Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to the TNF and TNF receptor families

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family ligands and their corresponding receptors play important roles in the immune system and are involved in immune regulation such as lymphoid development, cell proliferation, differentiation, activation and death. Antibodies against these ligands and receptors together with Fc-fusion proteins, have been particularly useful as immunological tools in addressing the underlying involvement of these proteins in these contexts and furthermore, have given us hope in using them as potential therapeutic agents. Over last few years, there have been many additions to these ever-growing TNF family ligands and their receptors. Here, we have generated and characterised a set of monoclonal antibodies, together with mAbs from the HLDA workshop, against DcR1, DcR2, DR4, DR5, TRAIL, APRIL, BAFF, BAFF-R, BCMA, and TACI, which may be useful in phenotypic and functional studies of the role of TNF and TNF receptor family in immune function and regulation in relation to health and disease.