Methods of blocking tissue destruction by autoreactive t cells

摘要

Methods for blocking autoreactive T cell-initiated destruction of tissues in a mammal are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a biologically effective amount of an isolated and purified CD24 polypeptide, or a fusion protein comprising such polypeptide to a mammalian subject who is suspected of having an autoimmune disease. In another embodiment, the method comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a biologically effective amount of an anti- CD24 antibody or anti- CD24 Fab fragments to the subject. The present invention also relates to isolated and purified CD24 fusion proteins employed in the present methods and to transgenic mice that express the human CD24 protein on their T cells and/or their vascular endothelial cells but do not express murine heat shock antigen on any cells.