EP1037970A1 - Ausgeschiedene proteine und dafür kodierende polynukleotide - Google Patents

Ausgeschiedene proteine und dafür kodierende polynukleotide

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Publication number
EP1037970A1
EP1037970A1 EP98964163A EP98964163A EP1037970A1 EP 1037970 A1 EP1037970 A1 EP 1037970A1 EP 98964163 A EP98964163 A EP 98964163A EP 98964163 A EP98964163 A EP 98964163A EP 1037970 A1 EP1037970 A1 EP 1037970A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seq
nucleotide
polynucleotide
sequence
nucleotide sequence
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Withdrawn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
EP98964163A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Kenneth Jacobs
John M. Mccoy
Edward R. Lavallie
Lisa A. Collins-Racie
Cheryl Evans
David Merberg
Maurice Treacy
Michael J. Agostino
Robert J. Ii Steininger
Gordon G. Wong
Hilary F. Clark
Kim Fechtel
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
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Genetics Institute LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Genetics Institute LLC filed Critical Genetics Institute LLC
Publication of EP1037970A1 publication Critical patent/EP1037970A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P15/00—Drugs for genital or sexual disorders; Contraceptives
    • A61P15/08—Drugs for genital or sexual disorders; Contraceptives for gonadal disorders or for enhancing fertility, e.g. inducers of ovulation or of spermatogenesis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders
    • A61P17/02—Drugs for dermatological disorders for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders
    • A61P17/04—Antipruritics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A61P35/04—Antineoplastic agents specific for metastasis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
    • 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:
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 179 to nucleotide 4285; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone am728_60 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; or the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone am728_60 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone am728_60 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 679 to amino acid 688 of SEQ ID NO:2.
  • inventions provide isolated polynucleotides produced according to a process selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process comprising the steps of:
  • step (ba) SEQ ID NO:l; and (bb) the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA insert of clone am728_60 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; (ii) hybridizing said primer(s) to human genomic DNA in conditions at least as stringent as 4X SSC at 65 degrees C; (iii) amplifying human DNA sequences; and (iv) isolating the polynucleotide products of step (b)(iii).
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:l, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:l to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:l .
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 179 to nucleotide 4285, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 179 to nucleotide 4285, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:l from nucleotide 179 to nucleotide 4285.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
  • the present invention provides a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 679 to amino acid 688 of SEQ ID NO:2.
  • 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
  • polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(i).
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 108 to nucleotide 254; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 225 to nucleotide 254; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone bf377_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; or the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone bf377_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone bf377_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:4, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 19 to amino acid 28 of SEQ ID NO:4.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ
  • step (bb) the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA insert of clone bf377_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; (ii) hybridizing said primer(s) to human genomic DNA in conditions at least as stringent as 4X SSC at 65 degrees C; (iii) amplifying human DNA sequences; and (iv) isolating the polynucleotide products of step (b)(iii).
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:3 to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:3 , but excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:3.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 108 to nucleotide 254, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 108 to nucleotide 254, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 108 to nucleotide 254.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 225 to nucleotide 254, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 225 to nucleotide 254, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 225 to nucleotide 254.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
  • the present invention provides a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:4, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of
  • SEQ ID NO:4 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 19 to amino acid 28 of SEQ ID NO:4.
  • 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:5;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 from nucleotide 426 to nucleotide 569; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 from nucleotide 546 to nucleotide 569; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone cw354_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; or the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone cw354_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone cw354_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:6, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 19 to amino acid 28 of SEQ ID NO:6.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:5 to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:5 , but excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:5.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 from nucleotide 426 to nucleotide 569, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of
  • polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • nucleotide 546 to nucleotide 569 from nucleotide 546 to nucleotide 569, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 from nucleotide 546 to nucleotide 569, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 from nucleotide 546 to nucleotide 569.
  • 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 protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:6, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 19 to amino acid 28 of SEQ ID NO:6.
  • 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
  • (k) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the protein of (h) or (i) above ; and (1) a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(i).
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 151 to nucleotide 891; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 595 to nucleotide 891; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone nml34_4 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; or the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone nml34_4 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone nml34_4 deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 from amino acid 104 to amino acid 163.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 118 to amino acid 127 of SEQ ID NO:8.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:7 to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:7 , but excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:7.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 151 to nucleotide 891, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 151 to nucleotide 891, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 151 to nucleotide 891.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 595 to nucleotide 891, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 595 to nucleotide 891, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 from nucleotide 595 to nucleotide 891.
  • 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:8 or the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 from amino acid 104 to amino acid 163.
  • the present invention provides a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 118 to amino acid 127 of SEQ ID NO:8.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone ybll_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621;
  • polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(i).
  • polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1
  • polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone ybll_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:10, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 31 to amino acid 40 of SEQ ID NO:10.
  • Other embodiments provide the gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ
  • inventions provide isolated polynucleotides produced according to a process selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process comprising the steps of: (i) preparing one or more polynucleotide probes that hybridize in 6X SSC at 65 degrees C to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:9 to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:9 , but excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:9.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 1909 to nucleotide 2127, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 1909 to nucleotide 2127, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 1909 to nucleotide 2127.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 2074 to nucleotide 2127, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 2074 to riucleotide 2127, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 from nucleotide 2074 to nucleotide 2127.
  • 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 protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:10, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 31 to amino acid 40 of SEQ ID NO:10.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
  • a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone yc2_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621;
  • such polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1077 to nucleotide 1733; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1158 to nucleotide 1733; the nucleotide sequence of the full-length protein coding sequence of clone yc2_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621; or the nucleotide sequence of a mature protein coding sequence of clone yc2_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the polynucleotide encodes the full-length or a mature protein encoded by the cDNA insert of clone yc2_l deposited under accession number ATCC 98621.
  • the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:12, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 104 to amino acid 113 of SEQ ID NO:12.
  • inventions provide isolated polynucleotides produced according to a process selected from the group consisting of: (a) a process comprising the steps of: (i) preparing one or more polynucleotide probes that hybridize in 6X SSC at 65 degrees C to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of SEQ ID NO:ll to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:ll , but excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of SEQ ID NO:ll.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1077 to nucleotide 1733, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1077 to nucleotide 1733, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1077 to nucleotide 1733.
  • the polynucleotide isolated according to the above process comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1158 to nucleotide 1733, and extending contiguously from a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 5' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1158 to nucleotide 1733, to a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the 3' end of said sequence of SEQ ID NO:ll from nucleotide 1158 to nucleotide 1733.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a protein, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12;
  • the present invention provides a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 having biological activity, the fragment preferably comprising eight (more preferably twenty, most preferably thirty) consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:12, or a protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 having biological activity, the fragment comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid 104 to amino acid 113 of SEQ ID NO:12.
  • 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. Also provided by the present invention are organisms that have enhanced, reduced, or modified expression of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein.
  • Processes are also provided for producing a protein, which comprise: (a) growing a culture of the host cell transformed with such polynucleotide compositions in a suitable culture medium; and (b) purifying the protein from the culture.
  • the protein produced according to such methods is also provided by the present invention.
  • 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.
  • Figures 1 A and IB are schematic representations of the pED6 and pNOTs vectors, respectively, used for deposit of clones disclosed herein.
  • 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 forms) 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.
  • am728_60 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "am728_60".
  • am728_60 was isolated from a human fetal kidney (293 cell line) 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.
  • am728_60 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "am728_60 protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of am728_60 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 am728_60 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:2.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone am728_60 should be approximately 4333 bp.
  • am728_60 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for am728_60 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. am728_60 demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as AA446039 (zw66a08.rl Soares testis NHT Homo sapiens cDNA clone 781142 5') and U73682 (Human meningioma-expressed antigen 11 (MEA11) mRNA, partial cds). The predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for am728_60 was searched against the GenPept and GeneSeq amino acid sequence databases using the BLASTX search protocol.
  • am728_60 protein demonstrated at least some similarity to sequences identified as U67884 (melanoma inhibitory activity/condrocyte-derived retinoic acid sensitive protein homolog [Rattus norvegicus]), U73682 (meningioma-expressed antigen 11 [Homo sapiens]), U94780 (MEA6 [Homo sapiens]), and X84707 (melanoma growth regulatory protein [Homo sapiens]). Based upon sequence similarity, am728_60 proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPred ⁇ computer program predicts three potential transmembrane domains within the am728_60 protein sequence, centered around amino acids 300, 370, and 670 of SEQ ID NO:2, respectively.
  • am728_60 protein When expressed in COS cells, am728_60 protein was detected in a membrane fraction from these cells as a band migrating at approximately 200 kD on a denaturing SDS polyacrylamide gel.
  • a polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "bf377_l".
  • bf377_l 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.
  • bf377_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "bf377_l protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of bf377_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:3, and includes a poly(A) tail. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the bf377_l protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:4. Amino acids 27 to 39 of SEQ ID NO:4 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 40. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the predicted leader/signal sequence, it is likely to act as a transmembrane domain should the predicted leader/signal sequence not be separated from the remainder of the bf377_l protein. The EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone bf377_l should be approximately 450 bp.
  • bf377_l demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as AA559859 (nl48c05.sl NCI_CGAP_Pr4 Homo sapiens cDNA clone IMAGE 1043912), AA657838 (nuO ⁇ bll.sl NCI_CGAP_Pr2 Homo sapiens cDNA clone IMAGE:1207389 similar to gb:M15990 PROTO-ONCOGENE TYROSINE-PROTEIN KINASE YES (HUMAN)), and R49353 (yg67e07.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 38126 3' similar to contains MER22 repetitive element). Based upon sequence similarity, bf377_l proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least
  • cw354_l A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "cw354_l".
  • cw354_l 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.
  • cw354_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "cw354_l protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of cw354_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:5, and includes a poly(A) tail. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the cw354_l protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:6.
  • Amino acids 28 to 40 of SEQ ID NO:6 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 41. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the predicted leader /signal sequence, it is likely to act as a transmembrane domain should the predicted leader/signal sequence not be separated from the remainder of the cw354_l protein.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone cw354_l should be approximately 1350 bp.
  • cw354_l The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for cw354_l was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. cw354_l demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as D58859 (Human placenta cDNA 5'-end GEN-514B03), H07863 (yl86b05.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 45017 3'), N32178 (yy25b09.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 272249 3'), R81953 (yi98ell.rl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 147308 5'), and W84437 (zd89d06.sl Soares fetal heart NbHH19W Homo sapiens cDNA clone 356651 3'). The predicted amino acid sequence disclosed herein for cw354_l was searched against the
  • the predicted cw354_l protein demonstrated at least some similarity to sequences identified as U39726 (adenosinetriphosphatase [Mycoplasma genitalium]). Based upon sequence similarity, cw354_l proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • nml34_4 A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "nml34_4".
  • nml34_4 was isolated from a human adult blood (erythroleukemia TF-1) 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.
  • nml34_4 is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "nml34_4 protein").
  • nucleotide sequence of nml34_4 as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:7, and includes a poly(A) tail. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the nml34_4 protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:8.
  • Amino acids 136 to 148 of SEQ ID NO:8 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 149. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the predicted leader /signal sequence, it is likely to act as a transmembrane domain should the predicted leader/signal sequence not be separated from the remainder of the nml34_4 protein.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone nml34_4 should be approximately 1500 bp.
  • nml34_4 The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for nml34_4 was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. nml34_4 demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as AA205020 (zq72al2.rl Stratagene neuroepithelium (#937231) Homo sapiens cDNA clone 647134 5'), AA205286 (zq72al2.sl Stratagene neuroepithelium (#937231) Homo sapiens cDNA clone 647134 3'), AA261864 (zsl8h05.rl Soares NbHTGBC Homo sapiens cDNA clone 685593 5'), and H63680 (yr55d03.rl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 2091895').
  • nml34_4 proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • the TopPredll computer program predicts five potential transmembrane domains within the nml34_4 protein sequence centered around amino acids 108, 132, 170, 195, and 226 of SEQ ID NO:8, respectively.
  • ybll_l A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "ybll_l".
  • ybll_l was isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library and was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • ybll_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "ybll_l protein”).
  • the nucleotide sequence of ybll_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID
  • ybll_l The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for ybll_l was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. ybll_l demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as R55695 (yg88fl2.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 40397 3') and R85100 (yo43b05.sl Homo sapiens cDNA clone 180657 3'). Based upon sequence similarity, ybll_l proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least some activity.
  • yc2_l A polynucleotide of the present invention has been identified as clone "yc2_l".
  • yc2_l was isolated from a human fetal kidney (293 cell line) cDNA library and was identified as encoding a secreted or transmembrane protein on the basis of computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein.
  • yc2_l is a full-length clone, including the entire coding sequence of a secreted protein (also referred to herein as "yc2_l protein").
  • the nucleotide sequence of yc2_l as presently determined is reported in SEQ ID NO:ll, and includes a poly(A) tail. What applicants presently believe to be the proper reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of the yc2_l protein corresponding to the foregoing nucleotide sequence is reported in SEQ ID NO:12. Amino acids 15 to 27 of SEQ ID NO:12 are a predicted leader/signal sequence, with the predicted mature amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid 28. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the predicted leader/signal sequence, it is likely to act as a transmembrane domain should the predicted leader/signal sequence not be separated from the remainder of the yc2_l protein.
  • the EcoRI/Notl restriction fragment obtainable from the deposit containing clone yc2_l should be approximately 2900 bp.
  • yc2_l The nucleotide sequence disclosed herein for yc2_l was searched against the GenBank and GeneSeq nucleotide sequence databases using BLASTN/BLASTX and FASTA search protocols. yc2_l demonstrated at least some similarity with sequences identified as AA618531 (np38a03.sl NCI_CGAP_Lul Homo sapiens cDNA clone IMAGE:1118572 similar to contains Alu repetitive element) and AA626937 (af84h07.sl Soares testis NHT Homo sapiens cDNA clone 1048765 3'). Based upon sequence similarity, yc2_l proteins and each similar protein or peptide may share at least some activity. The nucleotide sequence of yc2_l indicates that it may contain one or more Alu repetitive elements.
  • Clones am728_60, bf377_l, cw354_l, nml34_4, ybll_l, and yc2_l were deposited on December 19, 1997 with the American Type Culture Collection (10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia 20110-2209 U.S.A.) as an original deposit under the Budapest Treaty and were given the accession number ATCC 98621, from which each clone comprising a particular polynucleotide is obtainable. All restrictions on the availability to the public of the deposited material will be irrevocably removed upon the granting of the patent, except for the requirements specified in 37 C.F.R. ⁇ 1.808(b), and the term of the deposit will comply with 37 C.F.R. ⁇ 1.806.
  • 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 Figures IA and 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 5' site and EcoRI will produce the 3' site for placement of the cDNA in proper orientation for expression in a suitable vector.
  • 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: An 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 an oligonucleotide probe that was used to isolate or to sequence each full-length clone is identified below, and should be most reliable in isolating the clone of interest.
  • the design of the oligonucleotide probe should preferably follow these parameters:
  • oligonucleotide should preferably be labeled with ⁇ - 32 P ATP (specific activity 6000
  • Ci/mmole Ci/mmole
  • 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).
  • 6X SSC 20X stock is 175.3 g NaCl/liter, 88.2 g Na citrate/liter, adjusted to pH 7.0 with NaOH
  • SDS 100 ⁇ g/ml of yeast RNA
  • 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 al, Bio/Technology 10, 773-778 (1992) and in R.S. McDowell, et al, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 114, 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(s) 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(s) of the mature form(s) 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 polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein.
  • Corresponding genes are the regions of the genome that are transcribed to produce the mRNAs from which cDNA polynucleotide sequences are derived and may include contiguous regions of the genome necessary for the regulated expression of such genes. Corresponding genes may therefore include but are 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.
  • An "isolated gene” is a gene that has been separated from the adjacent coding sequences, if any, present in the genome of the organism from which the gene was isolated.
  • the chromosomal location corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein may also be determined, for example by hybridizing appropriately labeled polynucleotides of the present invention to chromosomes in situ. It may also be possible to determine the corresponding chromosomal location for a disclosed polynucleotide by identifying significantly similar nucleotide sequences in public databases, such as expressed sequence tags (ESTs), that have already been mapped to particular chromosomal locations. For at least some of the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein, public database sequences having at least some similarity to the polynucleotide of the present invention have been listed by database accession number.
  • ESTs expressed sequence tags
  • Organisms that have enhanced, reduced, or modified expression of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein are provided.
  • the desired change in gene expression can be achieved through the use of antisense polynucleotides or ribozymes that bind and /or cleave the mRNA transcribed from the gene (Albert and Morris, 1994, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 15(7): 250-254; Lavarosky et al., 1997, Biochem. Mol. Med. 62(1): 11-22; and Hampel, 1998, Prog. Nucleic Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 58: 1- 39; all of which are incorporated by reference herein).
  • Transgenic animals that have multiple copies of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein, preferably produced by transformation of cells with genetic constructs that are stably maintained within the transformed cells and their progeny, are provided.
  • organisms are provided in which the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein have been partially or completely inactivated, through insertion of extraneous sequences into the corresponding gene(s) or through deletion of all or part of the corresponding gene(s).
  • Partial or complete gene inactivation can be accomplished through insertion, preferably followed by imprecise excision, of transposable elements (Plasterk, 1992, Bioessays 14(9): 629-633; Zwaal et al, 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(16): 7431-7435; Clark et al, 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91(2): 719-722; all of which are incorporated by reference herein), or through homologous recombination, preferably detected by positive/negative genetic selection strategies (Mansour et al, 1988, Nature 336: 348-352; U.S. Patent Nos. 5,464,764; 5,487,992; 5,627,059; 5,631,153; 5,614, 396;
  • 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. For example, the TopPredll computer program can be used to predict the location of transmembrane domains in an amino acid sequence, domains which are described by the location of the center of the transmsmbrane domain, with at least ten transmembrane amino acids on each side of the reported central residue(s).
  • 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. Also included in the present invention are proteins and protein fragments that contain a segment preferably comprising 8 or more
  • sequence identity may be determined using WU-BLAST (Washington University BLAST) version 2.0 software, which builds upon WU-BLAST version 1.4, which in turn is based on the public domain NCBI-BLAST version 1.4 (Altschul and Gish, 1996, Local alignment statistics, Doolittle ed., Methods in Enzymology 266: 460-480; Altschul et al., 1990, Basic local alignment search tool, Journal of Molecular Biology 215: 403-410; Gish and States, 1993, Identification of protein coding regions by database similarity search, Nature Genetics 3: 266-272; Karlin and Altschul,
  • WU-BLAST version 2.0 executable programs for several UNIX platforms can be downloaded from ftp://blast.wustl.edu/blast/executables.
  • the complete suite of search programs (BLASTP, BLASTN, BLASTX, TBLASTN, and TBLASTX) is provided at that site, in addition to several support programs.
  • WU-BLAST 2.0 is copyrighted and may not be sold or redistributed in any form or manner without the express written consent of the author; but the posted executables may otherwise be freely used for commercial, nonprofit, or academic purposes.
  • the gapped alignment routines are integral to the database search itself, and thus yield much better sensitivity and selectivity while producing the more easily interpreted output. Gapping can optionally be turned off in all of these programs, if desired.
  • the default amino acid comparison matrix is BLOSUM62, but other amino acid comparison matrices such as PAM can be utilized.
  • Species homologues of the disclosed polynucleotides and proteins are also provided by the present invention.
  • a "species homologue” is a protein or polynucleotide with a different species of origin from that of a given protein or polynucleotide, but with significant sequence similarity to the given protein or polynucleotide.
  • polynucleotide species homologues have at least 60% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% identity) with the given polynucleotide, and protein species homologues have at least 30% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 45% identity; most preferably at least 60% identity) with the given protein, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the nucleotide sequences of the polynucleotides or the amino acid sequences of the proteins when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.
  • Species homologues 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.
  • species homologues are those isolated from mammalian species. Most preferably, species homologues are those isolated from certain mammalian species such as, for example, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Hylobates concolor, Macaca mulatta, Papio papio, Papio hamadryas, Cercopithecus aethiops, Cebus capucinus, Aotus trivirgatus, Sanguinus oedipus, Microcebus murinus, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Cricetulus griseus, Felis catus, Mustek vison, Canisfamiliaris, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Sus scrofa, and Equus caballus, for which genetic maps have been created allowing the identification of syntenic relationships between the genomic organization of genes in one species and the genomic organization of the related genes in another species (
  • allelic variants of the disclosed polynucleotides or proteins that is, naturally-occurring alternative forms of the isolated polynucleotides which also encode proteins which are identical or have significantly similar sequences to those encoded by the disclosed polynucleotides.
  • allelic variants have at least 60% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% identity) with the given polynucleotide, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the nucleotide sequences of the polynucleotides when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.
  • Allelic variants may be isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from the sequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid source from individuals of the appropriate species.
  • the invention also includes polynucleotides with sequences complementary to those of the polynucleotides disclosed herein.
  • the present invention also includes polynucleotides that hybridize 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 NaCI, lOmM NaH 2 P0 4 , and 1.25mM EDTA, pH 7.4
  • SSC 0.15M NaCI and 15mM sodium citrate
  • 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 et al, 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 et al, 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.
  • 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.
  • yeast in lower eukaryotes such as yeast or in prokaryotes such as bacteria.
  • yeast strains include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces strains, Candida, or any yeast strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins.
  • bacterial 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. Such covalent attachments may be accomplished using known chemical or enzymatic methods.
  • 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 Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 1555 (1987), incorporated herein by reference.
  • 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. For example, 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 BioLabs (Beverly, MA), Pharmacia (Piscataway, NJ) and Invitrogen Corporation (Carlsbad, CA), 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 the Eastman Kodak Company (New Haven, CT).
  • 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 "subtract-out" known sequences in the process of discovering other novel polynucleotides; for selecting and making oligomers for attachment to a "gene chip” or other support, including for examination of expression patterns; to raise anti-protein antibodies using DNA immunization techniques;
  • 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, those described in Gyuris et al, 1993, Cell 75: 791-803 and in Rossi et al, 1997, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 8405-8410, all of which are incorporated by reference herein) 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.
  • cytokine cytokine
  • cell proliferation either inducing or inhibiting
  • cell differentiation either inducing or inhibiting
  • 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, B9, B9/11, BaF3, MC9/G, M+ (preB M+), 2E8, RB5, DAI, 123, T1165, HT2, CTLL2, TF-1, Mo7e and CMK.
  • 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 Measurement of mouse and human Interferon ⁇ , Schreiber, R.D. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp. 6.8.1-6.8.8, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. 1994.
  • 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, Bottomry, 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.
  • 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 (SCID)), 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.
  • SCID severe combined immunodeficiency
  • These immune deficiencies may be genetic or be caused by viral (e.g., HIV) as well as bacterial 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, Guillain-Barre syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitis, myasthenia gravis, graft-versus-host disease and autoimmune inflammatory eye disease.
  • 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 may also be treatable using a protein of the present invention.
  • 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 activity alone or in conjunction 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.
  • 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.
  • appropriate systems which can be used include allogeneic cardiac grafts in rats and xenogeneic pancreatic islet cell grafts in mice, both of which have been used to examine the immunosuppressive effects of CTLA4Ig fusion proteins in vivo as described in Lenschow et al, Science 257:789-792 (1992) and Turka et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 89:11102-11105 (1992).
  • murine models of GVHD see Paul ed., Fundamental Immunology, Raven Press, New York, 1989, pp. 846-847) can be used to determine the effect of blocking B lymphocyte antigen function in vivo on the development of that disease.
  • 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 autoreactive T cells may reduce or eliminate disease symptoms.
  • Administration of reagents which block costimulation of T cells by disrupting receptor igand interactions of B lymphocyte antigens can be used to inhibit T cell activation and prevent production of autoantibodies or T cell-derived cytokines which may be involved in the disease process.
  • blocking reagents may induce antigen-specific tolerance of autoreactive 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 / Ipr/lpr 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 reinfroducing the in vitro activated T cells into the patient.
  • Another method of enhancing anti-viral immune responses would be to isolate infected cells from a patient, transfect 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 conjunction with a peptide having B7-l-like activity and/or B7-3-like activity.
  • 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.
  • tumor cells which lack MHC class I or MHC class II molecules, or which fail to reexpress sufficient amounts of MHC class I or MHC class II molecules, can be transfected with nucleic acid encoding all or a portion of (e.g., a cytoplasmic-domain truncated portion) of an MHC class I chain protein and ⁇ 2 microglobulin protein or an MHC class II ⁇ chain protein and an MHC class II ⁇ chain protein to thereby express MHC class I or MHC class II proteins on the cell surface.
  • nucleic acid encoding all or a portion of (e.g., a cytoplasmic-domain truncated portion) of an MHC class I chain protein and ⁇ 2 microglobulin protein or an MHC class II ⁇ chain protein and an MHC class II ⁇ chain protein to thereby express MHC class I or MHC class II proteins on the cell surface.
  • 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 activity of a B lymphocyte antigen to promote presentation of tumor associated antigens and induce rumor 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, 1982; Handa et al.,
  • T-cell-dependent immunoglobulin responses and isotype switching 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.
  • lymphocyte survival/apoptosis (which will identify, among others, proteins that prevent apoptosis after superantigen induction and proteins that regulate lymphocyte homeostasis) include, without limitation, those described in: Darzynkiewicz et al, Cytomefry 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, 1991; Zacharchuk, Journal of Immunology 145:4037-4045, 1990; Zamai et al., Cytomefry 14:891-897, 1993; Gorczyca et al., International Journal of Oncology 1:639-648, 1992.
  • Assays for proteins that influence early steps of T-cell commitment and development include, without limitation, those described in: Antica et al., Blood 84:111-117, 1994; Fine et al., Cellular Immunology 155:111-122, 1994; Galy et al., Blood 85:2770-2778, 1995; Toki et al., Proc. Nat. Acad Sci. USA 88:7548-7551, 1991.
  • 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 activity in support of colony forming cells or of factor-dependent cell lines indicates involvement in regulating hematopoiesis, e.g.
  • 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 production 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 in various stem cell disorders (such as those usually treated with
  • the activity 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 (which will identify, among others, proteins that influence embryonic differentiation hematopoiesis) 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.
  • 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 freatment of periodontal disease, and in other tooth repair processes.
  • Such agents may provide an environment to attract 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.
  • 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.
  • compositions 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.
  • the 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 freatment 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 freatable 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 activity 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.
  • organs including, for example, pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium
  • muscle smooth, skeletal or cardiac
  • vascular including vascular endothelium
  • 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.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for tissue generation activity 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 activity include, without limitation, those described in:
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit activin- 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 a 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 activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for activin/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., act 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 attract a desired cell population to a desired site of action.
  • Chemotactic or chemokinetic proteins provide particular advantages in freatment of wounds and other trauma to tissues, as well as in treatment of localized infections. For example, atfraction of lymphocytes, monocytes or neutrophils to tumors or sites of infection may result in improved immune responses against the tumor or infecting agent.
  • 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 activity 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
  • a protein of the invention may also exhibit hemostatic or thrombolytic activity.
  • such a protein is expected to be useful in freatment 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).
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods: 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 activity.
  • 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 exfravasation, 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 malfimction 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, reinfroducing 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 activity 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 can be 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 activity can also be used to block cadherin function by binding to cadherins and preventing them from binding in ways that produce undesirable effects. Additionally, 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 antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCQ).
  • a protein may exhibit its tumor inhibitory activity 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 effects: 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 component(s); effecting behavioral characteristics, including, without limitation, appetite, libido, stress, cognition (including cognitive disorders), depression (including depressive disorders) and violent behaviors; providing analgesic effects or other pain reducing effects; promoting differentiation
  • a protein of the present invention may be used in a pharmaceutical composition when combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may also contain (in addition to protein and a carrier) diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, and other materials well known in the art.
  • 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 activity of the protein or compliment its activity or use in treatment.
  • 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.
  • 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 sfructurally 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. 4,501,728; U.S.
  • 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 freatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions.
  • 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. If administered sequentially, the attending physician will decide on the appropriate sequence of administering protein of the present invention in combination with cytokine(s), lymphokine(s), other hematopoietic factor(s), thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factors.
  • Administration of protein of the present invention used in the pharmaceutical composition or to practice 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, infraperitoneal, 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, dexfrose 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, Dexfrose Injection, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection, or other vehicle as known in the art.
  • an isotonic vehicle such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Dexfrose 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. Ultimately, 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.
  • 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 immunodetection 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 freatment 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.
  • Such matrices may be formed of materials presently in use for other implanted medical applications.
  • compositions may be biodegradable and chemically defined calcium sulfate, fricalciumphosphate, hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and polyanhydrides.
  • Other 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 hydroxyalkylcelluloses), 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. These agents include various growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factors (TGF- and TGF- ⁇ ), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF).
  • EGF epidermal growth factor
  • PDGF platelet derived growth factor
  • TGF- and TGF- ⁇ transforming growth factors
  • IGF insulin-like growth factor
  • the dosage regimen of a protein-containing pharmaceutical composition to be used in tissue regeneration will be determined by the attending physician considering various factors 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 mafrix used in the reconstitution and with inclusion of other proteins in the pharmaceutical composition.
  • the addition of other known growth factors, such as IGF I (insulin like growth factor 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 tefracycline 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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EP98964163A 1997-12-20 1998-12-18 Ausgeschiedene proteine und dafür kodierende polynukleotide Withdrawn EP1037970A1 (de)

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US6837997P 1997-12-20 1997-12-20
US68379P 1997-12-20
US21284398A 1998-12-16 1998-12-16
US212843 1998-12-16
PCT/US1998/027140 WO1999032614A1 (en) 1997-12-20 1998-12-18 Secreted proteins and polynucleotides encoding them

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