fragments of a desired length. Methods such as these are described in more detail below.

0 15 D. Generation of Soluble TRELL Soluble forms of the ligand can often signal effectively and hence can be administered 0 as a drug which now mimics the natural membrane form. It is possible that TRELL is naturally secreted as a soluble cytokine, however, if it is not, one can reengineer the gene to force secretion. To create a soluble secreted form of TRELL, one would remove at the DNA level the N-terminus transmembrane regions, and some portion of the stalk region, and replace them with a type I leader or alternatively a type II leader sequence that will allow efficient .i proteolytic cleavage in the chosen expression system. A skilled artisan could vary the amount of the stalk region retained in the secretion expression construct to optimize both receptor ::86 binding properties and secretion efficiency. For example, the constructs containing all possible stalk lengths, i.e. N-terminal truncations, could be prepared such that proteins starting at amino acids 81 to 139 would result. The optimal length stalk sequence would result from this type of analysis.

E. Generation of Antibodies Reactive with TRELL The invention also includes antibodies specifically reactive with TRELL or its receptor. Anti-protein/anti-peptide antisera or monoclonal antibodies can be made by -16standard protocols (See, for example, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual ed. by Harlow and Lane (Cold Spring Harbor Press: 1988)). A mammal such as a mouse, a hamster or rabbit can be immunized with an immunogenic form of the peptide. Techniques for conferring immunogenicity on a protein or peptide include conjugation to carriers, or other techniques, well known in the art.

An immunogenic portion of TRELL or its receptor can be administered in the presence of an adjuvant. The progress of immunization can be monitored by detection of antibody titers in plasma or serum. Standard ELISA or other immunoassays can be used with the immunogen as antigen to assess the levels of antibodies.

In a preferred embodiment, the subject antibodies are immunospecific for antigenic determinants of TRELL or its receptor, e.g. antigenic determinants of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, or a closely related human or non-human mammalian homolog 70, 80 or percent homologous, more preferably at least 95 percent homologous). In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anti-TRELL or anti-TRELL-receptor 15 antibodies do not substantially cross react react specifically) with a protein which is e.g., less than 80 percent homologous to SEQ ID NO 2 or 4; preferably less than 90 percent homologous with SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; and, most preferably less than 95 percent homologous with SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4. By "not substantially cross react", it is meant that the antibody has a binding affinity for a non-homologous protein which is less than 10 percent, more preferably 20 less than 5 percent, and even more preferably less than 1 percent, of the binding affinity for a protein of SEQ ID NO 2 or 4.

The term antibody as used herein is intended to include fragments thereof which are also specifically reactive with TRELL or TRELL-receptor. Antibodies can be fragmented using conventional techniques and the fragments screened for utility in the same manner as 25 described above for whole antibodies. For example, F(ab') 2 fragments can be generated by treating antibody with pepsin. The resulting F(ab') 2 fragment can be treated to reduce disulfide bridges to produce Fab' fragments. The antibodies of the present invention are further intended to include biospecific and chimeric molecules having anti-TRELL or anti- TRELL-receptor activity. Thus, both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (Ab) directed against TRELL and its receptor, and antibody fragments such as Fab' and can be used to block the action of TRELL and its receptor.

M9j1AW"r_ riLY~I~L'~ I iiiiiili- r iilLiYRil~Ul~liliU1~i il~~ Ji/J~/~Lf ieUpir'~~i.).~tU~lllYIWIrU* 1~l~l~l -17- Various forms of antibodies can also be made using standard recombinant DNA techniques. (Winter and Milstein, Nature 349: 293-299 (1991) specifically incorporated by reference herein.) For example, chimeric antibodies can be constructed in which the antigen binding domain from an animal antibody is linked to a human constant domain Cabilly et al., U.S. 4,816,567, incorporated herein by reference). Chimeric antibodies may reduce the observed immunogenic responses elicited by animal antibodies when used in human clinical treatments.

In addition, recombinant "humanized antibodies" which recognize TRELL or its receptor can be synthesized. Humanized antibodies are chimeras comprising mostly human IgG sequences into which the regions responsible for specific antigen-binding have been inserted. Animals are immunized with the desired antigen, the corresponding antibodies are isolated, and the portion of the variable region sequences responsible for specific antigen binding are removed. The animal-derived antigen binding regions are then cloned into the appropriate position of human antibody genes in which the antigen binding regions have been deleted. Humanized antibodies minimize the use of heterologous inter species) sequences S in human antibodies, and thus are less likely to elicit immune responses in the treated subject.

Construction of different classes of recombinant antibodies can also be accomplished by making chimeric or humanized antibodies comprising variable domains and human 20 constant domains (CHI, CH2, CH3) isolated from different classes of immunoglobulins. For example, antibodies with increased antigen binding site valencies can be recombinantly produced by cloning the antigen binding site into vectors carrying the human chain constant regions. (Arulanandam et al., J. Exp. Med., 177:1439-1450 (1993), incorporated herein by reference.) 25 In addition, standard recombinant DNA techniques can be used to alter the binding affinities of recombinant antibodies with their antigens by altering amino acid residues in the vicinity of the antigen binding sites. The antigen binding affinity of a humanized antibody can be increased by mutageneesis based on molecular modeling. (Queen et al., Proc. Natl.

Acad. Sci. 86: 10029-33 (1989) incorporated herein by reference.

F. Generation of Analogs: Production of Altered DNA and Peptide Sequences i~.l ,n~?~i~Ll~fi~CC~l~ii~ ~i;L~;llkj liLMj.ll~il~h~(Ullllln I-i uIh~ir jWCAIJPI IAUI~I i, -18- Analogs of TRELL can differ from the naturally occurring TRELL in amino acid sequence, or in ways that do not involve sequence, or both. Non-sequence modifications include in vivo or in vitro chemical derivatization ofTRELL. Non-sequence modifications include, but are not limited to, changes in acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, carboxylation or glycosylation.

Preferred analogs include TRELL or biologically active fragments thereof, whose sequences differ from the sequence given in SEQ ID NOS. 2 and 4, by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions, or by one or more non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions which do not abolish the activity of TRELL.

Conservative substitutions typically include the substitution of one amino acid for another with similar characteristics, e.g. substitutions within the following groups: valine, glycine; glycine, alanine; valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid; asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and, phenylalanine, tyrosine.

o *ee

C.

C.

C

C.

-19- TABLE I CONSERVATIVE AMINO ACID REPLACEMENTS for amino Acid code replace with any of: Alanine A D-Ala, Gly, Beta-Ala, L- Cys, D-Cys Arginine R D-Arg, Lys, D-Lys, homo- Arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, le, D-Met, D-Ile, Orn, D- Omn Asparagine N D-Asn, Asp, D-Asp, Glu, D-Glu, Gin, D-Gln Aspartic Acid D D-Asp, D-Asn, Asn, Glu, D-Glu, GKn D-Gln Cysteine C D-Cys, S-Me-Cys, Met, D- Met, Thr, D-Thr Ghxtaxnine Q D-Gin, Asn, D-Asn, Glu, D-Glu, Asp, D-Asp Glutarnic Acid E D-Glu, D-Asp, Asp, Asn, D-Asn, Gin, D-GIn Glycine G Ala, D-Ala, Pro, D-Pro, Ala, Acp Isoleucine I D-Ile, Val, D-VaI, Leu, D- Leu, Met, D-Met Leucine L D-Leu, Val, D-Val, Leu, D-Leu, Met, D-Met 9 .so.

0 *.0 Lysine K D-Lys, Arg, D-Arg, Homo-arg, D-homo-Arg, Met, D-Met, Ile, D-Ile, Om, D-Orn Methionine M D-Met, S-Me-Cys, le, Dle, Leu, D-Leu, Val, D- Val Phenylalanine F D-Phe, Tyr, D-Thnr, L- Dopa, His, D-I-is, Trp, D- Trp, Trans-3, 4 or phenyiproline, cis-3, 4, or Proline P D-Pro, L-I-thoazolidine-4carboxylic. acid, D-or L-1Ioxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid Serine S D-Ser, Tbr, D-Thr, allo- Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D-Met(O), L-Cys, D-Cys Threonine T D-Tiir, Ser, D-Ser, ailo- Thr, Met, D-Met, Met(O), D-Met(O), Val, D-Vai Tyrosine Y D-Tyr, Phe, D-Phe, L- Dopa, His, D-His Valine V D-Vai, Leu, D-Leu, le, Dle, Met, D-Met -21 Useful methods for mutagenesis include PCR mutagenesis and saturation mutagenesis as discussed in more detail below. A library of random amino acid sequence variants can also be generated by the synthesis of a set of degenerate oligonucleotide sequences.

-PCR Mutagenesis In PCR mutagenesis, reduced Taq polymerase fidelity can be used to introduce random mutations into a cloned fragment of DNA (Leung et al., 1989, Technique 1:11-15).

This is a very powerful and relatively rapid method of introducing random mutations. The DNA region to be mutagenized can be amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) under conditions that reduce the fidelity of DNA synthesis by Taq DNA polymerase, by using a dGTP/dATP ratio of five and adding Mn+ to the PCR reaction. The pool of amplified DNA fragments can be inserted into appropriate cloning vectors to provide random mutant libraries.

-Saturation Mutagenesis Saturation mutagenesis allows for the rapid introduction of a large number of single base substitutions into cloned DNA fragments (Mayers et al., 1985, Science 229:242). This technique includes generation of mutations, by chemical treatment or irradiation of single-stranded DNA in vitro, and synthesis of a complimentary DNA strand. The mutation frequency can be modulated by modulating the severity of the treatment, and essentially all possible base substitutions can be obtained. Because this procedure does not involve a genetic selection for mutant fragments both neutral substitutions, as well as of a protein can be prepared by random mutagenesis of DNA which those that alter function, can be obtained.

The distribution of point mutations is not biased toward conserved sequence elements.

-Degenerate Oligonucleotides A library of homologs can also be generated from a set of degenerate oligonucleotide 25 sequences. Chemical synthesis of degenerate sequences can be carried out in an automatic DNA synthesizer, and the synthetic genes then ligated into an appropriate expression vector.

The synthesis of degenerate oligonucleotides is known in the art 3 Such techniques have been employed in the directed evolution of other proteins 32 Non-random or directed, mutagenesis techniques can be used to provide specific sequences or mutations in specific regions. These techniques can be used to create variants *4W~4~YVMj4I~i -22which include, deletions, insertions, or substitutions, of residues of the known amino acid sequence of a protein. The sites for mutation can be modified individually or in series, e.g., by substituting first with conserved amino acids and then with more radical choices depending upon results achieved, deleting the target residue, or inserting residues of the same or a different class adjacent to the located site, or combinations of options 1-3.

-Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis Alanine scanning mutagenesis is a useful method for identification of certain residues or regions of the desired protein that are preferred locations or domains for mutagenesis, Cunningham and Wells (Science 244:1081-1085, 1989) specifically incorporated by reference. In alanine scanning, a residue or group of target residues are identified charged residues such as Arg, Asp, His, Lys, and Glu) and replaced by a neutral or negatively charged amino acid (most preferably alanine or polyalanine). Replacement of an amino acid can affect the interaction of the amino acids with the surrounding aqueous environment in or outside the cell. Those domains demonstrating functional sensitivity to the substitutions can then be refined by introducing further or other variants at or for the sites of substitution.

Thus, while the site for introducing an amino acid sequence variation is predetermined, the nature of the mutation per se need not be predetermined. For example, to optimize the performance of a mutation at a given site, alanine scanning or random mutagenesis may be conducted at the target codon or region and the expressed desired protein subunit variants are S 20 screened for the optimal combination of desired activity.

-Oligonucleotide-Mediated Mutagenesis S Oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis is a useful method for preparing substitution, deletion, and insertion variants of DNA, see, Adelman et al., (DNA 2:183, 1983) incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the desired DNA can be altered by hybridizing an 25 oligonucleotide encoding a mutation to a DNA template, where the template is the single- Sstranded form of a plasmid or bacteriophage containing the unaltered or native DNA sequence of the desired protein. After hybridization, a DNA polymerase is used to synthesize an entire second complementary strand of the template that will thus incorporate the oligonucleotide primer, and will code for the selected alteration in the desired protein DNA. Generally, oligonucleotides of at least 25 nucleotides in length are used. An optimal oligonucleotide will have 12 to 15 nucleotides that are completely complementary to the template on either side of .t I! ~V VL 2&..tVV V0 'RhV -23 the nucleotide(s) coding for the mutation. This ensures that the oligonucleotide will hybridize properly to the single-stranded DNA template molecule. The oligonucleotides are readily synthesized using techniques known in the art such as that described by Crea et al. (Proc.

Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 75: 5765[1978]) incorporated herein by reference.

-Cassette Mutagenesis Another method for preparing variants, cassette mutagenesis, is based on the technique described by Wells et al. (Gene, 34:315[1985]) incorporated herein by reference. The starting material can be a plasmid (or other vector) which includes the protein subunit DNA to be mutated. The codon(s) in the protein subunit DNA to be mutated are identified. There must be a unique restriction endonuclease site on each side of the identified mutation site(s). If no such restriction sites exist, they may be generated using the above-described oligonucleotidemediated mutagenesis method to introduce them at appropriate locations in the desired protein subunit DNA. After the restriction sites have been introduced into the plasmid, the plasmid is cut at these sites to linearize it. A double-stranded oligonucleotide encoding the sequence of the DNA between the restriction sites but containing the desired mutation(s) is synthesized using standard procedures. The two strands are synthesized separately and then hybridized together using standard techniques. This double-stranded oligonucleotide is referred to as the cassette. This cassette is designed to have 3' and 5' ends that are comparable with the ends of the linearized plasmid, such that it can be directly ligated to the plasmid. This plasmid now .00oo* 20 contains the mutated desired protein subunit DNA sequence.

0 -Combinatorial Mutagenesis Combinatorial mutagenesis can also be used to generate mutants. the amino acid sequences for a group of homologs or other related proteins are aligned, preferably to promote the highest homology possible. All of the amino acids which appear at a given position of the 25 aligned sequences can be selected to create a degenerate set of combinatorial sequences. The o variegated library of variants is generated by combinatorial mutagenesis at the nucleic acid level, and is encoded by a variegated gene library. For example, a mixture of synthetic oligonucleotides can be enzymatically ligated into gene sequences such that the degenerate set of potential sequences are expressible as individual peptides, or alternatively, as a set of larger fusion proteins containing the set of degenerate sequences.

U U ~lJ~LI An ~.~iVII~iIU it~li*iJA U U.9~ 4.t f~~!J~44i sI~n.U~t~~t. ~Iikt~3L~I.~ CI.H~*Z, -24- Various techniques are known in the art for screening generated mutant gene products.

Techniques for screening large gene libraries often include cloning the gene library into replicable expression vectors, transforming appropriate cells with the resulting library of vectors, and expressing the genes under conditions in which detection of a desired activity, in this case, binding to TRELL or its receptor, facilitates relatively easy isolation of the vector encoding the gene whose product was detected. Each of the techniques described below is amenable to high through-put analysis for screening large numbers of sequences created, by random mutagenesis techniques.

The invention also provides for reduction of the protein binding domains of the subject TRELL polypeptides or their receptors, to generate mimetics, e.g. peptide or non-peptide agents. The peptide mimetics are able to disrupt binding of a TRELL and its receptor. The critical residues of TRELL involved in molecular recognition of a receptor polypeptide or of a downstream intracellular protein, can be determined and used to generate TRELL or its receptor-derived peptidomimetics which competitively or noncompetitively inhibit binding of the TRELL with a receptor. (see, for example, "Peptide inhibitors of human papilloma virus protein binding to retinoblastoma gene protein" European patent applications EP-412,762A and EP-531,080A), specifically incorporated herein by reference.

G. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS By making available purified and recombinant-TRELL, the present invention provides 20 assays which can be used to screen for drugs candidates which are either agonists or antagonists of the normal cellular function, in this case, of TRELL or its receptor. In one embodiment, the assay evaluates the ability of a compound to modulate binding between TRELL and its receptor. A variety of assay formats will suffice and, in light of the present inventions, will be comprehended-by-the-skilled-artisan.

25 In many drug screening programs which test libraries of compounds and natural extracts, high throughput assays are desirable in order to maximize the number of compounds surveyed in a given period of time. Assays which are performed in cell-free systems, such as may be derived with purified or semi-purified proteins, are often preferred as "primary" screens in that they can be generated to permit rapid development and relatively easy detection of an alteration in a molecular target which is mediated by a test compound.

Moreover, the effects of cellular toxicity and/or bioavailability of the test compound can be generally ignored in the in vitro system, the assay instead being focused primarily on the effect of the drug on the molecular target as may be manifest in an alteration of binding affinity with other proteins or change in enzymatic properties of the molecular target.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of TRELL or TRELL-receptor, or fragments or mimetics thereof, and, optionally may include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Accordingly, this invention provides methods for treatment of cancer, and methods of stimulating, or in certain instances, inhibiting the immune system, or parts thereof by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of the invention or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives. It should of course by understood that the compositions and methods of this invention can be used in combination with other therapies for various treatments.

The compositions can be formulated for a variety of routes of administration, including systemic, topical or localized administration. For systemic administration, injection is preferred, including intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous for injection, the compositions of the invention can be formulated in liquid solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hank's solution or Ringer's solution. In addition, the compositions may be formulated in solid form and, optionally, redissolved or suspended immncdiately prior to use. Lyophilized forms are also included in the invention.

The compositions can be administered orally, or by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal. administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, bile salts, fusidic acid derivatives, and detergents. Transmucosal administration may be through nasal sprays or using suppositories.

For oral administration, the compositions are formulated into conventional oral administration forms such as capsules, tablets, and tonics. For topical administration, the compositions of the invention are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as known in the art.

Preferably the compositions of the invention will be in the form of a unit dose and will be administered one or more times a day. The amount of active compound administered at one time or over the course of treatment will depend on many factors. For example, the age ~M~I I ~AT~ 2' ATh~M2~L AL 26 and size of the subject, the severity and course of the disease being treated, the manner and form of administration, and the judgments of the treating physician. However, an effective dose may be in the range of from about 0.005 to about 5 mg/kg/day, preferably about 0.05 to about 0.5 mg/kg/day. One skilled in the art will recognize that lower and higher doses may also be useful.

Gene constructs according to the invention can also be used as a part of a gene therapy protocol to deliver nucleic acids encoding either an agonistic or antagonistic form of a TRELL polypeptide.

Expression constructs of TRELL can be administered in any biologically effective carrier, any formulation or composition capable of effectively delivering the gene for TRELL to cells in vivo. Approaches include insertion of the gene in viral vectors which can transfect cells directly, or delivering plasmid DNA with the help of, for example, liposomes, or intracellular carriers, as well as direct injection of the gene construct. Viral vector transfer methods are preferred.

15 A pharmaceutical preparation of the gene therapy construct can consist essentially of the gene delivery system in an acceptable diluent, or can comprise a slow release matrix in which the gene delivery vehicle is imbedded. Alternatively, where the complete gene delivery system can be produced intact from recombinant cells, e.g. retroviral vectors, the pharmaceutical preparation can comprise one or more cells which produce the gene delivery system.

In addition to use in therapy, the oligomers of the invention may be used as diagnostic reagents to detect the presence or absence of the target DNA, RNA or amino acid sequences *bar9 00404.:to which they specifically bind. In other aspects, the claimed invention may be used to evaluate a chemical entity for its ability to interact with, bind or physically associate with 25 a TRELL polypeptide, or fragment thereof. The method includes contacting the chemical 9 entity with the TRELL polypeptide, and evaluating the ability of the entity to interact with the TRELL. Additionally, the TRELL of the invention can be used in methods of evaluating naturally occurring ligands or receptors of TRELL, as well as to evaluate chemical entities which associate or bind with receptors of TRELL.

In certain aspects, the claimed invention features a method for evaluating a chemical entity for the ability to modulate the interaction between TRELL and its receptor. -The -27method includes combining a TRELL receptor, and TRELL under conditions wherein the pair is capable of interacting, adding the chemical entity to be evaluated and detecting the formation or dissolution of complexes. These modulating agents may be further evaluated in vitro, e.g. by testing its activity in a cell free system, and then, optionally administering the compound to a cell or animal, and evaluating the effect.

H. EXAMPLES 1. ISOLATION OF TRELL cDNAS a) Cloning of murine TRELL The cDNA coding for mTRELL was isolated by PCR from a cDNA library from mouse peritoneal macrophages. The amino acid sequence and the placement of the transmembrane region are typical of a membrane protein. The amino acid sequence of mTRELL is set forth in SEQ. ID. NO. 2, and the DNA sequence is set forth in SEQ. ID. NO.

1.

Macrophage cells were obtained from Balb/c mice by peritoneal lavage and cells that adhered to plastic within one hour were lysed and processed for RNA extraction. An antisense oligonucleotide primer 5'GTTCCAGGCCAGCCTGGG3' (SEQ ID NO:5) from a Smouse erythropoietin sequence was synthesized. C.B. Shoemaker and L.D. Mistock, "Murine erythropoietin gene: cloning, expression and human gene homology", Mol. Cell. Biol., 6, 849 (1986), specifically incorporated herein by reference. This primer was used in a 5' RACE protocol following the recommendation of the manufacturer RACE system from BRL in association with the BRL-designed anchor primer. A first strand of cDNA was made from *RNA from one hour adherent peritoneal macrophages. Amplification was done in a Perkin Elmer DNA thermal cycler with Taq DNA polymerase from Perkin Elmer. After a denaturation-of-5-min.-at-94-C,-cycling-conditions-were-as-follows: 35-cycles-at-94oC-for-30- 25 sec., 55 0 C for 30 sec. and 72°C for 3 min. An additional extension at 72 0 C was performed and then reactions were held at 4 0 C. Analysis of the PCR experiment on agarose gel revealed 2 amplified fragments of 650bp and 500bp. The 2 fragments were excised from the gel, inserted in pBS-T vectors and sequenced. The two inserts were different. They both had at each extremity the same erythropoietin gene specific oligonucleotide used to prime the PCR synthesis. Northern hybridizations with 32P labeled-random-primed fragments indicated that "W-Wry"fl, V1MWkQ1W1V9,Yft1 11 11 4 1 W Iwm 'ml -28they hybridized to two different RNA, the 500bp fragment hybridizing to a 1.4 kb RNA in macrophages. 2P-labeled-riboprobes in both directions were used in Northern hybridization to determine the orientation of the cDNA.

From the determined orientations and sequences, two internal primers for the 1.4Kb mRNA were derived. These were used in 3' and 5' RACE-PCR respectively. The 3'RACE experiment revealed a 750bp fragment which was inserted in a pBS-T vector and sequenced.

It corresponds to the 3' end of the 1.4 Kb RNA since the sequence possess a polyA addition signal AATAAA (SEQ ID NO: 6) just prior to the poly A tract. The 5'RACE did not reveal any band. The Clontech Marathon cDNA amplification kit was used to prepare a cDNA library from one hour adherent macrophage. A 1040bp PCR fragment, isolated by PCR with sense and antisense oligonucleotide primers from the predetermined cDNA sequence were used, and the universal primer from the kit. This resulted in the isolation of a fragment of a larger size than the original 1040bp fragment. The new fragment which was sequenced added to the 5'sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1).

RNA were extracted from mouse thioglycolate induced peritoneal macrophages after 1 hour adherence. Hybridization was performed with 3 P-labeled mTRELL cDNA. Figure 3 depicts northern analysis ofTRELL mRNA expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages and in different mouse tissues.

The first 21 amino acids delineate a hydrophobic, transmembrane domain. No 20 identical sequences at the nucleotide or the amino acid levels were found in the available databases. Using the PROSITE program, and the 225 amino acid sequence it was determined that the sequence belonged to the TNF family of proteins. The protein also possessed the different domains described for LT-a and other members of this family Browning et al., Lymphotoxin-a, a novel member of the TNF family that forms a heteromeric complex with 25 lymphotoxin on the cell surface", Cell, 72, 847 (1993); C. F. Ware et al., "The ligands and receptors of the lymphotoxin system", in Pathways for cvtolvsis, G. M. Griffiths and J.

Tschopp (Eds), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, p 1 7 5 2 1 8 (1995), each of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference). This sequence is unique. At the nucleotide or amino acid levels, weak identity or similarity were observed with the different members of the TNF family or with any sequences. Searching in EST data bases, 1 human sequence was clearly homologous to the murine sequence. The clone 154742,5' (GenBank accession no: *C~~LlllmrU~* ~lt~lI~l~?liiil~~L~I*~ii: 29 R553 79) from a breast library made by Soares, Washington University, has a 345 base pair sequence, 89% homologous to the murine TRELL. No human sequence in the available databases was found matching the available 5' DNA of mTRELL.

b) Cloning of Human TRELL i) Generation of oligonucleotide probes and PCR primers.

The sequence of the human EST R55379 which has homology to mouse TRELL was used as a basis for synthesis of oligonucleatide primers. Two sense strand oligonucleotides: LTB-065 5=-CCC TG OCT 0CC TOG AGO AA (NT 70-89 of R55379) (SEQ ID NO:7) LTB-066 5=-TGA TGAG000GAAGGC TOTCT (NT14-33 of R55379). (SEQ ID NO:8) and one antisense 20mer oligonucleotide: LTB-067 5=-AGA CCA GO CCC CTC AGT GA (NT 251- 270 of R55379) (SEQ ID NO:9) were synthesized.

ii) Identification of raRNA and cDNA library source for cloning hTRELL.

15 PolyA+ mRNA from Human liver (cat46510-1), spleen (cat46542-.l) and lymph node (cat#4 6594- 1) were purchased from Clontech. PolyA+ mRNA from Human cell lines THP- 1, o oo* U937 and 11-23 were generated at Biogen, Cambridge, MA. A Human tonsil cDNA library in .Lambda gtl10, and DNA from the Tonsil library were also prepared at Biogen.

00. RT-PCR was performed on the six RNA samples. Each cDNA reaction contained l ug polyA+ mRNA, 50mM Tris pH 8.3, 75mM KCl, 3m.M MgCI, 2 10 mM DTT, 250 uM dNTP, 0 5ng random hexamer (S0ng/u!) and 400 units SuperscriptII Reverse transcriptase (Gibco .0 BRI cat46542-1) in a final volume of 40 ul. The reaction was incubated at 20EC for o ~minutes, 42EC for 50 min., and 99EC for 5 min. For PCR, one-fifth of each cDNA reaction or IOO-lOOOng of the cDNA library DNA was used. Two PCR reactions for each sample 25 were set up, one with primer pair LTB-065 and LTB-067 which yields a 2Olbp PCR product, olo and the second reaction with primer pair LTB-066 and LTB-067 which yields a 257bp product if the transcript is represented in the sample. PCR reactions were performed in I0M Tris pH8.3,50niMIKCI, 1.5 MM MgCI 2 0.01% gelatin, 10% DMSO lOOuM dNTP, each primer and 5 units Arnplitaq (Perkin Elmer cat#N801-0060). PCR was carried out in a WMAWWa 'U L Q'~i I 1 -1 Perkin Elmer Cetus DNA Thermal Cycler Model#480. Cycle conditions used were 95EC 1 minute, 60EC 1 minute, and 72EC 1 minute for 35 cycles.

The correct size products were obtained from liver, spleen, lymph node, THP-1 and tonsil, but not from U937 or II-23 mRNA. The 201bp PCR product generated from liver was purified for use as a probe for screening the cDNA library.

iii) cDNA Library Screening Having demonstrated by PCR that the tonsil library contained TRELL, one million plaque forming units(PFU) from the Lambda gtl 0 Human tonsil cDNA library were plated at a density of 1 X 105 PFU Nunc T M plate. Duplicate lifts were made onto 20x20cm Schleicher and Scheull BA-S 85 Optitran T M filters. The 201bp PCR product was P 32 labeled by random priming (Feinberg and Vogelstein, Anal. Biochem 137:266-267,1984 specifically incorporated herein by reference). The filters were hybridized overnight at 65EC in 400 ml plaque screen buffer (50mM Tris pH7.5, IM NaCI, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 0.2% PVP and 0.2% Ficoll) containing 10% dextran sulphate, 100ug/ml tRNA and 6 x 105 CPM/ml 15 probe. They were washed twice with plaque screen buffer and twice with 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65C and exposed to film at -70C with an intensifying screen for 40 hours.

Duplicate positives were cored from the master plates into SM (100mM NaCl, 1 mM MgSO 4 50mM Tris pH 7.5) plus gelatin. 12 of the positives were plaque purified. Lambda miniprep DNA from 12 purified candidates was digested with Notl, electrophoresed on 1% 20 agarose gel, Southern blotted and hybridized with the 201 bp probe. The clones with the largest inserts (approximately 2 kb) which hybridized to the probe were selected for large scale DNA purification and DNA sequencing. The inserts from each of these clones was subcloned into the Notl site ofpBluescript SK+ (Strategene #212205). DNA sequence was obtained from the Lambda DNA and the plasmid DNA. Clone Fla which has an cDNA insert 25 of 2006bp appeared to have an intron in the 5' end of the coding region and did not contain a complete open reading frame. Clone A2a, also called PB133 contained a cDNA insert of 1936bp. This clone contained 543bp 5' untranslated region, an open reading frame of 852bp and 3' untransated region but no polyadenylation signal or polyA tail.

The nucleotide sequence encoding the open reading frame of the hTRELL cDNA clone A2a is set forth in SEQ ID. NO. 3. The deduced 284 amino acid sequence is set forth in Rx- -VVjI-VWMV MIMM-1 "MIA- MUM MiKWIMAMMV NWIIAAW -W MR- -M M ftb -31 SEQ ID. NO. 4. The second methionine at position 36 may be a more likely translation start site, since this site more closely meets the requirements for a start as defined by Kozak.

Using the sequences identified, the sequences of cDNAs coding on TRELL were determined. From the DNA sequences described above SEQ. ID. NO. we deduced the amino acid sequences of TRELL (SEQ. ID. NO. It should be clear that given the current state of the protein-engineering art, an artisan could make purposeful alterations, insertions or deletions in these amino acid sequences and obtain a variety of molecules having substantially the same biological or immunological activities as those of the molecules we have described herein.

iv. Northern Analysis of human TRELL expression A 440 bp PpuMl/BstXl fragment of the human cDNA clone 2a was 32P labeled by random priming and used to probe commercial northern blots containing RNA from various human tissues. Northern analysis showed that the hTRELL fragment hybridized to a single mRNA species about 1.4 to 1.6 kb in length. Human TRELL is expressed in most organs of 15 the immune system, i.e. spleen, peripheral blood lymphocytes (pbl), lymph nodes, appendix but was relatively low in thymus, fetal liver (source of progenitor lymphocytes) and bone marrow (Figure Therefore, organs of the secondary immune system primarily express TRELL. Expression was also detected in the ovary, prostate, small intestine, colon, heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. Expression was relatively low in testis, liver, kidney and thymus. This pattern indicates widespread expression closely SI resembling that of the TRAIL ligand except that TRAIL is poorly expressed in heart and brain.

c) Isolation of a receptor binding to the TRELL Ligand Ligands of the TNF family can be used to identify and clone receptors. With the described TRELL sequence, one could fuse the 5'end of the extracellular domain of TRELL ligand which constitutes the receptor binding sequence to a marker or tagging sequence and then add a leader sequence that will force secretion of the ligand in any of a number of expression systems. One example of this technology is described by Browning et al., (1996) (JBC 271, 8618-8626)where the LT-P ligand was secreted in such a form. The VCAM leader *LELJLlL~Sn;:- .iii~l i iam tELRY~W~~'l~UQy TTuini *i~i i~ii~iiii~ii~ i *-.rrij jSl,);Vli~ tJi .ilir'~ifj'~i -32sequence was coupled to a short myc peptide tag followed by the extracellular domain of the LT-P. The VCAM sequence is used to force secretion of the normally membrane bound LT-p molecule. The secreted protein retains a myc tag on the N-terminus which does not impair the ability to bind to a receptor. Such a secreted protein can be expressed in either transiently transfected Cos cells or a similar system, EBNA derived vectors, insect cell/baculovirus, picchia etc. The unpurified cell supernatant can be used as a source of the tagged ligand.

Cells expressing the receptor can be identified by exposing them to the tagged ligand.

Cells with bound ligand are identified in a FACS experiment by labelling the myc tag with an anti-myc peptide antibody (9E10) followed by phycoerythrin (or a similar label) labelled antimouse immunoglobulin. FACS positive cells can be readily identified and would serve as a source of RNA encoding for the receptor. An expression library would then be prepared from this RNA via standard techniques and separated into pools. Pools of clones would be transfected into a suitable host cell and binding of the tagged ligand to receptor positive transfected cells determined via microscopic examination, following labelling of bound myc 15 peptide tag with an enzyme labelled anti-mouse Ig reagent, i.e. galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase or luciferase labelled antibody. Once a positive pool has been identified, the pool size would be reduced until the receptor encoding cDNA is identified. This procedure could be carried out with either the mouse of human TRELL' as one may more readily lead to a receptor.

20 2. Cells and Reagents All cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, MD) except for WEHI 164 clone 13 which was obtained from Dr. Kawashima ":"(Geneva Biomedical Research Institute, Geneva, Switzerland). The HT29 subclone (HT29-14) was previously described (Browning et al., 1996) and the TNF sensitive ME180 subclone was obtained from Dr. Carl Ware. The II-23 T cell hybridoma has been described (Browning et al., 1991). Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally 3 days before sacrifice with 1.5 ml of thioglycolate broth (Difco Lab.,MI). Cells were taken from the peritoneal cavity and cultured at 106 cells/ml for 1 hr in DMEM (Gibco Lab). Non adherent cells were washed off the plates and the adherent cells, almost exclusively macrophages, were lysed in Tri-Reagent (Molecular Research Center Inc.) and processed for RNA extraction.

7;8.63~- rliit2A,li..Spii T Si Recombinant human TNF, Lta, Ltal/b2, antibodies to these proteins and the receptor-Ig fusion proteins have been described previously (Browning et al., 1995).

The anti-CD40L antibody 5C8 has been described. A polyclonal anti-hTRELL serum was prepared by intra lymph node injection of pure recombinant hTRELL in CFA as described previously (Browning and Ribolini, 1989). After 2 months, an antihTRELL response was observed and immunoglobulin was purified using Protein A- Sepharose.

Mouse TRELL Closing The antisense oligonucleotide primer 5'GTTCCAGGCCAGCCTGGG3' (SEQ ID NO:10) from the mouse erythropoietin sequence was used it in a protocol following the recommendation of the manufacturer (5'RACE system from BRL) in association with the BRL-designed anchor primer. First strand cDNA was made from RNA from 1 hr. adherent peritoneal macrophages. Amplification was done in a Perkin Elmer DNA thermal cycler with Taq DNA polymerase. After a denaturation of 5min. at 94/C, cycling conditions were as follows: 35 cyles of 30 sec.

at 94/C, 30 sec at 55/C and 3 min at 72/C followed by a terminal additional extension at 72/C. Analysis of the PCR experiment on agarose gel revealed 2 amplified fragments of 650 bp and 500 bp. The 2 fragments were excised from the gel, inserted in pBS-T vectors and sequenced. Northern hybridizations with 32 p labeled-randomprimed fragments indicated that the 500 bp fragment hybridizing to a 1.4 kb RNA in macrophages. To determine the orientation of the cDNA, 32P-labeled-riboprobes in both direction were used in Northern hybridization. From the determined orientations and sequences, we derived two internal primers for the 1.4 kb mRNA: TCAGGTGCAC'TTGATGAGG 3' (SEQ ID NO:11) and CTGTCAGCTCCTCCTGAG 3'(SEQ ID NO:12) which were used in 3' and 5'RACE-PCR respectively. The 3'RACE experiment revealed a 750bp fragment which was inserted in a pBS-T vector and sequenced. It corresponded to the 3'end of the 1.4 kb RNA since the sequence possessed a polyA addition signal just prior to the poly A tract. The 5'RACE did not reveal any band. The Clontech Marathon cDNA amplification kit was used to prepare a cDNA library from 1 hr. adherent macrophages. PCR used a 1040 bp PCR fragment isolated with sense and antisense IH .L oligonucleotide primers from the determined cDNA sequence AGCAGGAGCCTTCTCAGGAG 3' (SEQ ID NO:13) and GATCCAGGGAGGAGCTTGTCC (SEQ ID NO:14) and the universal primer from the kit. This resulted in the isolation of a fragment 60 bp longer on the 5' end that the original 1040 bp fragment.

Human TRELL Cloning A search of the EST data base showed 1 human clone that was clearly homologous to the murine sequence. The clone 154742 (Genbank accession no: R55379) has a 345 bp sequence 89% homologous to the murine cDNA. Two primers derived from the EST (5'CCCTGCGCTGCCTGGAGGAA 3' (SEQ ID NO:15): and AGACCAGGGCCCCTCAGTGA (SEQ ID NO:16) were used to screen by RT- PCR different tissues and libraries for the presence of hTRELL transcripts. Correct size products were obtained from liver spleen lymph node, THP-1 and tonsil, but not from U937 mRNA. The 201 bp product was cloned and used to screen a lambda gtIO human tonsil cDNA library. 106 plaque forming units were plated at 10 s PFU/plate.

Duplicate lifts were made onto 20x20 cm nitocellulose filters and hybridized with a probe prepared by random-priming. The filters were hybridized overnight at 65/C in plaque screen buffer (50 mM Tris pH7.5, 1 M NaCI, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 0.2% polyvinylpyrolydone and 0.2% Ficoll) containing 10% dextran sulphate, 100 mg/ml tRNA and 6x10 5 cpm/ml of probe. They were washed twice with plaque screen buffer and twice with 2XSSC, 0.1% SDS at 65/C. Lambda miniprep DNAs were prepared from positive colonies and the clones with the largest inserts were selected for large scale DNA purification and DNA sequencing. The inserts were S 25 subcloned into the Notl site of pBlueScript SK+. One human EST (R55379) was found encoding parts of the human TRELL sequence.

a RNA Analysis Either a 0.45 kb PpuM1/BstX1 or a 1.25 NarI/NotI fragment of the hTRELL cDNA was labelled by random priming and used to probe human and mouse tissue northern blots purchased from Clontech. Mouse tissue and cells were RNA-extracted with TRI-reagent. Northern analysis were done essentially as already described nJAA~, L a~ j lI j1HM~Th (Chicheportiche and Vassalli, 1994) with 4 ulg of total RNA and 32P labeled random primed mTRELL cDNA.

Chromosomal assignment A panel of DNA from monochromosomal cell hybrids (HGMP Resource centre, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK) was used to amplify by PCR a 340bp fragment with primers chosen in 3' untranslated region that are not homologous to the murine sequence (5'AGTCGTCCCAGGCTGCCGGCT 3' (SEQ ID NO:17) and CCTGAAGTGGGGTCTTCTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 18). Amplification was done for 40 cycles, 30 sec at 94/C, 90 sec at 65/C and 90 sec at 72/C. Detection was carried out on ethidium bromide stained agarose gel.

Expression of Recombinant hTRELL Protein A soluble expression construct combining the VCAM leader sequence, the myc peptide tag and the extracellular domain of hTRELL similar to that described for lymphotoxin-b (ref) was prepared in a manner similar to that described for LTb (Browning et al., 1996). The following DNA fragments were isolated, a Notl/blunt fragment encoding the VCAM leader and a pair of oligonucleotides encoding the myc tag blunt, 3' PpuM1 site) which have been described, a 0.45 kb PpuMl/BstX1 fragment of TRELL and a 0.65 BstXl/Notl fragment of TRELL. The four fragments were ligated into a Notl/phosphatased pBluescript vector. The Notl insert from this vector was transferred into the pFastBacl vector (GibcoBRL) and used to generate recombinant baculovirus. Soluble TRELL was prepared by infecting HiFiveTM insect cells at a MOI of 10 and the medium was harvested after 2 days. The following items were added to the media: HEPES buffer to a final concentration of 25 mM, pH S7.4, 1 mM AEBSF (Pierce) and 1 mg/ml pepstatin. The media was filtered and concentrated ten fold by ultrafiltration over a Amicon 10 kDa cutoff filter.

Concentrated TRELL containing medium was directly loaded onto a SP sepharose Fast Flow column and washed with 25 mM HEPES buffer pH 7.0 containing 0.4 M NaCI. TRELL was eluted with the same buffer with 0.6 M NaCI. Purified TRELL was subjected to sizing analysis by gel exclusion chromatography.

~~'":rpMmmtmrr~run~u;nn~ininrr~i-r~j~~~ IliZ1Y~ill~ni~r~4~i~ii~"u~runii~nrX~7i Analysis of Secretion Vectors for EBNA based expression were constructed using the vector CH269 which is a modified version of the pEBVHis ABC (Invitrogen) wherein the EBNA gene and the histidine tag were removed. A 0.71 kb fragment of hTNF in the pFastBac vector was provided by Dr. P. Pescamento and A. Goldfeld. The SnaBI/XhoI insert was ligated into the PvulI/XhoI site of CH269. A genomic TNF insert containing the 1-12 cleavage site deletion was a gift from Dr. G. Kollias and was inserted into the CH269 vector by A. Goldfeld. A 1.8 kb NotI insert of hTRELL clone A2A, the 0.98 kb NotI fragment containing the hCD40L cDNA provided by Dr.

E. Garber and a 1.46 kb NotI insert containing hLTa (Browning et al., 1995) were ligated into the NotI site of CH269. A 0.81 kb HindIII insert containing the hLTb coding region with a modified start site (Browning et al., 1995) was ligated into the HindIII site of CH269. EBNA-293 cells were transfected with the various CH269 vectors along with the GFP vector using lipofectamine and either removed with PBS with 5 mM EDTA for FACS analysis or after 2 days the cells were subjected to metabolic labelling. Both procedures utilized the following antibodies, hTRELL a rabbit polyclonal Ig fraction, hTNF the mAb 104c, hLTa the mAb AG9, Ltal/b2 the mAb B9 and CD40L the mAb 5C8. FACS analysis was carried out in RPMI medium containing 10% FBS and 50 ug/ml heat aggregated human IgG with the antibodies at 5 pg/ml. Phycoerythrin labelled anti-mouse or rabbit IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch) was used to detect antibody binding. GFP bright transfected cell were live gated. For immunoprecipitation, cells 2 days after transfection were washed with PBS and transferred into met/cys free MEM containing 200 [LCi/ml TranSlabel (ICN). After 3h the supematants were harvested and subjected to immunoprecipitation as described 25 (Browning et al., 1995).

S. Cytotoxicity Assays: Cell growth assays were carried out as previously described (Browning and Ribolini, 1989). For microscopy, HT29-14 cells were seeded into 12 well plates at a density of 200,000 cells/well and grown for 2 days. Human TRELL, TNF, lymphotoxin-alb2 (Browning et al., 1996) or anti-fas (CHI11, Kamaya) were added along with 80 units/ml of human interferon-g. After 26 h, the medium was removed *which after cytokine or anti-fas treatment included many dead cells that had detached from the plastic. The remaining cells were fixed with 80% ethanol and washed into PBS containing I mg/mi Hoescht dye. After 2 min the dye was removed, cells were washed into PBS and examined by fluorescence microscopy.

Table II: Human TRELL Binding Sites and Cytotoxic Effects on Various Cell Lines Jurkat T lymphoma SKW 6.4 EBV B cell Narnalwa Burkitt lymphoma- K(562 promyelocytic THP-i monocytic leukemia Nnnhemtogoiti HT'29 colon adenocarcinomna b ME-1 80 cervical carcinoma ela cervical carcinoma .MCF-7 breast adncrcnm :293 embyronic kidney cells +i nd Cos kidney fibroblasts +nd =no binding/cytotoxicity; =some binding/cytotoxicity; significant binding/cytotoxicity *3-5 day proliferation assay in the presence and absence of human interferon-g.

'ND, not determined.

d Morphoogy changes.

.WX~t -38- Table III: Grouping of Various TNF Family Members by Cytotoxicity Patterns Grup Potent inducers of apoptosis in many cell types Weak inducers only in limited cell types Cannot induce cell death, anti-proliferative in some settings Receptor Activation TNF, Fas, TRAIL-R m DR-3 LTh-R, TRELL-RO, CD27, CD4O, "These receptors have not yet been identified.

S

S

S

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S*

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iti.BH aB.j 2n2a aB!HiaABMiB~.7ilA tL22t. U>J.K^ UhLJEA Page(sL2-,-& are claims pages they appear after the sequence listing WAV tW d.-S Y' .MV nVA,' I -44- SEQUENCE LISTING GENERAL INFORMATION: APPLICANT: Chicheportiche, Yves Browning, Jeffrey L.

(ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: A TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR RELATED LIGAND (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: ADDRESSEE: BIOGEN, INC.

STREET: 14 CAMBRIDGE CENTER CITY: CAMBRIDGE STATE: MA COUNTRY: US ZIP: 02142 COMPUTER READABLE FORM: MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release Version #1.30 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: APPLICATION NUMBER: not yet assigned FILING DATE: 07-May-1997

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INFORMATION:

NAME: FLYNN, KERRY A.

REGISTRATION NUMBER: 33,693 REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: A003 PCT (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: TELEPHONE: (617) 679-3583 TELEFAX: (617) 679-2838 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO::1; SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 1168 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: double TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: ORGANISM: TN! family related protein (ix) FEATURE: NAME/KEY: CDS LOCATION: 2. .676 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:i: G GTG CTG AGC CTG GGC CTG GCG CTG GCC TGC CTT CCC CTC CTG CTG 46 Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu Ala Leu Ala Cys Leu Gly Leu Leu Leu 1 510 1 GTC GTG GTC AGC CTG GGG AGC TGG GCA ACG CTG TCT GCC CAG GAG CCT 94 *Val Val Val Ser Leu Gly Ser Trp Ala Thr Leu Ser Ala Gin Glu Pro 25 *TCT CAG GAG GAG CTG ACA GCA GAG GAC CGC CCC GAG CCC CCT GAA CTG 142 Gin Glu Giu Leu Thr Ala Glu Asp Arg Arg Giu Pro Pro Giu Leu 40 CCC CAG ACA GAG GAA AGC CAG GAT GTG GTA CCT TTC TTG GAA CAA 190 Aen Pro Gin Thr Giu Giu Ser Gin Asp Val Val Pro Phe Leu Glu Gin 55 CTA GTC CGG CCT CGA AGA ACT GCT CCT AAA GGC CGG AAG GCG CGG CCT 238 Leu Vai Arg Pro Arg Arg Ser Ala Pro Lys Gly Arg Lys Ala Arg Pro 70 CCC CGA QCT AT? GCA GCC CAT TAT GAG GTT CAT CC? CGC CCA GGA CAG 286 Arg Arg Ala Ile Ala Ala His Tyr Ciu Val His Pro Arg Pro Cly Gin so8 85 90 *GAT CGA GCA CAA CCA GGT GTG GAT GGG ACA GTG ACT GGC TGG GAA GAG 334 Asp Cly Ala Gin Ala Gly Val Asp Gly Thr Val Ser Cly Trp Ciu Ciu 100 105 110 ACC AAA ATC AAC AGC TCC AGC CCT CTG CGC TAC GAC CCC CAG ATT GCC 382 Thr Lys Ile Asn Ser 5cr Ser Pro Leu Arg Tyr Asp Arg Gin Ile Gly 115 120 125 GAA TTT ACA CTC ATC AGO OCT CCC CTC TAC TAC CTG TAC TGT CAG GTG 430 Giu Phe Thr Val Ile Arg Ala Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Leu Tyr Cys Gin Val 130 135 140 2 -46 CAC TTT His Phe 145 AAC GGT Asn Gly 160 GAT GAG GGA AAG Asp Glu Gly Lys

GCT

Ala 150

CGC

Arg GTC TAC CTG AAG Val Tyr Leu Lys

CTG

Leu 155 GAC TTG, CTG GTG Asp Leu Leu Val GTG CTG GCC Val Leu Ala TGC CTG GAA Cys Leu Glu

GAA

Glu 170 TrC TCA GCC ACA Phe Ser Ala Thr

GCA

Ala 175 GCA AGC TCT CCT Ala Ser Ser Pro

GGG

Gly 180

CCA

Pro CAG CTC CGT Gin Leu Arg

TTG

Leu 185

CGG

Arg TGC CAG GTG TCT Cys Gin Val Ser GGG CTG Gly Leu 190 TTG CCG CTG Leu Pro Leu

CG

Arg 195 GGG TCT TCC Gly Ser Ser Crr Leu 200 ATC CGC ACC Ile Arg Thr CTC CCC TG Leu Pro Trp 205 CTC 'TTT CAA Leu Phe Gin GCT CAT CTT AAG GCT GCC CCC TTC CTA ACC TAC TTT GGA Ala His Leu Lys Ala Ala Pro Phe Leu Thr Tyr Phe Gly 210 215 220 GTT CAC Val His 225 TGAGGGGCCT TGCTCTCCCA GATTCCTTAA ACTTTCCCTG, GCTCCAGGAG CATCACCACA CCTCCCTACC CCACCCCCAC TCCTCCACCC CCTCGCTGCT GTCCTGTCTC TC CTCAAAGG CAGCCAGAGC TTGTTCACAT GTTTCCATTC TCCTTGCTCT TCTrTAACATC CCATCCCACC ACAACTATCC ACCTCACTAG CCCTACTTAT CCCTGACTCC CCCACCCACT CACCCGACCA CGTGTTTATT ACCAGGCACT GAGATGCT GGACCTGGTG GCAGGAAGCC AGAGAACCTG AGAAGTTCCC AACGTGAGG GGGAAGAGCT GGGGACAAGC TCCTCCCTGG ATTTTGAAAA GATACTATTT TTATTATTAT TGTGACAAAA TGTTAAATGG GAATAAATCA TGATTTCTCT TC INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: Wi SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 225 amino acids TYPE: amino acid TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:

CCTTGGTCCA

CACAGACGTA

CTCCCAAAGC

GACTTTGTGC

GGACTAGGCC

ATCCCTGTGG

ATATTAAAGA

786 846 906 966 1026 1086 1146 1168 I -47

S

S. S S. *5 S

S

S

*5 S *5

S

S.

Val Val Gin Pro Val Arg Gly Lys Phe Phe 145 Gly Ser Pro His His 225 Leu Ser Ala Ser Ser 70 His Val Ser Ala Ala 150 Arg Gin Ser Pro Ala Trp, Giu Gin Ala Tyr Asp Pro Gly 135 Val Cys Leu Ser Phe 215 Cys Leu Arg Val Gly His Val Tyr Tyr Lys Glu 170 Cys Ile Tyr Ala Pro Phe Lys Arg Gly Arg Tyr 140 Asp 5cr Val Thr Gly 220 Gin Pro Leu Ala Pro Trp Gin 125 Cys Leu Ala Ser Leu 205 Leu Glu Giu Glu Arg Gly Giu 110 Ile Gin Leu Thr Gly 190 Pro Phe Pro Leu Gin Pro Gin Giu Gly Val Val Ala 175 Leu Trp Gin Ser Asn Leu Arg so Asp Thr Giu His Asn 160 Ala Leu Ala Val Leu Gly Leu Leu Leu Val INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 1373 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid FW' ~g V U~ A~ iV~ -48 (iv) (vi) STRAN4DEDNESS: double TOPOLOGY: linear MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA HYPOTHETICAL: NO ANTI-SENSE: NO ORIGINAL SOURCE: ORGANISM: TN? family related protein (ix) FEATURE: NAME/KEY: CDS LOCATION: 1. .852 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: ATG TCA TTG TTA GAC TTT GAA ATT TCC GCC CGC CG CTC CCC CTC CCC Met Ser Leu Leu Asp Phe Glu Ile Ser Ala 1

CGA

Arg

CCC

Pro

GGG

Gly

CTG

Leu 65

AGC

Ser

GCA

Ala

GGG

Gly 25

AGC

Ser

GTC

Val

CTG

Leu

GAG

Glu

GAA

Glu 105 Arg

AGG

Arg

CG

Arg

GCG

Ala

GTG

Val

CAG

Gln

CCC

Pro Leu

CAG

Gin

AGO

Arg

CTG

Leu

GTC

Val

GAG

Glu

GAG

Gin Pro

GCA

Ala

GGG

Gly

GGC

Gly

AGT

Ser

GAG

Glu

ACA

Thr 110 Leu

CAG

Gin

CGC

Arg

CTG

Leu

TTG

Leu

CTG

ILeu

GAA

Glu Pro

CCC

Pro

CG

Arg

GGC

Gly 000 Gly

GTG

Val

GAA

Glu AGC CAG GAT CCT GCG CCT TTC CTG AAC CGA CTA GTT COG CCT COC AGA Ser Gin Asp Pro Ala Pro Phe Leu Asn Arg Leu Val Arg Pro Arg Arg A >1 U AdS ~'ASdAflWAd fUd. JA At. A il~dXt'AJA dAtt @$At 4eAUJ AAdAA AIL -49- AGT GCA CCT AAA GGC COO AAA ACA CGG Ser Ala Pro Lys Gly Arg Lys Thr Arg OCT CGA AGA GCG ATC GCA GCC Ala Arg Arg Ala Ile Ala Ala 140 130

TAT

Tyr 432 480

CAT

HisB 145

GTG

Val GAA GTT CAT Glu Val His CGA CCT GGA Arg Pro Gly CAG GAC Gin Asp 155 GAA GCC Glu Ala 170 OGA GCG CAG GCA Gly Ala Gin Ala

GGT

Gly 160 GAC GGG ACA Asp Gly Thr AGT GGC TGG GAG Ser Gly Trp Giu AGA ATC AAC Arg Ile An AGC TCC Ser Ser 175 AGC CCT CTG Ser Pro Leu OCT GGG CTC Ala Giy Leu 195

CGC

Arg 180 TAC AAC CGC CAG Tyr Asn Arg Gin

ATC

Ile 185

CAG

Gin GGG GAG TTT Gly Giu Phe GTG CAC TTT Val His Phe TAC TAC CTG TAC Tyr Tyr Leu Tyr

TGT

Cys 200

TTG

Leu ATA GTC ACC CG Ile Val Thr Arg 190 GAT GAG 000 AAG Asp Giu Gly Lys 205 GTO CTG GCC CTG Val Leu Ala Leu OCT GTC Ala Val 210 CGC TGC Arg Cys TAC CTG AAG CTG Tyr Leu-Lys Leu CTG GTG GAT Leu Val Asp

GGT

Gly 220 528 576 624 672 720 768 816 CTG GAG GAA Leu Glu Glu GCC ACT GCG Ala Thr Ala 225

CAG

Gin 0CC Ala 235

TTG

Leu AGT TCC CTC 000 CCC Ser Ser Leu Gly Pro 240 0CC CTG CGG CCA 000 Ala Leu Arg Pro Gly CTC CGC CTC Leu Arg Leu GTG TCT 000 Val Ser Gly TCC TCC CTG CG Ser Ser Leu Arg 260 CCC TTC CTC ACC Pro Phe Leu Thr 275 COC ACC CTC Arg Thr Leu

CCC

Pro 265

TTC

Phe GCC CAT Ala His CTC AAG OCT 0CC Leu Lys Ala Ala 270

TGAGGGGCCC

TAC TFC GGA Tyr Phe Gly

CTC

Leu 280 CAG OTT CAC Gin Val His

TGGTCTCCCC

TCCCCTCTGC

GCCTGGGCCT

ACAACTCCCC

CCCCCAGTGA

TCTGTGGGCA

ACAGTCGTCC

CCCACCCTCA

GTTCACGTGT

CACCGCCCAC

TCTCGACTCC

AGGATGGGTC

CAGGCTGCCG

GCCGCTCTTT

TTTCCATCCC

TCTCCACCTC

CCCCTGGCCA

CAGAAGACCC

GCTCCCCTCG,

GCTCCAGACC

ACATAAATAC

ACTAGCTCCC

CAGACCCCCA

CACTTCAGGC

ACAGCTCTCT

TGCCCCTCCC

AGTATTCCCA

CAATCCCTGA

GGGCATTGTG

ACTAAGAGGG

GGGCACCCGG

TCTAGAGGCT

CTCTTATCTT

CCCTTTGAGG

TTCACTGTAC

GCTGGACCTG

922 982 1042 1102 1162 1222 "i ,JdL !a a k 1 1. 1- ,-Ii j M M Am, GCGGCAGGAA GCCAAAGAGA CTGGGCCTAG GCCAGGAGTT CCCAAATGTG AGGGGCGAGA AACAAGACAA GCTCCTCCCT TGAGAATTCC CTGTGGATTr TTAAAACAGA TATTATTTTT ATI'ATTATTG TGACAAAATG TTGATAAATG G INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID 110:4: Wi SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 284 amino acids CB) TYPE: amino acid CD) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein 1282 1342 1373 "too: 6-694 0.0 met Arg Pro Gly Leu Ser Ala Ser Ser His 145 Val (xi) SEQUENCE Ser Leu Lou Asp s Ser Leu Gly Ser Ala Pro Met Ala Glu Pro Gly Thr so Ala Leu Ala Cys Arg Ala 5cr Leu Glu Glu Asp Gin 100 Gin Asp Pro Ala 115 Ala Pro Lys Gly 130 Tyr Glu Val His Asp Gly Thr Val 165 DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID 110:4: Phe Giu Ile Ser Ala Arg Arg Leu Pro Leu Pro Asp Arg Leu 55 Gly Ala Pro Phe Lys 135 Arg Gly Val Arg Leu Ala 75 Ala Asn Leu Arg Asp 155 Ala Arg Arg Ala Val Gin Pro Val Arg 140 Gly Arg 1s Gln Arg Leu Leu Leu Giu Arg Ala Ala Ser 175 Pro Arg Gly Gly Val Giu Arg Ala Gly 160 Ser I~ W~~7W~ -51 Ser Ala Al a Arg 225 Gin Ser Pro Pro Gly Val 210 Cys Leu Ser Phe Gin Cys 200 Leu Ala Ser Leu Leu 280 Giu His Asp Ala 235 Leu Ala Val Val 190 Glu Leu Leu Arg Lys 270 Thr Gly Ala Gly Pro 255 Ala rose 0@ *5 C SC CC C C

C

0* CC C

CCC.

C. So C C

S

SC

o S

C.

S

C

C

C

OS..

SCC CC

C

o ot CC 6, .dC~ CC C

CC

C*

F~Th~ I~ I,

Claims (30)

1. A substantially pure nucleic acid sequence comprising consecutive nucleotides that encode a human TRELL polypeptide, wherein said TRELL polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

2. The nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid sequence consists essentially Of SEQ ID NO: 3.

3. A substantially pure nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein said stringent conditions comprise washing steps using 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65 0 C, and wherein said nucleic acid encodes a TRELL polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a soluble fragment thereof, that is capable of binding to a cell selected from the group consisting of: a) a K562 promyelocytic cell; b) a THP-l monocytic leukemia cell; c) an HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cell; d) a 293 embryonic kidney cell; and oooo e) a Cos kidney fibroblast cell. *.oo )W -53-

4. A recombinant DNA molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence according to claim 1, said sequence being operably linked to an expression control sequence. The recombinant DNA molecule according to claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.

6. A host cell transformed with the recombinant DNA molecule according to claim 4 or

7. A method for producing substantially pure TRELL polypeptide comprising the steps of culturing the host cell according to claim 6 and isolating TRELL polypeptide from said host cell to obtain substantially pure TRELL polypeptide.

8. A substantially pure TRELL polypeptide S comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a TRELL polypeptide, 5 0 wherein said TRELL polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and a pharmaceutically S.-.acceptable carrier. 0 0000

10. A method for preventing or reducing the si severity of an autoimmune disease in a subject comprising L' ALSLLiL -54- the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9.

11. A method for preventing or reducing the severity of an immune response to a tissue graft in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9.

12. A method for stimulating the immune system in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9.

13. A method for suppressing the immune response in a subject comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9. 0

14. A method for treating cancer in a subject S comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9. 0 S.

15. A method for identifying a receptor for *0. TRELL polypeptide comprising the steps of: *00 *oo* oooo I R -lt ll L~ ,ni .llilllll ~r~~il II(Y~I~IUI ill: li~i.rn R O IIII*l.~l~n~""l~YU IIIIVIIYYIII.II.ITlii~T~l~i.l~n~r i l Y.LI .III.YLYII:-ll~n~YW.il.nirlllll iiiil IP;~V~.II*IYI .IIIII1111111 III II 111 1. 11111 YLll~.l~n~l~llillYN1;~ii~J?~ a. providing a TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or a biologically active fragment thereof; b. labeling said TRELL polypeptide or fragment thereof with a detectable label; and c. screening a composition to detect any receptor which binds to the detectably labeled TRELL polypeptide or fragment thereof.

16. A soluble fragment of the TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8, wherein said soluble fragment comprises an amino acid terminus that begins between amino acid numbers 81 and 139 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and wherein said soluble fragment displays the biological activity of said TRELL polypeptide.

17. An antibody which binds specifically to the f" TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or an antigenic .fragment thereof. **A

18. The antibody according to claim 17, wherein said antibody is immunospecific for an antigenic fragment o*o of a TRELL polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of *se e. SEQ ID NO: 4. S

19. The antibody according to claim 17, wherein said antibody does not substantially crossreact with a 55o• II ~Tn~ rs~i -amAAPAT)V V. -,LkLCnu~ aii~iir~l -56- protein, said protein being selected from the group consisting of: proteins which are less than 80% homologous to a TRELL polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; proteins which are less than 90% homologous to a TRELL polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and proteins which are less than 95% homologous to a TRELL polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. said antibody The antibody according to claim 17, wherein is selected from the group consisting of: a monoclonal antibody; a polyclonal antibody; and ant ibody fragments thereof.

21. said antibody The antibody according to claim 17, wherein is selected from the group consisting of: a chimeric antibody; Cb) a humanized antibody; and i -57- a recombinant antibody.

22. The antibody according to claim 20, wherein said antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of: a Fab' fragment; and a F 2 fragment.

23. A method for producing an antibody which binds specifically to the TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or an antigenic fragment thereof comprising the steps of immunizing an animal with said TRELL polypeptide or an antigenic fragment thereof, and isolating said antibody from said animal.

24. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody which binds specifically to the TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or an antigenic fragment thereof, and optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of expressing a TRELL polypeptide in a cell culture of a mammal comprising the steps of: a. introducing a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence having consecutive nucleotides that encode said TRELL polypeptide into said cell culture, wherein -58- said TRELL polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a soluble fragment thereof that is capable of binding to a cell selected from the group consisting of: a) a K562 promyelocytic cell; b) a THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell; c) an HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cell; d) a 293 embryonic kidney cell; and e) a Cos kidney fibroblast cell,. and b. allowing said cell culture to live under conditions wherein said nucleic acid sequence is expressed S.in said cell culture.

26. A method of treating a disorder related to o oo TRELL polypeptide in a mammal comprising the steps of: a. introducing a therapeutically effective amount of a vector into a mammalian cell wherein said vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence having consecutive nucleotides that encode a TRELL polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a soluble fragment thereof that is capable of binding to a cell selected from the group consisting of: rat'A~4aw~ ~MY i&'t*N~SYjAjAJt&t ~rh~uLtTh M"9~v 4~iE~2A I3~W V2VThW'IljftM.Wfl!W±~ kti~? 'II !Vd~Si 2M~tA~&t&I 4%J~Jg~I~iflW4,IjflI S*4t.A ~WiAWrC~ -59- a) a K562 promyelocytic cell; b) a THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell; c) an HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cell; d) a 293 embryonic kidney cell; and e) a Cos kidney fibroblast cell; and b. expressing said TRELL polypeptide in said mammalian cell.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said vector is a virus.

28. A method of inducing cell death in a mammal comprising the step of administering to said mammal an agent capable of interfering with the binding of the TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or an antigenic fragment thereof to a receptor, wherein said TRELL polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

29. The method according to claim 28, further :*.-comprising the step of administering to said mammal interferon-y. a

30. A method of treating, suppressing or altering an immune response in a mammal involving a signaling pathway between TRELL polypeptide and its receptor, said method comprising the step of administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an agent capable of interfering with the association between the TRELL polypeptide according to claim 8 or an antigenic fragment thereof and its receptor, wherein said TRELL polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said immune response involves human adenocarcinoma cells.

32. The method according to any one of claims 26, 28, 29 or 30, wherein said mammal is a human.

33. The method according to any one of claims 28, 29 or 30, wherein said agent is an antibody according to claim 17. 9*t S.DATED this 7 t h day of May 2004 Biogen, Inc.; The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. S wOo i n~QW-JEWIN'Tarlowl-~n