JP2004129667A - NEUTROKINE-alpha - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an isolated nucleic acid molecule coding neutrokine-α protein. <P>SOLUTION: The isolated nucleic acid molecule containing polynucleotide having at least 95% same sequence with following sequences is provided. (a) A sequence coding neutrokine-α polypeptide having a specific amino acid sequence. (b) A sequence coding neutrokine-α having a complete amino acid sequence corded by cDNA clone contained in ATCC deposit on 22 Oct. 1996. (c) A sequence coding neutrokine-α polypeptide extracellular domain. (d) A sequence coding neutrokine-α polypeptide transmembrane domain. (e) A sequence coding neutrokine-α polypeptide intercellular domain. (f) A sequence coding soluble neutrokine-α polypeptide defecting transmembrane domain. Or (g) a complementary sequence to an optional sequence of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a novel cytokine expressed by neutrophils, which is therefore called Neutrokine-α protein ("Neutrokine-α"). In particular, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Neutrokine alpha protein is provided. Neutrokine-α polypeptides are also provided as vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for producing the same.

(Related technology)
Human tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and (TNF-β, or lymphotoxin) are related members of a broad class of polypeptide mediators, including interferons, interleukins, and growth factors, collectively known as cytokines. (Beutler, B. and Cerami, A. Annu. Ret., Immunol., 7: 625-655 (1989)). Sequence analysis of cytokine receptors defines several subfamilies of the following membrane proteins: (1) Ig superfamily, (2) hematopoietin (cytokine receptor superfamily), and (3) tumor necrosis factor (TNF) / Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Receptor Superfamily (For a review of the TNF superfamily, see Gruss and Dower, Blood 85 (12): 3378-3404 (1995), and Aggarwal and Natarajan, Eur. Cytokine Network., 7 (2)). : 93-124 (1996)). The TNF / NGF receptor superfamily contains at least 10 different proteins. Gruss and Dower, supra. Ligands for these receptors have been identified and belong to at least two cytokine superfamilies. Gruss and Dower, supra.

Tumor necrosis factor (a mixture of TNF-α and TNF-β) was originally discovered as a result of its antitumor activity, but is now apoptosis, cell activation and cell proliferation of some transformed cell lines. It is recognized as a pleiotropic cytokine capable of a number of biological activities, including mediation, and also plays an important role in immune regulation and inflammation.

To date, known members of the TNF ligand superfamily include TNF-α, TNF-β (Lymphotoxin-α), LT-β, OX40L, Fas ligand, CD30L, CD27L, CD40L, and 4-IBBL. Ligands of the TNF ligand superfamily are TNF-like molecules with about 20% sequence homology in the acidic, extracellular domain (ranging from 12% to 36%), and organisms that are trimer / multimeric complexes. It exists mainly as a membrane-bound form having a biologically active form. Soluble forms of the TNF ligand superfamily have so far only been identified for TNF, LT, β, and Fas ligands (for a general review, see Gruss, H. and Dower, SK, Blood, 85 (12): 3378-3404 (1995), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). These proteins are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, activation and differentiation, including the control of cell survival or cell death by apoptosis or cytotoxicity (Armitage, RJ., Curr. Opion. Immunol. 6: 407 (1994) and Smith, CA, {Cell} 75: 959 (1994)).

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα; also called cachectin; hereinafter “TNF”) is a monocyte in response to other stimuli, such as endotoxin, or a soluble homotrimer of the 17 kD protein subunit. And is predominantly secreted by macrophages (Smith, RA et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 6951-6954 (1987)). A membrane-bound 26 kD precursor form of TNF has also been described (Kriegler, M. et al., Cell 53: 45-53 (1988)).

Accumulated evidence indicates that TNF is a regulatory cytokine with pleiotropic biological activities. These activities include: inhibition of lipoprotein lipase synthesis ("cachectin" activity) (Beutler, B. et al. Nature 316: 552 (1985)), activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (Klebanoff, S.J). J. Immunol. 136: 4220 (1986); Perussia, B et al., J. Immunol. 138: 765 (1987), Inhibition of Cell Proliferation or Stimulation of Cell Proliferation (Vilkek, J. et al., J. Exp. Sugarman, B. J. et al., Science 230: 943 (1985); Lachman, L. B. et al., J. Immunol. 138: 2913 (1987)), specific transformations. Cytotoxicity in cell types Sex (Lachman, LB et al., Supra; Darzynkiewicz, Z. et al., Canc. Res. , GHW et al., Nature 323: 819 (1986)), bone resorption stimulation (Bertolini, DR et al., Nature 319: 516 (1986); Saklatvala, J., Nature 322: 547 (1986)). )), Stimulation of collagenase and prostaglandin E2 production (Dayer, J.-M. et al., J. Exp. Med. 162: 2163 (1985)); J. Immunol. 140: 5 1 (1988)), B cells (Kehrl, JH et al., J. Exp. Med. 166: 786 (1987)), monocytes (Philip, R. et al., Nature 323: 86 (1986)), thymus Activation of cells (Ranges, GE, et al., J. Exp. Med. 167: 1472 (1988)) and stimulation of cell surface expression of tumor histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules ( Collins, T. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83: 446 (1986); Pujol-Borrel, R. et al., Nature 326: 304 (1987)).

TNF has been shown for its pro-inflammatory effects resulting in tissue wounding as follows: Induction of procoagulant activity in vascular endothelial cells (Pover, @JS et al., J. Immunol. 136: 1680 (1986)). ), Enhanced adhesion of neutrophils and lymphocytes (Pover, @JS et al., J. Immunol. 138: 3319 (1987)), and platelet-activating factor from macrophages, neutrophils, and vascular endothelial cells (Camussi, G. et al., J. Exp. Med. 166: 1390 (1987)).

Recent evidence indicates that TNF has been used in many infections (Cerami, A. et al., Immunol. Today 9:28 (1988)), immune disorders, neoplastic symptoms (eg, in cachexia with some malignancies) ( Et al., Cell 50: 555 (1987)), and autoimmune and graft-versus-host conditions (Piguet, P.-F. et al., J. Ecp. Med. 166: 1280 (1987)). Relate to The association of TNF with cancer and infectious conditions often correlates with host metabolic status. A major problem in cancer patients is weight loss, which is usually associated with eating disorders. The resulting massive weakness is known as "cachexia" (Kern, KA et al., J. Parent. Enter. Nutr. 12: 286-298 (1988)). Cachexia includes progressive weight loss, eating disorders, and a persistent decline in weight in response to malignant growth. Thus, cachectic conditions are associated with significant mortality and are responsible for a large number of cancer mortality. Numerous studies have suggested that TNF is a key mediator of cachexia in cancer, infectious symptoms, and other metabolic conditions.

TNF includes gram-negative sepsis and endotoxin shock, including fever, malaise, eating disorders, and cachexia (Michie, HR, et al., Br. J. Surg. 76: 670-671 (1989); Debetes, J. M. H. et al., Second, Vienna Shock Forum, 463-466 (1989); Simpson, S. Q. et al., Crit. Care Clin. 5: 27-47 (1989)). It is thought to play a central role in the results. Endotoxin is a potent monocyte / macrophage activator, which produces and secretes TNF (Kornbruth, SK et al., J. Immunol. 137: 2585-2591 (1986)), and other cytokines. stimulate. It has been concluded that TNF is a central mediator capable of responding to the clinical signs of endotoxin-related disease, as it can mimic many of the biological effects of endotoxin. TNF and other monocyte-induced cytokines mediate metabolic and neurohormonal responses to endotoxin (Michie, HR, et al., N. Eng. J. Med. １９318: 1481-1486 (1988)). . Administration of endotoxin to human volunteers results in acute illness with influenza-like symptoms including fever, tachycardia, increased metabolic rate, and stress hormone release (Revhaug, A., et al., Arch. Surg. 123: 162-170 ( 1988)). Elevated levels of circulating TNF have also been found in patients suffering from Gram-negative sepsis (Waage, A. et al., Lancet 1: 355-357 (1987); Hammerle, A. F. et al., Second Vienna Shock). Forum 715-718, (1989); Devets, J. M. H. et al., Crit. Care Med. 17: 489-497 (1989); Calandra, T. et al., J. Infect. Dis. 161: 982- 987 (1990)).

Passive immunotherapy directed at neutralization of TNF can have toxic effects on Gram-negative sepsis and endotoxin based on increased TNF production and elevated TNF levels in these pathological conditions as described above. Antibodies to "modulator" substances characterized as cachectin (later found to be identical to TNF) were disclosed by Cerami et al. (European Patent Publication 0,212,489, March 4, 1987). . Such antibodies were said to be useful in diagnostic immunoassays and in samples of shock in bacterial infections. Rubin et al. (European Patent Publication 0,218,868, April 22, 1987) describe a monoclonal antibody to human TNF, a hybridoma secreting such an antibody, a method of producing such an antibody, and immunization of TNF. The use of such antibodies in assays has been disclosed. Yone et al. (European Patent Publication 0,288,088, Oct. 26, 1988) describe anti-TNF antibodies (including mAb) and their utility in immunoassay diagnosis of symptoms, especially symptoms and bacterial infections of Kawasaki disease. Was disclosed. The body fluid of a patient with symptoms of Kawasaki disease (pediatric acute fever mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Kawasaki, T., Allergy 16: 178 (1967); Kawasaki, T., Shonica (Pediatrics) 26: 935 (1985)) It was said to have elevated TNF levels associated with symptom progression (Yone et al., Supra).

Other investigators have described mAbs specific for recombinant human TNF that neutralized in vitro activity (Liang, CM, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 137; 847-854 (1986)). Meager, A. et al., Hybridoma 6: 305-311 (1987); Fendly et al., Hybridoma 6: 359-369 (1987); Bringman, TTS et al., Hybridoma 6: 489-507 (1987); Et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 96: 57-62 (1987); Moller, A. et al. (Cytokine 2: 162-169 (1990)). Some of these mAbs map human TNF epitopes and develop enzyme immunoassays (Fendly et al., Supra; Hiral et al., Supra; Moller et al., Supra) and in the purification of recombinant TNF. Used to assist (Bringman et al., Supra). However, these studies neutralize antibodies that can be used for in vivo diagnostic use or therapeutic use in humans due to immunogenicity, lack of specificity, and / or pharmaceutical compatibility. It does not provide a basis for producing TNF.

MAbs against neutralizing antisera or TNF have been shown to eliminate deleterious physiological changes and prevent death following lethal challenge in experimental endotoxemia and bacteremia in non-human mammals. Have been. This effect has been demonstrated, for example, in rodent mortality assays and in primate pathology model systems (Mathison, JC et al., J. Clin. Invest. 81: 1925-1937 (1988); Beutler, B. et al., Science 229: 869-871 (1985); Tracey, KJ. Et al., Nature 330: 662-664 (1987); Shimamoto, Y. et al., Immunol. Lett. 17: 311-318 (1987). Silva, A. T. et al., J. Infect. Dis. 162: 421-427 (1990) Opal, S. M. et al., J. Infect. Dis. 161: 1148-1152 (1990); Hinshaw,. .B et al., Circ Shock 60:. 279-292 (1990)).

To date, human experience with anti-TNF mAb treatment has been limited, but has shown useful therapeutic results (eg, arthritis and sepsis). For example, Elliott, @M. J. Et al., Bailieres @ Clin. {Rheumatol. {9: 633-52 (1995); Feldmann} M et al., Ann. {N. {Y. {Acad. {Sci. USA 766: 272-8 (1995); van der Poll, T.E. Shock @ 3: 1-12 (1995); Wherery et al., Crit. Care. {Med. {21: S436-40 (1993); Tracey} K. {J. Et al., Crit. {Care} Med. See {21} S415-22 (1993).

Mammalian development relies on both cell proliferation and differentiation as well as programmed cell death that occurs during apoptosis (Walker et al., Methods Achiev. Exp. Pathol. 13:18 (1988)). Apoptosis plays an important role in the destruction of immune thymocytes that recognize self antigens. This deletion of the normal ablation process may play a role in autoimmune diseases (Gammon et al., Immunology Today 12: 193 (1991)).

Itoh et al. (Cell 66: 233 (1991)) describe a cell surface antigen, Fas / CD23, that mediates apoptosis and is involved in the clonal deletion of T cells. Fas is expressed on activated T cells, B cells, neutrophils, as well as on activated T cells, B cells, neutrophils in adult mice, and in thymus, liver, heart, and lung and ovaries (Watanabe-Fukunaga et al., J. Immunol. 148: 1274 (1992)). Apoptosis is induced in experiments where the monoclonal Ab cross-links to Fas (Yonehara et al., J. Exp. Med. 169: 1747 (1989); Trauth et al., Science 245: 301 (1989)). Furthermore, there are instances where the binding of a monoclonal Ab to Fas is stimulatory for T cells under certain conditions (Alderson et al., J. Exp. Med. 178: 2231 (1993)).

@Fas antigen is a cell surface protein with a relative molecular weight of 45 Kd. Both human and mouse genes for Fas have been cloned by Watanabe-Fukunaga et al. (J. {Immunol.} 148: 1274 (1992) and Itoh et al. (Cell @ 66: 233 (1991)). Proteins have structural homology to the nerve growth factor / tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (including the two TNF receptors, the low affinity nerve growth factor receptor, and CD40, CD27, CD30, and OX40). It is a penetrating protein.

{Recently, Fas ligands have been described (Suda et al., Cell 75: 1169 (1993)). This amino acid sequence indicates that the Fas ligand is a type II transmembrane protein belonging to the TNF family. Thus, the Fas ligand polypeptide contains three major domains: a short intracellular domain at the amino terminus and a long extracellular domain at the carboxy terminus, linked by a hydrophobic transmembrane domain. Fas ligand is expressed in spleen cells and thymocytes, consistent with T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Purified Fas ligand has a molecular weight of 40 kD.

Recently, Fas / Fas ligand interactions have been shown to be required for apoptosis following T cell activation (Ju et al., Nature 373: 444 (1995); Brunner et al., Nature 373: 441 (1995). )). Activation of T cells induces both proteins on the cell surface. Subsequent interaction between the ligand and the receptor results in cell apoptosis. This supports a possible regulatory role on apoptosis induced by Fas / Fas ligand interaction during normal immune response.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide cytokines similar to TNF that are involved in pathological conditions. Such novel cytokines can be used to create new antibodies or other antagonists that bind these TNF-like cytokines to the treatment of disorders related to TNF-like cytokines.

(Summary of the Invention)
The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a cytokine that is structurally similar to TNF and related cytokines and is believed to have similar biological effects and activities. This cytokine is designated Neutrokine-α and the invention is encoded by at least the amino acid sequence in Figure 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a cDNA clone deposited in a bacterial host on October 22, 1996 as an ATCC deposit. Includes Neutrokine alpha polypeptide having a portion of the amino acid sequence. The nucleotide sequence determined by sequencing the deposited Neutrokine-α clone, which is shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), contains the N-terminal methionine, a putative intracellular domain of about 46 amino acid residues, about 26 It contains an open reading frame encoding a complete polypeptide of 285 amino acid residues, including a putative transmembrane domain of amino acids, a putative extracellular domain of about 213 amino acids, and a putative molecular weight for the complete protein of about 31 kDa. For other type II transmembrane proteins, the soluble form of Neutrokine-α is a polypeptide comprising all or part of the extracellular domain cleaved from the transmembrane domain and a complete Neutrokine-α polypeptide lacking the transmembrane domain ( That is, an extracellular domain bound to an intracellular domain).

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), or A nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine alpha full length polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996; (b) in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2); Or a nucleotide sequence encoding the putative extracellular domain of the Neutrokine-α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence positions 73-285 as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996; (c) Neutro Encodes a polypeptide containing the intracellular domain of Cain α Nucleotide sequences (about amino acid residues 1 to about 46 as in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or as encoded by the cDNA clone included in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996); (d) Neutro Amino acid residues as encoded by a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the transmembrane domain of Caine α (FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or by the cDNA clone included in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996) (E) a nucleotide sequence encoding a soluble Neutrokine α polypeptide having an extracellular domain and an intracellular domain but lacking the transmembrane domain; and (f) the above (a), (b), ( c) a nucleotide complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (d) or (e) Column.

A further embodiment of the present invention is that the nucleotide sequence is at least 90% identical to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) above, and More preferably, a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that is 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical, or (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above. Or an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to the polynucleotide in (f). This hybridizing polynucleotide does not hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence consisting solely of A or T residues. A further embodiment of the nucleic acid of the present invention comprises the amino acid sequence of the epitope-bearing portion of the Neutrokine-α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the encoding polynucleotide.

The present invention also provides recombinant vectors containing the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention, and host cells containing the recombinant vectors, and methods and recombinant techniques for making such vectors and host cells. It relates to methods of using these for the production of Cain alpha polypeptides or peptides.

The invention further provides an isolated Neutrokine-α polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or October 1996 Amino acid sequence of Neutrokine-α full-length polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Day 22; (b) in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or on October 22, 1996. Amino acid sequence of the putative extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α polypeptide having amino acid sequence positions 73-285 as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC Deposit; Sequence (in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or October 22, 1996) (D) amino acid residues from about position 1 to about position 46 as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit); (d) the amino acid sequence of the putative transmembrane domain of Neutrokine-α (in FIG. Or amino acid residues from about position 47 to about position 72 as encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996); and (e) each of these domains is defined as above. Amino acid sequence of soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptide having extracellular and intracellular domains but lacking the transmembrane domain.

The polypeptides of the present invention also have at least 90% similarity to the amino acid sequences set forth in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above, and more preferably, A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 95% similarity, and at least 80% identical, more preferably at least 90% identical, and even more preferably 95%, 96%, 97%, 98 % Or 99% identical polypeptides having an amino acid sequence.

A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is an epitope-bearing portion of a Neutrokine-α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence described in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above. Or a peptide or polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of Peptides or polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of the epitope-bearing portion of the Neutrokine α polypeptide of the present invention include such peptides or polypeptides comprising at least 6 or 7, preferably at least 9, and more preferably at least about 30 to about 50 amino acids. Epitope-bearing polypeptides of any length, including portions of the polypeptide, but up to and including the entire amino acid sequence of the polypeptides of the invention described above are also included in the invention. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an isolated peptide, which specifically binds to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above. Provided antibodies.

The present invention further provides a method for isolating an antibody that specifically binds to Neutrokine-α polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as described herein. Such antibodies are diagnostically or therapeutically useful as described below.

The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptide, particularly a human Neutrokine-α polypeptide. Soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptides treat, for example, tumors and tumor metastases, infections by bacteria, viruses, or other parasites, immunodeficiencies, inflammatory diseases, lymphadenomas, autoimmune diseases, graft-versus-host diseases And to stimulate peripheral tolerance, destroy some transformed cell lines, mediate cell activation and proliferation, and functionally as the first mediator of immunomodulatory and inflammatory responses Are linked.

The invention further provides a composition comprising a Neutrokine-α polynucleotide or a Neutrokine-α polypeptide for administration to cells in vitro, to cells ex vivo, and to cells in vivo, or to multicellular organisms. In certain particularly preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the composition comprises a Neutrokine-α polynucleotide for expression of a Neutrokine-α polypeptide in a host organism for the treatment of a disease. Particularly preferred in this regard is expression in a human patient for the treatment of a dysfunction associated with aberrant endogenous activity of the Neutrokine-α gene.

The invention also relates to contacting a candidate compound with a cell expressing Neutrokine, assaying a cellular response, and standard cell response, wherein the contacting is performed in the absence of the candidate compound. A screening method for identifying compounds that can enhance or inhibit the cellular response induced by Neutrokine-α, comprising comparing the cell response to Assayed when contacted in the absence of compound. Here, an enhanced cellular response over the standard indicates that the compound is an agonist, and an decreased cellular response over the standard indicates that the compound is an antagonist.

In another aspect, there are provided methods for identifying Neutrokine-α receptors, and screening assays for agonists and antagonists using such receptors. This assay involves determining the effect of a candidate compound on Neutrokine-α binding to Neutrokine-α receptor. In particular, the method comprises contacting Neutrokine alpha receptor with Neutrokine alpha polypeptide and a candidate compound, and increasing the Neutrokine alpha polypeptide binding to Neutrokine alpha receptor due to the presence of the candidate compound or Deciding whether to decrease. Antagonists can be used to prevent septic shock, inflammation, cerebral malaria, activation of HIV virus, graft host rejection, bone resorption, rheumatoid arthritis, and cachexia (waste or oligotrophic).

The present inventors have reported that Neutrokine α is not only neutrophil, but also kidney, lung, peripheral leukocyte, bone marrow, T cell lymphoma, B cell lymphoma, activated T cell, gastric cancer, smooth muscle, macrophage, umbilical cord It has been found that it is also expressed in blood tissue. Damage to a number of these tissues and cells (eg, tumor and tumor metastasis, infection of bacteria, viruses, and other parasites, immunodeficiency, septic shock, inflammation, cerebral malaria, activation of HIV virus, graft versus For host rejection, bone resorption, rheumatoid arthritis, and cachexia (waste or oligotrophic), "standard" Neutrokine alpha gene expression levels (i.e., in tissues or fluids from unimpaired solids) Significantly higher or lower levels of Neutrokine-α gene expression, as compared to Neutrokine-α expression levels, may result in certain tissues (eg, bone marrow) or body fluids (eg, bone marrow) taken from individuals with such disorders. , Serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid). Providing a diagnostic method useful during: comprising: (a) assaying the level of Neutrokine α gene expression in cells or body fluids of an individual; An increase or decrease in the assayed Neutrokine-α gene expression level compared to the standard Neutrokine-α gene expression level, and thereby compared to the standard expression level, is indicative of the disorder.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method for treating an individual in need of elevated levels of Neutrokine-α activity in the body, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated Neutrokine-α polypeptide of the present invention or a polypeptide thereof. A method comprising administering to such an individual a composition comprising the agonist.

Yet a further aspect of the invention is a method for treating an individual in need of a reduced level of Neutrokine-α activity in the body, comprising administering a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a Neutrokine-α antagonist to such an individual. And administering to the subject. Preferred antagonists for use in the present invention are Neutrokine-α specific antibodies.

The present invention provides the following.

(1) An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(A) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2);
(B) a nucleotide sequence encoding Neutrokine-α having the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996;
(C) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide extracellular domain;
(D) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine-α polypeptide transmembrane domain;
(E) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide intracellular domain;
(F) nucleotides encoding a soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptide comprising an extracellular domain and an intracellular domain, but lacking the transmembrane domain;
(G) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) above.

(2) The nucleic acid molecule according to item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a complete nucleotide sequence in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1).

(3) Item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) in FIG. 1 that encodes a Neutrokine α polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) in FIG. Nucleic acid molecule.

(4) The nucleic acid molecule according to item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) encoding soluble Neutrokine α containing the extracellular domain shown in FIG.

(5) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(A) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence consisting of residues n to 285 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein n is an integer in the range of 2 to 190;
(B) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence consisting of residues 1 to m of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein m is an integer in the range of 274 to 284;
(C) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence consisting of residues nm of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein n and m are defined in (a) and (b) above, respectively. An array that is an integer;
(D) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide consisting of a portion of the complete Neutrokine alpha amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996, wherein the portion comprises: A nucleotide sequence excluding the amino acids 1-190 and the amino acids 1-11 from the C-terminus of the complete amino acid sequence.

(6) The nucleic acid molecule according to item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996.

(7) The item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide having a complete amino acid sequence encoded by a cDNA clone contained in an ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996. A nucleic acid molecule as described.

(8) The item (1), wherein the polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence encoding a soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptide containing an extracellular domain encoded by a cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996. 3. The nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1.

(9) The polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence identical to the nucleotide sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of item (1) has a high stringency. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide that hybridizes under hybridization conditions, wherein the hybridizing polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues or only T residues. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that does not hybridize under stringent conditions.

(10) The amino acid sequence of the epitope-bearing portion of the Neutrokine α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) in item (1) An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an encoding polynucleotide.

(11) the isolated nucleic acid molecule of item (10), which encodes an epitope-bearing portion of a Neutrokine α polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid residue of about PheＰ115 to about Leu 147 ( A polypeptide comprising the amino acid residue of about Ile @ 150 to about Tyr @ 163 (SEQ ID NO: 2); an amino acid residue of about Ser @ 171 to about Phe @ 194 (SEQ ID NO: 2) A polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about Gluｌ223 to about Tyr 247 (SEQ ID NO: 2); and a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about Ser 271 to about Phe 278 (SEQ ID NO: 2).

(12) A method for producing a recombinant vector, comprising a step of inserting the isolated nucleic acid molecule according to item (1) into a vector.

(13) A recombinant vector produced by the method according to item (12).

(14) A method for producing a recombinant host cell, comprising a step of introducing the recombinant vector according to item (13) into a host cell.

(15) A recombinant host cell produced by the method according to item (14).

(16) A recombinant method for producing a Neutrokine-α polypeptide, wherein the recombination according to item (15) is performed under conditions such that the polypeptide is expressed and the polypeptide is recovered. A method comprising culturing a host cell.

(17) an isolated Neutrokine-α polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(A) the amino acid sequence of Neutrokine-α having the complete amino acid sequence in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2);
(B) the amino acid sequence of Neutrokine-α having the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996;
(C) the amino acid sequence of the Neutrokine α polypeptide extracellular domain;
(D) the amino acid sequence of the Neutrokine-α polypeptide transmembrane domain;
(E) the amino acid sequence of the Neutrokine α polypeptide intracellular domain;
(F) the amino acid sequence of a soluble Neutrokine-α polypeptide comprising a domain; and (g) any of the polypeptides of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f). The amino acid sequence of one of the epitope-bearing portions.

(18) An isolated polypeptide according to item (17), comprising an epitope-bearing portion of Neutrokine-α, wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of: about Phe @ 115 to about Leu 147 amino acid residues (SEQ ID NO: 2); polypeptide containing about Ile @ 150 to about Tyr @ 163 amino acid residues (SEQ ID NO: 2); about Ser @ 171 to about Phe @ 194 amino acid residue. A polypeptide comprising an amino acid residue from about Glu 223 to about Tyr 247 (SEQ ID NO: 2); and a polypeptide comprising from about Ser 271 to about Phe 278 (SEQ ID NO: 2). A polypeptide comprising.

(19) An isolated antibody that specifically binds to the Neutrokine α polypeptide according to item (17).

(20) A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide according to item (17) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

(21) An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(A) the nucleotide sequence of clone HSOAD55R (SEQ ID NO: 7);
(B) the nucleotide sequence of clone HSLAH84R (SEQ ID NO: 8);
(C) the nucleotide sequence of clone HLTBM08R (SEQ ID NO: 9);
(D) the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein said portion comprises at least 30 contiguous nucleotides from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 809; A) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c) or (d) above;

(Detailed description)
The present invention provides an isolation comprising a polynucleotide encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), determined by sequencing the cloned cDNA Neutrokine α. Provided nucleic acid molecules. The nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) was obtained by sequencing the HNEDU15 clone, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Park Lawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland, on October 22, 1996. The deposited clone is contained in the pBluescript SK (-) plasmid (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA).

ニ ュ ー The Neutrokine α protein of the present invention shares sequence homology with human mRNA translation products of TNF-α, TNF-β, and Fas ligand (FIG. 2). As noted above, TNFα plays a role in the regulation of cytotoxicity, necrosis, apoptosis, costimulation, proliferation, lymph node formation, immunoglobulin class switching, differentiation, antiviral activity, adhesion molecules and other cytokines and growth factors. It is thought to be an important cytokine to play.

(Nucleic acid molecule)
Unless otherwise indicated, all nucleotide sequences determined herein by sequencing DNA molecules were determined using an automated DNA sequencer (eg, Model 373 from Applied Biosystems, Inc.). And the entire amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the DNA molecule as determined herein was predicted by translation of the DNA sequence as determined above. Thus, as is known in the art for any DNA sequence determined by this automated approach, any nucleotide sequence determined herein may contain some errors. The nucleotide sequence determined by automation will typically be at least about 90% identical to the actual nucleotide sequence of the DNA molecule being sequenced, more typically at least about 95% to at least about 99.9. % Is the same. The actual sequence may be more accurately determined by other approaches, including manual DNA sequencing methods well known in the art. As is also known in the art, a single insertion or deletion in the determined nucleotide sequence, as compared to the actual sequence, causes a frameshift in translation of the nucleotide sequence, such that the determined nucleotide sequence The predicted amino acid sequence encoded is completely different from the amino acid sequence actually encoded by the DNA molecule being sequenced, beginning at a point such as an insertion or deletion.

By the "nucleotide sequence" of a nucleic acid molecule or polynucleotide, the sequence of deoxyribonucleotides for DNA molecules or polynucleotides and the corresponding sequence of ribonucleotides (A, G, C,, and U) for RNA molecules or polynucleotides ( Each thymidine deoxyribonucleotide (T) in the deoxyribonucleotide sequence specified herein is replaced by a ribonucleotide uridine (U)).

Using the information provided herein (eg, the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 1), a nucleic acid molecule of the invention encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide can be prepared using standard cloning and screening procedures (eg, starting material Procedure for cloning cDNA using mRNA). As an example of the present invention, the nucleic acid molecule described in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) was found in a neutrophil-derived cDNA library. An expressed sequence tag corresponding to a portion of the Neutrokine α cDNA was also found in neutrophils.

The Neutrokine-α gene has about 285 amino acid residues (an intracellular domain of about 46 amino acids (about 1 to about 46 amino acid residues in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2)) and a transmembrane domain of about 26 amino acids (FIG. Open reading encoding proteins of about 47 to about 72 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 2) and extracellular domain of about 213 amino acids (about 73 to about 285 amino acid residues of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2)) Frame; and an estimated molecular weight of approximately 31 kDa. The Neutrokine α protein shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) is about 20% similar and about 10% identical to human TNF-α, which can be accessed as GenBank Accession No. 339664.

As the skilled artisan will appreciate, due to the potential for sequencing errors described above, the actual complete Neutrokine-α polypeptide (including about 285 amino acids) encoded by the deposited cDNA will have some May be smaller. In particular, the determined Neutrokine-α coding sequence contains a second methionine codon at nucleotides 210-213 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) which can serve as a selective initiation codon for translation of the open reading frame. . More generally, the actual open reading frame will be in the range of ± 20 amino acids, predicted from either the first or second methionine codon from the N-terminus shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), Most likely it can be anywhere in the range of ± 10 amino acids. Depending on the analytical criteria used to identify the various functional domains, the exact "address" of the extracellular, intracellular, and transmembrane domains of Neutrokine-α polypeptide may vary slightly. It is further understood that gains are obtained. For example, the exact location of the Neutrokine-α extracellular domain in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) may vary slightly, depending on the criteria used to define the domain. From about to about 20 residues, more likely from about 1 to about 5 residues). In this case, the end of the transmembrane domain and the start of the extracellular domain are predicted based on the identification of the hydrophobic amino acid sequence at the above positions, as shown in FIG. In any event, as discussed further below, the present invention further provides polypeptides in which various residues have been deleted from the N-terminus of the intact polypeptide (the extracellular form of the soluble form of Neutrokine alpha protein). Constructing a domain (including polypeptides that delete one or more amino acids from the N-terminus of the extracellular domain described herein).

As indicated, nucleic acid molecules of the invention are in the form of RNA (eg, mRNA) or DNA (eg, including cDNA and genomic DNA obtained by cloning or produced synthetically). obtain. DNA can be double-stranded or single-stranded. Single-stranded DNA or RNA can be the coding strand (also known as the sense strand), or it can be the non-coding strand (also known as the antisense strand).

に よ っ て By "isolated" nucleic acid molecule (s) is intended a nucleic acid molecule (DNA or RNA) removed from its natural environment. For example, a recombinant DNA molecule contained in a vector is intended to be isolated for the purposes of the present invention. Further examples of isolated DNA molecules include recombinant DNA molecules that are maintained in a heterologous host cell, or (partially or substantially) purified DNA molecules in solution. An isolated RNA molecule comprises an in vivo or in vitro RNA transcript of a DNA molecule of the present invention. Nucleic acid molecules isolated according to the present invention further include those molecules that are produced synthetically.

単 離 The isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention includes a DNA molecule containing an open reading frame (ORF) having an initiation codon at positions 147 to 149 of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1). Furthermore, isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention include DNA molecules that differ substantially from the sequences described above, but still contain sequences that encode Neutrokine-α protein due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. Of course, the genetic code is well known in the art. Accordingly, generating degenerate variants as described above is routine for those skilled in the art. In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Neutrokine-α polypeptide having an amino acid sequence encoded by a cDNA contained in a plasmid deposited on October 22, 1996. Preferably, the nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence encoding the extracellular domain of a polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA clone described above.

The invention further provides a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), or the Neutrokine α cDNA contained in the deposited clone, or a sequence complementary to one of the above sequences. I do. Such isolated molecules, especially DNA molecules, are useful as probes for gene mapping by in situ hybridization to chromosomes and for detecting the expression of the Neutrokine-α gene in human tissues, for example by Northern blot analysis. is there.

The present invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules that encode portions of the nucleotide sequences described herein, as well as fragments of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein. Specifically, the present invention provides a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence (consisting of positions 1 to 1001 of SEQ ID NO: 1) representing the portion of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In addition, the present invention provides for sequences that are at least 95% identical to any portion of at least about 30 contiguous nucleotides, preferably at least about 50 nucleotides, of the sequence from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 809 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1). And polynucleotides comprising:

More generally, a diagnostic probe as discussed herein, by means of the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or a fragment of the isolated nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1). And fragments useful are at least about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, even more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably at least about 40 nt, useful as primers. Of course, larger fragments of 50-300 nt in length according to the invention are also useful. Because these fragments are the most, if not all, corresponding fragments of the deposited cDNA or nucleotide sequence as shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1). For example, by a fragment of at least 20 nt in length, a fragment of the deposited cDNA or comprising more than 20 contiguous bases from the nucleotide sequence as shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is contemplated. Preferred nucleic acid fragments of the invention include nucleic acid molecules encoding the epitope-bearing portion of the Neutrokine-α polypeptide as identified in FIG. 1 and described in more detail below.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a polynucleotide comprising one of the polynucleotides in a nucleic acid molecule of the invention described above (eg, a cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996) under stringent hybridization conditions. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide that hybridizes to a portion of the nucleic acid. Depending on the "stringent hybridization conditions", a solution containing parentheses (50% formamide, 5 × SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5 × denhardt It is intended to wash the filters in liquid, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 g / ml denatured sheared salmon sperm DNA @) at 42 ° C. overnight, followed by 0.1 × SSC at about 65 ° C.

By a polynucleotide that hybridizes to a "portion" of a polynucleotide, at least about 15 nucleotides (nt) of the reference polynucleotide, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, even more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably about Polynucleotides (either DNA or RNA) that hybridize between 30 and 70 (eg, 50) nt are contemplated. These are useful as diagnostic probes and primers, as discussed in more detail above and below.

For example, a portion of a polynucleotide "length of at least 20 nt" may result in the nucleotide sequence of a reference polynucleotide (eg, a deposited cDNA or a sequence from a nucleotide sequence as shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1)). Twenty or more contiguous nucleotides are contemplated. Of course, only in the poly A sequence (eg, the 3 ′ terminal poly (A) section of the Neutrokine α cDNA shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1)) or in the region complementary to the T (or U) residue. Polynucleotides that hybridize are not included in the polynucleotides of the invention used to hybridize to a portion of the nucleic acids of the invention. This is because such polynucleotides will hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing the poly (A) region or its complement (eg, especially any double-stranded cDNA clone).

As indicated, a nucleic acid molecule of the invention encoding a Neutrokine alpha polypeptide may include, but is not limited to, a nucleic acid molecule encoding: an amino acid sequence of the extracellular domain of the polypeptide, by itself; And coding sequences and additional sequences of the extracellular domain of the polypeptide (eg, intracellular and transmembrane domain sequences, or sequences encoding a pre-protein sequence or a pro-protein sequence or a pre-pro-protein sequence); Or the coding sequence of the extracellular domain of the polypeptide not including.

Also encoded by the nucleic acids of the invention are the protein sequences described above with additional non-coding sequences, such as introns and non-coding 5 ′ and 3 ′ sequences (eg, roles in transcription, mRNA processing (eg, ribosome Transcribed untranslated sequences (including splicing and polyadenylation signals) responsible for binding and mRNA stability); including but not limited to additional coding sequences that encode additional amino acids such as sequences that provide additional functionality. Not done.

Accordingly, a sequence encoding a polypeptide can be fused to a marker sequence, such as a sequence encoding a peptide that facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide. In certain preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the marker amino acid sequence is, inter alia, a tag provided in a hexa-histidine peptide (eg, a pQE vector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA, 91311)). ), Many of which are commercially available. See, for example, Gentz et al., Proc. {Natl. {Acad. {Sci. Hexahistidine provides for convenient purification of the fusion protein, as described in {USA} 86: {821-824} (1989). The "HA" tag is another peptide useful for purification corresponding to an influenza hemagglutinin protein-derived epitope, which is described by Wilson et al., Cell {37: {767} (1984). As discussed below, other such fusion proteins include Neutrokine alpha fused to Fc at the N- or C-terminus.

(Variant and mutant polynucleotide)
The invention further relates to variants of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention that encode a part, analog, or derivative of Neutrokine alpha protein. Variants can occur naturally, such as naturally occurring allelic variants. By "allelic variant" is intended one of several alternative forms of a gene that occupy a given locus on the chromosome of an organism. Genes II, Lewin, B .; Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York (1985). Non-naturally occurring variants can be generated using mutagenesis techniques known in the art.

Such variants include variants produced by nucleotide substitution, deletion, or addition. Substitutions, deletions, or additions may involve one or more nucleotides. Variants can be altered in the coding region, non-coding region, or both. Changes in the coding region may result in conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. Especially preferred among these are silent substitutions, additions and deletions, which do not alter the properties and activities of the Neutrokine-α protein, or a portion thereof. Also particularly preferred in this regard are conservative substitutions.

Most preferably, it is a nucleic acid molecule encoding the extracellular domain of a protein having the extracellular domain of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or the Neutrokine α amino acid sequence encoded by the deposited cDNA clone. . A further embodiment is a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical, and more preferably at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (A) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Neutrokine α polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2); (b) in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) Nucleotide sequence encoding the putative extracellular domain of Neutrokine alpha polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions 73-285 of (c) the complete amino acid encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC of October 22, 1996 Nucleotide sequence encoding Neutrokine α polypeptide having sequence (D) a nucleotide sequence encoding the extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996; and (e) A) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences of (b), (c), or (d).

A polynucleotide having at least a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% "identical" to a reference nucleotide sequence that encodes a Neutrokine alpha polypeptide, such that each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence that encodes a Neutrokine alpha polypeptide It is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide be identical to the reference sequence, except that it may contain up to 5 point mutations per nucleotide. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to the reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence can be deleted or replaced with another nucleotide, or As many as 5% of all nucleotides in a sequence can be inserted into a reference sequence. These variations in the reference sequence may be at the 5 'or 3' end of the reference nucleotide sequence, either individually within the nucleotides within the reference sequence, or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence. And can occur anywhere between these terminal positions.

In practice, any particular nucleic acid molecule will have, for example, at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 or the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA clone. Whether they are the same can be determined by using the Bestfit program (Wisconsin \ Sequence \ Analysis \ Package, Version \ 8 \ For \ Unix (registered trademark), Genetics \ Computer \ Group, University \ Recruit \ Recruit, etc.). And can be determined conventionally. Bestfit is described in Smith and Waterman, {Advances in in Applied} Materials. {2: 482-489} (1981) using the local homology algorithm to find the best segment of homology between the two sequences. When using Bstfit or any other sequence alignment program to determine whether a particular sequence is, for example, 95% identical to a reference sequence according to the present invention, the parameters, of course, are the percent identity, It is set to be calculated over the entire length of the reference nucleotide sequence and to allow for gaps in homology up to 5% of the total number of nucleotides in the reference sequence.

The present application relates to the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) or the deposited cDNA sequence at least 90%, 95%, whether or not it encodes a polypeptide having Neutrokine-α activity. Related to nucleic acid molecules that are 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical. This is because even if a particular nucleic acid molecule does not encode a polypeptide having Neutrokine-α activity, one of skill in the art will understand how to convert nucleic acid molecules into, for example, hybridization probes, or primers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Because you still know whether to use it. Uses of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention that do not encode a polypeptide having Neutrokine α activity include, among others, (1) isolating the Neutrokine α gene or an allelic variant thereof in a cDNA library; (2) Verma et al. , Human Chromosomes: A Manual of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988), to provide an accurate chromosomal location for the Neutrokine-α gene (eg, in situ HIS to metaphase chromosomal spreads). And (3) Northern blot analysis to detect Neutrokine α mRNA expression in specific tissues.

However, in fact, at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, or more of the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIG. Nucleic acid molecules having sequences that are 98% or 99% identical are preferred. By "a polypeptide having Neutrokine-α activity" is similar to (but not necessarily similar to) the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine-α protein of the invention or the activity of full-length Neutrokine-α protein as measured in a particular biological assay. Polypeptides that exhibit (not identical) activity are contemplated. For example, Neutrokine-α proteins of the invention regulate cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and cell death. In vitro cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and cell death assays for measuring protein effects on specific cells are well known and commonly utilized in the art to detect cell replication and / or cell death. This can be done by using possible reagents. For example, a number of such assays for TNF-related protein activity are described in the various references in the Background section of this disclosure above. Briefly, such assays collect human or animal (eg, mouse) cells and (1) transfected host cell supernatants containing Neutrokine alpha protein (or candidate polypeptide), or (2) Mixing with untransfected host cell supernatant controls, and measuring the effect on cell number or viability after a specified period of incubation. Such cell growth modulating activity, as can be measured in this type of assay, is useful in treating tumors, tumor metastases, infections, autoimmune disease inflammation, and other immune-related diseases.

@ Neutrokine-α regulates cell proliferation and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner in the above assay. Thus, "polypeptides having Neutrokine-α protein activity" also include polypeptides that exhibit any of the same cell-modulating (particularly immunomodulatory) activities in a dose-dependent manner in the assays described above. The extent of the dose-dependent activity need not be the same as the activity of Neutrokine-α protein, but preferably the “polypeptide having Neutrokine-α protein activity” is substantially the same as the Neutrokine-α protein at a given activity compared to Neutrokine-α protein. (Ie, the candidate polypeptide exhibits about 25-fold greater or less activity, and preferably about 10-fold or less, as compared to the reference Neutrokine-α protein) ).

Neutrokine-α, like other members of the TNF family, exhibits activity on leukocytes, including, for example, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. For this reason, Neutrokine-α is active in directing the proliferation, differentiation, and recruitment of these cell types. Such activities are useful for immune enhancement or suppression, myeloprotection, stem cell mobilization, control of acute and chronic inflammation, and treatment of leukemia. Assays for measuring such activity are known in the art. See, for example, Peters et al., {Immun. Today {17: 273 (1996); Young et al. , @J. Exp. Med. {182: 1111 (1995); Caux et al., Nature 390: 258 (1992); and Santago-Shwarz et al., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. $ 378: 7 (1995).

Of course, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, those skilled in the art will recognize that the nucleic acid sequence of the deposited cDNA or the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) has at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% It is immediately recognized that a number of nucleic acid molecules having a sequence that is%, or 99% identical, encode a polypeptide that has "Neutrokine-α protein activity." Indeed, since all of these degenerate variants of the nucleotide sequence encode the same polypeptide, this will be apparent to one of skill in the art even without performing the above-described comparative assays. It is further recognized in the art that for such nucleic acid molecules that are not degenerate variants, reasonable numbers also encode polypeptides having Neutrokine-α protein activity. This is because, as described further below, one of skill in the art will recognize that either amino acid substitutions that are unlikely to have a significant effect or are unlikely to have a significant effect on the function of the protein (e.g., (The substitution of one aliphatic amino acid for a second aliphatic amino acid).

(Vector and host cell)
The present invention also relates to vectors containing the isolated DNA molecules of the present invention, host cells genetically engineered with recombinant vectors, and the production of Neutrokine-α polypeptides or fragments thereof by recombinant techniques. The vector can be, for example, a phage vector, a plasmid, a viral vector, or a retroviral vector. Retroviral vectors can be replicable or replication-defective. In the latter case, virus propagation generally occurs only in complementing host cells. The polynucleotide can be ligated to a vector containing a selectable marker for propagation in a host cell. Generally, a plasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate, such as a calcium phosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a virus, the vector can be packaged in vitro using a suitable packaging cell line and then transduced into host cells.

The DNA insert may be a suitable promoter, such as the phage λPL promoter, the E. coli lac promoter, the trp promoter, the phoA promoter, and the tac promoter, the SV40 early and late promoters, and the retroviral LTR promoter, to name just a few. ) Should be operatively connected to Other suitable promoters are known to those skilled in the art. The expression construct further contains sites for transcription initiation, transcription termination, and a ribosome binding site for translation in the transcribed region. The coding portion of the extracellular domain of the transcript expressed by the construct preferably includes a transcription initiation at the beginning of the polypeptide to be translated and a suitably positioned stop codon (UAA, UGA, or UAG) at the end. )including.

As indicated, the expression vector preferably contains at least one selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase, G418, or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, and E. coli. For culture in E. coli and other bacteria, a tetracycline resistance gene, a kanamycin resistance gene, or an ampicillin resistance gene may be mentioned. Representative examples of suitable hosts include bacterial cells (eg, E. coli cells, Streptomyces cells, and Salmonella typhimurium cells); fungal cells (eg, yeast cells); insect cells (eg, Drosophila S2 cells and Spodoptera Sf9 cells) ); Animal cells (eg, CHO cells, COS cells, 293 cells, and Bowes melanoma cells); and plant cells. Suitable culture media and conditions for the above host cells are known in the art.

Among the preferred vectors for use in bacteria are pQE70, pQE60, and pQE-9 (available from QIAGEN, Inc., supra); pBS vectors, Phasescript vectors, Bluescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A (Stratagene). And ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 (available from Pharmacia). Among preferred eukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1, and pSG (available from Stratagene); and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG, and pSVL (available from Pharmacia). Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

導入 Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE dextran mediated transfection, cationic lipid mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection or other methods. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In Molecular Molecular Biology (1986).

Polypeptides can be expressed in modified forms, such as fusion proteins, and can contain not only secretion signals but also additional heterologous functional regions. For example, regions of additional amino acids, especially charged amino acids, may be used to improve the stability and durability of the polypeptide in the host cell, during purification, or during subsequent manipulation and storage, to improve the N-terminal of the polypeptide. Can be added. Also, a peptide moiety can be added to the polypeptide to facilitate purification. Such regions can be removed prior to final preparation of the polypeptide. In particular, the addition of peptide moieties to polypeptides to produce secretion or elimination, improve stability, and to facilitate purification is well known in the art and is a routine technique. . Preferred fusion proteins contain heterologous regions from immunoglobulins useful for protein stabilization and purification. For example, EP-A-0 464 533 (Canadian application 2045869) discloses a fusion protein comprising various parts of the constant region of an immunoglobulin molecule together with another human protein or part thereof. In many cases, the Fc portion in a fusion protein is quite advantageous for use in therapy and diagnosis, thus resulting, for example, in improved pharmacokinetic properties (EP-A {0232} 262). On the other hand, for some uses, it is desirable that the fusion protein be capable of being deleted, Fc portion deleted after being expressed, detected and purified in the advantageous manner described. This is when the Fc moiety proves to be an obstacle to its use in therapy and diagnosis (eg, when the fusion protein is used as an antigen for immunization). In drug discovery, for example, human proteins such as hIL-5 have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. D. Bennett et al., {J. {Molecular} Recognition 8: 52-58 (1995); Johanson et al., {J. {Biol. {Chem. $ 270: See 9449-9471 (1995).

Neutrokine-α protein can be purified by ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and lectin chromatography. It can be recovered from recombinant cell culture and purified by well known methods, including, Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography ("HPLC") is used for purification. The polypeptides of the invention can be natural purified products, products of chemical synthetic procedures, and prokaryotic or eukaryotic hosts, including, for example, bacterial cells, yeast cells, higher plant cells, insect cells, and mammalian cells. From recombinant technology. Depending on the host used in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the invention can be glycosylated or non-glycosylated. In addition, the polypeptides of the invention may also contain an initial modified methionine residue, in some cases as a result of a host-mediated process.

(Neutrokine α polypeptide and fragment)
The present invention further provides an isolated Neutrokine α polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the deposited cDNA, or the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), or a peptide comprising a portion of the above polypeptide or A polypeptide is provided.

(Variants and mutant polypeptides)
Protein engineering can be used to improve or modify the characteristics of Neutrokine-α polypeptide. Recombinant DNA techniques known to those skilled in the art can be used to create novel mutant proteins or "muteins containing single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, additions, or fusion proteins". Such modified polypeptides can exhibit, for example, enhanced activity or increased stability. In addition, they can be purified in high yield and, at least under certain purification and storage conditions, show better solubility than the corresponding native polypeptides.

(N-terminal deletion mutant and C-terminal deletion mutant)
For example, for many proteins, including the extracellular domain or mature form of a secreted protein, one or more amino acids can be deleted from the N-terminus or C-terminus without substantial loss of biological function. It is known in the art. See, for example, Ron et al. Biol. Chem. , 268: 2984-2988 (1993), have reported a modified KGF protein that has heparin binding activity even though the 3, 8, or 27 amino terminal amino acid residues are missing.

In this case, since the protein of the invention is a member of the TNF polypeptide family, the deletion of the N-terminal amino acid up to the Gly (G) residue at position 191 of FIG. Activity (eg, cytotoxicity to appropriate target cells).

Polypeptides with additional N-terminal deletions that include a Gly (G) residue are not expected to retain such biological activity. Because this residue is the beginning of a conserved domain required for biological activity in TNF-related polypeptides. However, if the deletion of one or more amino acids from the N-terminus of the protein results in an alteration in the loss of one or more biological functions of the protein, other biological activities may still be retained. Thus, the ability of a truncated protein to induce and / or bind an antibody that recognizes the complete or extracellular domain of the protein generally has less residues than the majority of the complete or extracellular domain of the protein. When removed from the end, it is retained. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking the N-terminal residue of an intact protein retains such immunological activity will depend on routine methods described herein and other methods known in the art. It can easily be determined by routine methods.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a polypeptide having from one or more residues from the amino terminus to the Gly191 residue from the amino terminus of the amino acid sequence of Neutrokine α shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), and Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are provided. In particular, the invention provides a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of residues n-190 of SEQ ID NO: 2, where n is an integer in the range of 2-190 and 191 is a Neutrokine alpha protein Is the position of the first residue from the N-terminus of the complete Neutrokine-α polypeptide (shown in SEQ ID NO: 2), which may be required for the activity of More specifically, the present invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of the following residues of SEQ ID NO: 2:

Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Similarly, many examples of biologically functional C-terminally deleted muteins are known. For example, interferon gamma shows up to 10-fold higher activity by deleting 8-10 amino acid residues from the carboxy terminus of this protein (Doebeli et al., {J. Biotechnology 7: 199-216 (1988)). . Because the protein is a member of the TNF polypeptide family, deletion of the C-terminal amino acid up to Leu at position 284 will reduce most, if not all, of the biological activity (eg, modulating receptor binding and cell replication) ). Polypeptides with deletions of up to about 10 additional C-terminal residues may also retain some activity (eg, receptor binding), but such polypeptides have a conserved TNF that begins approximately at Leu284. Lack the domain part. However, even though the deletion of one or more amino acids at the C-terminus of the protein alters the loss of one or more biological functions of the protein, other biological activities may still be retained. Thus, the ability of the truncated protein to induce and / or bind antibodies that recognize the intact or mature protein generally retains when less than most of the intact or mature protein has residues removed from the C-terminus. Is done. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking the C-terminal residue of an intact protein retains such immunological activity will depend on routine methods described herein and other methods known in the art. It can easily be determined by routine methods.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a polypeptide having from one or more residues from the carboxy terminus to the Gly274 residue from the carboxy terminus of the amino acid sequence of Neutrokine α shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), and Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are provided. In particular, the present invention provides a polypeptide having residues 1 to m of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein m is any integer in the range of 274-284. More specifically, the present invention relates to the residue of SEQ ID NO: 2, residues 1-274, 1-275, 1-276, 1-277, 1-278, 1-279, 1-280, 1-281, 1-282. , 1-283, and 1-284 are provided. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Also provided is a polypeptide having one or more amino acids deleted from both the amino and carboxy termini, which generally has residues nm of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, where n And m can be described as being integers as described above. Also, a polypeptide consisting of a portion of the complete Neutrokine alpha amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996, wherein this portion is a polypeptide in the deposited clone. Polypeptides excluded from 1-190 amino acids from the amino terminus or 1-11 amino acids from the C-terminus (or any combination of these N-terminal and C-terminal deletions) of the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA Also included are nucleotide sequences that encode the peptide. Polynucleotides encoding the above-described deleted polypeptides are also provided.

(Other variants)
In addition to the truncated forms of the proteins described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that the amino acid sequence of some of the Neutrokine-α polypeptides can be altered without significant effect on the structure or function of the protein. . When such sequence differences are contemplated, it should be remembered that there are important regions of the protein that determine activity.

Accordingly, the present invention further includes variants of Neutrokine α polypeptide that exhibit substantial Neutrokine α polypeptide activity or that include regions of Neutrokine α protein (eg, the protein portions discussed below). Such variants include deletions, insertions, inversions, repetitions, and type substitutions selected according to general rules known in the art to have little effect on activity. For example, further guidance on making phenotypically silent amino acid substitutions can be found in Bowie, {J. U. "Deciphering the Message in Proteins Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions", Science 247: 1306-1310 (1990). Here, the authors show that there are two main approaches to study the tolerance of amino acid sequences to changes. The first is by the process of evolution, where the mutations are either accepted or rejected by natural selection. The second approach uses genetic engineering to introduce amino acid changes at specific locations in the cloned gene, and selection or screening identifies sequences that retain functionality.

According to the authors, these studies have revealed that proteins are surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions. The authors further indicate which amino acid substitutions appear to be tolerated at specific positions in the protein. For example, most buried amino acid residues require nonpolar side chains, while surface side chain characteristics are generally poorly conserved. Other such phenotypically silent substitutions are described in Bowie, {J. U. Al., Supra and in the references cited therein. Typically found as conservative substitutions are substitutions of one amino acid for another in the amino acids Ala, Val, Leu, and Ile; exchange of hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr, acidic residues. Exchange of Asp and Glu, substitution between amide residues Asn and Gln, exchange of basic residues Lys and Arg, and substitution between aromatic residues Phe, Tyr.

Thus, a fragment, derivative, or analog of the polypeptide of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or the polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA may comprise (i) one or more amino acid residues having conservative or non-conservative amino acids. Residues (preferably conservative amino acid residues), such substituted amino acid residues may or may not be encoded by the genetic code, or (ii) Where one or more amino acid residues comprise a substituent, or (iii) the extracellular domain of the polypeptide is fused to another compound, such as a compound that increases the half-life of the polypeptide (eg, polyethylene glycol). Or (iv) the additional amino acid is an IgG Fc fusion region peptide or leader or secretory sequence or poly Which is fused to the extracellular domain of the polypeptide, such as a sequence used for purification of the extracellular domain of peptide or proprotein sequences, it may be. Such fragments, derivatives and analogs are deemed to be within the skill of the art in light of the teachings herein.

Thus, Neutrokine-α of the present invention may comprise one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions, either from natural mutations or man-made manipulations. As shown, changes in insignificant properties are preferred, such as conservative amino acid substitutions that do not significantly affect the folding or activity of the protein (see Table 1).

Amino acids in the Neutrokine-α protein of the invention that are essential for function can be identified by methods known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine scanning mutagenesis {Cunningham and Wells, {Science} 244: 1081. -1085 (1989)). The latter procedure induces a single alanine mutation at every residue in the molecule. The resulting mutant molecules are then tested for biological activity, such as receptor binding or in vitro or in vivo proliferative activity.

Of particular concern is the replacement of a charged amino acid with another charged or neutral amino acid. This can result in proteins with improved properties that are highly desirable (eg, less aggregation). Aggregation is a problem not only because it can result in reduced activity, but also because the aggregates can be immunogenic in preparing pharmaceutical formulations (Pinkard et al., Clin. @Exp. @Immunol. 2: 331-340). (Robins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845) (1987); Cleland et al., Crit. Rev. Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10: 307-377 (1993)).

Amino acid substitutions can also alter the selectivity of binding of a ligand to a cell surface receptor. For example, Ostade et al., Nature {361: 266-268} (1993) describe certain mutations that result in the selective binding of TNFα to only one of the two known types of TNF receptors. Since neurokine α is a member of the TNF polypeptide family, mutations similar to those of TNF-α appear to have a similar effect on neurokine α.

Sites critical for ligand-receptor binding can also be determined by structural analysis such as crystallization, nuclear magnetic resonance, or photoaffinity labeling (Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904 (1992)). And de @ Vos et al., Science $ 255: 306-312 (1992)). Since neurokine alpha is a member of the TNF-related protein family, in order to modulate rather than completely eliminate the biological activity of neurokine alpha, the mutation preferably encodes an amino acid of the TNF conserved domain Made within the sequence (ie, positions 191-284 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2)), more preferably at residues in this region that are not conserved by all members of the TGF family. By creating specific mutations in Neutrokine-α at positions where such conserved amino acids are typically found in the relevant TNF, Neutrokine-α acts as an antagonist, thereby retaining angiogenic activity I do. Accordingly, the polypeptides of the present invention include neurokine alpha mutants. Such a Neutrokine-α mutant comprises the full-length or preferably the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine-α amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2). Further, the forming part of the present invention is also an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the above Neutrokine α mutant.

ポ リ The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably are substantially purified. Recombinantly produced forms of the Neutrokine-α polypeptide can be substantially purified by a one-step method as described in Smith and Johnson, {Gene 67: 31-40} (1988).

The polypeptide of the invention is a complete polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA, including the intracellular, transmembrane, and extracellular domains of the polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA; Extracellular domain minus domain and transmembrane domain, complete polypeptide of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), extracellular domain of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) minus intracellular domain and transmembrane domain, and Include polypeptides having at least 90% similarity, more preferably at least 95% similarity, and even more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% similarity to the polypeptide.

A further polypeptide of the invention is at least 80% identical, more preferably at least 90% or 95% identical, even more preferably, to the polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA or the polypeptide of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2). It includes polypeptides that are at least 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical, and also includes portions of such polypeptides that have at least 30 amino acids, and more preferably have at least 50 amino acids.

By the "% similarity" between the two polypeptides, the Bestfit program (Wisconsin \ Sequence \ Analysis \ Package, Version \ 8 \ Unix (R)), Genetics \ Computer \ Group \ Recruit, University of Canada, Recruitment, University of Canada, and the University of Canada. The similarity value that results from comparing the amino acid sequences of two polypeptides using a default setting to determine is contemplated. Bestfit uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Advances in Applied Materials 2: 2: 482-489) (1981) to find the best segment of similarity between two sequences.

A polypeptide having at least a 95% "identical" amino acid sequence to the reference amino acid sequence of a Neutrokine alpha polypeptide, such that the polypeptide sequence has up to five for each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid sequence of the Neutrokine alpha polypeptide It is intended that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide be identical to the reference sequence, except that it may include an amino acid change of In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the reference amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the reference sequence can be deleted or replaced with another amino acid, Alternatively, as many amino acids as up to 5% of the total amino acid residues in the reference sequence can be inserted into the reference sequence. These modifications of the reference sequence may be distributed at the amino-terminal or carboxy-terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence, or individually between residues of the reference sequence, or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence. Somewhere between the end positions to be performed can occur.

In practice, any particular polypeptide will have at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, is whether it is 98%, or 99% identical, Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, version for Unix (registered trademark) 8, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, It can be determined conventionally using known computer programs, such as WI @ 53711). When using Bestfit or any other sequence alignment program to determine, for example, whether a particular sequence is 95% identical to a reference sequence of the present invention, the percentage of identity will naturally be greater than the reference amino acid sequence. The parameters are calculated such that a gap in homology of up to 5% of the total number of amino acid residues in the reference sequence is allowed, calculated over the entire length of the reference sequence.

ポ リ The polypeptides of the present invention can be used as molecular weight markers on SDS-PAGE gels or molecular sieve gel filtration columns using methods well known to those skilled in the art.

As described in detail below, the polypeptides of the present invention are also useful in assays to detect Neutrokine alpha protein expression, as described below, or are capable of enhancing or inhibiting Neutrokine alpha protein function. And, as an antagonist, it can be used to raise polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, such polypeptides can be used in a yeast two-hybrid system to "capture" Neutrokine-α protein binding proteins that are also candidate agonists and antagonists of the invention. The yeast two-hybrid system is described in Fields and Song, Nature # 340: 245-246 (1989).

(Epitope holding part)
In another aspect, the present invention provides a peptide or polypeptide comprising an epitope-bearing portion of a polypeptide of the present invention. The epitope portion of the polypeptide is an immunogenic or antigenic epilobe of the polypeptide of the invention. An "immunogenic epitope" is defined as a portion of a protein that elicits an antibody response when the entire protein is an immunogen. On the one hand, the region of the protein molecule to which an antibody can bind can be defined as an "antigenic epitope." The number of immunogenic epitopes on a protein is generally less than the number of antigenic epitopes. See, for example, Geysen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 3998-4002 (1983).

For the selection of peptides or polypeptides bearing an antigenic epitope (ie, including regions of the protein molecule to which antibodies can bind), relatively short synthetic peptides that mimic a portion of the protein sequence were partially mimicked It is well known in the art that antisera reactive with proteins can be routinely induced. See, for example, Sutcliffe, J. et al. G. FIG. , Shinnick, T .; M. Green, N .; And Learner, R.A. A. (1983) "Antibodies \ that \ react \ with \ predetermined \ sites \ on \ proteins. \ Science \ 219: 660-666." Peptides capable of inducing protein-reactive sera are frequently present in the primary sequence of the protein, and can be characterized by a simple set of chemical rules, and immunize intact proteins (ie, immunogenic epitopes). It is not restricted to the dominant region, nor to the amino or carboxyl terminus. The antigenic epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides of the present invention are therefore useful for raising antibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind to a polypeptide of the present invention. See, for example, 777 in Wilson et al., Cell {37: 767-778} (1984).

The antigenic epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides of the present invention preferably comprise at least 7, more preferably at least 9, and most preferably about 15 to about 30 amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of the present invention. Contains an array. Non-limiting examples of antigenic polypeptides or peptides that can be used to raise Neutrokine-specific antibodies include: the amino acid residues from about Phe115 to about Leu147 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2). A polypeptide containing amino acid residues from about Ile150 to about Tyr163 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2); a polypeptide containing amino acid residues from about Ser171 to about Phe194 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) A polypeptide containing amino acid residues from about Glu223 to about Tyr247 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2); a polypeptide containing amino acid residues from about Ser271 to about Leu278 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2). These polypeptide fragments were determined to carry the antigenic epitope of Neutrokine-α protein by analysis of the Jameson-Wolf antigenicity index as shown in FIG. 3 above.

エ ピ ト ー プ The epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides of the present invention can be produced by any convenient means. For example, Houghten, R. A. １９ (1985) General method for the rapid solid-phase synthesis of large numbers ｉｃ ｐ ｉｃ ｐ １９ ８５ １９ １９ ８５ {Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA {82: 5131-5135;} This "multiple peptide synthesis (SMPS)" process is further described in U.S. Patent No. 4,631,211 to Houghten et al., (1986).

エ ピ ト ー プ The epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides of the present invention are used to induce antibodies by methods well known in the art. See, eg, Sutcliffe et al., Supra; Wilson et al., Supra; Chow, {M. Proc. {Natl. {Acad. {Sci. {USA} 82: 910-914; and Bittle, {F. {J. J. et al. @Gen. {Virol. $ 66: 2347-2354 (1985). The immunogenic epitope-bearing peptides of the invention (ie, the portion of the protein that elicits an antibody response) are identified according to methods known in the art when the entire protein is an immunogen. See, for example, Geysen et al., Supra. Still further, Geysen (1990) US Pat. No. 5,194,392 discloses a topological equivalent of an epitope that is complementary to a particular paratope (antigen binding site) of an antibody of interest, or “mimotope”). A general method for detecting or determining the sequence of a monomer (amino acid or other compound) is described. More generally, Geysen (1989) U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,092 discloses a sequence of monomers that is a topological equivalent of a ligand that is complementary to the ligand binding site of the particular receptor of interest. The method of detection or determination is described. Similarly, Houghten, R. R. in Personalized <RTIgt; Oligopeptide </ RTI> Mixtures. A. (1996) U.S. Patent No. 5,480,971 discloses a linear C1-C7-alkyl peralkylated oligopeptide and set and libraries of such peptides, as well as preferential acceptor molecules of interest. Disclosed are methods of using such oligopeptide sets and libraries to determine the sequence of specifically linked hyperalkylated oligopeptides. Thus, non-peptide analogs of the epitope-bearing peptides of the present invention can also be routinely made by these methods.

(Fusion protein)
As the skilled artisan will appreciate, the Neutrokine-α polypeptides of the invention, as well as those epitope-bearing fragments described above, can bind to a portion of the constant domain of an immunoglobulin (IgG), resulting in a chimeric peptide. These fusion proteins facilitate purification and show an increased half-life in vivo. This has been shown, for example, for chimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins (EP A 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature 331: 84-86 (1988)). Fusion proteins with a disulfide-linked dimer structure by an IgG moiety may also be more effective at binding and neutralizing other molecules than monomeric Neutrokine-α protein or protein fragments alone (Funtoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270: 3958). -3964 (1995)).

(Diagnosis of immune system-related disorders)
We have discovered that Neutrokine-α is expressed in various tissues and especially in neutrophils. For a number of immune system-related disorders, a substantial increase in the level of "standard" neurokine alpha gene expression (i.e., the level of Neutrokine alpha expression in immune system tissues or fluids from an individual without the immune system disorder). Altered (increased or decreased) levels of Neutrokine-α gene expression may result in immune system tissue or other cells or body fluids (eg, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, or Cerebrospinal fluid). Thus, the present invention provides diagnostic methods useful during the diagnosis of systemic disorders, which measure the expression level of the gene encoding Neutrokine alpha protein in immune system tissue or other cells or body fluids from an individual. Measuring and comparing the measured gene expression level to a standard Neutrokine-α gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the gene expression level relative to the standard is indicative of an immune system disorder.

In particular, certain tissues in mammals with immune cancer have significantly increased or decreased levels of Neutrokine-α protein and mRNA encoding Neutrokine-α protein when compared to the corresponding “standard” levels. Is considered to be expressed. In addition, when enhanced or suppressed levels of Neutrokine-α protein are compared to serum from mammals of the same species without cancer, certain body fluids (e.g., serum, Plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid).

Accordingly, the present invention provides diagnostic methods useful during the diagnosis of immune system disorders, including cancers of this system. The method comprises measuring the expression level of a gene encoding Neutrokine-α protein in an immune system tissue or other cell or body fluid from the individual, and determining the measured gene expression level and a standard Neutrokine-α gene expression level. , Whereby an increase or decrease in gene expression levels relative to a standard is indicative of an immune system disorder.

If the diagnosis of a disorder in the immune system (including the diagnosis of a tumor) has already been made according to conventional methods, the present invention is useful as a prognostic indicator, whereby enhanced or suppressed Neutrokine-α gene expression is determined. Indicating patients will experience worse clinical results as compared to patients expressing this gene at a level closer to the standard level.

By "assaying the expression level of the gene encoding Neutrokine-α protein", it can be performed directly (e.g., by determining or evaluating absolute protein or mRNA levels) or relative in a first biological sample. Qualitatively (e.g., by comparing to Neutrokine-α protein protein levels or mRNA levels in a second biological sample) of the levels of Neutrokine-α protein or mRNA encoding Neutrokine-α protein A quantitative or quantitative measurement or evaluation is intended. Preferably, Neutrokine alpha protein or mRNA levels in the first biological sample are measured or evaluated and compared to standard Neutrokine alpha protein or mRNA levels. The standard can be obtained from a second biological sample obtained from an individual without a disorder or determined by the average level from a population of individuals without a disorder of the immune system. As will be appreciated in the art, once a standard Neutrokine-α protein level or mRNA level is known, it can be used repeatedly as a standard for comparison.

By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained from an individual, body fluid, cell line, tissue culture, or other source containing Neutrokine α protein or mRNA. As shown, the biological sample is comprised of body fluids (eg, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid) containing the free extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α protein, immune system tissues, and complete or free And the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine α protein or other tissue sources found to express the Neutrokine α receptor. Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals are well known in the art. If the biological sample contains mRNA, a tissue biopsy is the preferred source.

The present invention is useful for diagnosis or treatment of various immune system-related disorders in mammals (preferably humans). Such disorders include tumors and tumor metastases, infection by bacteria, viruses and other parasites, immunodeficiencies, inflammatory diseases, lymphadenopathy, autoimmune diseases, and graft-versus-host disease. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

Total cellular RNA may be obtained using any suitable technique, such as the one-step guanidine-thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method described in Chomczynski and Sacchi, {Anal.} Biochem. {162: 156-159} (1987). It can be isolated from a biological sample. The level of mRNA encoding Neutrokine-α protein is then assayed using any suitable method. These include Northern blot analysis, S1 nuclease mapping, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription combined with polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and reverse transcription combined with ligase chain reaction (RT-LCR).

Assaying Neutrokine-α protein levels in a biological sample can occur using antibody-based techniques. For example, Neutrokine-α protein expression in tissues can be studied by classical immunohistological methods (Jalkanen, M. et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101: 976-1985 (1985); Jalkanen, M. et al. J. Cell. Biol. 105: 3087-3096 (1987)). Other useful antibody-based methods for detecting Neutrokine-α protein gene expression include immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and radioimmunoassays (RIAs). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in the art, and include glucose oxidase, and radioisotopes (eg, iodine ( ¹²⁵ I, ¹²¹ I), carbon ( ¹⁴ C), sulfur ( ³⁵ S), tritium ( ³ H), indium ( ^111In ), and technetium ( ^99mTc )), and fluorescent labels (eg, fluorescein and rhodamine) and enzymes, such as biotin, labels.

加 え In addition to assaying Neutrokine-α protein levels in a biological sample obtained from an individual, Neutrokine-α protein can also be detected in vivo by image analysis. Antibody labels or markers for in vivo image analysis of Neutrokine-α protein include those detectable by radiography, NMR, or ESR. For radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes, such as barium or cesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not clearly harmful to the subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those having a detectable characteristic rotation, such as deuterium, that can be incorporated into the antibody by labeling of the relevant hybridoma nutrients.

Labeled with a suitable detectable image analysis moiety, such as a radioisotope (eg, ¹³¹ I, ¹¹¹ In, ^99m Tc), a radio-opaque substrate, or a substance detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance. Some Neutrokine alpha protein-specific antibodies or antibody fragments are introduced (e.g., parenterally, subcutaneously, or intravenously) into a mammal to be tested for an immune system disorder. It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the image analysis system used will determine the amount of image analysis portion required to produce a diagnostic image. In the case of radioisotope moieties, for human subjects, the amount of radioactivity injected is ^99m Tc, usually in the range of about 5-20 millicuries. The labeled antibody or antibody fragment then accumulates preferentially at the location of the cell containing the Neutrokine-α protein, respectively. In vivo tumor image analysis is described in W. Burchiel et al., "Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabelled Antibodies and Their Fragments": are described in (Tumer Imaging Chapter 13 The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S.W. Burchiel and B.A. Rhodes eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)) I have.

(antibody)
Neutrokine-α protein-specific antibodies for use in the present invention can be raised against the entire Neutrokine-α protein or an antigenic polypeptide fragment thereof. It can be presented to an animal system (eg, rabbit or mouse) with a carrier protein such as albumin, or without a carrier if it is sufficiently long (at least about 25 amino acids).

As used herein, the term “antibody” (Ab) or “monoclonal antibody” (Mab) refers to complete molecules and antibody fragments (eg, Fab and F) that can specifically bind to Neutrokine-α protein. (Ab ') ₂ fragments). Fab and F (ab ') ₂ fragments lack the Fc fragment of the intact antibody, are removed more rapidly by circulation, and have little to no nonspecific tissue binding of the intact antibody (Wahl et al., J. Nucl. Med. 24: 316-325 (1983)). Therefore, these fragments are preferred.

抗体 The antibody of the present invention can be prepared by any of various methods. For example, cells expressing Neutrokine alpha protein or an antigenic fragment thereof can be administered to an animal to induce the production of serum containing polyclonal antibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation of Neutrokine-α protein is prepared and purified as described above such that it is substantially free of natural contaminants. Such preparations are then introduced into animals to produce polyclonal antisera of greater specific activity.

In the most preferred method, the antibody of the present invention is a monoclonal antibody (or Neutrokine-α protein binding fragment thereof). Such monoclonal antibodies are available from hybridoma technology (Kohler et al., Nature 256: 495} (1975); Kohler et al., Eur. {J. {Immunol. 1976); Hammerling et al .: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas, Elsevier, NY, {(1981)} pp 563-681). In general, such procedures involve immunizing an animal, preferably a mouse, with Neutrokine-α protein antigen, or more preferably, Neutrokine-α protein-expressing cells. Suitable cells can be recognized by their ability to bind anti-Neutrokine-α protein antibodies. Such cells can be cultured in any suitable tissue culture medium; however, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (inactivated at about 56 ° C.) and containing about 10 g / l of non-essential amino acids, about 1 Preferably, the cells are cultured in Earle's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 2,000 U / ml penicillin and about 100 μg / ml streptomycin. The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with a suitable myeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may be used in accordance with the present invention; however, it is preferred to use the parental myeloma cell line (SP2O) available from American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland. After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectively maintained in HAT medium and then cloned by limiting dilution as described by Wands et al. (Gastroenterology {80: 225-232} (1981)). The hybridoma cells obtained by such selection are then assayed to identify clones that secrete antibodies capable of binding Neutrokine-α protein antigen.

Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of binding Neutrokine-α protein antigen can be produced in a two-step procedure through the use of anti-idiotypic antibodies. Such a method makes use of the fact that the antibody is itself an antigen, and thus makes it possible to obtain an antibody that binds to the secondary antibody. According to this method, Neutrokine-α protein-specific antibodies are used to immunize an animal, preferably a mouse. The spleen cells of such an animal are then used to produce hybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells have an antibody whose ability to bind to Neutrokine alpha protein-specific antibodies can be blocked by Neutrokine alpha protein antigen, respectively. Are screened to identify clones that produce. Such antibodies include anti-idiotypic antibodies to Neutrokine-α protein-specific antibodies and can be used to immunize animals to induce the formation of additional Neutrokine-α protein-specific antibodies.

It will be appreciated that Fab and F (ab ') ₂ fragments and other fragments of the antibodies of the invention can be used in accordance with the methods disclosed herein. Such fragments are typically produced by proteolytic cleavage using an enzyme such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce F (ab ') ₂ fragments). Alternatively, Neutrokine-α protein binding fragments can be produced through the application of recombinant DNA technology or through synthetic chemistry.

場合 For use in vivo imaging to detect enhanced levels of Neutrokine-α protein for diagnosis in humans, it may be preferable to use a “humanized” chimeric monoclonal antibody. Such antibodies can be produced using genetic constructs from hybridoma cells that produce the monoclonal antibodies described above. Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. For a review, see Morrison, Science 229: 1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4: 214 (1986); Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al. See Neuberger et al., WO 86601533; Robinson et al., WO 8702671; Boulianne et al., Nature 312: 643 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 314: 268 (1985).

(Treatment of immune system-related disorders)
As noted above, Neutrokine-α polynucleotides and polypeptides are useful in diagnosing conditions involving abnormally high or low expression of Neutrokine-α activity. Given the cells and tissues in which Neutrokine-α is expressed and the activity modulated by Neutrokine-α, substantially altered (increased or decreased) levels of Neutrokine α in the individual as compared to standard or “normal” levels Expression of Cain α results in a pathological condition associated with the bodily system in which Neutrokine α is expressed and / or active.

Because the Neutrokine-α protein of the invention is a member of the TNF family, the extracellular domain of the protein can be released in soluble form from cells that express Neutrokine-α by proteolytic cleavage, and therefore Neutrokine-α protein ( When extracellular domains (particularly in soluble form) are added to cells, tissues or the body of an individual from an exogenous source, the protein also exerts its modulating activity on any target cells of the individual. Understandable by traders. In addition, cells expressing the type II transmembrane protein can be added to cells, tissues or the body of an individual, whereby the added cells bind to cells that express the receptor for Neutrokine-α, and Cells that express Cain α can cause an effect (eg, cytotoxicity) on receptor-bearing target cells.

Therefore, conditions caused by a decrease in normal or normal levels of Neutrokine-α activity in an individual (particularly impairment of the immune system) include Neutrokine-α protein (a cell expressing the soluble extracellular domain form or intact protein). It is understood that it can be treated by the administration of Accordingly, the present invention also provides a method of treating an individual in need of increasing levels of Neutrokine-α. The method comprises administering to such an individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of an isolated Neutrokine-α polypeptide of the present invention to increase the level of Neutrokine-α activity in such an individual. Process.

Neutrokine-α should also regulate angiogenesis since it belongs to the TNF superfamily. In addition, Neutrokine-α has a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory activity because it inhibits immune cell function. Neutrokine-α stimulates invasion and activation of host defense cells (eg, cytotoxic T cells and macrophages) and anti-neoangiogenic factors for treating solid phase tumors by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis Can be used as Those of skill in the art are aware of other non-cancer indications where vascular growth is not desired. They can also be used to increase host defense against resistant chronic and acute infections, such as mycobacterial infections through the attraction and activation of bactericidal leukocytes. Neutrokine-α can also be used to inhibit T-cell proliferation by inhibiting IL-2 biosynthesis for the treatment of T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases and lymphocytic leukemia. Neutrokine-α can also be used to stimulate wound healing, both through debris removal and recruitment of connective tissue promoting inflammatory cells. In this same manner, Neutrokine-α can also be used to treat other fibrotic disorders, including cirrhosis, osteoarthritis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Neutrokine-α also increases the presence of eosinophils, which have a unique function of killing parasite larvae that invade tissues, such as in schistosomiasis, trichinellosis, and ascariasis. For example, to release mature leukocytes from the bone marrow following chemotherapy (ie, in stem cell recruitment), they can be used to regulate hematopoiesis by regulating the activation and differentiation of various hematopoietic progenitor cells. Neutrokine-α can also be used to treat sepsis.

(Prescription)
The Neutrokine-α polypeptide composition (particularly including the polypeptide that is a soluble form of the extracellular domain) can be used to determine the clinical status of individual patients (particularly the side effects of treatment with Neutrokine-α polypeptide alone), Neutrokine-α Taking into account the site of delivery, the method of administration, the dosing schedule, and other factors known to the practitioner of the peptide composition, it will be formulated and dispensed in a manner consistent with good medical practice. Accordingly, an "effective amount" of a Neutrokine-α polypeptide for the purposes herein is determined by such considerations.

As a general suggestion, the total pharmaceutically effective amount of Neutrokine-α polypeptide administered parenterally per dose ranges from about 1 μg / kg / day to 10 mg / kg / day per patient weight, As noted above, this is subject to therapeutic discretion. More preferably, the dose is at least 0.01 mg / kg / day, and most preferably about 0.01 to 1 mg / kg / day, for hormones for humans. When given continuously, Neutrokine-α polypeptide is typically administered at a dose rate of about 1 μg / kg / hr to about 50 μg / kg / hr, 1-4 injections per day, or, for example, It is administered by either continuous subcutaneous infusion using a minipump. An intravenous bag solution may also be used. The length of treatment required to observe the change, and the interval after which a response occurs after the treatment, seems to vary according to the desired effect.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Neutrokine-α polypeptides of the invention may be administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracistemally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (powder, ointment, eye drops, or transdermal patch) Na), buccally, or as an oral or nasal spray. "Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" means any type of non-toxic solid, semi-solid, or liquid excipient, diluent, encapsulating material, or formulation aid. The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration, including intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, substernal, subcutaneous, and intraarticular injection and infusion.

The Neutrokine alpha polypeptide is also suitably administered by a sustained release system. Suitable examples of sustained release compositions include a semi-permeable polymer matrix in the form of a shaped article (eg, a film or microcapsules). Sustained release matrices include polylactide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP $ 58,481), a copolymer of L-glutamic acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman, U. et al., Biopolymers 22: 547-556). (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (R. Langer et al., J. Biomed Mater. Res. 15: 167-277 (1981) and R. Langer, Chem. Tech. 12: 98-105 (1982). )), Ethylene vinyl acetate (R. Langer et al., Ibid.), Or poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustained-release Neutrokine-α polypeptide compositions also include Neutrokine-α polypeptide encapsulated in liposomes. Liposomes containing Neutrokine-α polypeptide are prepared by a method known per se (DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 82: 3688-3692) (1985). Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 77: 4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142, 641; Japan No. 83-118008; {U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545;} and EP {102,324). Typically, liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Å) unilamellar type, where the fat content is about 30 mol. The percentage selected, which is higher than% cholesterol, is adjusted for optimal Neutrokine-α polypeptide treatment.

For parenteral administration, in one embodiment, Neutrokine-α polypeptide will generally be in a unit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion) with the desired degree of purity. Mixing this polypeptide with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (ie, a carrier that is non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation). Is prescribed by For example, the formulation is preferably free of oxidizing agents and other compounds known to be deleterious to polypeptides.

In general, formulations are prepared by contacting the Neutrokine-α polypeptide uniformly and directly with a liquid carrier or a finely divided solid carrier, or both. Then, if necessary, the product is shaped into the desired formulation. Preferably, the carrier is a parenteral carrier, more preferably a solution that is isotonic with the blood of the recipient. Examples of such carrier vehicles include water, saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution. Non-aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils and ethyl oleate are also useful herein, as well as liposomes.

The carrier suitably contains minor amounts of additives such as substances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Such substances are non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and buffers such as phosphoric acid, citric acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, and other organic acids or salts thereof; Antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides (eg, polyarginine or tripeptide); proteins such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic such as polyvinylpyrrolidone Polymers; amino acids such as glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates, including cellulose or derivatives thereof, glucose, mannose, or dextrin; chelating agents such as EDTA; mannitol; Or a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol; Counterions such as sodium; and / or polysorbate, including non-ionic surfactants such as Porookisama (poloxamer) or PEG.

@ Neutrokine alpha polypeptides are typically formulated in such vehicles at a concentration of about 0.1 mg / ml to 100 mg / ml, preferably 1 to 10 mg / ml, at a pH of about 3 to 8. It is understood that the use of certain of the above-mentioned excipients, carriers, or stabilizers results in the formulation of Neutrokine-α polypeptide salt.

ニ ュ ー The Neutrokine-α polypeptide used for therapeutic administration must be sterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes (eg, a 0.2 micron membrane). Therapeutic Neutrokine-α polypeptide compositions generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

The Neutrokine-α polypeptide is typically stored in unit-dose or multi-dose containers (eg, sealed ampules or vials) as an aqueous solution or a lyophilized formulation for reconstitution. As an example of a lyophilized formulation, a 10 ml vial is filled with 5 ml of a sterile-filtered 1% (w / v) aqueous Neutrokine alpha polypeptide solution, and the resulting mixture is lyophilized. Injection solutions are prepared by reconstituting the lyophilized Neutrokine-α polypeptide using bacteriostatic distilled water for injection.

The invention also provides pharmaceutical packs and kits that include one or more containers filled with one or more components of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention. A notice in such container on a form prescribed by a governmental agency that regulates the manufacture, use, or sale of drugs or biological products, the manufacture, use, or use of the products for administration to humans. Or a notice reflecting the approval of the agency of sale may accompany it. Further, the polypeptides of the present invention can be used in combination with other therapeutic compounds.

(Agonists and antagonists-assays and molecules)
The invention also provides methods of screening compounds to identify compounds that enhance or block the action of Neutrokine-α on cells (eg, interaction with Neutrokine-α binding molecules such as receptor molecules). An agonist is a compound that increases the natural biological function of Neutrokine-α or functions in a manner similar to Neutrokine, while an antagonist reduces or eliminates such function.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for identifying a receptor protein or a ligand binding protein that specifically binds to Neutrokine α polypeptide. For example, a cell compartment (eg, a membrane or a preparation thereof) can be prepared from cells that express a molecule that binds Neutrokine-α. The preparation is incubated with labeled Neutrokine-α and the complex of Neutrokine-α bound to the receptor or other binding protein is isolated according to routine methods known in the art and characterized. Attached. Alternatively, Neutrokine-α polypeptide can be bound to a solid support such that the binding molecules solubilized from the cells bind to the column, and are then eluted and characterized according to routine methods.

In the assays of the invention for agonists or antagonists, the cellular compartment (eg, membrane or preparation thereof) expresses a molecule that binds Neutrokine α (eg, a molecule of a signaling or regulatory pathway regulated by Neutrokine α). Can be prepared from the cells. This preparation is incubated with labeled Neutrokine-α in the absence or presence of a candidate molecule, which may be a Neutrokine-α agonist or antagonist. The ability of the candidate molecule to bind to the binding molecule is reflected in reduced binding of the labeled ligand. Molecules that bind for no reason (ie, without inducing the effects of Neutrokine-α on binding Neutrokine-α binding molecules) are almost good antagonists. Molecules that bind well and elicit the same or closely related effects as Neutrokine-α are agonists.

Neutrokine alpha-like effects of potential agonists and antagonists can be determined, for example, by determining the activity of a candidate molecule on the second messenger system following interaction with a cell or appropriate cell preparation, and determining its effect, It can be measured by comparing to the effect of Neutrokine-α, or a molecule that elicits the same effect as Neutrokine-α. Second messenger systems that may be useful in this regard include, but are not limited to, AMP guanylate cyclase, ion channels, or phosphoinositide hydrolysis second messenger systems.

Another example of an assay for Neutrokine-α antagonists is the competition of Neutrokine-α with a potential antagonist having a membrane-bound receptor molecule or a recombinant Neutrokine-α receptor molecule under conditions suitable for a competitive inhibition assay. Assay. Neutrokine-α can be labeled, eg, by radioactivity, such that the number of Neutrokine-α molecules that bind to the receptor molecule can be accurately determined to assess the effects of potential antagonists.

Potential antagonists include small organic molecules, peptides, polypeptides, and antibodies that bind to a polypeptide of the invention and thereby inhibit or inactivate its activity. Potential antagonists also bind to the same site on a binding molecule (eg, a receptor molecule) without inducing Neutrokine-α-inducing activity, thereby preventing Neutrokine-α from binding, thereby preventing Neutrokine-α from binding. Can be small organic molecules, peptides, polypeptides, such as closely related proteins or antibodies, that interfere with the action of.

Other potential antagonists include antisense molecules. Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through antisense DNA or RNA or through triple helix formation. Antisense technology is described, for example, in Okano, {J. {Neurochem. {56: 560} (1991); discussed in Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL (1988). Triple helix formation is described, for example, in Lee et al., {Nucleic. {Acids Research 6: 3073} (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241: 456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251: 1360 (1991). The method is based on the binding of the polynucleotide to complementary DNA or RNA. For example, the 5 'coding portion of a polynucleotide encoding the extracellular domain of a polypeptide of the invention can be used to design antisense RNA oligonucleotides of about 10-40 base pairs in length. The DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to the gene region involved in transcription, thereby preventing the transcription and production of Neutrokine-α. Antisense RNA oligonucleotides hybridize to mRNA in vivo and block translation of the mRNA molecule into Neutrokine-α polypeptide. The oligonucleotides described above can also be delivered to cells so that the antisense RNA or DNA can be expressed in vivo and inhibit the production of Neutrokine-α.

Agonists and antagonists can be used in compositions with, for example, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as described above.

Antagonists include, for example, macrophages and their precursors, and neutrophils, basophils, B lymphocytes, and some subsets of T cells (eg, in certain autoimmune and chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases, Activated CD8 cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells) can be used to inhibit Neutrokine alpha chemotaxis and activity. Examples of autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis and insulin-dependent diabetes. Antagonists can also be used to treat infectious diseases (including silicosis, sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) by preventing the recruitment and activation of monocyte phagocytes. They can also be used to treat eosinophilia syndrome by preventing eosinophil production and migration. Endotoxin shock can also be treated by antagonists by preventing macrophage migration and production of the human chemokine polypeptides of the present invention. Antagonists can also be used to treat atherosclerosis by preventing monocyte infiltration in the arterial wall. Antagonists also inhibit chemokine-induced mast cells and eosinophil degranulation and the release of histamine, resulting in histamine-mediated allergic reactions and immunological disorders (including late allergic reactions, chronic urticaria, and atopic dermatitis) ) Can be used to treat IgE-mediated allergic reactions such as allergic asthma, rhinitis, and eczema can also be treated. Antagonists can also be used to treat chronic and acute inflammation by preventing the attraction of monocytes to the wound area. They can also be used to control normal pulmonary macrophage populations. This is because chronic and acute inflammatory lung diseases are associated with necrotic foci of mononuclear phagocytes in the lung. Antagonists may also be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis by preventing the attraction of monocytes to synovial fluid in the patient's joints. Monocyte influx and activation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of both degenerative and inflammatory arthropathy. Antagonists can be used to block deleterious cascades primarily due to IL-1 and TNF, which prevent the biosynthesis of other inflammatory cytokines. In this way, antagonists can be used to prevent inflammation. Antagonists can also be used to inhibit prostaglandin-dependent fever induced by chemokines. Antagonists can also be used to treat cases of bone marrow failure, such as aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Antagonists can also be used to treat asthma and allergies by preventing eosinophil accumulation in the lung. Antagonists can also be used to treat subepithelial basement membrane fibrosis, a hallmark feature of asthmatic lungs.

抗体 Antibodies to Neutrokine-α bind to Neutrokine-α by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration into the lung after injury and can be used to treat Neutrokine-α activity and treat ARDS. Antagonists can be used in compositions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for example, as described herein below.

(Chromosome assay)
The nucleic acid molecules of the invention are also useful for chromosome identification. The sequence can be specifically targeted to a particular location on an individual human chromosome and hybridize to that location. In addition, there is currently a need to identify specific sites on the chromosome. Currently, most chromosome labeling reagents based on actual sequence data (repetitive polymorphisms) are not available for labeling chromosomal locations. Mapping of DNA to chromosome according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating these sequences with disease-related genes.

In certain preferred embodiments in this regard, the cDNA disclosed herein is used to clone the genomic DNA of the Neutrokine-α protein gene. This can be accomplished using a variety of well-known techniques and generally commercially available libraries. The genomic DNA is then used for in situ chromosome mapping using well-known techniques for this purpose.

In addition, in some cases, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the cDNA. Computer analysis of the 3 'untranslated region of the gene is used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in genomic DNA and thus complicate the amplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of a cDNA clone to a metaphase chromosomal spread ("FISH") can be used to provide the exact chromosomal location in one step. This technique can be used with probes from cDNA as short as 50 or 60 bp. For a review of this technology, see Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: A Manual Of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical location of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data is described, for example, in V.A. @McKusick, found in @Mendelian \ Inheritance \ In \ Man (available online from Johns \ Hopkins \ University, Welch Medical \ Library). The relationship between the gene and the disease mapped to the same chromosomal region is then identified by linkage analysis (simultaneous inheritance of physically adjacent genes).

Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If the mutation is observed in some or all affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be causative of the disease.

Having described the invention in general, the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.

Example 1a: Expression and purification of "His-tagged" Neutrokine-α in E. coli
The bacterial expression vector pQE9 (pD10) is used for bacterial expression in this example. (QUIAGEN, Inc. supra). pQE9 encodes ampicillin antibiotic resistance ("Ampr"), a bacterial origin of replication ("ori"), an IPTG-inducible promoter, a ribosome binding site ("RBS"), QUIAGEN, Inc. , Six codons encoding histidine residues that allow for affinity purification using a nickel-nitrillo-triacetic acid ("Ni-NTA") affinity resin sold by supra, and an appropriate single restriction enzyme cleavage Including the site. These elements are such that the inserted DNA fragment encoding the polypeptide expresses a polypeptide having six His residues covalently linked to the amino terminus of the polypeptide (ie, a “6 × His tag”). Be aligned.

The DNA sequence encoding the desired portion of the Neutrokine α protein, including the extracellular domain sequence, is located at the amino-terminal sequence of the desired portion of the Neutrokine α protein and in the deposited construct 3 ′ of the cDNA coding sequence. Amplified from the deposited cDNA clone using PCR oligonucleotide primers that anneal to the sequence. Additional nucleotides containing restriction sites to facilitate cloning in the pQE9 vector are added to the 5 'and 3' primer sequences, respectively.

For cloning the extracellular domain of the protein, the 5 'primer has the sequence 5' GTG GGATCCA GCCTCCGGGCAGGCTG 3 '(SEQ ID NO: 10), which is the underlined BamHI restriction site followed by the BamHI restriction site in FIG. Contains 18 nucleotides of the amino-terminal coding sequence of the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine alpha sequence. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the point at which the 5 'primer in the protein coding sequence begins may be a DNA segment that encodes any desired portion of the complete Neutrokine alpha protein that is shorter or longer than the extracellular domain of the form. Understand that it can be modified to amplify. The 3 ′ primer has the sequence 5 ′ GTG AAGCTT TTATTACAGCAGTTTCAATGCACC 3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 11), which is an underlined Hind III restriction site, followed by two stop codons, and the Neutrokine α DNA sequence in FIG. Includes 18 nucleotides complementary to the 3 'end of the coding sequence.

消化 Digest the amplified Neutrokine-α DNA fragment and the vector pQE90 with BamH お よ び I and HindIII and then ligate the digested DNA together. Insertion of Neutrokine-α DNA into the restricted pQE90 vector places the Neutrokine-α protein coding region downstream of the IPTG-inducible promoter and in frame with the initiation AUG and the six histidine codons.

The ligation mixture was transformed into competent E. coli using standard procedures. E. coli cells. Such a procedure is described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NJ. Y. (1989). E. coli containing multiple copies of plasmid pREP4, which expresses the lac repressor and also confers kanamycin resistance ("Kan ^r "). E. coli strain M15 / rep4 is used in performing the exemplary examples described herein. This strain, which is the only of many strains that are suitable for expressing Neutrokine-α protein, is available from QIAGEN, Inc. It is commercially available from the above. Transformants are identified by their ability to grow on LB plates in the presence of ampicillin and kanamycin. Plasmid DNA is isolated from resistant colonies and the identity of the cloned DNA is confirmed by restriction analysis, PCR, and DNA sequencing. Clones containing the desired construct are grown overnight (“O / N”) in liquid culture in LB medium supplemented with both ampicillin (100 μg / ml) and kanamycin (25 μg / ml). The O / N culture is used to inoculate a large culture at a dilution of about 1:25 to 1: 250. Cells are grown to an absorbance at 600 nm between 0.4 and 0.6 ("OD600"). Transcription from the lac repressor sensitive promoter is then induced by adding isopropyl-BD-thiogalactopyranoside ("IPTG") to a final concentration of 1 mM and inactivating the lacI repressor. The cells are subsequently incubated for a further 3-4 hours. The cells are then harvested by centrifugation according to standard methods.

細胞 The cells are then agitated in 6 M guanidine HCl, pH６8 for 3-4 hours at 4 ° C. Cell debris is removed by centrifugation and the supernatant containing Neutrokine-α is loaded onto a nickel nitrilotriacetic acid ("Ni-NTA") affinity resin column (available from QIAGEN, Inc., supra). Proteins with a 6 × His tag can be bound to Ni-NTA resin with high affinity and purified by a single one-step procedure (for details, see The QIAexpressionistion, 1995, QIAGEN, Inc., supra). . Briefly, the supernatant is washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 8, the column is first loaded in 6 M guanidine HCl, pH 8, then washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine HCl, pH 6, and finally Neutrophil. Elution with 6M guanidine HCl, pH 5, with Cain α.

The purified protein is then regenerated by dialysis against phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 50 mM Na-acetate, pH6 buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. Alternatively, the protein can be successfully refolded while immobilizing on a Ni-NTA column. The recommended conditions are as follows: Regenerate in 500 mM @NaCl, 20% glycerol, 20 mM @ Tris / HCl, pH 7.4 (containing protease inhibitors) using a linear 6M-1M urea gradient. Regeneration should take place for a period of not less than 1.5 hours. After regeneration, the protein can be eluted by the addition of 250 mM imidazole. Imidazole is removed by a final dialysis step against PBS or 50 mM sodium acetate (pH 6) buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. Store the purified protein at 4 ° C or freeze at -80 ° C.

Example 1b: Expression and purification of Neutrokine-α in E. coli
The bacterial expression vector pQE60 is used for bacterial expression in this example. (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA, 91311). pQE60 encodes ampicillin antibiotic resistance ("Ampr") and has a bacterial origin of replication ("ori"), an IPTG-inducible promoter, a ribosome binding site ("RBS"), QIAGEN, Inc. It contains six codons encoding histidine residues that allow for affinity purification using a nickel nitrilotriacetic acid ("Ni-NTA") affinity resin commercially available from (supra), and an appropriate single restriction enzyme cleavage site. Such an element generates a polypeptide that encodes the polypeptide with six His residues covalently attached to the carboxy terminus of the peptide (ie, a “6 × His tag”). So that it can be inserted in such a manner. However, in this example, the polypeptide coding sequence is inserted such that translation of the six His codons is prevented, and thus the polypeptide is produced without the 6 × His tag.

A DNA sequence encoding the desired portion of Neutrokine-α protein, including the extracellular domain sequence, was obtained from the deposited cDNA clone by extracting the amino-terminal sequence of the desired portion of Neutrokine-α protein, and 3 ′ to the cDNA coding sequence. Amplify using PCR oligonucleotide primers that anneal to the sequence in the deposited construct. Additional nucleotides containing restriction sites to facilitate cloning into the pQE60 vector are added to each of the 5 'and 3' sequences.

For cloning the extracellular domain of the protein, the 5 'primer was a BspH restriction site underlined, followed by a sequence 5 containing the 17 nucleotides of the amino-terminal coding sequence of the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine alpha sequence of FIG. It has 'GTG TCATGA GCCTCCGGGCAGGCTG 3' (SEQ ID NO: 12). One of skill in the art will understand that, of course, the point in the protein coding sequence where the 5 'primer starts can be altered to amplify the desired portion of the complete protein, shorter or longer than its form of the extracellular domain. I do. The 3 'primer is a sequence 5' GTG AAGCTT containing an underlined HindIII restriction site followed by two stop codons and 18 nucleotides complementary to the 3 'end of the coding sequence in the Neutrokine α DNA sequence of FIG. TTATTACAGCAGTTTCAATGCACC 3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 13).

The amplified Neutrokine α DNA fragment and vector pQE60 are digested with BspHI and HindIII, and the digested DNAs are then ligated together. Insertion of Neutrokine-α DNA into the restricted pQE60 vector places the Neutrokine-α protein coding region, including its associated stop codon, downstream from the IPTG-inducible promoter and in-frame with the starting AUG. The accompanying stop codon prevents translation of the six histidine codons downstream of the insertion point.

The ligation mixture was prepared using the procedure described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989), using a standard tent such as that described in the procedure of Cold Spring Harbor, NY. E. FIG. E. coli cells. An E. coli strain containing multiple copies of plasmid pREP4 that expresses the lac repressor and confers kanamycin resistance ("Kanr"). E. coli strain M15 / rep4 is used to perform the illustrative examples described herein. This strain, which is the only one of many suitable for expressing Neutrokine-α protein, is available from QIAGEN, Inc. (See above). Transformants are identified by their ability to grow on LB plates in the presence of ampicillin and kanamycin. Plasmid DNA is isolated from resistant colonies and the identity of the clonal DNA is confirmed by restriction analysis, PCR, and DNA sequencing.

ク ロ ー ン Grow clones containing the desired constructs overnight (“O / N”) in liquid culture in LB medium supplemented with both ampicillin (100 μg / ml) and kanamycin (25 μg / ml). The O / N culture is used to inoculate the large culture at a dilution of about 1:25 to 1: 250. The cells are cultured to an optical density at 600 nm between 0.4 and 0.6 ("OD600"). Then, isopropyl-bD-thiogalactopyranoside ("IPTG") is added to a final concentration of 1 mM to induce transcription from the lac repressor sensitive promoter by inactivating the lacI repressor. Subsequently, the cells are incubated for a further 3-4 hours. The cells are then harvested by centrifugation.

細胞 The cells are then agitated in 6 M guanidine HCl (pH 8) at 4 ° C for 3-4 hours. Cell debris is removed by centrifugation and the supernatant containing Neutrokine-α is dialyzed against 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 6) supplemented with 200 mM ＣｌNaCl. Alternatively, the protein can be successfully refolded by dialysis against 500 mM NaCl, 20% glycerol, 25 mM Tris / HCl, pH 7.4 (containing protease inhibitors). After regeneration, the protein may be purified by ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography. Alternatively, an affinity chromatography step, such as an antibody column, can be used to obtain pure Neutrokine-α protein. The purified protein is stored at 4 ° C or frozen at -80 ° C.

(Example 2: Cloning and expression of Neutrokine α protein in baculovirus expression system)
In this illustrative example, the plasmid shuttle vector pA2GP was used to clone the cloned DNA encoding the extracellular domain of the protein lacking its naturally associated intracellular and transmembrane sequences. And a baculovirus leader and Summers et al., A Manual of Methods for Baculovirus Vectors and Insect Cell Culture Procedures, Texas Aggregation Experiment. 1555 (1987) is used to express the extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α protein. This expression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV), followed by the secretion signal peptide (leader) of the baculovirus gp67 protein, and convenient such as BamHI, Xbal, and Asp718. Contains restriction sites. The simian virus 40 ("SV40") polyadenylation site is used for efficient polyadenylation. For easy selection of recombinant viruses, the plasmid was transformed into E. coli under the control of the weak Drosophila promoter in the same orientation. It contains the β-galactosidase gene from E. coli, followed by the polyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The inserted gene is flanked by viral sequences for cell-mediated homologous recombination with wild-type viral DNA to generate a viable virus expressing the cloned polynucleotide.

Many other baculovirus vectors are constructed with appropriate placement of signals for transcription, translation, secretion, etc. (if necessary, signal peptides and in-frame AUGs, as will be readily understood by those of skill in the art). ) Can be used instead of the above vectors (eg, pAc373, pVL941, and pAcIM1). Such vectors are described, for example, in Luckow et al., Virology {170: 31-39} (1989).

A cDNA encoding the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine-α protein of the deposited clone and lacking the AUG initiation codon and the naturally associated intracellular and transmembrane domain sequences shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) Amplify using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5 'and 3' sequences of the gene. The 5 'primer contains an underlined BamHI restriction enzyme site followed by 18 nucleotides of the sequence of the extracellular domain of the Neutrokine-α protein shown in FIG. 1 (starting at the indicated end of the extracellular domain of the protein). It has the sequence 5 ′ GTG GGATCC CCGGGCAGGCTGCAGGGC 3 ′ (SEQ ID NO: 14). The 3 'primer has the sequence 5' GTG GGATCC TTATTACAGCAGTTTCAATGCACC 3 'containing the underlined BamHI restriction site followed by two stop codons and 18 nucleotides complementary to the 3' coding sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 15). Having.

The amplified fragment is isolated from the 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“Geneclean”, BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Ca.). The fragment is then digested with BamHI and purified again on a 1% agarose gel. This fragment is designated herein as F1.

Plasmids can be digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI and optionally dephosphorylated using bovine intestinal phosphatase, using routine procedures known in the art. The DNA is then isolated from the 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit ("Geneclean" BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, CA). This vector DNA is designated herein as "V1".

{Fragment F1 and dephosphorylated plasmid V1 are ligated together with T4 DNA ligase. E. FIG. coli HB101 or other suitable E. coli. E. coli hosts (eg, XL-1 Blue (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, CA) cells) were transformed with the ligation mixture and expanded on culture plates. DNA from individual colonies is digested using BamHI, and the bacteria containing the plasmid with the human Neutrokine-α gene are identified by analyzing the digestion products by gel electrophoresis. The sequence of the cloned fragment is confirmed by DNA sequencing. This plasmid is designated herein as pA2GP Neutrokine-α.

5 μg of the plasmid pA2GP Neutrokine α was transferred to Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 7413-7417 (1987), using the lipofection method described in co-pending with 1.0 μg of commercially available linearized baculovirus DNA (“BaculoGold ^™ baculovirus DNA”, Pharmingen, San Diego, CA.). Transfect. 1 μg of BaculoGold ^™ virus DNA and 5 μg of plasmid pA2GP Neutrokine-α are mixed in a sterile well of a microtiter plate containing 50 μl of serum-free Grace's medium (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, MD). Thereafter, 10 μl of Lipofectin and 90 μl of Grace's medium are added, mixed and incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes. The transfection mixture is then added dropwise to Sf9 insect cells (ATCC CRL 1711) seeded in 35 mm tissue culture plates with 1 ml of serum-free Grace's medium. The plate is then incubated for 5 hours at 27 ° C. The transfection solution is then removed from the plate and 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum is added. The culture is then continued at 27 ° C. for 4 days.

After 4 days, supernatants are collected and plaque assays are performed as described in Summers and Smith (supra). An agarose gel with “Blue Gal” (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) is used to allow easy identification and isolation of gal-expressing clones producing blue-stained plaques. (A detailed description of this type of "plaque assay" can also be found in the Insect Cell Culture and Baculovirology User's Guide (pages 9-10) distributed at Life {Technologies} Inc., Gaithersburg. After appropriate incubation, the blue-stained plaques are picked up with the tips of a micropipettor (Eppendorf). The agar containing the recombinant virus was then resuspended in a microcentrifuge tube containing 200 μl Grace's medium, and the suspension containing the recombinant baculovirus was used to seed Sf9 cells seeded on a 35 mm dish. Infect. After 4 days, the supernatants of these culture dishes are collected and then they are stored at 4 ° C. This recombinant virus is called V-neutrokine-α.

To assess Neutrokine α gene expression, Sf9 cells supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FBS are grown in Grace's medium. Cells are infected with recombinant baculovirus V-neutrokine-α at a multiplicity of infection (“MOI”) of about 2. If radiolabeled protein is desired, the medium is removed after 6 hours and replaced with methionine and cysteine free SF900II medium (available from Life Technologies Inc., Rockville, MD). After 42 hours, 5 μCi of ³⁵ S methionine and 5 μCi of ³⁵ S cysteine (available from Amersham) are added. The cells are further incubated for 16 hours and then harvested by centrifugation. The proteins in the supernatant and the intracellular proteins are analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by autoradiography (if radiolabeled).

ミ ク ロ Microsequencing of the amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified protein can be used to determine the amino-terminal sequence of the extracellular domain of the protein, and thus the breakpoint and length of the secretory signal peptide.

Example 3 Cloning and Expression of Neutrokine-α in Mammalian Cells
A typical mammalian expression vector contains a promoter element (which mediates the initiation of transcription of mRNA), a protein coding sequence, and signals necessary for termination of transcription and polyadenylation of the transcript. Additional elements include enhancers, Kozak sequences, and intervening sequences flanked by donor and acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highly effective transcription can be achieved with the early and late promoters from SV40, the long terminal repeat (LTR) from retroviruses (eg, RSV, HTLVI, HIVI), and the early promoter of cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, cellular elements can also be used (eg, the human actin promoter). Expression vectors suitable for use in the practice of the invention include, for example, vectors such as pSVL and pMSG (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC 37146), and pBC12MI (ATCC 67109). No. Mammalian host cells that can be used include human Hela, 293, H9 and Jurkat cells, mouse NIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos1, Cos7 and CV1, quail QC1-3 cells, mouse L cells, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells Is mentioned.

Alternatively, the gene can be expressed in a stable cell line that contains the gene for integration into the chromosome. Co-transfection with a selectable marker (eg, dhfr, gpt, neomycin, hygromycin) allows identification and isolation of the transfected cells.

The transfected gene may also be amplified to express large amounts of the encoded protein. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) marker is a useful marker for developing cell lines with hundreds or thousands of copies of the gene of interest. Another useful selectable marker is the enzyme glutamine synthase (GS) (Murphy et al., Biochem J. 227: 277-279 (1991); Bebbington et al., Bio / Technology 10: 169-175 (1992)). Using these markers, mammalian cells are grown in selective media and cells with the highest resistance are selected. These cell lines contain the amplified gene (s) integrated into the chromosome. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and NSO cells are often used for protein production.

The expression vectors pC1 and pC4 contain the Rous sarcoma virus strong promoter (LTR) (Cullen et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 438-47 (March 1985)) and a fragment of the CMV-enhancer (Boshart et al., Cell # 41: 521). -530 (1985)). Multiple cloning sites (eg, restriction enzyme cleavage sites BamHI, XbaI, and Asp718) facilitate cloning of the gene of interest. The vector further contains the 3 'intron, polyadenylation, and termination signal of the rat preproinsulin gene.

(Example 3 (a): Cloning and expression in COS cells)
Cloning the expression plasmid p Neutrokine α HA into a portion of the deposited cDNA encoding the extracellular domain of Neutrokine α protein into the expression vectors pcDNAI / Amp or pcDNAIII (available from Invitrogen, Inc.). Produced by The extracellular domain is fused to the secretory leader sequence of the human IL-6 gene to produce a soluble, secreted form of the polypeptide.

The expression vector pcDNAI / amp is as follows: E. coli effective for growth in E. coli and other prokaryotic cells. (2) ampicillin resistance gene for selection of plasmid-containing prokaryotic cells; (3) SV40 origin of replication for growth in eukaryotic cells; (4) CMV promoter, polylinker, SV40 intron; ( 5) Contains several codons encoding a hemagglutinin fragment (ie, an "HA" tag that facilitates purification), followed by a termination codon and a sequenced polyadenylation signal, so that the cDNA is conveniently converted to CMV It can be placed under expression control of a promoter, and operably linked to the SV40 intron and polyadenylation signal by restriction sites in the polylinker. The HA tag corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein described by Wilson et al., Cell {37: 767} (1984). The fusion of the HA tag to the target protein allows for easy detection and recovery of the recombinant protein using an antibody that recognizes the HA epitope. pcDNAIII further contains a selectable neomycin marker.

A DNA fragment encoding the extracellular domain of Neutrokine alpha polypeptide is cloned into the polylinker region of the vector such that recombinant protein expression is driven by the CMV promoter. The plasmid construction strategy is as follows. The Neutrokine α cDNA of the deposited clone was replaced with the E. coli described above. As with the construction of the vector for expression of Neutrokine-α in E. coli, amplification is performed using primers containing convenient restriction sites. Suitable primers used in this example include: The 5 'primer containing the underlined BamHI site, the Kozak sequence, the AUG start codon, the sequence encoding the secretory leader peptide from the human IL-6 gene, and the 18 nucleotides of the 5' coding region of the extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α protein was Has the following sequence: 5 ′ GCGGGATCC GCCACC ATGAACTCCTTCTCCACAAGCGCCTTCGGTCCAGTTGCCTCTCTCCTCTGGGCTGCTCCTGGTGTTGCCTGCTGCCTTCCTGCCCAGGTGCAGGCAGGCGAGCAGGCAGGCAGGCAGGCAGGCGAGCAGGCAGGCGAGCGGCC The 3 'primer containing the underlined BamHI restriction site, 18 of nucleotides complementary to the 3' coding sequence immediately before the stop codon, has the following sequence: 5 'GTG GGATCC TTACAGCAGTTTCAATGCACC 3' (SEQ ID NO: 17).

The PCR amplified DNA fragment and the vector pcDNAI / Amp are digested with BamHI and then ligated. The ligation mixture is E.coli strain SURE (available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, {11099 North Torrey Pines Road, La La Jolla, CA 92037), and the transformed culture is then incubated to allow ampicillin-resistant colonies to grow. Plate on plate. Plasmid DNA is isolated from resistant colonies and tested by restriction analysis or other means for the presence of the fragment encoding the Neutrokine alpha extracellular domain.

For expression of recombinant Neutrokine-α, COS cells can be prepared, for example, by using Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, DE 1989-X, using New York. Transform with the expression vector as described above. The cells are incubated under conditions for expression of Neutrokine-α by the vector.

Expression of the Neutrokine α-HA fusion protein can be determined by, for example, using the method described in Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; And immunoprecipitation. To this end, two days after transfection, the cells are labeled by incubating for 8 hours in medium containing ³⁵ S-cysteine. Cells and media are harvested and cells are washed and detergent-containing RIPA buffer as described in Wilson et al. (Cited above): 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.1% Dissolve in SDS, 0.5% DOC, 50 mM TRIS, pH 7.5. Proteins are precipitated from cell lysates and culture media using an HA-specific monoclonal antibody. The precipitated proteins are then analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. An expression product of the expected size is observed in the cell lysate, which is not observed in the negative control.

(Example 3 (b): Cloning and expression in CHO cells)
The vector pC4 is used for the expression of Neutrokine-α protein. Plasmid pC4 is a derivative of plasmid pSV2-dhfr (ATCC Accession No. 37146). To generate a soluble, secreted form of Neutrokine alpha polypeptide, the portion of the deposited cDNA encoding the extracellular domain is fused to the secretory leader sequence of the human IL-6 gene. This vector plasmid contains the mouse DHFR gene under the control of the SV40 early promoter. Chinese hamster ovary cells or other cells lacking dihydrofolate activity transformed with these plasmids are selected by growing the cells in selective media (α minus MEM, Life Technologies) supplemented with the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate. Can be done. Amplification of the DHFR gene in cells that are resistant to methotrexate (MTX) is well documented (eg, Alt, FW, Kellems, RM, Bertino, JR, and Schimke, RT). , 1978, J Biol. Chem. 253: 1357-1370, Hamlin, JL and Ma, C., Biochem. Et Biophys. Acta, 1097: 107-143 (1990), Page, M.J. See Sydenham, MA, Biotechnology 9: 64-68 (1991)). Cells grown in increasing concentrations of MTX develop resistance to the drug by overproducing the target enzyme DHFR as a result of amplification of the DHFR gene. When a second gene is linked to a DHFR gene, it is usually co-amplified and overexpressed. It is known in the art that this approach can be used to develop cell lines with more than 1,000 copies of the amplified gene (s). Subsequently, when methotrexate is removed, a cell line is obtained that contains the amplified gene that is integrated into the chromosome (s) of the host cell.

Plasmid pC4 contains the gene for the strong promoter of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Rous sarcoma virus (Cullen et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology, March 1985: $ 438-47), and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) ( Boshart et al., Cell # 41: 521-530 (1985)), including gene expression of fragments isolated from enhancers of immediate-early genes. Downstream of the promoter are the following single restriction enzyme cleavage sites that allow for incorporation of the gene: BamHI, XbaI and Asp718. Behind these cloning sites, the plasmid contains the 3 'intron and polyadenylation site of the rat preproinsulin gene. Other high efficiency promoters may also be used for long terminal repeats from expression (eg, the human β-actin promoter, SV40 early or late promoter, or other retroviruses (eg, HIV and HTLVI). Clontech Tet. Neutrokine alpha can be expressed in a regulated manner in mammalian cells using the -Off and Tet-On gene expression systems and similar systems (Gossen, M. and Bujard, H. 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. \ Sci. \ USA \ 89: 5547-5551. For polyadenylation of mRNA, other signals, such as from the human growth hormone or globin gene, may be used as well. Stable cell lines Alternatively, one may select based on co-transfection with a selectable marker (eg, gpt, G418, or hygromycin.) It is useful to use more than one selectable marker at the start (eg, G418 and methotrexate). .

Plasmid pC4 is digested with restriction enzyme BamHI and then dephosphorylated using bovine intestinal phosphatase by procedures known in the art. The vector is then isolated from a 1% agarose gel.

The DNA sequence encoding the extracellular domain of Neutrokine alpha protein (including the leader sequence) is amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5 'and 3' sequences of the gene. Includes an underlined BamHI site followed by Kozak sequence, AUG start codon, sequence encoding secretory leader peptide from human IL-6 gene, and 18 nucleotides of the 5 'coding region of the extracellular domain of Neutrokine-α protein 5 'primer contains the following sequence: 5' GCGGGATCC GCCACC ATGAACTCCTTCTCCACAAGCGCCTTCGGTCCAGTTGCCTTCTCCCTGGGGCTGCTCCTGGTGTGGCCTGCTGCCTTCCCTGCCCCAGTTGTGAGACAAGGGGACCTGGCCAGC 3 ' ( SEQ ID NO: 16). The 3 'primer containing the underlined BamHI, and 18 of nucleotides complementary to the 3' coding sequence immediately before the stop codon, contains the following sequence: 5 'GTG GGATCC TTACAGCAGTTTCAATGCACC 3' (SEQ ID NO: 17).

消化 Digest the amplified fragment with the endonuclease BamHI and then purify again on a 1% agarose gel. The isolated fragment and the dephosphorylated vector are then ligated with T4 DNA ligase. Then, E. E. coli HB101 cells or XL-1 Blue cells are transformed and bacteria containing the inserted fragment in plasmid pC4 are identified using, for example, restriction enzyme analysis.

チ ャ Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking the active DHFR gene are used for transfection. 5 μg of the expression plasmid pC4 is co-transfected with 0.5 μg of the plasmid pSV-neo using Lipofectin (Felgner et al., Supra). Plasmid pSV2-neo contains a dominant selectable marker (the neo gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confers resistance to a group of antibiotics, including G418). Cells are seeded in α-min MEM supplemented with 1 mg / ml G418. Two days later, cells are trypsinized and seeded on hybridoma cloning plates (Greiner, @Germany) in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 10, 25, or 50 ng / ml methotrexate and 1 mg / ml @ G418. After about 10-14 days, a single clone is trypsinized and then seeded with different concentrations of methotrexate (50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM) into 6-well petri dishes or 10 ml flasks. The clones growing at the highest concentration of methotrexate are then transferred to a new 6-well plate containing higher concentrations of methotrexate (1 μM, 2 μM, 5 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM). The same procedure is repeated until a clone is obtained which grows at a concentration of 100-200 μM. The expression of the desired gene product is analyzed, for example, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis or by reverse phase HPLC analysis.

(Example 4: Tissue distribution of Neutrokine α mRNA expression)
Northern blot analysis was performed to test the expression of the Neutrokine-α gene in human tissues using, inter alia, the method described by Sambrook et al. (Cited above). A cDNA probe containing the complete nucleotide sequence of Neutrokine-α protein (SEQ ID NO: 1) was labeled with ³² P using the rediprime ^™ DNA labeling system (Amersham Life Science) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After labeling, the probe was purified using a CHROMA SPIN-100 ^™ column (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.) according to the manufacturer's protocol number PT1200-1. Various human tissues were then tested for Neutrokine-α mRNA using the purified labeled probe.

Multi-tissue Northern (MTN) blots containing various human tissues (H) or human immune system tissues (IM) were obtained from Clontech, and using the ExpressHyb ^™ hybridization solution (Clontech), the manufacturer's protocol number PT1190-. Tested with labeled probe according to 1. Following hybridization and washing, blots were mounted and exposed to film overnight at -70 ° C, and the film was developed according to standard procedures.

It is clear that the invention can be implemented in other ways than those specifically described in the above description and examples. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are within the scope of the appended claims.

The disclosures of all publications (including patents, patent applications, journal articles, laboratory manuals, books, or other documents) cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

(Sequence list)

FIG. 1 shows the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) of Neutrokine α protein. Amino acids 1-46 represent the intracellular domain, amino acids 47-72 represent the transmembrane domain (underlined sequence), and amino acids 73-285 represent the extracellular domain (remaining sequence). FIG. 2 shows the Neutrokine α protein and TNF-α (SEQ ID NO: 3), TNF-β (Lymphotoxin) (SEQ ID NO: 4) as determined by the “Megalign” routine (part of the computer program called “DNAStar”). ) And the region of identity between the amino acid sequences of the FAS ligand (SEQ ID NO: 5). FIG. 3 shows an analysis of the Neutrokine α amino acid sequence. α, β, turn and coil regions; hydrophilic and hydrophobic; amphiphilic regions; flexible regions; antigen index and surface probability. The "Antigen Indicator-Jameson-Wolf" graph shows the location of the highly antigenic region of Neutrokine-α protein, ie, the region where the epitope-bearing peptide of the present invention can be obtained. FIG. 4A shows a related human cDNA clone of the present invention of the Neutrokine α nucleotide sequence determined from the human cDNA deposited at the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996 (these are HSOAD55R (SEQ ID NO: 7), HSLAH84R ( SEQ ID NO: 8) and HLTBM08R (designated SEQ ID NO: 9). FIG. 4B shows the relevant human cDNA clones of the invention of the Neutrokine α nucleotide sequence determined from the human cDNA deposited at the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996 (these are HSOAD55R (SEQ ID NO: 7), HSLAH84R ( SEQ ID NO: 8) and HLTBM08R (designated SEQ ID NO: 9). FIG. 4C shows the relevant human cDNA clones of the present invention of the Neutrokine α nucleotide sequence determined from the human cDNA deposited at the ATCC deposit on Oct. 22, 1996 (these are HSOAD55R (SEQ ID NO: 7), HSLAH84R ( SEQ ID NO: 8) and HLTBM08R (designated SEQ ID NO: 9).

Claims (1)

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(A) Nucleotide sequence encoding Neutrokine α polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence in FIGS.

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