LYMPHOTOXIN-.BETA., LYMPHOTOXIN-.BETA. COMPLEXES, PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS AND THERAPEUTIC USES THEREOF

摘要

This invention relates to lumpjotoxin-.beta., alymphocyte membrane type protein. This protein is found on the surface of a number of cells, including phorbol ester (PMA) stimulated T cell hybridoma II-23D7 cells. This invention also relates to complexes formed between lymphotoxin-.beta. and other peptides such as lymphotoxin-.alpha. and to complexes comprising multipb subunits of lymphotoxin-.beta.. These proteins and complexes are useful in holding LT-.alpha. formed within the cell on the cell surface where the LT-.alpha./LT-.beta. complex may act as an inflammation regulating agent, a turnor growth inhibiting agent, a T cell inhibiting agent, a T cell activating agent, an autoimmune disease regulating agent, or an HIV inhibiting agent. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of the LT-.alpha./LT-.beta. complex may be delivered to tumor cells by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (IILs) transfected with the gene for LT-.beta..