La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

Timothy C Cheung

Carl F Ware

Marcos Steinberg

Michael Croft

Carl De Trez

Mitchell Kronenberg

Ian R Humphreys

Karen G Potter

Theresia A Banks

Christopher A Benedict

The invention provides HVEM cis complexes which include, for example, HVEM/BTLA, HVEM/CD160 and HVEM/gD cis complexes. The invention provides ligands and agents that bind to HVEM cis complexes, such as antibodies. The invention further provides methods of use of the HVEM cis complexes, and the ligands and agents (e.g., LIGHT polypeptide sequence) that bind to the HVEM cis complexes.

Methods of modulating HVEM, BTLA and CD160 cis complex response or signaling activity with soluble light polypeptide sequences

The invention provides HVEM cis complexes which include, for example, HVEM/BTLA, HVEM/CD160 and HVEM/gD cis complexes. The invention provides ligands and agents that bind to HVEM cis complexes, such as antibodies. The invention further provides methods of use of the HVEM cis complexes, and the ligands and agents (e.g., antibodies) that bind to the HVEM cis complexes.

HVEM/BTLA, HVEM/CD 160 and HVEM/gD cis complexes and methods of use

The tumor-necrosis factor superfamily member LIGHT (p30; TNFSF-14) is a cytokine for inducing immune responses against tumors. A novel biochemical approach is used to decorate the surface of tumor cells with LIGHT. LIGHT decorated cells can be used to vaccinate and induce effective, sustained immunity against cells expressing neo or pathogen associated antigens. Variants of LIGHT are described that enhance binding to cellular receptors (e.g., LT beta receptor) and decrease regulation by inhibitors (e.g., Decoy Receptor 3) increasing ability to stimulate immunity.

Light-mediated anti-cell proliferative compositions and methods

Herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) and acts as a molecular switch that modulates T cell activation by propagating positive signals from the TNF related ligand, LIGHT (p30, TNFSF14), or inhibitory signals through the immunoglobulin superfamily member, B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA). A novel binding site for BTLA is disclosed, located in cysteine-rich domain-1 of HVEM. BTLA binding site on HVEM overlaps with the binding site for the Herpes Simplex virus-1 envelope glycoprotein D (gD), but is distinct from where LIGHT binds, yet gD inhibits the binding of both ligands. A BTLA activating protein present in human cytomegalovirus is identified as UL144. UL144 binds BTLA, but not LIGHT, and inhibits T cell proliferation.

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Timothy C Cheung