Abstract: Methods and materials for reducing a mammal's ability to produce antibodies against an antigen (e.g., a therapeutic polypeptide) to be administered to the mammal are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising at least one polymorphic nucleotide sequence, for example, at position ?871 from the promoter region of the BLyS gene, and diagnostic assays for detecting the presence of this polymorphism associated with a condition associated with BLyS activity, such as hematological malignancy including B cell malignancies. The diagnostic assays are useful in predicting an individual's likelihood of developing a condition associated with BLyS activity, such as hematological malignancies, and for methods for treating an individual clinically diagnosed with a condition associated with BLyS activity, such as prediction of a patient's likelihood to respond to a specific drug treatment. The invention also provides an array of nucleic acid molecules immobilized on a solid surface, where at least one of the nucleic acid molecules comprises a BLyS polymorphic nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of B-cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, comprising administering to a patient in need of the treatment a TACI-Ig fusion molecule in amount sufficient to suppress proliferation-inducing functions of BlyS and APRIL.