Methods of identifying a modulator that inhibits the binding between Epstein-Barr virus induced receptor 2 and cholesterol derived ligands
The present invention relates to modulators of the interaction between Epstein-Barr Virus induced receptor-2 (EBi2) and cholest-5-ene-3b,7b,25-triol (7,25-dihydroxycholesterol) (“7,25DHC”) and/or cholest-5-ene-3b, 7b-diol (7-hydroxycholesterol) (“7HC”). The modulator maybe a small chemical molecule, antibody or other therapeutic protein. Methods of medical treatment and methods of identifying modulators are also described.
1. A method of identifying a modulator that inhibits the binding between 7,25-dihydroxycholesterol (7,25DHC), 7,27-dihydroxycholesterol (7,27DHC), 7-hydroxycholesterol (7HC) or 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) and Epstein-Barr Virus induced receptor 2 (EBi2), wherein said method comprises;
(a) providing a candidate modulator;
(b) incubating said modulator with 7,25DHC, 7,27DHC, 7HC or 25HC and EBi2;
(c) determining whether the binding between 7,25DHC, 7,27DHC, 7HC or 25HC and EBi2 is inhibited in the presence of said candidate modulator compared to the binding between 7,25DHC, 7,27DHC, 7HC or 25HC and EBi2 in the absence of said candidate modulator.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein 7,25DHC is 7a,25DHC or 7b,25DHC.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein 7,27DHC is 7a,27DHC or 7b,27DHC.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein 7HC is 7aHC or 7bHC.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method comprises identifying a modulator of the binding between 7,25DHC and EBi2.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said method comprises identifying a modulator of the binding between 7,27DHC and EBi2.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said method comprises identifying a modulator of the binding between 7HC and EBi2.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said method comprises identifying a modulator of the binding between 25HC and EBi2.