| abstract |
Methods of decreasing (e.g., inhibiting) the expression of wildtype CD154 on the surface of a target cell and methods of treating a patient suffering from or predisposed to a CD154-mediated disease. In these methods, a nucleic acid construct that directs expression of a mutant CD154 lacking at least a portion of the tumor necrosis factor homologous domain ("TNFH") is introduced into a target cell (such as a T helper cell or a cytotoxic T cell). The expressed mutant CD154 binds to wildtype CD154 inside the cell, rendering the wildtype protein unable to reach the cell surface. |