Tumor necrosis factor inhibitory protein tip B1 and method of using same

摘要

A specific, unique, natural biological factor that has the capacity to abate one or more of the toxic effects of TNF. This factor may have therapeutic potential in one or more of the diverse disease states in which TNF is known to have a causative role. The unique, approximately 27 kDa protein is designated TIP-B₁. TIP-B₁, when purified and added back to TNF sensitive cells, effectively ablates TNF-induced cell lysis and TNF-induced apoptosis; cytolytic effects are central to many TNF-mediated actions. The invention includes a protein designated TIP-B₁ purified to homogeneity. The protein has a molecular weight of about 27 kD. The protein is capable of inhibiting the action of TNF upon a cell, when said protein is introduced into extracellular medium surrounding the cell. The protein is free of sequences which interfere with normal cellular TNF binding sites and is free of sequences which directly bind to TNF. The invention further includes a method for using the protein for controlling TNF activity upon a cell.