Abstract: A method of identifying a compound with efficacy in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease by testing the compound for an ability to selectively inhibit the ability of Tck cells to induce pro-inflammatory cytokine release from a monocyte is disclosed. The method includes pre-incubatin Tck cells with a compound to be tested, optionally resuspending the Tck cells in the absence of the test compound, co-culturing the Tck cells with monocytes, and assaying for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the monocytes. The Tck cells are produced by incubating a population of T cells with one or more cytokines or the Tck cells are isolated from synovial tissue. The Tck cells have not been contacted with an anti-CD3 antibody. The ability to selectively inhibit cytokine release indicates that the compound has efficacy in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved in vitro method for infecting cells with a viral vector capable of transporting recombinant nucleic acids into the cells. The method comprises the steps of subjecting the cells to elutriation in a velocity gradient, collecting the cells, contacting the cells with at least one cytokine, and infecting 90% or more of the cells with the viral vector at a multiplicity of infection of 50 to 100.

Abstract: A DNA molecule is provided which encodes a polypeptide which is capable of binding human TNF.alpha. and which has the first three cysteine-rich subdomains, but not the fourth cysteine-rich subdomain, of the extracellular binding domain of a receptor selected from the 55 kD and 75 kD receptors for human TNF.alpha.. The ability of the polypeptide to bind to TNF.alpha. means that it can be used for treating diseases mediated by TNF.alpha. activity, such as rheumatoid arthritis.