EP1037899A1 - Proteines secretees et polynucleotides les codant - Google Patents

Proteines secretees et polynucleotides les codant

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Publication number
EP1037899A1
EP1037899A1 EP98953697A EP98953697A EP1037899A1 EP 1037899 A1 EP1037899 A1 EP 1037899A1 EP 98953697 A EP98953697 A EP 98953697A EP 98953697 A EP98953697 A EP 98953697A EP 1037899 A1 EP1037899 A1 EP 1037899A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
polynucleotide
seq
protein
amino acid
nucleotide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98953697A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth Jacobs
John M. Mccoy
Edward R. Lavallie
Lisa A. Racie
David Merberg
Maurice Treacy
Cheryl Evans
Vikki Spaulding
Michael R. Bowman
Michael J. Agostino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Genetics Institute LLC
Original Assignee
Genetics Institute LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Genetics Institute LLC filed Critical Genetics Institute LLC
Publication of EP1037899A1 publication Critical patent/EP1037899A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides

Definitions

  • the present invention provides novel polynucleotides and proteins encoded by such polynucleotides, along with therapeutic, diagnostic and research utilities for these polynucleotides and proteins.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(j).
  • polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1
  • nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 113 to nucleotide 742; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 179 to nucleotide 742; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 568; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AC41_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone AC41_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AC41 1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid 53 to amino acid 129.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 161 to nucleotide 1126; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 218 to nucleotide 1126; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 553; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AC222_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone AC222_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AC222_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 131.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 131.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of (a)-(g) above;
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)- ⁇ .
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AJ143_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 20.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 20.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (g) or (h) above ; and (k) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(h).
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 91 to nucleotide 204; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AJ168_4 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AJ168_4 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 having biological activity;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 60 to nucleotide 230; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 323; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AK684_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone AK684_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AK684_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 having biological activity; (k) a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of ⁇ or ⁇ above ;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 from nucleotide 812 to nucleotide 2731; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 from nucleotide 944 to nucleotide 2731; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 from nucleotide 855 to nucleotide 1186; the nucleotide sequence of the full- length protein coding sequence of clone AS209_1 deposited under accession number
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AS209_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 125.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 (c) fragments of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; and (d) the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AS209_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; the protein being substantially free from other mammalian proteins.
  • such protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 125.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 having biological activity; ⁇ a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of
  • polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(i).
  • polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1
  • nucleotide sequence from nucleotide 489 to nucleotide 890; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AX56_28 deposited under accession number ATCC
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AX56_28 deposited under accession number ATCC 98180.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16 having biological activity;
  • (k) a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of (a)-(h) above;
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of ⁇ or ⁇ above ;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 from nucleotide 51 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleot
  • nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 from nucleotide 126 to nucleotide 1319; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16
  • nucleotide sequence 15 from nucleotide 409 to nucleotide 495; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone AX92_3 deposited under accession number ATCC
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone AX92_3 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 having biological activity;
  • a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of (a)-(g) above;
  • (k) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (h) or ⁇ above ;
  • polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)- ⁇ .
  • polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1
  • polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone BF245_i deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • BF245_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; the protein being substantially free from other mammalian proteins.
  • the protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22 having biological activity; ⁇ a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of
  • (k) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (h) or ⁇ above ;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 from nucleotide 322 to nucleotide 774; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 from nucleotide 149 to nucleotide 477; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone BG33_7 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone BG33_7 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 121.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 having biological activity;
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of (a)-(g) above; (k) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (h) or ⁇ above ; and
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)- ⁇ .
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 from nucleotide 80 to nucleotide 1801; the nucleot
  • nucleotide sequence from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 421; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone BM46_10 deposited under accession number ATCC
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone BM46_10 deposited under accession number ATCC 98152.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 112.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24 from amino acid 1 to amino acid 112.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26 having biological activity;
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of ⁇ or ⁇ above ; and (m) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)- ⁇ .
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 from nucleotide 719 to nucleotide 886; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 from nucleotide 812 to nucleotide 886; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 853; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone J317_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98101; or the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein coding sequence of clone J317_1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone J317_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 having biological activity;
  • ⁇ a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of a polynucleotide of (a)-(g) above; (k) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (h) or ⁇ above ; and
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide 609; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 from nucleotide 442 to nucleotide
  • polynucleotide encodes the full-length or mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone O289 1 deposited under accession number ATCC 98101.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the polynucleotide is operably linked to an expression control sequence.
  • the invention also provides a host cell, including bacterial, yeast, insect and mammalian cells, transformed with such polynucleotide compositions. Processes are also provided for producing a protein, which comprise:
  • the protein produced according to such methods is also provided by the present invention.
  • Preferred embodiments include those in which the protein produced by such process is a mature form of the protein.
  • Protein compositions of the present invention may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • Compositions comprising an antibody which specifically reacts with such protein are also provided by the present invention.
  • Methods are also provided for preventing, treating or ameliorating a medical condition which comprises administering to a mammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a protein of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • Fig. 1A and Fig. IB are schematic representations of the pED6 and pNOTs vectors, respectively, used for deposit of clones disclosed herein.
  • Fig. 2 is an autoradiograph evidencing the expression of the following clone disclosed herein, BG33_7.
  • nucleotide and amino acid sequences are reported below for each clone and protein disclosed in the present application.
  • the nucleotide sequence of each clone can readily be determined by sequencing of the deposited clone in accordance with known methods. The predicted amino acid sequence (both full-length and mature) can then be determined from such nucleotide sequence.
  • the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by a particular clone can also be determined by expression of the clone in a suitable host cell, collecting the protein and determining its sequence. For each disclosed protein applicants have identified what they have determined to be the reading frame best identifiable with sequence information available at the time of filing.
  • a "secreted” protein is one which, when expressed in a suitable host cell, is transported across or through a membrane, including transport as a result of signal sequences in its amino acid sequence.
  • "Secreted” proteins include without limitation proteins secreted wholly (e.g., soluble proteins) or partially (e.g. , receptors) from the cell in which they are expressed.
  • “Secreted” proteins also include without limitation proteins which are transported across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • AC41 1 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AC41_1".
  • AC41_1 was isolated from a human adult placenta cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • AC41_1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AC41_1 protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of AC41_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:l. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the AC41_1 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:2.
  • Amino acids 10 to 22 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 23, or are a transmembrane domain.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AC41_1 should be approximately 1000 bp.
  • the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AC41_1 was searched against the
  • AC41_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as L20319 (Rattus norvegicus developmentally regulated protein mRNA, complete eds), U46493 (Cloning vector pFlp recombinase gene, complete eds), and Z22650 (H.sapiens insertion polymorphism DNA).
  • L20319 Rasteroning vector pFlp recombinase gene, complete eds
  • Z22650 H.sapiens insertion polymorphism DNA
  • the predicted AC41 1 protein demonstrated at least some identity with sequences identified as L20319 (developmentally regulated protein [Rattus norvegicus]) and X12544 (3 HLA-DR B protein precursor (AA -29 to 267) [Homo sapiens]). Based upon homology, AC41_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • AC222_1 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AC222_1".
  • AC222_1 was isolated from a human adult placenta cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • AC222_1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AC222_1 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of AC222_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: A polynucleotide sequence of AC222_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: A polynucleotide sequence of AC222_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: a polypeptide
  • amino acids 7 to 19 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 20, or are a transmembrane domain.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AC222_1 should be approximately 1400 bp.
  • AC222_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as D 10485 (Chicken mRNA for proteoglycan (PG-Lb) core protein, complete eds), D78274 (Mouse mRNA for proteoglycan, complete eds), N22463 (yw34cl0.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 254130 3'), U59111 (Human dermatan sulfate proteoglycan 3 (DSPG3) mRNA, complete eds), U77127 (Bos taurus epiphycan mRNA, complete eds), and Z32693 (E.coli pT7hGH_pl DNA, 6160bp).
  • the predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for AC222_1 was searched against the GenPept and GeneSeq amino acid sequence databases using the BLASTX search protocol.
  • the predicted AC222_1 protein demonstrated at least some identity with sequences identified as D 10485 (proteoglycan core protein [Gallus gallus]), D78274 (proteoglycan [Mus musculus]), U77127 (epiphycan [Bos taurus]), and U59111 (dermatan sulfate proteoglycan
  • AC222_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • AJ143_1 was isolated from a human adult testes cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • AJ143_1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AJ143_1 protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of AJ143_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:5. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the AJ143_1 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:6.
  • Amino acids 2 to 14 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 15, or are a transmembrane domain.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AJ143_1 should be approximately 1000 bp.
  • nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AJ143_1 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and
  • AJ143_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as T19431 (d08002s Homo sapiens cDNA clone d08002 5' end) and Z41997 (H. sapiens partial cDNA sequence; clone c-05c07); it may also show some similarity to phosphoenolpyruvate phosphomutase. Based upon homology, AJ143_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • a polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AJ168_4".
  • AJ168_4 was isolated from a human adult testes cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No.
  • AJ168_4 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AJ168_4 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of AJ168_4 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AJ168_4 should be approximately 700 bp.
  • the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AJ168_4 was searched against the
  • AJ168_4 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as T65223 (yc79c02.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 22106 3'). Based upon homology, AJ168_4 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts a potential transmembrane domain within the AJ168 4 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8).
  • AK684_ 1 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AK684_ 1".
  • AK684_1 was isolated from a human fetal kidney cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • AK684_ 1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AK684_1 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of AK684_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:9. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the AK684_1 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AK684_1 should be approximately 1000 bp.
  • AK684_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as AA226405 (nc20c05.rl NCI CGAP Prl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 2817), G15531 (human STS SHGC-17023), and T68858 (yc30d08.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 82191 3' similar to contains MSR1 repetitive element). Based upon homology, AK684_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some a ⁇ ivity. The TopPredll computer program predicts a potential transmembrane domain within the AK684_1 protein sequence centered around amino acid 20 of SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • AS209_1 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AS209_1".
  • AS209_1 was isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No.
  • AS209_1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AS209_1 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of AS209__1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 1
  • amino acids 32 to 44 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 45, or are a transmembrane domain.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AS209_1 should be approximately 2882 bp.
  • AS209_1 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AS209_1 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols.
  • AS209_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as AA055217 (zfl7h02.sl Soares fetal heart NbHH19W Homo sapiens cDNA clone 377235 3') and H29533 (ym ⁇ Ohl l.rl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 52955 5' similar to SP:A60164 S34329; PLATELET MEMBRANE GLYCOPROTEIN V PRECURSOR).
  • the predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for AS209_1 was searched against the GenPept and GeneSeq amino acid sequence databases using the
  • the predicted AS209_1 protein demonstrated at least some identity with sequences identified as D63875 (ORF [Homo sapiens]) and X53959 (slit protein [Drosophila melanogaster]). Based upon homology, AS209_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts four potential transmembrane domains within the AS209 1 protein sequence, centered around amino acids 32, 387, 449, and 538 of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • a polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "AX56_28".
  • AX56_28 was isolated from a human adult testes cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No.
  • AX56_28 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AX56_28 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of AX56_28 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AX56_28 should be approximately 4500 bp.
  • AX56_28 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AX56_28 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols.
  • AX56_28 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as M20816 (Chicken cytotactin mRNA, partial eds, clone pEC803 [Gallus gallus]), N67571 (yz42a06.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 285682 3'), and T19080
  • AX56_28 (e05023t Testis 1 Homo sapiens cDNA clone e05023 5' end).
  • the predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for AX56_28 was searched against the GenPept and GeneSeq amino acid sequence databases using the BLASTX search protocol.
  • the predicted AX56_28 protein demonstrated at least some identity with sequences identified as L 12018 (putative protein [Caenorhabditis elegans]). Based upon homology, AX56_28 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts a potential transmembrane domain within the AX56_28 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 14).
  • AX92_3 was isolated from a human adult testes cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • AX92_3 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "AX92_3 protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of AX92_3 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 15. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the AX92_3 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:16.
  • Amino acids 13 to 25 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 26, or are a transmembrane domain.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone AX92_3 should be approximately 1800 bp.
  • the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for AX92_3 was searched against the
  • AX92_3 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as AA003356 (mg49g01.rl Soares mouse embryo NbME13.5 14.5 Mus musculus cDNA clone 427152 5'), AA036247 (mi74a03.rl Soares mouse p3NMF19.5 Mus musculus cDNA clone 472300 5'), F19608 (H.sapiens mitochondrial
  • EST sequence (009-X4-35) from skeletal muscle
  • Ml 0546 Human mitochondrial DNA, fragment Ml, encoding transfer RNAs, cytochrome oxidase I, and 2 URFs [Mitochondrion Homo sapiens]
  • U46493 Celloning vector pFlp recombinase gene, complete eds.
  • AX92_3 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts four potential transmembrane domains within the AX92_3 protein sequence, centered around amino acids 20, 183, 269, and 295 of SEQ ID NO:16.
  • BF245_1 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "BF245_1".
  • BF245_1 was isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • BF245_1 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "BF245_1 protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of the 5' portion of BF245_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 17.
  • An additional internal nucleotide sequence from BF245_1 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 18. What applicants believe is the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence encoded by such internal sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO: 19. Amino acids 18 to 30 of SEQ ID NO:
  • nucleotide sequence from the 3' portion of BF245_1, including the polyA tail, is reported in SEQ ID NO:20.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone BF245_1 should be approximately 2300 bp.
  • BF245_ 1 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for BF245_ 1 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols.
  • BF245_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as AA001743 (zh86h02.sl Soares fetal liver spleen 1NFLS SI Homo sapiens cDNA clone 428211 3' similar to SW YY02_HUMAN P42285 HYPOTHETICAL MYELOID CELL LINE PROTEIN 2), D29641 (Human mRNA for KIAA0052 gene, partial eds), Q92779 (Human thymopoietin continuous gene fragment), and R39256 (yc91h04.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 23509 3').
  • the predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for BF245_1 was searched against the GenPept and GeneSeq amino acid sequence databases using the BLASTX search protocol.
  • the predicted BF245_1 protein demonstrated at least some identity with sequences identified as Z70271 (W08D2J [Caenorhabditis elegans]). Based upon homology, BF245_1 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • BG33_7 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "BG33_7".
  • BG33_7 was isolated from a human adult brain cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • BG33_7 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "BG33_7 protein").
  • BG33_7 The nucleotide sequence of BG33_7 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:21. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the BG33_7 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:22.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone BG33_7 should be approximately 900 bp.
  • nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for BG33_7 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and
  • BG33_7 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as AA033818 (zf02c08.sl Soares fetal heart NbHH19W Homo sapiens cDNA clone 375758 3') and AA462657 (vg68e04.rl Soares mouse NbMH Mus musculus cDNA clone 871134 5'). Based upon homology, BG33_7 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • Fig. 2 is an autoradiograph evidencing expression in COS cells of clone BG33_7 of the present invention.
  • BM46_10 was isolated from a human adult muscle cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,637), or was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • BM46_10 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "BM46_10 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of BM46_10 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:23. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predirted amino acid sequence of the BM46_10 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:24.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone BM46_10 should be approximately 3600 bp.
  • BM46_10 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for BM46_10 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. BM46_10 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as F19321 (H.sapiens EST sequence 008-X (391 nt)), N79027
  • BM46_10 proteins and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • J317_l A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "J317_l”.
  • J317_l was isolated from a human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (treated with phytohemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate and mixed lymphocyte reaction) cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins
  • J317_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "J317_l protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of J317_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 1
  • J317_l demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as N21491 (yx58f09.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 265961 3'), R39024
  • O289_l A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "O289_l”.
  • O289_l was isolated from a human adult blood (dendritic cells) cDNA library using methods which are selective for cDNAs encoding secreted proteins (see U.S. Pat. No.
  • O289_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "O289_l protein"). The nucleotide sequence of O289_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO: 1
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone O289_l should be approximately 700 bp.
  • the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for O289_l was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols.
  • 0289_1 demonstrated at least some homology with sequences identified as H59298 (yr04c07.rl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 204300 5' similar to contains MER22 repetitive element). Based upon homology, 0289_1 proteins .and each homologous protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts a large potential transmembrane domain within the 0289_1 protein sequence, centered around .amino acid 35 of SEQ ID NO:28.
  • the nucleotide/amino acid sequence of 0289_1 indicates that it may contain MER transposon repetitive elements.
  • Clones AC41_1, AC222_1, AJ143_1, AJ168_4, AK684_1, AS209_1, AX92_3, BF245_1, BG33_7, J317_l and 0289_1, along with AX56_8 and BM46_3 were deposited on uly 9, 1996 with the American Type Culture Collection as an original deposit under the Budapest Treaty and were given the accession number ATCC 98101, from which each clone comprising a particular polynucleotide is obtainable.
  • AX56_28 was deposited on September 26, 1996 with the American Type Culture Collection as an original deposit under the Budapest Treaty and was given the accession number ATCC 98180; BM46_10 was deposited on August 23, 1996 with the American Type Culture Collection as an original deposit under the Budapest Treaty and was given the accession number ATCC
  • Each clone has been transfected into separate bacterial cells (E. coli) in this composite deposit. Each clone can be removed from the vector in which it was deposited by performing an EcoRI/Notl digestion (5' site, EcoRI; 3' site, Notl) to produce the appropriate fragment for such clone. Each clone was deposited in either the pED6 or pNOTs vector depicted in Fig. 1A or Fig. IB, respectively.
  • the pED6dpc2 vector (“pED6" was derived from pED ⁇ dpcl by insertion of a new polylinker to facilitate cDNA cloning (Kaufman et al, 1991, Nucleic Acids Res.
  • the pNOTs vector was derived from pMT2 (Kaufman et al., 1989, Mol. Cell. Biol. 9: 946-958) by deletion of the DHFR sequences, insertion of a new polylinker, and insertion of the M13 origin of replication in the Clal site.
  • the deposited clone can become "flipped" (i.e., in the reverse orientation) in the deposited isolate.
  • the cDNA insert can still be isolated by digestion with EcoRI and Notl. However, Notl will then produce the
  • the cDNA may also be expressed from the vectors in which they were deposited.
  • Bacterial cells containing a particular clone can be obtained from the composite deposit as follows:
  • oligonucleotide probe or probes should be designed to the sequence that is known for that particular clone. This sequence can be derived from the sequences provided herein, or from a combination of those sequences. The sequence of the oligonucleotide probe that was used to isolate each full-length clone is identified below, and should be most reliable in isolating the clone of interest.
  • O289_l SEQ ID NO:41 In the sequences listed above which include an N at position 2, that position is occupied in preferred probes/primers by a biotinylated phosphoaramidite residue rather than a nucleotide (such as , for example, that produced by use of biotin phosphoramidite (1- dimethoxytrityloxy-2-(N-biotinyl-4-aminobutyl)-propyl-3-O-(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N- diisopropyl)-phosphoramadite) (Glen Research, cat. no. 10-1953)).
  • the design of the oligonucleotide probe should preferably follow these parameters:
  • the oligonucleotide should preferably be labeled with g- 32 P ATP (specific activity 6000 Ci/mmole) and T4 polynucleotide kinase using commonly employed techniques for labeling oligonucleotides. Other labeling techniques can also be used. Unincorporated label should preferably be removed by gel filtration chromatography or other established methods. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into the probe should be quantitated by measurement in a scintillation counter. Preferably, specific activity of the resulting probe should be approximately 4e + 6 dpm/pmole.
  • the bacterial culture containing the pool of full-length clones should preferably be thawed and 100 ⁇ l of the stock used to inoculate a sterile culture flask containing 25 ml of sterile L-broth containing ampicillin at 100 ⁇ g/ml.
  • the culture should preferably be grown to saturation at 37°C, and the saturated culture should preferably be diluted in fresh L-broth.
  • Aliquots of these dilutions should preferably be plated to determine the dilution and volume which will yield approximately 5000 distinct and well-separated colonies on solid bacteriological media containing L-broth containing ampicillin at 100 ⁇ g/ml and agar at 1.5% in a 150 mm petri dish when grown overnight at 37°C. Other known methods of obtaining distinct, well-separated colonies can also be employed.
  • Standard colony hybridization procedures should then be used to transfer the colonies to nitrocellulose filters and lyse, denature and bake them.
  • the filter is then preferably incubated at 65°C for 1 hour with gentle agitation in 6X SSC (20X stock is 175.3 g NaCl/liter, 88.2 g Na citrate/liter, adjusted to pH 7.0 with NaOH) containing 0.5% SDS, 100 ⁇ g/ml of yeast RNA, and 10 mM EDTA (approximately 10 mL per 150 mm filter).
  • the probe is then added to the hybridization mix at a concentration greater than or equal to le + 6 dpm/mL.
  • the filter is then preferably incubated at 65 °C with gentle agitation overnight.
  • the filter is then preferably washed in 500 mL of 2X SSC/0.5% SDS at room temperature without agitation, preferably followed by 500 mL of 2X SSC/0.1% SDS at room temperature with gentle shaking for 15 minutes. A third wash with 0.1X SSC/0.5% SDS at 65°C for 30 minutes to 1 hour is optional.
  • the filter is then preferably dried and subjected to autoradiography for sufficient time to visualize the positives on the X-ray film. Other known hybridization methods can also be employed.
  • the positive colonies are picked, grown in culture, and plasmid DNA isolated using standard procedures.
  • the clones can then be verified by restriction analysis, hybridization analysis, or DNA sequencing.
  • Fragments of the proteins of the present invention which are capable of exhibiting biological activity are also encompassed by the present invention.
  • Fragments of the protein may be in linear form or they may be cyclized using known methods, for example, as described in H.U. Saragovi, et l., Bio/Technology 1Q, 773-778 (1992) and in R.S. McDowell, etal., ]. Amer. Chem. Soc. U4, 9245-9253 (1992), both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Such fragments may be fused to carrier molecules such as immunoglobulins for many purposes, including increasing the valency of protein binding sites.
  • fragments of the protein may be fused through "linker" sequences to the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin.
  • a fusion could be to the Fc portion of an IgG molecule.
  • Other immunoglobulin isotypes may also be used to generate such fusions.
  • a protein - IgM fusion would generate a decavalent form of the protein of the invention.
  • the present invention also provides both full-length and mature forms of the disclosed proteins.
  • the full-length form of the such proteins is identified in the sequence listing by translation of the nucleotide sequence of each disclosed clone.
  • the mature form of such protein may be obtained by expression of the disclosed full-length polynucleotide (preferably those deposited with ATCC) in a suitable mammalian cell or other host cell.
  • the sequence of the mature form of the protein may also be determinable from the amino acid sequence of the full-length form.
  • the present invention also provides genes corresponding to the cDNA sequences disclosed herein.
  • “Corresponding genes” are the regions of the genome that are transcribed to produce the mRNAs from which the cDNA sequences are derived and any contiguous regions of the genome necessary for the regulated expression of such genes, including but not limited to coding sequences, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, alternatively spliced exons, introns, promoters, enhancers, and silencer or suppressor elements.
  • the corresponding genes can be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequence information disclosed herein. Such methods include the preparation of probes or primers from the disclosed sequence information for identification and/or amplification of genes in appropriate genomic libraries or other sources of genomic materials.
  • the present invention also provides for soluble forms of such protein.
  • the intracellular and transmembrane domains of the protein are deleted such that the protein is fully secreted from the cell in which it is expressed.
  • the intracellular and transmembrane domains of proteins of the invention can be identified in accordance with known techniques for determination of such domains from sequence information.
  • Proteins and protein fragments of the present invention include proteins with amino acid sequence lengths that are at least 25%(more preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75%) of the length of a disclosed protein and have at least 60% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% or 95% identity) with that disclosed protein, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the amino acid sequences of the proteins when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.
  • proteins and protein fragments that contain a segment preferably comprising 8 or more (more preferably 20 or more, most preferably 30 or more) contiguous amino acids that shares at least 75% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 85% identity; most preferably at least 95% identity) with any such segment of any of the disclosed proteins.
  • Species homologs of the disclosed polynucleotides and proteins are also provided by the present invention. Species homologs may be isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from the sequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid source from the desired species.
  • the invention also encompasses allelic variants of the disclosed polynucleotides or proteins; that is, naturally-occurring alternative forms of the isolated polynucleotide which also encode proteins which are identical, homologous or related to that encoded by the polynucleotides .
  • the invention also includes polynucleotides with sequences complementary to those of the polynucleotides disclosed herein.
  • the present invention also includes polynucleotides capable of hybridizing under reduced stringency conditions, more preferably stringent conditions, and most preferably highly stringent conditions, to polynucleotides described herein.
  • stringency conditions are shown in the table below: highly stringent conditions are those that are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions A-F; stringent conditions are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions G-L; and reduced stringency conditions are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions M-R.
  • the hybrid length is that anticipated for the hybridized region(s) of the hybridizing polynucleotides.
  • the hybrid length is assumed to be that of the hybridizing polynucleotide.
  • the hybrid length can be determined by aligning the sequences of the polynucleotides and identifying the region or regions of optimal sequence complementarity.
  • SSPE 0.15M NaCl, lOmM NaH 2 P0 4 , and 1.25mM EDTA, pH 7.4
  • SSC 0.15M NaCl and 15mM sodium citrate
  • Additional examples of stringency conditions for polynucleotide hybridization are provided in Sambrook, J., E.F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, chapters 9 and 11, and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, 1995, F.M. Ausubel et al., eds., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., sections 2.10 and 6.3-6.4, incorporated herein by reference.
  • each such hybridizing polynucleotide has a length that is at least 25%(more preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75%) of the length of the polynucleotide of the present invention to which it hybridizes, and has at least 60% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% or 95% identity) with the polynucleotide of the present invention to which it hybridizes, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the sequences of the hybridizing polynucleotides when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.
  • the isolated polynucleotide of the invention may be operably linked to an expression control sequence such as the pMT2 or pED expression vectors disclosed in Kaufman etal, Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 4485-4490 (1991), in order to produce the protein recombinantly.
  • an expression control sequence such as the pMT2 or pED expression vectors disclosed in Kaufman etal, Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 4485-4490 (1991)
  • Many suitable expression control sequences are known in the art. General methods of expressing recombinant proteins are also known and are exemplified in R. Kaufman, Methods in Enzymology 185, 537-566 (1990).
  • operably linked means that the isolated polynucleotide of the invention and an expression control sequence are situated within a vector or cell in such a way that the protein is expressed by a host cell which has been transformed (transfected) with the ligated polynucleotide/expression control sequence.
  • a number of types of cells may act as suitable host cells for expression of the protein.
  • Mammalian host cells include, for example, monkey COS cells, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, human kidney 293 cells, human epidermal A431 cells, human Colo205 cells, 3T3 cells, CV-1 cells, other transformed primate cell lines, normal diploid cells, cell strains derived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, primary explants, HeLa cells, mouse L cells, BHK, HL-60, U937, HaK or Jurkat cells.
  • monkey COS cells Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells
  • human kidney 293 cells human epidermal A431 cells
  • human Colo205 cells human Colo205 cells
  • CV-1 cells other transformed primate cell lines
  • normal diploid cells cell strains derived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, primary explants, HeLa cells, mouse L cells, BHK, HL-60, U937, HaK or Jurkat cells.
  • yeast eukaryotes
  • prokaryotes such as bacteria.
  • yeast strains include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces strains, Candida, or any yeast strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins.
  • yeast strains include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces strains, Candida, or any yeast strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins.
  • barterial strains include Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium, or any bacterial strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins. If the protein is made in yeast or bacteria, it may be necessary to modify the protein produced therein, for example by phosphorylation or glycosylation of the appropriate sites, in order to obtain the functional protein.
  • the protein may also be produced by operably linking the isolated polynucleotide of the invention to suitable control sequences in one or more insect expression vectors, and employing an insect expression system.
  • suitable control sequences in one or more insect expression vectors, and employing an insect expression system.
  • Materials and methods for baculovirus/insect cell expression systems are commercially available in kit form from, e.g., Invitrogen, San Diego, California, U.S.A. (the MaxBac ® kit), and such methods are well known in the art, as described in Summers and Smith, Texas
  • an insect cell capable of expressing a polynucleotide of the present invention is “transformed."
  • the protein of the invention may be prepared by culturing transformed host cells under culture conditions suitable to express the recombinant protein.
  • the resulting expressed protein may then be purified from such culture (i.e., from culture medium or cell extracts) using known purification processes, such as gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography.
  • the purification of the protein may also include an affinity column containing agents which will bind to the protein; one or more column steps over such affinity resins as concanavalin A-agarose, heparin-toyopearl ® or Cibacrom blue 3GA
  • Sepharose ® one or more steps involving hydrophobic interaction chromatography using such resins as phenyl ether, butyl ether, or propyl ether; or immunoaffinity chromatography.
  • the protein of the invention may also be expressed in a form which will facilitate purification.
  • it may be expressed as a fusion protein, such as those of maltose binding protein (MBP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or thioredoxin (TRX). Kits for expression and purification of such fusion proteins are commercially available from New England BioLab (Beverly, MA), Pharmacia (Piscataway, NJ) and InVitrogen, respectively.
  • MBP maltose binding protein
  • GST glutathione-S-transferase
  • TRX thioredoxin
  • Kits for expression and purification of such fusion proteins are commercially available from New England BioLab (Beverly, MA), Pharmacia (Piscataway, NJ) and InVitrogen, respectively.
  • the protein can also be tagged with an epitope and subsequently purified by using a specific antibody directed to such epitope.
  • One such epitope (“Flag") is commercially available from Kod
  • RP-HPLC reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography
  • the protein thus purified is substantially free of other mammalian proteins and is defined in accordance with the present invention as an "isolated protein.”
  • the protein of the invention may also be expressed as a product of transgenic animals, e.g., as a component of the milk of transgenic cows, goats, pigs, or sheep which are characterized by somatic or germ cells containing a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein.
  • the protein may also be produced by known conventional chemical synthesis. Methods for constructing the proteins of the present invention by synthetic means are known to those skilled in the art.
  • the synthetically-constructed protein sequences by virtue of sharing primary, secondary or tertiary structural and/or conformational characteristics with proteins may possess biological properties in common therewith, including protein activity. Thus, they may be employed as biologically active or immunological substitutes for natural, purified proteins in screening of therapeutic compounds and in immunological processes for the development of antibodies.
  • the proteins provided herein also include proteins characterized by amino acid sequences similar to those of purified proteins but into which modification are naturally provided or deliberately engineered. For example, modifications in the peptide or DNA sequences can be made by those skilled in the art using known techniques.
  • Modifications of interest in the protein sequences may include the alteration, substitution, replacement, insertion or deletion of a selected amino acid residue in the coding sequence.
  • one or more of the cysteine residues may be deleted or replaced with another amino acid to alter the conformation of the molecule.
  • Techniques for such alteration, substitution, replacement, insertion or deletion are well known to those skilled in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,518,584).
  • such alteration, substitution, replacement, insertion or deletion retains the desired activity of the protein.
  • polynucleotides and proteins of the present invention are expected to exhibit one or more of the uses or biological activities (including those associated with assays cited herein) identified below.
  • Uses or activities described for proteins of the present invention may be provided by administration or use of such proteins or by administration or use of polynucleotides encoding such proteins (such as, for example, in gene therapies or vectors suitable for introduction of DNA).
  • the polynucleotides provided by the present invention can be used by the research community for various purposes.
  • the polynucleotides can be used to express recombinant protein for analysis, characterization or therapeutic use; as markers for tissues in which the corresponding protein is preferentially expressed (either constitutively or at a particular stage of tissue differentiation or development or in disease states); as molecular weight markers on Southern gels; as chromosome markers or tags (when labeled) to identify chromosomes or to map related gene positions; to compare with endogenous DNA sequences in patients to identify potential genetic disorders; as probes to hybridize and thus discover novel, related DNA sequences; as a source of information to derive PCR primers for genetic fingerprinting; as a probe to
  • the polynucleotide encodes a protein which binds or potentially binds to another protein (such as, for example, in a receptor-ligand interaction)
  • the polynucleotide can also be used in interaction trap assays (such as, for example, that described in Gyuris et al., Cell 75:791-803 (1993)) to identify polynucleotides encoding the other protein with which binding occurs or to identify inhibitors of the binding interaction.
  • the proteins provided by the present invention can similarly be used in assay to determine biological activity, including in a panel of multiple proteins for high- throughput screening; to raise antibodies or to elicit another immune response; as a reagent (including the labeled reagent) in assays designed to quantitatively determine levels of the protein (or its receptor) in biological fluids; as markers for tissues in which the corresponding protein is preferentially expressed (either constitutively or at a particular stage of tissue differentiation or development or in a disease state); and, of course, to isolate correlative receptors or ligands.
  • the protein binds or potentially binds to another protein (such as, for example, in a receptor-ligand interaction)
  • the protein can be used to identify the other protein with which binding occurs or to identify inhibitors of the binding interaction. Proteins involved in these binding interactions can also be used to screen for peptide or small molecule inhibitors or agonists of the binding interaction.
  • Polynucleotides and proteins of the present invention can also be used as nutritional sources or supplements. Such uses include without limitation use as a protein or amino acid supplement, use as a carbon source, use as a nitrogen source and use as a source of carbohydrate.
  • the protein or polynucleotide of the invention can be added to the feed of a particular organism or can be administered as a separate solid or liquid preparation, such as in the form of powder, pills, solutions, suspensions or capsules.
  • the protein or polynucleotide of the invention can be added to the medium in or on which the microorganism is cultured.
  • a protein of the present invention may exhibit cytokine, cell proliferation (either inducing or inhibiting) or cell differentiation (either inducing or inhibiting) activity or may induce production of other cytokines in certain cell populations.
  • the activity of a protein of the present invention is evidenced by any one of a number of routine factor dependent cell proliferation assays for cell lines including, without limitation, 32D, DA2, DA1G, T10,
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods: Assays for T-cell or thymocyte proliferation include without limitation those described in: Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J. E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 3, In Vitro assays for Mouse Lymphocyte Function 3.1- 3.19; Chapter 7, Immunologic studies in Humans); Takai et al., J. Immunol. 137:3494-3500, 1986; Bertagnolli et al., J. Immunol.
  • Assays for cytokine production and/or proliferation of spleen cells, lymph node cells or thymocytes include, without limitation, those described in: Polyclonal T cell stimulation, Kruisbeek, A.M. and Shevach, E.M. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp. 3.12.1-3.12.14, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. 1994; and
  • Assays for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic and lymphopoietic cells include, without limitation, those described in: Measurement of Human and
  • Murine Interleukin 2 and Interleukin 4 Bottomly, K., Davis, L.S. and Lipsky, P.E. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp. 6.3.1-6.3.12, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. 1991; deVries et al, J. Exp. Med. 173:1205-1211, 1991; Moreau et al., Nature 336:690-692, 1988; Greenberger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:2931-2938, 1983; Measurement of mouse and human interleukin 6 - Nordan, R. In
  • Assays for T-cell clone responses to antigens include, without limitation, those described in:
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit immune stimulating or immune suppressing activity, including without limitation the activities for which assays are described herein.
  • a protein may be useful in the treatment of various immune deficiencies and disorders (including severe combined immunodeficiency (SOD)), e.g., in regulating (up or down) growth and proliferation of T and/or B lymphocytes, as well as effecting the cytolytic activity of NK cells and other cell populations.
  • SOD severe combined immunodeficiency
  • These immune deficiencies may be genetic or be caused by viral (e.g., H ⁇ ) as well as barterial or fungal infections, or may result from autoimmune disorders.
  • infectious diseases causes by viral, bacterial, fungal or other infection may be treatable using a protein of the present invention, including infections by HIV, hepatitis viruses, herpesviruses, mycobacteria, Leishmania spp., malaria spp. and various fungal infections such as candidiasis.
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful where a boost to the immune system generally may be desirable, i.e., in the treatment of cancer.
  • Autoimmune disorders which may be treated using a protein of the present invention include, for example, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation,
  • Such a protein of the present invention may also to be useful in the treatment of allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularly allergic asthma) or other respiratory problems. Other conditions, in which immune suppression is desired
  • T cells may be inhibited by suppressing T cell responses or by inducing specific tolerance in T cells, or both.
  • Immunosuppression of T cell responses is generally an active, non-antigen-specific, process which requires continuous exposure of the T cells to the suppressive agent.
  • Tolerance which involves inducing non-responsiveness or anergy in T cells, is distinguishable from immunosuppression in that it is generally antigen-specific and persists after exposure to the tolerizing agent has ceased. Operationally, tolerance can be demonstrated by the lack of a T cell response upon reexposure to specific antigen in the absence of the tolerizing agent.
  • Down regulating or preventing one or more antigen functions (including without limitation B lymphocyte antigen functions (such as , for example, B7)), e.g., preventing high level lymphokine synthesis by activated T cells, will be useful in situations of tissue, skin and organ transplantation and in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
  • B lymphocyte antigen functions such as , for example, B7
  • GVHD graft-versus-host disease
  • blockage of T cell function should result in reduced tissue destruction in tissue transplantation.
  • rejection of the transplant is initiated through its recognition as foreign by T cells, followed by an immune reaction that destroys the transplant.
  • a molecule which inhibits or blocks interaction of a B7 lymphocyte antigen with its natural ligand(s) on immune cells such as a soluble, monomeric form of a peptide having B7-2 artivity alone or in conjunrtion with a monomeric form of a peptide having an activity of another B lymphocyte antigen (e.g., B7-1, B7-3) or blocking antibody), prior to transplantation can lead to the binding of the molecule to the natural ligand(s) on the immune cells without transmitting the corresponding costimulatory signal.
  • Blocking B lymphocyte antigen function in this matter prevents cytokine synthesis by immune cells, such as T cells, and thus acts as an immunosuppressant.
  • the lack of costimulation may also be sufficient to anergize the T cells, thereby inducing tolerance in a subject.
  • Induction of long-term tolerance by B lymphocyte antigen-blocking reagents may avoid the necessity of repeated administration of these blocking reagents.
  • To achieve sufficient immunosuppression or tolerance in a subject it may also be necessary to block the function of a combination of B lymphocyte antigens.
  • the efficacy of particular blocking reagents in preventing organ transplant rejection or GVHD can be assessed using animal models that are predictive of efficacy in humans.
  • Blocking antigen function may also be therapeutically useful for treating autoimmune diseases.
  • Many autoimmune disorders are the result of inappropriate activation of T cells that are reactive against self tissue and which promote the production of cytokines and autoantibodies involved in the pathology of the diseases. Preventing the activation of autoreartive T cells may reduce or eliminate disease symptoms.
  • Administration of reagents which block costimulation of T cells by disrupting recepto ⁇ ligand interactions of B lymphocyte antigens can be used to inhibit
  • blocking reagents may induce antigen-specific tolerance of autoreartive T cells which could lead to long-term relief from the disease.
  • the efficacy of blocking reagents in preventing or alleviating autoimmune disorders can be determined using a number of well-characterized animal models of human autoimmune diseases.
  • Examples include murine experimental autoimmune encephalitis, systemic lupus erythmatosis in MRL/lpryipr mice or NZB hybrid mice, murine autoimmune collagen arthritis, diabetes mellitus in NOD mice and BB rats, and murine experimental myasthenia gravis (see Paul ed., Fundamental Immunology, Raven Press, New York, 1989, pp. 840-856).
  • Upregulation of an antigen function (preferably a B lymphocyte antigen function), as a means of up regulating immune responses, may also be useful in therapy. Upregulation of immune responses may be in the form of enhancing an existing immune response or eliciting an initial immune response. For example, enhancing an immune response through stimulating B lymphocyte antigen function may be useful in cases of viral infection. In addition, systemic viral diseases such as influenza, the common cold, and encephalitis might be alleviated by the administration of stimulatory forms of B lymphocyte antigens systemically.
  • anti-viral immune responses may be enhanced in an infected patient by removing T cells from the patient, costimulating the T cells in vitro with viral antigen-pulsed APCs either expressing a peptide of the present invention or together with a stimulatory form of a soluble peptide of the present invention and reintroducing the in vitro artivated T cells into the patient.
  • Another method of enhancing anti-viral immune responses would be to isolate infected cells from a patient, transfert them with a nucleic acid encoding a protein of the present invention as described herein such that the cells express all or a portion of the protein on their surface, and reintroduce the transfected cells into the patient.
  • the infected cells would now be capable of delivering a costimulatory signal to, and thereby activate, T cells in vivo.
  • up regulation or enhancement of antigen function may be useful in the induction of tumor immunity.
  • Tumor cells e.g., sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia, neuroblastoma, carcinoma
  • a nucleic acid encoding at least one peptide of the present invention can be administered to a subject to overcome tumor-specific tolerance in the subject. If desired, the tumor cell can be transfected to express a combination of peptides.
  • tumor cells obtained from a patient can be transfected ex vivo with an expression vector directing the expression of a peptide having B7-2-like activity alone, or in conjunrtion with a peptide having B7-l-like artivity and/or B7-3-like artivity.
  • the transfected tumor cells are returned to the patient to result in expression of the peptides on the surface of the transfected cell.
  • gene therapy techniques can be used to target a tumor cell for transfection in vivo.
  • the presence of the peptide of the present invention having the artivity of a B lymphocyte antigen (s) on the surface of the tumor cell provides the necessary costimulation signal to T cells to induce a T cell mediated immune response against the transfected tumor cells.
  • tumor cells which lack MHC class I or MHC class ⁇ molecules, or which fail to reexpress sufficient amounts of MHC class I or MHC class
  • MHC class I a chain protein and ⁇ 2 microglobulin protein or an MHC class 11 a chain protein and an MHC class TI ⁇ chain protein to thereby express MHC class I or MHC class II proteins on the cell surface.
  • expression of the appropriate class I or class II MHC in conjunction with a peptide having the artivity of a B lymphocyte antigen induces a T cell mediated immune response against the transfected tumor cell.
  • a gene encoding an antisense construct which blocks expression of an MHC class II associated protein, such as the invariant chain can also be cotransfected with a DNA encoding a peptide having the artivity of a B lymphocyte antigen to promote presentation of tumor associated antigens and induce tumor specific immunity.
  • a T cell mediated immune response in a human subject may be sufficient to overcome tumor- specific tolerance in the subject.
  • Suitable assays for thymocyte or splenocyte cytotoxicity include, without limitation, those described in: Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J. E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 3, In Vitro assays for Mouse Lymphocyte Function 3.1-3.19; Chapter 7, Immunologic studies in Humans); Herrmann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2488-2492, 1981; Herrmann et al., J. Immunol. 128:1968-1974,
  • T-cell-dependent immunoglobulin responses and isotype switching (which will identify, among others, proteins that modulate T-cell dependent antibody responses and that affect Thl/Th2 profiles) include, without limitation, those described in: Maliszewski, J. Immunol. 144:3028-3033, 1990; and Assays for B cell function: In vitro antibody production, Mond, J.J. and Brunswick, M. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp. 3.8.1-3.8.16, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. 1994.
  • MLR Mixed lymphocyte reaction
  • Dendritic cell-dependent assays (which will identify, among others, proteins expressed by dendritic cells that activate naive T-cells) include, without limitation, those described in: Guery et al., J. Immunol. 134:536-544, 1995; Inaba et al., Journal of Experimental Medicine 173:549-559, 1991; Macatonia et al., Journal of Immunology
  • lymphocyte survival/apoptosis which will identify, among others, proteins that prevent apoptosis after superantigen induction and proteins that regulate lymphocyte homeostasis
  • Assays for lymphocyte survival/apoptosis include, without limitation, those described in: Darzynkiewicz et al., Cytometry 13:795-808, 1992; Gorczyca et al., Leukemia 7:659-670, 1993; Gorczyca et al, Cancer Research 53:1945-1951, 1993; Itoh et al, Cell 66:233-243,
  • a protein of the present invention may be useful in regulation of hematopoiesis and, consequently, in the treatment of myeloid or lymphoid cell deficiencies. Even marginal biological artivity in support of colony forming cells or of factor-dependent cell lines indicates involvement in regulating hematopoiesis, e.g.
  • erythroid progenitor cells in supporting the growth and proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells alone or in combination with other cytokines, thereby indicating utility, for example, in treating various anemias or for use in conjunction with irradiation/chemotherapy to stimulate the produrtion of erythroid precursors and/or erythroid cells; in supporting the growth and proliferation of myeloid cells such as granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages (i.e., traditional CSF activity) useful, for example, in conjunction with chemotherapy to prevent or treat consequent myelo-suppression; in supporting the growth and proliferation of megakaryocytes and consequently of platelets thereby allowing prevention or treatment of various platelet disorders such as thrombocytopenia, and generally for use in place of or complimentary to platelet transfusions; and/or in supporting the growth and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of maturing to any and all of the above-mentioned hematopoietic cells and therefore find therapeutic utility
  • the artivity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for proliferation and differentiation of various hematopoietic lines are cited above.
  • Assays for embryonic stem cell differentiation include, without limitation, those described in: Johansson et al. Cellular Biology 15:141-151, 1995; Keller et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology 13:473-486, 1993; McClanahan et al., Blood 81:2903-2915, 1993.
  • Assays for stem cell survival and differentiation include, without limitation, those described in: Methylcellulose colony forming assays, Freshney, M.G. In Culture of Hematopoietic Cells. R.I. Freshney, et al. eds. Vol pp. 265-268, Wiley-Liss, Inc., New York, NY. 1994; Hirayama et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5907-5911, 1992; Primitive hematopoietic colony forming cells with high proliferative potential, McNiece, I.K. and Briddell, R.A.
  • a protein of the present invention also may have utility in compositions used for bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament and/or nerve tissue growth or regeneration, as well as for wound healing and tissue repair and replacement, and in the treatment of burns, incisions and ulcers.
  • a protein of the present invention which induces cartilage and/or bone growth in circumstances where bone is not normally formed, has application in the healing of bone fractures and cartilage damage or defects in humans and other animals.
  • Such a preparation employing a protein of the invention may have prophylactic use in closed as well as open fracture reduction and also in the improved fixation of artificial joints. De novo bone formation induced by an osteogenic agent contributes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or oncologic resection induced craniofacial defects, and also is useful in cosmetic plastic surgery.
  • a protein of this invention may also be used in the treatment of periodontal disease, and in other tooth repair processes. Such agents may provide an environment to attrart bone-forming cells, stimulate growth of bone-forming cells or induce differentiation of progenitors of bone-forming cells.
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis, such as through stimulation of bone and/or cartilage repair or by blocking inflammation or processes of tissue destruction (collagenase activity, osteoclast activity, etc.) mediated by inflammatory processes.
  • Another category of tissue regeneration activity that may be attributable to the protein of the present invention is tendon/ligament formation.
  • a protein of the present invention which induces tendon/ligament-like tissue or other tissue formation in circumstances where such tissue is not normally formed, has application in the healing of tendon or ligament tears, deformities and other tendon or ligament defects in humans and other animals.
  • Such a preparation employing a tendon/ligament-like tissue inducing protein may have prophylactic use in preventing damage to tendon or ligament tissue, as well as use in the improved fixation of tendon or ligament to bone or other tissues, and in repairing defects to tendon or ligament tissue.
  • De novo tendon/ligament-like tissue formation induced by a composition of the present invention contributes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or other tendon or ligament defects of other origin, and is also useful in cosmetic plastic surgery for attachment or repair of tendons or ligaments.
  • the compositions of the present invention may provide an environment to attract tendon- or ligament-forming cells, stimulate growth of tendon- or ligament- forming cells, induce differentiation of progenitors of tendon- or ligament-forming cells, or induce growth of tendon/ligament cells or progenitors ex vivo for return in vivo to effect tissue repair.
  • the compositions of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other tendon or ligament defects.
  • compositions may also include an appropriate matrix and/or sequestering agent as a carrier as is well known in the art.
  • the protein of the present invention may also be useful for proliferation of neural cells and for regeneration of nerve and brain tissue, i.e. for the treatment of central and peripheral nervous system diseases and neuropathies, as well as mechanical and traumatic disorders, which involve degeneration, death or trauma to neural cells or nerve tissue. More specifically, a protein may be used in the treatment of diseases of the peripheral nervous system, such as peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy and localized neuropathies, and central nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer's,
  • Parkinson's disease Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome.
  • Further conditions which may be treated in accordance with the present invention include mechanical and traumatic disorders, such as spinal cord disorders, head trauma and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.
  • Peripheral neuropathies resulting from chemotherapy or other medical therapies may also be treatable using a protein of the invention.
  • Proteins of the invention may also be useful to promote better or faster closure of non-healing wounds, including without limitation pressure ulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical and traumatic wounds, and the like. It is expected that a protein of the present invention may also exhibit artivity for generation or regeneration of other tissues, such as organs (including, for example, pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium), muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac) and vascular (including vascular endothelium) tissue, or for promoting the growth of cells comprising such tissues. Part of the desired effects may be by inhibition or modulation of fibrotic scarring to allow normal tissue to regenerate. A protein of the invention may also exhibit angiogenic activity.
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful for gut protection or regeneration and treatment of lung or liver fibrosis, reperfusion injury in various tissues, and conditions resulting from systemic cytokine damage.
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful for promoting or inhibiting differentiation of tissues described above from precursor tissues or cells; or for inhibiting the growth of tissues described above.
  • tissue generation artivity include, without limitation, those described in: International Patent Publication No. WO95/16035 (bone, cartilage, tendon); International Patent Publication No. WO95/05846 (nerve, neuronal); International Patent Publication No. WO91/07491 (skin, endothelium ).
  • Assays for wound healing artivity include, without limitation, those described in: Winter, Epidermal Wound Healing, pps. 71-112 (Maibach, HI and Rovee, DT, eds.), Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc., Chicago, as modified by Eaglstein and Mertz, J.
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit artivin- or inhibin-related activities. Inhibins are characterized by their ability to inhibit the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), while activins and are characterized by their ability to stimulate the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Thus, a protein of the present invention, alone or in heterodimers with a member of the inhibin ⁇ family, may be useful as a contraceptive based on the ability of inhibins to decrease fertility in female mammals and decrease spermatogenesis in male mammals. Administration of sufficient amounts of other inhibins can induce infertility in these mammals.
  • FSH follicle stimulating hormone
  • the protein of the invention may be useful as a fertility inducing therapeutic, based upon the ability of activin molecules in stimulating FSH release from cells of the anterior pituitary. See, for example, United States Patent 4,798,885.
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful for advancement of the onset of fertility in sexually immature mammals, so as to increase the lifetime reproductive performance of domestic animals such as cows, sheep and pigs.
  • the artivity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for artivin/inhibin activity include, without limitation, those described in: Vale et al., Endocrinology 91:562-572, 1972; Ling et al, Nature 321:779-782, 1986; Vale et al., Nature 321:776-779, 1986; Mason et al, Nature 318:659-663, 1985; Forage et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3091-3095, 1986.
  • a protein of the present invention may have chemotactic or chemokinetic activity (e.g., art as a chemokine) for mammalian cells, including, for example, monocytes, fibroblasts, neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils, epithelial and/or endothelial cells.
  • Chemotactic and chemokinetic proteins can be used to mobilize or attrart a desired cell population to a desired site of action. Chemotactic or chemokinetic proteins provide particular advantages in treatment of wounds and other trauma to tissues, as well as in treatment of localized infections.
  • a protein or peptide has chemotactic activity for a particular cell population if it can stimulate, directly or indirectly, the directed orientation or movement of such cell population.
  • the protein or peptide has the ability to directly stimulate directed movement of cells. Whether a particular protein has chemotactic activity for a population of cells can be readily determined by employing such protein or peptide in any known assay for cell chemotaxis.
  • the artivity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for chemotactic activity consist of assays that measure the ability of a protein to induce the migration of cells across a membrane as well as the ability of a protein to induce the adhesion of one cell population to another cell population.
  • Suitable assays for movement and adhesion include, without limitation, those described in: Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J.E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W.Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 6.12, Measurement of alpha and beta Chemokines 6.12.1-6.12.28; Taub et al. J. Clin. Invest.
  • a protein of the invention may also exhibit hemostatic or thrombolytic artivity. As a result, such a protein is expected to be useful in treatment of various coagulation disorders (including hereditary disorders, such as hemophilias) or to enhance coagulation and other hemostatic events in treating wounds resulting from trauma, surgery or other causes.
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful for dissolving or inhibiting formation of thromboses and for treatment and prevention of conditions resulting therefrom (such as, for example, infarction of cardiac and central nervous system vessels (e.g., stroke).
  • Assay for hemostatic and thrombolytic activity include, without limitation, those described in: Linet et al., J. Clin. Pharmacol. 26:131-140, 1986; Burdick et al., Thrombosis Res. 45:413-419, 1987; Humphrey et al, Fibrinolysis 5:71-79 (1991); Schaub, Prostaglandins 35:467-474, 1988.
  • a protein of the present invention may also demonstrate activity as receptors, receptor ligands or inhibitors or agonists of receptor/ligand interactions.
  • receptors and ligands include, without limitation, cytokine receptors and their ligands, receptor kinases and their ligands, receptor phosphatases and their ligands, receptors involved in cell-cell interactions and their ligands (including without limitation, cellular adhesion molecules (such as selectins, integrins and their ligands) and receptor/ligand pairs involved in antigen presentation, antigen recognition and development of cellular and humoral immune responses).
  • Receptors and ligands are also useful for screening of potential peptide or small molecule inhibitors of the relevant receptor/ligand interaction.
  • a protein of the present invention may themselves be useful as inhibitors of receptor/ligand interactions.
  • Suitable assays for receptor-ligand activity include without limitation those described in:Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J.E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W.Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 7.28, Measurement of Cellular Adhesion under static conditions 7.28.1-7.28.22), Takai et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6864-6868, 1987; Bierer et al., J. Exp. Med.
  • Proteins of the present invention may also exhibit anti-inflammatory artivity.
  • the anti-inflammatory activity may be achieved by providing a stimulus to cells involved in the inflammatory response, by inhibiting or promoting cell-cell interactions (such as, for example, cell adhesion), by inhibiting or promoting chemotaxis of cells involved in the inflammatory process, inhibiting or promoting cell extravasation, or by stimulating or suppressing production of other factors which more directly inhibit or promote an inflammatory response.
  • Proteins exhibiting such activities can be used to treat inflammatory conditions including chronic or acute conditions), including without limitation inflammation associated with infection (such as septic shock, sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)), ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotoxin lethality, arthritis, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokine or chemokine-induced lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease or resulting from over production of cytokines such as TNF or IL-1. Proteins of the invention may also be useful to treat anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity to an antigenic substance or material.
  • infection such as septic shock, sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
  • ischemia-reperfusion injury such as endotoxin lethality, arthritis, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokine or chemokine-induced lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease or resulting
  • Cadherins are calcium-dependent adhesion molecules that appear to play major roles during development, particularly in defining specific cell types. Loss or alteration of normal cadherin expression can lead to changes in cell adhesion properties linked to tumor growth and metastasis. Cadherin malfunction is also implicated in other human diseases, such as pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus (auto-immune blistering skin diseases), Crohn's disease, and some developmental abnormalities.
  • the cadherin superfamily includes well over forty members, each with a distinct pattern of expression. All members of the superfamily have in common conserved extracellular repeats (cadherin domains), but structural differences are found in other parts of the molecule.
  • the cadherin domains bind calcium to form their tertiary structure and thus calcium is required to mediate their adhesion. Only a few amino acids in the first cadherin domain provide the basis for homophilic adhesion; modification of this recognition site can change the specificity of a cadherin so that instead of recognizing only itself, the mutant molecule can now also bind to a different cadherin. In addition, some cadherins engage in heterophilic adhesion with other cadherins.
  • E-cadherin one member of the cadherin superfamily, is expressed in epithelial cell types. Pathologically, if E-cadherin expression is lost in a tumor, the malignant cells become invasive and the cancer metastasizes. Transfection of cancer cell lines with polynucleotides expressing E-cadherin has reversed cancer-associated changes by returning altered cell shapes to normal, restoring cells' adhesiveness to each other and to their substrate, decreasing the cell growth rate, and drastically reducing anchorage- independent cell growth. Thus, reintroducing E-cadherin expression reverts carcinomas to a less advanced stage. It is likely that other cadherins have the same invasion suppressor role in carcinomas derived from other tissue types.
  • proteins of the present invention with cadherin artivity and polynucleotides of the present invention encoding such proteins, can be used to treat cancer. Introducing such proteins or polynucleotides into cancer cells can reduce or eliminate the cancerous changes observed in these cells by providing normal cadherin expression.
  • Cancer cells have also been shown to express cadherins of a different tissue type than their origin, thus allowing these cells to invade and metastasize in a different tissue in the body.
  • Proteins of the present invention with cadherin activity, and polynucleotides of the present invention encoding such proteins can be substituted in these cells for the inappropriately expressed cadherins, restoring normal cell adhesive properties and reducing or eliminating the tendency of the cells to metastasize.
  • proteins of the present invention with cadherin activity, and polynucleotides of the present invention encoding such proteins can used to generate antibodies recognizing and binding to cadherins.
  • Such antibodies can be used to block the adhesion of inappropriately expressed tumor-cell cadherins, preventing the cells from forming a tumor elsewhere.
  • Such an anti-cadherin antibody can also be used as a marker for the grade, pathological type, and prognosis of a cancer, i.e. the more progressed the cancer, the less cadherin expression there will be, and this decrease in cadherin expression can be detected by the use of a cadherin-binding antibody.
  • Fragments of proteins of the present invention with cadherin artivity preferably a polypeptide comprising a decapeptide of the cadherin recognition site, and polynucleotides of the present invention encoding such protein fragments, can also be used to block cadherin function by binding to cadherins and preventing them from binding in ways that produce undesirable effects.
  • fragments of proteins of the present invention with cadherin activity preferably truncated soluble cadherin fragments which have been found to be stable in the circulation of cancer patients, and polynucleotides encoding such protein fragments, can be used to disturb proper cell-cell adhesion.
  • Assays for cadherin adhesive and invasive suppressor activity include, without limitation, those described in: Hortsch et al. J Biol Chem 270 (32): 18809-18817, 1995; Miyaki et al. Oncogene 11: 2547-2552, 1995; Ozawa et al. Cell 63: 1033-1038, 1990.
  • a protein of the invention may exhibit other anti-tumor activities.
  • a protein may inhibit tumor growth directly or indirectly (such as, for example, via ADCC).
  • a protein may exhibit its tumor inhibitory artivity by acting on tumor tissue or tumor precursor tissue, by inhibiting formation of tissues necessary to support tumor growth (such as, for example, by inhibiting angiogenesis), by causing production of other factors, agents or cell types which inhibit tumor growth, or by suppressing, eliminating or inhibiting factors, agents or cell types which promote tumor growth.
  • a protein of the invention may also exhibit one or more of the following additional activities or efferts: inhibiting the growth, infection or function of, or killing, infectious agents, including, without limitation, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites; effecting (suppressing or enhancing) bodily characteristics, including, without limitation, height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin, fat to lean ratio or other tissue pigmentation, or organ or body part size or shape (such as, for example, breast augmentation or diminution, change in bone form or shape); effecting biorhythms or caricadic cycles or rhythms; effecting the fertility of male or female subjects; effecting the metabolism, catabolism, anabolism, processing, utilization, storage or elimination of dietary fat, lipid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors or other nutritional factors or components); effecting behavioral characteristics, including, without limitation, appetite, libido, stress, cognition (including cognitive disorders), depression (including depressive disorders) and violent behaviors; providing analgesic efferts or other pain reducing
  • a protein of the present invention (from whatever source derived, including without limitation from recombinant and non-recombinant sources) may be used in a pharmaceutical composition when combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • Such a composition may also contain (in addition to protein and a carrier) diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, and other materials well known in the art.
  • the term "pharmaceutically acceptable” means a non-toxic material that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the biological activity of the active ingredient (s).
  • the characteristics of the carrier will depend on the route of administration.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also contain cytokines, lymphokines, or other hematopoietic factors such as M-CSF, GM-CSF, TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL- 5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IFN, TNFO, TNF1, TNF2, G-CSF, Meg-CSF, thrombopoietin, stem cell factor, and erythropoietin.
  • the pharmaceutical composition may further contain other agents which either enhance the artivity of the protein or compliment its activity or use in treatment. Such additional factors and/or agents may be included in the pharmaceutical composition to produce a synergistic effect with protein of the invention, or to minimize side effects.
  • protein of the present invention may be included in formulations of the particular cytokine, lymphokine, other hematopoietic factor, thrombolytic or anti- thrombotic factor, or anti-inflammatory agent to minimize side effects of the cytokine, lymphokine, other hematopoietic factor, thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factor, or anti-inflammatory agent.
  • a protein of the present invention may be active in multimers (e.g., heterodimers or homodimers) or complexes with itself or other proteins.
  • pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may comprise a protein of the invention in such multimeric or complexed form.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be in the form of a complex of the protein(s) of present invention along with protein or peptide antigens.
  • the protein and/or peptide antigen will deliver a stimulatory signal to both B and T lymphocytes.
  • B lymphocytes will respond to antigen through their surface immunoglobulin receptor.
  • T lymphocytes will respond to antigen through the T cell receptor (TCR) following presentation of the antigen by MHC proteins.
  • TCR T cell receptor
  • MHC and structurally related proteins including those encoded by class I and class II MHC genes on host cells will serve to present the peptide antigen (s) to T lymphocytes.
  • the antigen components could also be supplied as purified MHC-peptide complexes alone or with co-stimulatory molecules that can directly signal T cells.
  • antibodies able to bind surface immunolgobulin and other molecules on B cells as well as antibodies able to bind the TCR and other molecules on T cells can be combined with the pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be in the form of a liposome in which protein of the present invention is combined, in addition to other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, with amphipathic agents such as lipids which exist in aggregated form as micelles, insoluble monolayers, liquid crystals, or lamellar layers in aqueous solution.
  • Suitable lipids for liposomal formulation include, without limitation, monoglycerides, diglycerides, sulfatides, lysolecithin, phospholipids, saponin, bile acids, and the like. Preparation of such liposomal formulations is within the level of skill in the art, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,235,871; U.S. Patent No.
  • the term "therapeutically effective amount” means the total amount of each active component of the pharmaceutical composition or method that is sufficient to show a meaningful patient benefit, i.e., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of the relevant medical condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions.
  • a meaningful patient benefit i.e., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of the relevant medical condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions.
  • the term refers to that ingredient alone.
  • the term refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously.
  • a therapeutically effective amount of protein of the present invention is administered to a mammal having a condition to be treated.
  • Protein of the present invention may be administered in accordance with the method of the invention either alone or in combination with other therapies such as treatments employing cytokines, lymphokines or other hematopoietic factors.
  • protein of the present invention may be administered either simultaneously with the cytokine(s), lymphokine (s), other hematopoietic factor(s), thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factors, or sequentially.
  • cytokine(s), lymphokine (s), other hematopoietic factor(s), thrombolytic or anti- thrombotic factors are preferred.
  • Administration of protein of the present invention used in the pharmaceutical composition or to prartice the method of the present invention can be carried out in a variety of conventional ways, such as oral ingestion, inhalation, topical application or cutaneous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, parenteral or intravenous injection. Intravenous administration to the patient is preferred.
  • protein of the present invention When a therapeutically effective amount of protein of the present invention is administered orally, protein of the present invention will be in the form of a tablet, capsule, powder, solution or elixir.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may additionally contain a solid carrier such as a gelatin or an adjuvant.
  • the tablet, capsule, and powder contain from about 5 to 95% protein of the present invention, and preferably from about 25 to 90% protein of the present invention.
  • a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, oils of animal or plant origin such as peanut oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil, or synthetic oils may be added.
  • the liquid form of the pharmaceutical composition may further contain physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol.
  • the pharmaceutical composition contains from about 0.5 to 90% by weight of protein of the present invention, and preferably from about 1 to 50% protein of the present invention.
  • protein of the present invention will be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution.
  • the preparation of such parenterally acceptable protein solutions having due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability, and the like, is within the skill in the art.
  • a preferred pharmaceutical composition for intravenous, cutaneous, or subcutaneous injection should contain, in addition to protein of the present invention, an isotonic vehicle such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Dextrose Injection, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection, or other vehicle as known in the art.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also contain stabilizers, preservatives, buffers, antioxidants, or other additives known to those of skill in the art.
  • the amount of protein of the present invention in the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will depend upon the nature and severity of the condition being treated, and on the nature of prior treatments which the patient has undergone.
  • the attending physician will decide the amount of protein of the present invention with which to treat each individual patient. Initially, the attending physician will administer low doses of protein of the present invention and observe the patient's response. Larger doses of protein of the present invention may be administered until the optimal therapeutic effect is obtained for the patient, and at that point the dosage is not increased further. It is contemplated that the various pharmaceutical compositions used to practice the method of the present invention should contain about 0.01 ⁇ g to about 100 mg (preferably about O.lng to about 10 mg, more preferably about 0.1 ⁇ g to about 1 mg) of protein of the present invention per kg body weight.
  • the duration of intravenous therapy using the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will vary, depending on the severity of the disease being treated and the condition and potential idiosyncratic response of each individual patient. It is contemplated that the duration of each application of the protein of the present invention will be in the range of 12 to 24 hours of continuous intravenous administration. Ultimately the attending physician will decide on the appropriate duration of intravenous therapy using the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
  • Protein of the invention may also be used to immunize animals to obtain polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which specifically react with the protein. Such antibodies may be obtained using either the entire protein or fragments thereof as an immunogen.
  • the peptide immunogens additionally may contain a cysteine residue at the carboxyl terminus, and are conjugated to a hapten such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
  • KLH keyhole limpet hemocyanin
  • Monoclonal antibodies binding to the protein of the invention may be useful diagnostic agents for the immunodetertion of the protein.
  • Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies binding to the protein may also be useful therapeutics for both conditions associated with the protein and also in the treatment of some forms of cancer where abnormal expression of the protein is involved.
  • neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against the protein may be useful in detecting and preventing the metastatic spread of the cancerous cells, which may be mediated by the protein.
  • the therapeutic method includes administering the composition topically, systematically, or locally as an implant or device.
  • the therapeutic composition for use in this invention is, of course, in a pyrogen-free, physiologically acceptable form.
  • the composition may desirably be encapsulated or injected in a viscous form for delivery to the site of bone, cartilage or tissue damage.
  • Topical administration may be suitable for wound healing and tissue repair.
  • Therapeutically useful agents other than a protein of the invention which may also optionally be included in the composition as described above, may alternatively or additionally, be administered simultaneously or sequentially with the composition in the methods of the invention.
  • the composition would include a matrix capable of delivering the protein-containing composition to the site of bone and/or cartilage damage, providing a structure for the developing bone and cartilage and optimally capable of being resorbed into the body.
  • matrices may be formed of materials presently in use for other implanted medical applications.
  • compositions may be biodegradable and chemically defined calcium sulfate, tricalciumphosphate, hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and polyanhydrides.
  • potential materials are biodegradable and biologically well- defined, such as bone or dermal collagen.
  • Further matrices are comprised of pure proteins or extracellular matrix components.
  • Other potential matrices are nonbiodegradable and chemically defined, such as sintered hydroxapatite, bioglass, aluminates, or other ceramics.
  • Matrices may be comprised of combinations of any of the above mentioned types of material, such as polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite or collagen and tricalciumphosphate.
  • the bioceramics may be altered in composition, such as in calcium-aluminate-phosphate and processing to alter pore size, particle size, particle shape, and biodegradability.
  • a 50:50 (mole weight) copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid in the form of porous particles having diameters ranging from 150 to 800 microns.
  • a sequestering agent such as carboxymethyl cellulose or autologous blood clot, to prevent the protein compositions from disassociating from the matrix.
  • a preferred family of sequestering agents is cellulosic materials such as alkylcelluloses (including hydroxyalk lcelluloses), including methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl- methylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose, the most preferred being cationic salts of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).
  • CMC carboxymethylcellulose
  • Other preferred sequestering agents include hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyoxyethylene oxide, carboxyvinyl polymer and poly (vinyl alcohol).
  • the amount of sequestering agent useful herein is 0.5- 20 wt%, preferably 1-10 wt% based on total formulation weight, which represents the amount necessary to prevent desorbtion of the protein from the polymer matrix and to provide appropriate handling of the composition, yet not so much that the progenitor cells are prevented from infiltrating the matrix, thereby providing the protein the opportunity to assist the osteogenic activity of the progenitor cells.
  • proteins of the invention may be combined with other agents beneficial to the treatment of the bone and/or cartilage defect, wound, or tissue in question.
  • agents include various growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth fartors
  • TGF- ⁇ and TGF- ⁇ insulin-like growth factor
  • the therapeutic compositions are also presently valuable for veterinary applications. Particularly domestic animals and thoroughbred horses, in addition to humans, are desired patients for such treatment with proteins of the present invention.
  • the dosage regimen of a protein-containing pharmaceutical composition to be used in tissue regeneration will be determined by the attending physician considering various fartors which modify the action of the proteins, e.g., amount of tissue weight desired to be formed, the site of damage, the condition of the damaged tissue, the size of a wound, type of damaged tissue (e.g., bone), the patient's age, sex, and diet, the severity of any infection, time of administration and other clinical factors.
  • the dosage may vary with the type of matrix used in the reconstitution and with inclusion of other proteins in the pharmaceutical composition.
  • IGF I insulin like growth factor I
  • the addition of other known growth factors, such as IGF I may also effect the dosage.
  • Progress can be monitored by periodic assessment of tissue/bone growth and/or repair, for example, X-rays, histomorphometric determinations and tetracycline labeling.
  • Polynucleotides of the present invention can also be used for gene therapy. Such polynucleotides can be introduced either in vivo or ex vivo into cells for expression in a mammalian subject. Polynucleotides of the invention may also be administered by other known methods for introduction of nucleic acid into a cell or organism (including, without limitation, in the form of viral vectors or naked DNA).
  • Cells may also be cultured ex vivo in the presence of proteins of the present invention in order to proliferate or to produce a desired effect on or activity in such cells. Treated cells can then be introduced in vivo for therapeutic purposes.

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  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
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  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
  • Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Peptides Or Proteins (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne de nouveaux polynucléotides et les protéines codées par ceux-ci.
EP98953697A 1997-10-18 1998-10-16 Proteines secretees et polynucleotides les codant Withdrawn EP1037899A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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US95555797A 1997-10-18 1997-10-18
US955557 1997-10-18
PCT/US1998/022034 WO1999020644A1 (fr) 1997-10-18 1998-10-16 Proteines secretees et polynucleotides les codant

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JP (1) JP2001520033A (fr)
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WO (1) WO1999020644A1 (fr)

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AU738688B2 (en) 1997-09-12 2001-09-27 Apoxis Sa Cysteine rich receptors-train
WO1999037818A1 (fr) * 1998-01-27 1999-07-29 Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Nouvelles molecules de la superfamille du recepteur du facteur de necrose tumorale et leurs utilisations
WO2000049149A1 (fr) * 1999-02-19 2000-08-24 Toshio Kitamura Nouvelles proteines du type recepteurs des tnf
MXPA02006199A (es) 1999-12-22 2003-10-15 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc Composiciones adhesivas a base de polipropileno.
US7067603B1 (en) 1999-12-22 2006-06-27 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Adhesive alpha-olefin inter-polymers
AU6531101A (en) * 2000-06-02 2001-12-17 Genentech Inc Secreted and transmembrane polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the same
AU2001297542A1 (en) * 2001-01-03 2002-10-03 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Human leucine-rich repeat containing protein expressed predominately in nervous system tissues, hlrrns1
US7157558B2 (en) * 2001-06-01 2007-01-02 Genentech, Inc. Polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide overexpresses in tumors
EP1545575A4 (fr) * 2002-09-19 2006-04-05 Us Gov Health & Human Serv Polypeptides p. ariasi polypeptides p. perniciosus et methodes d'utilisation
EP1789070B1 (fr) * 2004-08-03 2012-10-24 Biogen Idec MA Inc. Influence du taj sur les fonctions neuronales
US7544659B2 (en) * 2004-08-13 2009-06-09 Genentech, Inc. Promotion of axonal regeneration

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GB9214857D0 (en) * 1992-07-13 1992-08-26 Medical Res Council Human nucleic acid fragments and their use

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WO1999020644A1 (fr) 1999-04-29
JP2001520033A (ja) 2001-10-30
AU1101199A (en) 1999-05-10
WO1999020644A9 (fr) 1999-09-10

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