The invention provides methods for modulation interactions between MDL-1 and its binding partner, Gal9. Also provided are methods to screen for modulators of MDL-1/Gal9 interaction.
1. A method of depleting a population of T lymphocyte cells comprising contacting the population of T lymphocyte cells with an MDL-1 fusion protein that binds directly or indirectly to a molecule expressed on the T lymphocyte cells wherein the MDL-1 fusion protein comprises an extracellular domain of MDL-1 and a heterologous protein which is an Fc portion of an immunoglobulin molecule.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous protein is human serum albumin.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the population of T lymphocyte cells express CD45, CD90, and CD117.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the population of T lymphocyte cells further express IL-23R.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the population of T lymphocyte cells mediate enthesopathy.