METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR THE INHIBITION OF TRANSPLANT REJECTION.

摘要

The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting transplant rejection in a mammal, comprising administering one or more transplant rejection inhibiting compounds to the mammal, wherein at least one compound includes an antibody that immunoreacts with the extracellular domain of the SPEX polypeptide. The present invention also provides a method of decreasing an expression of the SPEX polypeptide on a lymphocyte that expresses the SPEX polypeptide. The present invention further provides a method of identifying antibodies that immunoreact with the extracellular domain of the SPEX polypeptide and inhibit transplant rejection. The present invention still further provides method of inhibiting proliferation of pre-activated lymphocytes, a method of inhibiting an interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression by lymphocytes, and a method of inhibiting an interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25) expression by lymphocytes, comprising contacting the lymphocytes with an agonistic antibody of SP EX receptor.