Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding mammalian, e.g., primate or rodent receptors, purified receptor proteins and fragments thereof. Antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, are also provided. Methods of using the compositions for both diagnostic and therapeutic utilities are provided.

Abstract: An interferon beta polypeptide comprising interferon-beta 1a coupled to a polymer containing a polyalkylene glycol moiety wherein the interferon-beta-1a and the polyalkylene glycol moiety are arranged such that the interferon-beta-1a has an enhanced activity relative to another therapeutic form of interferon beta (interferon-beta-1b) and exhibits no decrease in activity as compared to non-conjugated interferon-beta-1a. The conjugates of the invention are usefully employed in therapeutic as well as non-therapeutic, e.g., diagnostic, applications.

Abstract: The present invention includes interferon-tau (IFN?) pharmaceutical compositions useful for oral administration to treat cancers, autoimmune disorders (particularly multiple sclerosis), cell proliferative disorders and viral disease.

Abstract: An interferon beta polypeptide comprising interferon-beta 1a coupled to a polymer containing a polyalkylene glycol moiety wherein the interferon-beta-1a and the polyalkylene glycol moiety are arranged such that the interferon-beta-1a has an enhanced activity relative to another therapeutic form of interferon beta (interferon-beta-1b) and exhibits no decrease in activity as compared to non-conjugated interferon-beta-1a. The conjugates of the invention are usefully employed in therapeutic as well as non-therapeutic, e.g., diagnostic, applications.

Abstract: The invention includes interferon-tau (IFN&tgr;) pharmaceutical compositions useful for oral administration to treat autoimmune disorders (particularly multiple sclerosis), cell proliferative disorders and viral disease.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining the presence and activity of interferon inhibitors in a test sample, preferably human blood serum. The method includes the steps of culturing cells which express an interferon-inducible antigen in the presence of an interferon and then adding an aliquot of the cultured cells to a test sample and to a control sample. The expression of the interferon-inducible antigen is then measured in both the test sample and in the control sample and these two values compared to determine the presence and activity of interferon inhibitors in the test sample.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to mutant interleukin 6, which has the amino acid arginine in position 176, replacing serine in position 176 with wild-type interleukin 6. The mutant interleukin 6 of the present invention has greater biological activity than the wild-type protein. The present invention is further drawn to methods of making mutant interleukin 6, having arginine at position 176 and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Described is a new class of polypeptide cell modulators characterized by being composed of two covalently linked cell modulators in a linear polypeptide sequence. Such dual function polypeptides have new and particularly useful activities when the component polypeptide cell modulators are interferons, lymphokines or cytotoxins which act through different and specific cell receptors to initiate complementary biological activities.