Patent ID: 7135303

Claim:
A method for promoting the shedding of the extracellular domain of at least one cytokine receptor, comprising the steps of: a) providing: i) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and ii) one or more cells expressing a cytokine receptor on their plasma membrane extracellular surface, wherein the cytokine receptor is selected from the group consisting of a type-1 tumor necrosis factor receptor, a type I interleukin-1 cytokine receptor, a type II interleukin-1 cytokine receptor, and an interleukin-6 cytokine receptor alpha-chain gp80; and b) delivering said polypeptide to said one or more cells, whereby said polypeptide promotes the shedding of the cytokine receptor from the surface of said cells.