Fn 14/TRAIL Fusion Proteins
Fusion proteins which act on the TWEAK and TRAIL signaling axes are provided. The proteins are useful in the treatment or amelioration of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis, as well as other diseases such as alloimmune diseases and cancer.
1 - 23 . (canceled)
24 . A method of treating or ameliorating autoimmune disease in a patient by administering to said patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier and a genetic sequence encoding a fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain is a polypeptide that binds to TWEAK and the second domain is a polypeptide that binds to a TRAIL receptor, wherein the first domain main is at least a portion of the extracellular domain of Fn14 protein and the second domain is at least a portion of the extracellular domain of a TRAIL protein.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis.
26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the fusion protein is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.
27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the fusion protein consists of a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain is at least a TWEAK-binding portion of the extracellular domain of Fn14 protein and the second domain is at least a TRAIL receptor-binding portion of the extracellular domain of TRAIL protein.
28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the first domain is human Fn14 and the second domain is human TRAIL.
29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the administration is parenteral.
30 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the patient has an alloimmune disease.
31 . A method of treating or ameliorating an autoimmune disease in a patient having an autoimmune disease comprising administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fusion protein and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier, wherein the fusion protein comprises a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain is a polypeptide that binds to TWEAK and the second domain is a polypeptide that binds to a TRAIL receptor, wherein the first domain is at least a portion of the extracellular domain of Fn14 protein and the second domain is at least a portion of the extracellular domain of a TRAIL protein.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fusion protein is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fusion protein consists of a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain is at least a TWEAK-binding portion of the extracellular domain of Fn14 protein and the second domain is at least a TRAIL receptor-binding portion of the extracellular domain of TRAIL protein.
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the first domain is human Fn14 and the second domain is human TRAIL.
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the administration is parenteral.
37 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the patient has an alloimmune disease.