Abstract: The present invention provides a cytokine-binding domain or portion thereof which binds to at least one cytokine and is capable of transducing a cytokine signal through a single cytokine receptor, said domain comprising a portion of the B?-C? loop of domain 4 of a ?c chain or analogous structure of a cytokine receptor. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of identifying a compound having cytokine agonist or antagonist activity, said method including subjecting a potential cytokine agonist and/or cytokine antagonist compound to a cytokine binding domain or portion thereof wherein said domain binds to at least one cytokine and is capable of transducing a cytokine signal through a single cytokine receptor, said domain comprising a portion of the B?-C? loop of domain 4 of a ?c chain or analogous structure of the cytokine receptor; and determining the presence of an agonist or antagonist response of the compound on the activity of a cytokine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytokine-binding domain or portion thereof which binds to at least one cytokine and is capable of transducing a cytokine signal through a single cytokine receptor, said domain comprising a portion of the B′-C′ loop of domain 4 of a &bgr;c chain or analogous structure of a cytokine receptor. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of identifying a compound having cytokine agonist or antagonist activity, said method including subjecting a potential cytokine agonist and/or cytokine antagonist compound to a cytokine binding domain or portion thereof wherein said domain binds to at least one cytokine and is capable of transducing a cytokine signal through a single cytokine receptor, said domain comprising a portion of the B′-C′ loop of domain 4 of a &bgr;c chain or analogous structure of the cytokine receptor; and determining the presence of an agonist or antagonist response of the compound on the activity of a cytokine.