Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting or enhancing down-regulation of an antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell by an HLA-E-restricted CD8+ T cell comprising contacting the HLA-E+ T cell and CD8+ T cell with an agent which inhibits or enhances, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of the CD3+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of the HLA-E+ T cell, thereby inhibiting or enhancing, respectively, down-regulation of the antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell. Compositions comprising agents which inhibit or enhance/activate, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of a CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of a HLA-E+ T cell, and assays for identifying such agents, are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting or enhancing down-regulation of an antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell by an HLA-E-restricted CD8+ T cell comprising contacting the HLA-E+ T cell and CD8+ T cell with an agent which inhibits or enhances, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of the CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of the HLA-E+ T cell, thereby inhibiting or enhancing, respectively, down-regulation of the antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell. Compositions comprising agents which inhibit or enhance/activate, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of a CD8 T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of a HLA-E+ T cell, and assays for identifying such agents, are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting or enhancing down-regulation of an antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell by an HLA-E-restricted CD8+ T cell comprising contacting the HLA-E+ T cell and CD8+ T cell with an agent which inhibits or enhances, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of the CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of the HLA-E+ T cell, thereby inhibiting or enhancing, respectively, down-regulation of the antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell. Compositions comprising agents which inhibit or enhance/activate, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of a CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of a HLA-E+ T cell, and assays for identifying such agents, are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: A method of determining if a subject's CD8+ T-cells functionally recognize an HLA-E/Hsp60sp target structure comprising a) contacting a sample of the subject's CD8+ T-cells with a HLA-E+ cell loaded with Hsp60sp, b) quantifying proliferation of the contacted HLA-E+ cell, c) contacting a sample of the subject's CD8+ T-cells with a HLA-E+ cell which is loaded with a peptide which does not bind to HLA-E, d) quantifying proliferation of the HLA-E+ cell loaded with the peptide which does not bind to HLA-E following contact with the subject's CD8+ T-cells, e) comparing the proliferation quantified in step d) with the proliferation quantified in step b)

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting or enhancing down-regulation of an antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell by an HLA-E-restricted CD8+ T cell comprising contacting the HLA-E* T cell and CD8+ T cell with an agent which inhibits or enhances, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of the CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of the HLA-E+ T cell, thereby inhibiting or enhancing, respectively, down-regulation of the antigen-activated HLA-E+ T cell. Compositions comprising agents which inhibit or enhance/activate, respectively, binding between (i) T cell receptor (TCR) on the surface of a CD8+ T cell and (ii) a self peptide presented by HLA-E on the surface of a HLA-E+ T cell, and assays for identifying such agents, are provided.

Abstract: Activation of smooth muscle cells bearing CD40 on their cell surface by CD40 ligand is inhibited by contacting the smooth muscle cells with an anti-T-BAM (CD40L) antibody capable of inhibiting the interactions between CD40 ligand and the CD40-bearing smooth muscle cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the smooth muscle cells. Activation of smooth muscle cells bearing CD40 on their surface by CD40 ligand in a subject is inhibited by administering to the subject an anti-T-BAM (CD40L) antibody capable of inhibiting the interaction between CD40 ligand and the smooth muscle cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the cells. Conditions dependent on CD40 ligand-induced activation of CD40-bearing cells smooth muscle cells are treated, in particular inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: This invention provides for methods of inhibiting inflammation with antibodies that bind the 5c8 protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to a protein which is specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916. This invention also provides compositions comprising the antibody, and hybridomas that produce the antibody. This invention also provides an isolated protein which is specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916.

Abstract: Activation of cells bearing CD40 on their cell surface by CD40 ligand is inhibited by contacting the cells with an agent capable of inhibiting interaction between CD40 ligand and the cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the cells. Activation of cells bearing CD40 on their surface by CD40 ligand in a subject is inhibited by administering to the subject an agent capable of inhibiting interaction between CD40 ligand and the cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the cells. Conditions dependent on CD4O ligand-induced activation of CD40-bearing cells are treated.

Abstract: This invention provides a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes and forms a complex with a protein located on the surface of activated T cells and thereby inhibits T cell activation of B cells. This invention also provides the monoclonal antibody 5c8 (ATCC Accession No. ______). This invention provides a human CD4? T cell leukemia cell line designated D1.1 (ATCC Accession No. ______) capable of constitutively providing contact-dependent helper function to B cells. This invention also provides an isolated protein from the surface of activated T cells, wherein the protein is necessary for T cell activation of B cells. This invention further provides an isolated, soluble protein from the surface of activated T cells, wherein the protein is necessary for T cell activation of B cells.

Abstract: This invention provides a protein free of cell membranes and other cellular components, said protein being specifically recognized by an antibody that specifically binds an epitope that is specifically bound by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916. This invention further provides a protein that is a fragment of a protein specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916, wherein said fragment is free of cell membranes and other cellular components and comprises an epitope that is specifically bound by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916. This invention also provides a protein free of cell membranes and other cellular components, said protein consisting essentially of an epitope that is specifically bound by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916.

Abstract: Activation of smooth muscle cells bearing CD40 on their cell surface by CD40 ligand is inhibited by contacting the smooth muscle cells with an anti-T-BAM (CD40L) antibody capable of inhibiting the interactions between CD40 ligand and the CD40-bearing smooth muscle cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the smooth muscle cells. Activation of smooth muscle cells bearing CD40 on their surface by CD40 ligand in a subject is inhibited by administering to the subject an anti-T-BAM (CD40L) antibody capable of inhibiting the interaction between CD40 ligand and the smooth muscle cells, in an amount effective to inhibit activation of the cells. Conditions dependent on CD40 ligand-induced activation of CD40-bearing cells smooth muscle cells are treated, in particular inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting an autoimmune response in an animal suffering from an autoimmune disease selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, Lyme disease and hyper IgE syndrome which comprises administering to the animal, in an amount effective to treat the autoimmune disease, an antibody that binds specifically to a protein specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of treating autoimmune diseases, including those selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, Myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, hemolytic anemia and diabetes mellitus with 5C8-specific antibodies.