B7-1 and B7-2 polypeptides

US6218510A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• THE BRIGHAM AND WOMAN'S HOSPITAL, INC. · US
• DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, INC. · US

Inventors

• Arlene H. Sharpe · Brookline, US
• Francescopaolo Borriello · Brookline, US
• Gordon J. Freeman · Brookline, US
• Lee M. Nadler · Newton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 1994
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2001
• Expiry date: Mar 2, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01K2217/05
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Structural forms of T cell costimulatory B7-1 and B7-2 molecules are described. These structural forms comprise a structural domain or have a structural domain deleted or added. The structural forms correspond to naturally-occurring alternatively spliced forms of T cell costimulatory molecules or variants thereof which can be produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. In one embodiment, the T cell costimulatory molecule of the invention contains a cytoplasmic domain. In another embodiment, the T cell costimulatory molecule of the invention contains a signal peptide domain or has an immunoglobulin variable region-like domain deleted. The structural forms of T cell costimulatory molecules can be used to identify agents which stimulate the expression of alternative forms of costimulatory molecules and to identify components of the signal transduction pathway which results in costimulation of T cells.