| abstract |
The present invention relates to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and more specifically to the enzyme TNFα-convertase (TNFα-con) that can proteolytically convert TNFα precursor to mature TNFα. The present invention provides DNA sequences encoding mammalian TNFα-con and functional equivalents thereof, recombinant expression vectors comprising said DNA sequences, host cell lines comprising said expression vectors, inhibitors of TNFα-con, inhibitors modified for use as ligands for affinity purification of TNFα-con, and methods for treating diseases or conditions resulting from abnormal levels of TNFα in a mammalian subject. |