| abstract |
Interleukin-34 is a cytokine that is involved in the differentiation and survival of macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells in response to inflammation. The involvement of IL-34 has been shown in areas as diverse as neuronal protection, autoimmune diseases, infection, cancer, and transplantation. Recent work has also demonstrated a new and possible therapeutic role for IL-34 as a Foxp3 + Treg-secreted cytokine mediator of transplant tolerance. The inventors now generated new mutated IL-34 polypeptides that can be used as agonists or antagonists. |