BTLA nucleic acids
The present invention provides a novel lymphocyte inhibitory receptor termed BTLA which is expressed on both T and B cells, and identifies B7 family member B7 x as interacting with BTLA to attenuate lymphocyte activity. Methods and compositions for modulating BTLA-mediated negative signaling and interfering with the interaction of BTLA and B7 x for therapeutic, diagnostic and research purposes are also provided.
1. A recombinant BTLA nucleic acid, encoding a BTLA protein having at least about 98% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8, wherein said BTLA protein comprises an extracellular V-like Ig domain, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular domain, and is capable of inducible association with SHP-2 in T cells.
2. The recombinant BTLA nucleic acid according to claim 1 , encoding a BTLA protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8.
3. The recombinant BTLA nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
4. An expression vector, comprising the recombinant BTLA nucleic acid according to any one of claims 1 , 2 , and 3 operably linked to regulatory sequences recognizable by a host cell transfected with the recombinant BTLA nucleic acid.
5. An isolated host cell, comprising the recombinant BTLA nucleic acid according to any one of claims 1 , 2 , and 3 .
6. An isolated host cell, comprising the expression vector of claim 4 .
7. A process for producing a BTLA protein, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 6 under conditions suitable for the expression of BTLA protein.
8. The process of claim 7 , further comprising isolating the BTLA protein.