IL-1 receptor based cytokine traps

1. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:33.

2. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 .

3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the fusion polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34.

4. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:35.

5. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 4 .

6. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:36.

7. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:37.

8. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 7 .

9. The A nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:38.

10. The nucleic acid of claim 1 , 4 , or 7 , wherein nucleotide 1979 is changed from A to C.

11. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 10 .

12. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:39.

13. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 12 .

14. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:40.

15. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:41.

16. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 15 .

17. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:42.

18. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide which forms a multimer capable of binding interleukin-1 (IL-1) to form a nonfunctional complex, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:43.

19. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 18 .

20. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:44.

21. The nucleic acid of claim 12 , 15 , or 18 , wherein nucleotide 1043 is changed from A to C.

22. A fusion polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 21 .

23. A composition capable of binding IL-1 to form a non-functional complex comprising a multimer of the fusion polypeptide of any of claims 2 , 5 , 8 , 11 , 13 , 16 , 19 , or 22 .

24. The composition of claim 23 , wherein the multimer is a dimer.

25. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 18 , and 21 .

26. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims 1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 18 , and 21 operatively linked to an expression control sequence.

27. A host-vector system for the production of a fusion polypeptide, comprising the expression vector of claim 26 in a suitable host cell.

28. The host-vector system of claim 27 , wherein the suitable host cell is a bacterial cell, yeast cell, insect cell, or mammalian cell.

29. A method of producing a fusion polypeptide that comprises growing cells of the host-vector system of claim 27 , under conditions permitting production of the fusion polypeptide and recovering the fusion polypeptide so produced.

30. The host-vector system of claim 28 , wherein the suitable host cell is a CHO cell.