A protein belonging to the TNF superfamily called TRANCE involved in signal transduction,
along with nucleic acids comprising DNA sequences and degenerate variants thereof
which encode TRANCE are disclosed. Modulators which are TRANCE agonists and TRANCE
antagonists are also disclosed, and can be used in pharmaceutical compositions
and methods disclosed herein to modulate the active life of mature dendritic cells,
T cell activation, and immune response in mammal.