WO2005092923A2 - Cytonectin and gene inhibitors thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to cytonectin, to polynucleotides that encode cytonectin, to inhibitors and antibodies that bind to cytonectin and to the use of compositions in the diagnosis and treatment of cytonectin-related diseases and conditions.

Description

Title of the Invention: Cytonectin, Cytonectin Gene And Cytonectin Inhibitors And Binding Ligands, And Their Use In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Disease

Field of the Invention: This invention relates to cytonectin, to polynucleotides that encode cytonectin, to inhibitors and antibodies that bind to cytonectin and to the use of compositions in the diagnosis and treatment of cytonectin-related diseases and conditions.

Cross-Reference to Related Applications This application claims a right of priority to United States Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/553,977, filed March 18, 2004, and 60/578,068, filed June 9, 2004, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Statement of Governmental Interest This invention was funded by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. The United States Government has certain rights to this invention.

Background of the Invention: Cytonectin is a novel 35,000 molecular weight protein that displays ion- independent adherence properties. It is expressed in a variety of organs and tissues, including brain cortex, nervous system, i.e. in neuronal cell lines, bovine gray matter, and AD entorhinal cortex. Cytonectin is evolutionarily conserved from human to rodent and avian species (Anderson, S.J. et al. (2002) "CYTONECTIN EXPRESSION IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE," J Neuropath Exp Neurol 61:230-236).

In the body, cytonectin serves as a type of "super glue." Its adhesive properties place it in a class of well-known "cell adherence molecules" (Turner, M.L. et al. (1992) "CELL ADHESION MOLECULES: A UNIFYING APPROACH TO TOPOGRAPHIC BIOLOGY," Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 67:359-77). Cytonectin appears to be a key structural component in the body, contributing to cell-cell interactions and 3-dimensional tissue structure. It also helps maintain the 3- dimensional aspects of neuronal and glial cells and their processes within the neuropil, which makes it an ideal candidate for studies involving Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

When cytonectin is overexpressed in the brain, as it is in Alzheimer's disease (AD), it may coat central nervous system cells and interfere with their functioning (Anderson, S.J. et al. (2002) "CYTONECTIN EXPRESSION IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE," J Neuropath Exp Neurol 61:230-236). This abnormal coating may also protect diseased cells and their processes from immune attack and removal by microglia, thereby promoting the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles within neurons and abnormal neurites in senile plaques. Hence, cytonectin, is likely to contribute to the general insolubility of plaques and tangles (Selkoe, D.J. (2001) "ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: GENES, PROTEINS, AND THERAPY," Physiol Rev 81:741-66). In addition, there is increasing evidence that these toxic amyloid effects begin within neurons and are perpetuated later in the plaques which are derived from their neurites (D'Andrea, M.R. et al. (2001) "EVIDENCE THAT NEURONES ACCUMULATING AMYLOID CAN UNDERGO LYSIS TO FORM AMYLOID PLAQUES IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE," Histopathology 38:120-34). The presence of microglia surrounding the amyloid cores indicates a smoldering inflammation (Selkoe, D.J. (2001) "ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: GENES, PROTEINS, AND THERAPY," Physiol Rev 81:741-66).

Furthermore, cytonectin is also thought to represent a physiologic "do not attack" signal molecule that prevents tissue destruction by cells of monocyte lineage (Anderson, S.J. et al. (2002) "Cytonectin Expression in Alzheimer Disease," J Neuropath and Experim Neurol 61(3):230-236; Nagai, H. (1990) "COMPARISON OF ORGANIC DENTIN MATRIX COMPOSITION BETWEEN BOVINE PERMANENT AND DECIDUOUS TEETH," J Stomatol Soc Japan 57:58-69). This observation was first based upon comparison of the dentin of primary versus secondary teeth. Odontoclasts, cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage, preferentially attack and resorb the roots of primary teeth, leaving the roots of secondary, permanent teeth intact (Kronfeld, R. (1932) "THE RESORPTION OF THE ROOTS OF DECIDUOUS TEETH," Dental Cosmos 74: 103-20). Cytonectin concentration represents the single, predominant difference in total protein profiles between normal deciduous and permanent teeth (Nagai, H. (1990) "COMPARISON OF ORGANIC DENTIN MATRIX COMPOSITION BETWEEN BOVINE PERMANENT AND DECIDUOUS TEETH," J Stomatol Soc Japan 57:58-69). The low level of cytonectin in deciduous dentin renders the root vulnerable to physiologic resorption, which contributes to the normal shedding of primary teeth (Nagai, H. (1990)

"COMPARISON OF ORGANIC DENTIN MATRIX COMPOSITION BETWEEN BOVINE PERMANENT AND DECIDUOUS TEETH," J Stomatol Soc Japan 57:58-69). That is why increased cytonectin is proposed as a "do not attack" signal for odontoclasts in secondary teeth. Extrapolation of this information to brain pathology in AD invokes the relationship of microglial cells to other cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage and their likely response to similar signals which take place on the molecular level. Therefore, the following hypothesis can be drawn: if cytonectin acts as "do not attack" signal, protecting the dentin of permanent teeth from resorption by odontoclasts, it may also serve a protecting role to abnormal cells in the brain from attacks by microglia. Microglial cells are considered important mediators of the neurodegenerative process in AD pathology (Kim, H. et al. (1991) "EVIDENCE FOR TAU EXPRESSION IN CELLS OF MONOCYTIC LINEAGE AND ITS IN VITRO PHOSPHORYLATION BY V-FMS KINASE," Oncogene 6: 1085-87; Griffin, W.S.T. et al. (1998) "GLIAL-NEURONAL INTERACTIONS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: THE

POTENTIAL ROLE OF A 'CYTOKJNE CYCLE' IN DISEASE PROGRESSION" Brain Pathol 8:65-72). Current findings of increased cytonectin in normal human secondary teeth and Down syndrome primary dentin support the bovine data (Nagai, H. (1990) "COMPARISON OF ORGANIC DENTIN MATRIX COMPOSITION BETWEEN BOVINE PERMANENT AND DECIDUOUS TEETH," J Stomatol Soc Japan 57:58-69). The association of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has already been well established (Sadowski, M. et al. (1999) "ENTORHINAL CORTEX OF AGED SUBJECTS WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME SHOWS SEVERE NEURONAL LOSS CAUSED BY NEUROFIBRILLARY PATHOLOGY," Acta Neuropathol 97: 156-64). Beyond the age of 40 years, most Down syndrome individual are reported to show neuropathology associated with AD. Cytonectin, however, is expressed in tissues characteristically involved in Down syndrome pathology, including placenta, gastrointestinal tract, cardiac myocytes, neuronal cells, and teeth. Cytonectin could contribute to abnormal functioning in the Down syndrome brain by impeding normal migration and synaptogenesis of neurons during embryonic life, resulting in cortical dysgenesis (Wisniewski, K.E. (1990) "DOWN SYNDROME CHILDREN OFTEN HAVE B RAIN WITH MATURATION DELAY, RETARDATION OF GROWTH, AND CORTICAL DYSGENESIS," Am J Med Genet Suppl 7:274-81).

Cytonectin was also found to be overexpressed in some leukemia cells (Anderson, S.J. et al. (2002) "CYTONECTIN EXPRESSION IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE," J Neuropath and Experim Neurol 61(3):230-236). Once again, this may allow the leukemia cells to escape immunosurveillance. An excess risk of leukemia is associated with Down syndrome and with AD (Fong, C.T. et al. (1987) "DOWN'S SYNDROME AND LEUKEMIA: EPIDEMIOLOGY, GENETICS, CYTOGENETICS AND MECHANISMS OF LEUKEMOGENESIS," Cancer Genet Cytogenet 28:55-76; Martin, R.L. et al. (1990) "A FAMILY-GENETIC STUDY OF DEMENTIA OF ALZHEIMER

TYPE," Arch Gen Psychiatry 47:395-96). Reportedly, Down syndrome individuals show an increased risk of leukemia throughout infancy, childhood, and adulthood, with an incidence up to 20 times that found in the normal population. If cytonectin acts generally in the body as a "do not attack" signal, its increased expression in leukemia cells could prevent their destruction by macrophages, resulting in escape of the neoplastic cells from immunosurveillance. Cytonectin coating of leukemic cells may be hypothesized to impart immunity from macrophage-mediated attack that permits them to survive and divide.

Cytonectin is also highly expressed in normal placenta (Nagai, H. (1990) "COMPARISON OF ORGANIC DENTIN MATRIX COMPOSITION BETWEEN BOVINE PERMANENT AND DECIDUOUS TEETH," Kokubyo Gakkai Zasshi. 57(l):58-69). The cytonectin molecule may help to prevent maternal immune rejection of the antigenically foreign fetal tissue.

The current findings suggest that further studies of cytonectin in AD, Down syndrome, leukemia, and normal tissues will prove rewarding. Overexpression of cytonectin in AD may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of this disorder by abnormally coating neurons, thus preventing them from communicating properly with one another, and protecting diseased cells and plaques from effective attack by microglial cells. The expression of cytonectin in key tissues involved in Down syndrome may contribute to the increased surface adherence reported for Down syndrome cells (Kumit, D.M. et al. (1985) "INCREASED ADHESIVENESS OF TRISOMY 21 CELLS AND ATRIOVENTRICULAR CANAL MALFORMATIONS IN DOWN SYNDROME: A STOCHASTIC MODEL," Am J Med Genet 20:385-991). This may in turn produce developmental anomalies due to incorrect migration and surface communication. Moreover, it may promote early development of AD. Cytonectin may also promote the pathogenesis of leukemia by coating blast cells, thus imparting immunity to them from macrophage attack. Finally, cytonectin' s adherence and protective properties in normal tissues may play an important physiologic role. The current invention will aid in better understanding cytoarchitecture and diagnosis and treatment of macrophage-mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Typically, proteins can be isolated and purified using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). In two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), proteins are separated according to charge (pi) by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the first dimension and according to size (Mr) by SDS-PAGE in the second dimension. The technique has a unique capacity for the resolution of complex mixtures of proteins, permitting the simultaneous analysis of hundreds or even thousands of gene products (O'Farrell, P.H. (1975) "HIGH RESOLUTION TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTROPHORESIS OF PROTEINS," J. Biol. Chem. 250(10): 4007-4021). Systems, which are more complex than bacteriophage, cannot be adequately analyzed by means of any one- dimensional technique for protein separation. So in order to provide a more extensive technique for complex systems, O'Farrell developed a method of performing a two-dimensional electrophoresis separation in polyacrylamide gel to obtain an extremely high resolution of proteins for separation of total protein

(O'Farrell, P.H. (1975) "HIGH RESOLUTION TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTROPHORESIS OF PROTEINS," J. Biol. Chem. 250(10): 4007-4021 ; Phillips, T.A. et al. (1980) "PROTEIN IDENTIFICATIONS ON O'FARRELL TWO-DIMENSION GELS: LOCATIONS OF 55 ADDITIONAL ESCHERICHIA COLI PROTEINS," J Bacteriol. 144(3) 1024-1033). In detail, the first stage of the two-dimensional electrophoretic separation involves isoelectric focusing of the proteins, so as to separate them in accordance with their different isoelectric points. Different proteins carry different electrical charges when dispersed in a buffer solution. Isoelectric focusing is carried out by using an electrical current to propel the protein molecules through a rod made of polyacrylamide gel material, and containing a pH gradient generated by the inclusion of amphoteric molecules called ampholytes which are commercially available. In the isoelectric focusing, the electrical current causes each protein molecule to migrate through the gel rod until the protein molecule reaches a location where the exact pH value neutralizes the electrical charge on the molecule. Thus, isoelectric focusing has the effect of separating the proteins with different electrical charges into discrete bands along the length of the gel rod, each band containing proteins having the same isoelectric point.

In the second stage of the two-dimensional electrophoresis, the proteins are separated in accordance with their different molecular weights, by electrophoresis of the proteins through a polyacrylamide gel slab, acting as a sieve, and preferably having a density gradient along the length of the slab, so that the density of the gel material increases along the length of the slab. Due to the density gradient, the gel slab has a porosity gradient which is inversely related to the density gradient, so that the pores in the gel become smaller and smaller along the length of the slab. Generally, the gel slab is cast or otherwise produced between two spaced glass plates. The gel rod from the first stage is extruded from its supporting tube. The extruded rod is spaghetti-like in form and consistency. The gel rod is pressed against the low-density end of the gel slab and is suitably held in place. An electrical voltage is then applied between buffer solutions at the opposite ends of the gel slab, whereupon the proteins migrate through the slab until the protein molecules are stopped by the smaller and smaller pores of the slab. The gel slab and the buffer solutions contain the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate, which binds to all of the proteins in the first dimension gel, conferring upon them all a negative charge. Thus, the isoelectric points of the proteins are not a factor in the second stage separation. In the second stage of the separation, the different proteins of different molecular weights produce separate spots along the gel slab. Each spot contains a purified protein having a unique isoelectric point and a unique molecular weight. The gel slab is peeled away from the supporting plates, and the spots in the gel slab are rendered visible by known staining and destaining procedures whereby the proteins are selectively stained with a suitable dye, so that a protein map is produced on the gel slab.

The individual gel spots can be cut out or cored, using a glass tube or some other cutter, to form gel spot cores. Each core contains a pure protein. Each gel spot core contains only a limited amount of the particular protein. A multiplicity of identical gel spot cores can be produced by making a multiplicity of identical runs of the two-dimensional separation processes, to produce a multiplicity of identical protein maps on replicate gel slabs, from which identical gel spots can be cored.

Unfortunately, due to extreme insolubility, cytonectin cannot be separated by the standard two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thus, a need exists for methods that would permit the isolation and characterization of cytonectin and similarly insoluble proteins. The present invention is directed to such need.

Summary of the Invention This invention relates to cytonectin, to polynucleotides that encode cytonectin, to inhibitors and antibodies that bind to cytonectin and to the use of compositions in the diagnosis and treatment of cytonectin-related diseases and conditions.

In detail, the present invention concerns a method of diagnosing a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises evaluating the sequence of cytonectin of the patient, wherein the method comprises comparing the nucleotide sequence of the cytonectin gene of the patient, or the amino acid sequence of the cytonectin protein of the patient to SEQ ID NO.:l or SEQ ID NO.:2, respectively.

The present invention additionally concerns a method of diagnosing a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises evaluating the expression or activity of cytonectin of the patient, wherein the method comprises an immunoassay involving: (A) an antibody elicited against a protein having an epitope of the cytonectin protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:2; or (B) a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO. : 1.

The present invention additionally concerns a method of treating a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises providing the patient with an inhibitor of cytonectin. The present invention additionally concerns the embodiment of such methods wherein the inhibitor is a peptide mimetic of cytonectin or an immunoglobulin that specifically binds to cytonectin, and especially the embodiments of such methods wherein the cytonectin-related disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of cancer and tauopathy (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, atherosclerosis, vascular disease, and cardiac disease).

The present invention additionally concerns a method of treating a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises providing the patient with cytonectin or with a polynucleotide that encodes cytonectin. The present invention additionally concerns the embodiment of such method wherein the cytonectin-related disease or condition is an immune system disorder (especially an autoimmune disorder).

The present invention additionally concerns a method of purifying proteins which comprises ROOGE.

The present invention additionally concerns an immunoglobulin that specifically binds to cytonectin.

The present invention additionally concerns a peptide fragment of cytonectin. The present invention additionally concerns an oligonucleotide fragment of a polynucleotide encoding cytonectin.

Brief Description of the Figures: Figure 1 shows glioblastoma multiforme immunoblotted against pre- immune (lane 1) and post-immune anti-cytonectin (lane 2) hen IgY. Equal quantities per lane of total cell proteins are separated by SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel. Bound IgY is detected by peroxidase tagged goat anti-IgY followed by chemiluminescent substrate and exposure to film. Migration of molecular weight markers x 1000 is shown to the left.

Figure 2 shows the results of an anti-cytonectin immunoblot. Equal quantities per lane of total cell proteins are separated by SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel. Bound IgY is detected by peroxidase tagged goat anti-IgY followed by chemiluminescent substrate and exposure to film. Lane 1) normal cerebellum, 2) normal cerebrum, 3) normal cerebrum, 4) grade II glioma, 5) grade III glioma, 6-9) grade IV glioblastoma multiforme, 10) grade IV gliosarcoma [a subcategory of GBM]. Migration of molecular weight markers x 1000 is shown to the left.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments: This invention relates to cytonectin, to polynucleotides that encode cytonectin, to inhibitors and antibodies that bind to cytonectin and to the use of compositions in the diagnosis and treatment of cytonectin-related diseases and conditions. The present invention concerns a novel gene that encodes the cytonectin protein. This protein is expressed in normal tissues including placenta and permanent teeth. Cytonectin protects normal organs from attack by the body's immune system. However, if it is incorrectly expressed in diseased tissue, this function becomes a liability. In tauopathy (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), where damaged brain cells should be removed by the immune system, incorrect expression of cytonectin can shield the diseased brain cells, thereby preventing resolution of the damage, and eventually making the damage worse. In brain, prostate, breast, ovarian and colon cancer, as well as in leukemia, incorrect cytonectin expression by the cancer can prevent the immune system from attacking and destroying the tumor cells. In a converse situation, in arthritis, the body's immune system may aggressively attack and destroy the joints, because sufficient or correct cytonectin protein expression that wards off immune attack is lacking. The identification of the cytonectin gene, and the development of specific antibodies to the protein, provides a means for diagnosing and treating diseases involving abnormal cytonectin expression. In particular, the invention provides tests for specific mutations in the cytonectin gene, which are useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, brain tauopathies, arthritis and autoimmune disease. Similarly, macrophage are destructive mediator cells in atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic plaque is highly insoluble. One of the lipid carrier proteins involved in atherosclerosis is also a molecule involved in Alzheimer tauopathy, suggesting the involvement of cytonectin in atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Thee term "cytonectin-related disease or condition" is intended to refer to any disease or condition that is characterized or associated with the abnormal or incorrect expression or processing of cytonectin-encoding polynucleotides, or cytonectin protein. Cytonectin-related disease or condition thus include tauopathy (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), atherosclerosis, vascular disease, cardiac disease, arthritis, immune system disorders (especially autoimmune disorders), brain, prostate, breast, ovarian colon cancer, and leukemia. One aspect of the present invention concerns the identification of the cytonectin gene. The nucleotide sequence encoding the cytonectin gene is:

SEQ ID NO:l

1 agagacgctg gagctccccc ccggctgtgt ccgcagagcc ggggccgggg acttcatgcg 61 ctaccactac aatggctcct tgatggacgg caccctcttc gattccagct actcccgcaa 121 ccacacctac aatacctata tcgggcaggg ttacatcatc cccgggatgg accaggggct 181 gcagggtgcc tgcatggggg aacgccggag aattaccatc cccccgcacc tcgcctatgg 241 ggagaatgga actgactcca tcggtttcct ccagggcagc gccccacttc gccccttccg 301 cagtggagaa gggcagccaa gtttggggag ggagggtggt tatggaaaaa cagaaccagc 361 atacccccag gacccagctg tgctgggagc ctcagtgtcc tcacctgtca agtgggcaag 421 ccatgctgat ccgcagggag acaagatccc tggctctgcc gtgctaatct tcaacgtcca 481 tgtcattgac ttccacaacc ctgcggatgt ggtggaaatc aggacactgt cccggccatc 541 tgagacctgc aatgagacca ccaagcttgg ggactttgtt cgataccatt acaactgttc 601 tttgctggac ggcacccagc tgttcacctc gcatgactac ggggcccccc aggaggcgac 661 tctcggggcc aacaaggtga tcgaaggcct ggacacgggc ctgcagggca tgtgtgtggg 721 agagaggcgg cagctcatcg tgcccccgca cctggcccac ggggagagtg gagcccgggg 781 agtcccaggc agtgctgtgc tgctgtttga ggtggagctg gtgtcccggg aggatgggct 841 gcccacaggc tacctgtttg tgtggcacaa ggaccctcct gccaacctgt ttgaagacat 901 ggacctcaac aaggatggcg aggtccctcc ggaggagttc tccaccttca tcaaggctca 961 agtgagtgag ggcaaaggac gcctcatgcc tgggcaggac cctgagaaaa ccataggaga 1021 catgttccag aaccaggacc gcaaccagga cggcaagatc acagtcgacg agctcaagct 1081 gaagtcagat gaggacgagg agcgggtcca cgaggagctc tgaggggcag ggagcctggc 1141 caggcctgag acacagaggc ccactgcgag ggggacagtg gcggtgggac tgacctgctg 1201 acagtcaccc tccctctgct gggatgaggt ccaggagcca actaaaacaa tggcagagga 1261 gacatctctg gtgttcccac caccctagat gaaaatccac agcacagacc tctaccgtgt 1321 ttctcttcca tccctaaacc acttccttaa aatgtttgga tttgcaaagc caatttgggg 1381 cctgtggagc ctggggttgg atagggccat ggctggtccc ccaccatacc tcccctccac 1441 atcactgaca cagctgagct tgttatccat ctccccaaac tttctctttc tttgtacttc 1501 ttgtcatccc cactcccagc ccctattcct ctatgtgaca gctggctagg acccctctgc 1561 cttcctcccc aatcctgact ggctcctagg gaaggggaag gctcctggag ggcagcccta 1621 cctctcccat gccctttgcc ctcctccctc gcctccagtg gaggctgagc tgaccctggg 1681 ctgctggagg ccagactggg ctgtagttag cttttcatcc ctaaagaagg ctttccctaa 1741 ggaaccatag aagagaggaa gaaaacaaag ggcatgtgtg agggaagctg cttgggtggg 1801 tgttagggct atgaaatctt ggatttgggg ctgaggggtg ggagggaggg cagagctctc 1861 cacactcaaa ggctaaactg gtgtcagtcc ttttttcctt tgttccaaat aaaagattaa 1921 accaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa The amino acid sequence of the cytonectin protein is:

SEQ ID NO:2

Met Arg Tyr His Tyr Asn Gly Ser Leu Met Asp Gly Thr Leu P e Asp 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Tyr Ser Arg Asn His Thr Tyr Asn Thr Tyr lie Gly Gin Gly 20 25 30 Tyr He He Pro Gly Met Asp Gin Gly Leu Gin Gly Ala Cys Met Gly 35 40 45 Glu Arg Arg Arg He Thr He Pro Pro His Leu Ala Tyr Gly Glu Asn 50 55 60 Gly Thr Asp Ser He Gly Phe Leu Gin Gly Ser Ala Pro Leu Arg Pro 65 70 75 80 Phe Arg Ser Gly Glu Gly Gin Pro Ser Leu Gly Arg Glu Gly Gly Tyr 85 90 95 Gly Lys Thr Glu Pro Ala Tyr Pro Gin Asp Pro Ala Val Leu Gly Ala 100 105 110 Ser Val Ser Ser Pro Val Lys Trp Ala Ser His Ala Asp Pro Gin Gly 115 120 125 Asp Lys He Pro Gly Ser Ala Val Leu He Phe Asn Val His Val He 130 135 140 Asp Phe His Asn Pro Ala Asp Val Val Glu He Arg Thr Leu Ser Arg 145 150 155 160 Pro Ser Glu Thr Cys Asn Glu Thr Thr Lys Leu Gly Asp Phe Val Arg 165 170 175 Tyr His Tyr Asn Cys Ser Leu Leu Asp Gly Thr Gin Leu Phe Thr Ser 180 185 190 His Asp Tyr Gly Ala Pro Gin Glu Ala Thr Leu Gly Ala Asn Lys Val 195 200 205 He Glu Gly Leu Asp Thr Gly Leu Gin Gly Met Cys Val Gly Glu Arg 210 215 220 Arg Gin Leu He Val Pro Pro His Leu Ala His Gly Glu Ser Gly Ala 225 230 235 240 Arg Gly Val Pro Gly Ser Ala Val Leu Leu Phe Glu Val Glu Leu Val 245 250 255 Ser Arg Glu Asp Gly Leu Pro Thr Gly Tyr Leu Phe Val Trp His Lys 260 265 270 Asp Pro Pro Ala Asn Leu Phe Glu Asp Met Asp Leu Asn Lys Asp Gly 275 280 285 Glu Val Pro Pro Glu Glu Phe Ser Thr Phe He Lys Ala Gin Val Ser 290 295 300 Glu Gly Lys Gly Arg Leu Met Pro Gly Gin Asp Pro Glu Lys Thr He 305 310 315 320 Gly Asp Met Phe Gin Asn Gin Asp Arg Asn Gin Asp Gly Lys He Thr 325 330 335 Val Asp Glu Leu Lys Leu Lys Ser Asp Glu Asp Glu Glu Arg Val His 340 345 350 Glu Glu Leu 355 SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 have been reported as, respectively, a hypothetical gene expressed in primary human renal epithelial cells that encodes an unnamed protein product (Watanabe, K. et al. "NEDO HUMAN CDNA SEQUENCING PROJECT," Pub-Med Accession Nos. AK025874 (gene) and BAB 15266 (protein); Sugano, S. et al. (direct submission to Pub-Med; Pub-Med Accession Nos. AK025874 (gene) and BAB15266 (protein)). Pub-Med Accession Nos. AK025874 and BAB 15266 are incorporated by reference herein.

The invention particularly concerns peptide variants ("mimetics") that are variants of cytonectin, as well as peptide derivatives thereof (e.g., salts, peptide conjugates, etc.). As used herein, a "peptide variant" of another peptide is a peptide molecule (or derivatized peptide) whose amino acid sequence differs from such other peptide, but is at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, or at least 50%, identical to such other sequence.

Diagnostic Uses

The recognition of the nucleotide sequence encoding cytonectin enable the use of polynucleotides having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:l, and polynucleotide (i.e., nucleic acid molecules >50 nucleotides in length) and oligonucleotide (i.e., nucleic acid molecules <50 nucleotides in length) fragments thereof to diagnose the presence or predisposition of an individual to a cytonectin-related disease or condition. In one embodiment, such diagnosis is conducted by determining the nucleotide sequence of the cytonectin gene (or an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide fragment thereof) of such recipient and comparing such sequence with SEQ ID NO:l in order to determine the presence of mutations and/or variant alleles of the cytonectin gene. Such analysis may comprise assessing single nucleotide polymorhism(s), or the comparison of sequences of larger regions of the cytonectin gene.

Likewise, the recognition of the amino acid sequence encoding cytonectin and a means for purifying the protein enable the use of proteins having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:l, and polypeptide (i.e., molecules >50 amino acids in length) and peptide (molecules <50 amino acids in length) fragments thereof to diagnose the presence or predisposition of an individual to a cytonectin-related disease or condition. In one embodiment, such analysis will comprise assessing the level of expression of the cytonectin gene, or the "pattern" (i.e., cell and/or tissue distribution, kinetics, etc.) of such expression.

In a preferred embodiment, such analysis can be conducted through the use of an immunoassay that specifically detects cytonectin. Any of a wide variety of immunoassay formats may be used in accordance with the methods of the present invention. Such formats may be heterogeneous or homogeneous, sequential or simultaneous, competitive or noncompetitive. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,563,036; 5,627,080; 5,633,141 ; 5,679,525; 5,691,147; 5,698,41 1 ; 5,747,352; 5,811,526; 5,851,778; and 5,976,822 illustrate several different assay formats and applications. Such assays can be formatted to be quantitative, to measure the concentration or amount of cytonectin, or they may be formatted to be qualitative, to measure the presence or absence of cytonectin.

Heterogeneous immunoassay techniques typically involve the use of a solid phase material to which the reaction product becomes bound, but may be adapted to involve the binding of nonimmobihzed antigens and antibodies (i.e., a solution- phase immunoassay). The reaction product is separated from excess sample, assay reagents, and other substances by removing the solid phase from the reaction mixture (e.g., by washing). One type of solid phase immunoassay that may be used in accordance with the present invention is a sandwich immunoassay. In the sandwich assay, the more analyte present in the sample, the greater the amount of label present on the solid phase. This type of assay format is generally preferred, especially for the visualization of low analyte concentrations, because the appearance of label on the solid phase is more readily detected.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, antibody that is specifically reactive with cytonectin is bound to a solid support

(i.e., immobilized) and incubated in contact with the biological sample being tested for the presence of cytonectin. Alternatively, the sample being evaluated may be treated under conditions sufficient to immobilize the cytonectin contained therein. As will be appreciated, the reactants may be incubated in an unbound state and then subsequently bound to the solid support (i.e., immobilizable reactants). The supports are then preferably extensively treated (e.g., by washing, etc.) to substantially remove reactants that failed to bind to the support. In consequence of such treatment, an immune complex forms between the antibody and cytonectin.

A detectably labeled second antibody (e.g., an anti-human IgG antibody) or a detectably labeled cytonectin is then preferably added and the support is incubated under conditions sufficient to permit such molecule to bind to any bound antibody - cytonectin complex that may be present. The support is then preferably extensively treated (e.g., by washing, etc.) to substantially remove any unbound molecules. If cytonectin is present in the test sample, a detectable tertiary immune complex will form. Sandwich assay formats are described by Schuurs et al. U.S. Patent Nos. 3,791,932 and 4,016,043, and by Pankratz, et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,876,935. The second antibody may be a natural immunoglobulin isolated from nonhuman primates (e.g., anti-human IgG murine antibody, anti-human IgG goat antibody, etc.), or can be produced recombinantly or synthetically. It may be an intact immunoglobulin, or an immunoglobulin fragment (e.g., FAb, F[Ab]₂, etc.). As desired, other binding molecules (capable of binding cytonectin) may be employed in concert with or in lieu of such second antibodies.

To eliminate the bound-free separation step and reduce the time and equipment needed for a chemical binding assay, a homogeneous assay format may alternatively be employed. In such assays, one component of the binding pair may still be immobilized; however, the presence of the second component of the binding pair is detected without a bound-free separation. Examples of homogeneous optical methods are the EMIT method of Syva, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA), which operates through detection of fluorescence quenching; the laser nephelometry latex particle agglutination method of Behringwerke (Marburg, Germany), which operates by detecting changes in light scatter; the LPIA latex particle agglutination method of Mitsubishi Chemical Industries (Tokyo, Japan); the TDX fluorescence depolarization method of Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL); and the fluorescence energy transfer method of Cis Bio International (Paris, France). Any of such assays may be adapted for use in accordance with the objectives of the present invention.

The binding assay of the present invention may be configured as a competitive assay. In a competitive assay, the more cytonectin present in the test sample, the lower the amount of label present on the solid phase. In a manner similar to the sandwich assay, the competitive assay can be conducted by providing a defined amount of a labeled cytonectin molecule and determining whether the fluid being tested contains cytonectin that would compete with the labeled antibody for binding to the support. In such a competitive assay, the amount of captured labeled antibody is inversely proportional to the amount of analyte present in the test sample. Smith (U.S. Patent No. 4,401,764) describes an alternative competitive assay format using a mixed binding complex that can bind analyte or labeled analyte but in which the analyte and labeled analyte cannot simultaneously bind the complex. Clagett (U.S. Patent No. 4,746,631) describes an immunoassay method using a reaction chamber in which an analyte/ligand/marker conjugate is displaced from the reaction surface in the presence of test sample analyte and in which the displaced analyte/ligand/marker conjugate is immobilized at a second reaction site. The conjugate includes biotin, bovine serum albumin, and synthetic peptides as the ligand component of the conjugate, and enzymes, chemiluminescent materials, enzyme inhibitors, and radionucleotides as the marker component of the conjugate. Li (U.S. Patent No. 4,661,444) describes a competitive immunoassay using a conjugate of an anti-idiotype antibody and a second antibody, specific for a detectable label, in which the detectable response is inversely related to the presence of analyte in the sample. Allen (European Patent Appln. No. 177,191) describes a binding assay involving a conjugate of a ligand analog and a second reagent, such as fluorescein, in which the conjugate competes with the analyte (ligand) in binding to a labeled binding partner specific for the ligand, and in which the resultant labeled conjugate is then separated from the reaction mixture by means of solid phase carrying a binding partner for the second reagent. This binding assay format combines the use of a competitive binding technique and a reverse sandwich assay configuration; i.e., the binding of conjugate to the labeled binding member prior to separating conjugate from the mixture by the binding of the conjugate to the solid phase. The assay result, however, is determined as in a conventional competitive assay in which the amount of label bound to the solid phase is inversely proportional to the amount of analyte in the test sample. Chieregatt et al. (GB Patent No. 2,084,317) describe a similar assay format using an indirectly labeled binding partner specific for the analyte. Mochida et al. (U.S. Patent No. 4,185,084) also describe the use of a double- antigen conjugate that competes with an antigen analyte for binding to an immobilized antibody and that is then labeled. This method also results in the detection of label on a solid phase in which the amount of label is inversely proportional to the amount of analyte in the test sample. Sadeh et al. (U.S. Patent No. 4,243,749) describe a similar enzyme immunoassay in which a hapten conjugate competes with analyte for binding to an antibody immobilized on a solid phase. Any of such variant assays may be used in accordance with the present invention. In all such assay formats, at least one component of the assay reagents will preferably be labeled or otherwise detectable by the evolution or quenching of light. Such component may be a second antibody, cytonectin, or an antigen that binds to cytonectin, depending on the immunoassay format employed. Radioisotopic-binding assay formats (e.g., a radioimmunoassay, etc.) employ a radioisotope as such label; the signal is detectable by the evolution of light in the presence of a fluorescent or fluorogenic moiety (see Lucas et al. [U.S. Patent No. 5,698,411] and Landrum et al. [U.S. Patent No. 5,976,822]). Enzymatic-binding assay formats (e.g., an ELISA, etc.) employ an enzyme as a label; the signal is detectable by the evolution of color or light in the presence of a chromogenic or fluorogenic moiety. Other labels, such as paramagnetic labels, materials used as colored particles, latex particles, colloidal metals such as selenium and gold, and dye particles (see U.S. Patent Nos. 4,313,734; 4,373,932, and 5,501,985) may also be employed. The use of enzymes (especially alkaline phosphatase, β- galactosidase, horse radish peroxidase, or urease) as the detectable label (i.e., an enzyme immunoassay or EIA) is preferred.

The presence of enzymatic labels may be detected through the use of chromogenic substrates (including those that evolve or adsorb fluorescent, UV, visible light, etc.) in response to catalysis by the enzyme label. More preferably, chemical labels may be employed (e.g., colloidal gold, latex bead labels, etc.). Detection of label can be accomplished using multiple detectors, multipass filters, gratings, or spectrally distinct fluors (see e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,759,781), etc. It is particularly preferred to employ peroxidase as an enzyme label, especially in concert with the chromogenic substrate 3, 3', 5, 5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). In the case of labeling of the antibodies with peroxidase as enzyme, it is possible to use the periodate technique (Nakane, P.K. et al. [1974] "PEROXIDASE-LABELED ANTIBODY. A NEW METHOD OF CONJUGATION," J Histochem Cytochem. 22:1084- 90) or a method reported in which the partners are linked with a heterobifunctional reagent (Ishikawa, E. et al. [1983] "ENZYME-LABELING OF ANTIBODIES AND THEIR FRAGMENTS FOR ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STAINING," J Immunoassay. 4[3]:209-327). Any of a wide variety of solid supports may be employed in the immunoassays of the present invention. Suitable materials for the solid support are synthetics such as polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, or other synthetic polymers, natural polymers such as cellulose, as well as derivatized natural polymers such as cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose, and glass, especially glass fibers. The support can take the form of spheres, rods, tubes, and microassay or microtiter plates. Sheet-like structures such as paper strips, small plates, and membranes are likewise suitable. The surface of the carriers can be permeable and impermeable for aqueous solutions.

Although the foregoing description pertains to assaying for the presence of cytonectin in biological samples that are fluids (e.g., sera, blood, urine, saliva, pancreatic juice, cerebrospinal fluid, semen, etc.), it will be appreciated that any fluidic biological sample (e.g., tissue or biopsy extracts, extracts of feces, sputum, etc.) may likewise be employed in the assays of the present invention. Most preferably, the biological sample being assayed will be serum. The present invention particularly relates to the use of immuno- chromatographic assay formats to detect cytonectin. In a preferred immunochromatographic assay format, two contacting, but spatially distinct, porous carriers are employed. The first such carrier will contain a non- immobilized, labeled antibody that specifically binds to cytonectin and the second such carrier will contain an immobilized, but unlabeled antibody that specifically binds to cytonectin.

Preferably, the device will comprise a hollow casing constructed of, for example, a plastic material, etc., in which the first carrier will communicate indirectly with the interior of the casing via a multilayer filter system that is accessible from the device (e.g., by protruding therefrom or by being incompletely covered by the device), such that a serum, plasma, or whole blood test sample can be applied directly to the filter system and will permeate therefrom into the first porous carrier. In such a device, the permeation of fluid containing cytonectin will cause the non-immobilized labeled antibody of the first carrier to become bound to the migrating cytonectin, and will then permeate into the second carrier. Because the second carrier contains immobilized molecules that are capable of binding this immune complex, any labeled antibodies entering the second carrier will be trapped therein. Detection of labeled complex in the second carrier thus indicates that cytonectin is present in the sample being evaluated. The assay can be made quantitative by measuring the quantity of labeled complex that become bound within the second porous carrier.

Therapeutic Uses The present invention additionally provides a method of treating cytonectin-related diseases and conditions, in mammals (such as canines, felines, bovines, ovines, equines, porcines, etc.), and particularly in humans.

In one embodiment, such therapy will comprise the administration of pharmacologically acceptable inhibitors or binding ligands of cytonectin. A composition is said to be "pharmacologically acceptable" if its administration can be tolerated by a recipient patient. An agent is physiologically significant if its presence results in a detectable change in the physiology of a recipient patient. The administration of such compounds may be for either a "prophylactic" or "therapeutic" purpose. The compositions of the present invention are said to be administered in a "therapeutically effective amount" if the amount administered is physiologically significant to provide a therapy for an actual infection. When provided therapeutically, the compound is preferably provided at (or shortly after) the onset of a symptom of actual infection. The therapeutic administration of the compound serves to attenuate any actual infection. The compositions of the present invention are said to be administered in a "prophylactically effective amount" if the amount administered is physiologically significant to provide a therapy for an potential infection. When provided prophylactically, the compound is preferably provided in advance of any immunodeficiency virus infection or symptom thereof. The prophylactic administration of the compound serves to prevent or attenuate any subsequent infection.

The compounds of the present invention can be administered in conventional solid or liquid pharmaceutical administration forms, for example, as uncoated or (film-) coated tablets, capsules, powders, granules, suppositories or solutions. The active substances can, for this purpose, be processed with conventional pharmaceutical aids such as tablet binders, fillers, preservatives, tablet disintegrants, flow regulators, plasticizers, wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, solvents, sustained release compositions, antioxidants and/or propellant gases. The therapeutic compositions obtained in this way typically contain from about 0.1 % to about 90% by weight of the active substance.

In addition, the pharmaceutical composition can also contain pharmaceutically acceptable additives including, for example, diluents, binders, stabilizers, and preservatives. Administration of pharmaceutically acceptable salts described herein is preferred. Such salts can be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases including organic bases and inorganic bases. Salts derived from inorganic bases include sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, basic amino acids, and the like. Preferred salts include but are not limited to sodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium pyruvate, potassium phosphate, potassium acetate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, potassium pyruvate, disodium DL-α-glycerol-phosphate, and disodium glucose-6-phosphate. "Phosphate" salts of sodium or potassium can be either the monobasic form, e.g., NaHP0 , or the dibasic form, e.g., Na₂HPO₄, but a mixture of the two, resulting in a desired pH, is most preferred. As used herein a "salt" is a substance produced from the reaction between acids and bases which comprises a metal (cation) and a nonmetal (anion). Salt crystals may be "hydrated" i.e., contain one or more water molecules. Such hydrated salts, when dissolved in an aqueous solution at a certain molar concentration, are equivalent to the corresponding anhydrous salt dissolved in an aqueous solution at the same molar concentration. For the present invention, salts which are readily soluble in an aqueous solution are preferred.

Further, the pharmaceutical composition may be prepared in the form of admixture with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients so long as such additional excipients do not interfere with the effectiveness of the peptides and the side effects and adverse reactions are not increased additively or synergistically. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be associated with chemical moieties which may improve the composition's solubility, absorption, biological half life, etc. The moieties may alternatively decrease the toxicity of the pharmaceutical compositions, eliminate or attenuate any undesirable side effect of the pharmaceutical compositions, etc. Moieties capable of mediating such effects are disclosed in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 19^l Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. (1995). Procedures for coupling such moieties to a molecule are well known in the art.

As used herein a pharmaceutical "excipient" is a substance other than the pharmacologically active drug or prodrug which is included in the manufacturing process or are contained in a finished pharmaceutical product dosage form. Some, for example, comprise the product's delivery system. In the preferred embodiment pharmaceutical excipients transport the active drug to the site in the body where the drug is intended to exert its action. In more preferred embodiment, excipients will keep the drug from being released too early in the assimilation process in places where it could damage tender tissue and create gastric irritation or stomach upset. In an even more preferred embodiment, excipients will help the drug to disintegrate into particles small enough to reach the blood stream more quickly and still others protect the product's stability so it will be at maximum effectiveness at time of use. In order to improve patient compliance, these excipients can be used simply to make the pharmaceutical composition taste and look better (International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council of the Americas.

Suitable excipients include Magnesium Stearate, Lactose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Starch (corn), Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Gelatin, Talc, Sucrose, Calcium Stearate, Povidone,

Pregelatinized Starch, Hydroxy Propyl Methylcellulose, OPA products (coatings & inks), Croscarmellose, Hydroxy Propyl Cellulose, Ethylcellulose, Calcium Phosphate (dibasic), Crospovidone, Shellac (and Glaze).

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered by any suitable means, for example, inhalation, or interdermally, intracavity (e.g., oral, vaginal, rectal, nasal, peritoneal, ventricular, or intestinal), intradermally, intramuscularly, intranasally, intraocularly, intraperitoneally, intrarectally, intratracheally, intravenously, orally, subcutaneously, transdermally, or transmucosally (i.e., across a mucous membrane) in a dose effective for the production of neutralizing antibody and resulting in protection from infection or disease. The present pharmaceutical compositions can generally be administered in the form of a spray for intranasal administration, or by nose drops, inhalants, swabs on tonsils, or a capsule, liquid, suspension or elixirs for oral administration. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of single dose preparations or in multi-dose flasks. Reference is made to Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 19^l Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. (1995).

Administration can be into one or more tissues including but not limited to muscle, skin, brain, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, e.g., myocardium, endocardium, and pericardium; lymph nodes, blood, bone, cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis, ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, or connective tissue. Furthermore, in the methods of the present invention, the pharmaceutical compositions may be administered to any internal cavity of a mammal, including, but not limited to, the lungs, the mouth, the nasal cavity, the stomach, the peritoneal cavity, the intestine, any heart chamber, veins, arteries, capillaries, lymphatic cavities, the uterine cavity, the vaginal cavity, the rectal cavity, joint cavities, ventricles in brain, spinal canal in spinal cord, and the ocular cavities. Administration may be by needle injection, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators (e.g., pneumatic "needleless" injectors), gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials (e.g., hydrogels), osmotic pumps (e.g., Alza minipumps), oral or suppositorial solid (tablet or pill) pharmaceutical formulations, topical skin creams, and decanting, use of polynucleotide coated suture (Qin, J.Y. et al. (1999) "GENE SUTURE-A NOVEL METHOD FOR INTRAMUSCULAR GENE TRANSFER AND ITS APPLICATION IN HYPERTENSION THERAPY," Life Sciences 65:2193-2203) or topical applications during surgery. Any mode of administration can be used so long as the mode results prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy. Methods to detect such a response include serological methods, e.g., western blotting, staining tissue sections by immunohistochemical methods, and measuring the activity of the polypeptide. In one embodiment, DNA compositions will be used to provide such therapeutic molecules. Pharmaceutical DNA compositions and methods for their manufacture and delivery that may be used in accordance with the present invention are disclosed in US Patents Nos. 5,589,466; 5,620,896; 5,641,665; 5,703,055; 5,707,812; 5,846,946; 5,861,397; 5,891,718; 6,022,874; 6,147,055; 6,214,804; 6,228,844; 6,399,588; 6,413,942; 6,451,769, European Patent

Documents EP1165140A2; EP1006796A1 and EP0929536A1; and PCT Patent Publications WO00/57917; WOOO/73263; WO01/09303; WO03/028632; W094/29469; WO95/29703; and W098/14439.

The compositions of the present invention can be lyophilized to produce pharmaceutical compositions in a dried form for ease in transportation and storage. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be stored in a sealed vial, ampoule or the like. In the case where the pharmaceutical composition is in a dried form, the composition is dissolved or suspended (e.g., in sterilized distilled water) before administration. An inert carrier such as saline or phosphate buffered saline or any such carrier in which the pharmaceutical compositions has suitable solubility, may be used.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be solubilized in a buffer prior to administration. Suitable buffers include, for example, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), normal saline, Tris buffer, and sodium phosphate vehicle (100-150 mM preferred). Insoluble polynucleotides can be solubilized in a weak acid or base, and then diluted to the desired volume with a neutral buffer such as PBS. The pH of the buffer is suitably adjusted, and moreover, a pharmaceutically acceptable additive can be used in the buffer to provide an appropriate osmolarity within the lipid vesicle. Preferred salt solutions and auxiliary agents are disclosed herein.

Compositions used in of the present invention can be formulated according to known methods. Suitable preparation methods are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 19^th Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. (1995), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Although the composition is preferably administered as an aqueous solution, it can be formulated as an emulsion, gel, solution, suspension, lyophilized form, or any other form known in the art. According to the present invention, if the composition is formulated other than as an aqueous solution, it will require resuspension in an aqueous solution prior to administration.

Such compositions may be formulated into any of the various compositions and may be used in any of the methods disclosed herein. For aqueous compositions used in vivo, use of sterile pyrogen-free water is preferred. Such formulations will contain an effective amount of such peptide together with a suitable salt and/or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient as disclosed herein, in order to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable compositions suitable for optimal administration to a vertebrate. The therapeutic compounds of the invention may be administered alone, or in combination with other immunodeficiency virus treatment regimens. They may be administered in a single dose or in multiple doses in a given period of time (e.g., a single daily dose or two or more doses a day). The effective amount of a peptide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof included in a pharmaceutical composition or of a polynucleotide depends on factors including the age and weight of the subject, the delivery method and route, the type of treatment desired, and the type of peptide or composition being administered. In general, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will contain from about 1 ng to about 30 mg of pharmacologically active agent, more preferably, from about 100 ng to about 10 mg of such compositions. Certain preferred compositions of the present invention may include about 1 ng of such compositions, about 5 ng of such compositions, about 10 ng of such compositions, about 50 ng of such compositions, about 100 ng of such compositions, about 500 ng of such composi- tions, about 1 μg of such compositions, about 5 μg of such compositions, about 10 μg of such compositions, about 50 μg of such compositions, about 100 μg of such compositions, about 150 μg of such compositions, about 200 μg of such compositions, about 250 μg of such compositions, about 300 μg of such compositions, about 350 μg of such compositions, about 400 μg of such compositions, about 450 μg of such compositions, about 500 μg of such compositions, about 550 μg of such compositions, about 600 μg of such compositions, about 650 μg of such compositions, about 700 μg of such compositions, about 750 μg of such compositions, about 800 μg of such compositions, about 850 μg of such compositions, about 900 μg of such compositions, about 950 μg of such compositions, about 1 mg of such compositions, about 5 mg of such compositions, about 10 mg of such compositions, about 15 mg of such compositions, about 20 mg of peptides or peptide compositions, about 25 mg of such compositions, or about 30 mg of such compositions.

Additional Uses Cytonectin has substantial adhesive properties. Synthetic peptides based on the known sequence of the gene are useful as biologically compatible adhesives in, for example, surgical applications. Cytonectin-related synthetic peptides having adhesive properties can also be used to coat sutures, implants, valves, joints, surgically added appliances, prostheses, synthetic organs, etc. so that the recipient will not reject these foreign items. In particular, with regard to the transplant of donated organs, cytonectin may be added to the organ to prevent immune rejection. The synthetic peptides may be injected into arthritic joints to prevent autoimmune attack. With regard to cancer, antibodies against cytonectin may be used to coat the protein, masking it so that the immune system can attack the cancer. Specific toxins may be added to cytonectin antibodies to destroy cancer cells that over-express the protein. The cytonectin gene sequence or fragments thereof may be used specifically in RNA- silencing therapy, to suppress cytonectin expression, thereby allowing the cancer to be attacked by the immune system. The antibodies generated against cytonectin are useful in diagnostic and prognostic tests (e.g., ELISAs, etc.), particularly by research laboratories studying and/or diagnosing cytonectin-related diseases, as well as pregnancy, and dental health.

ROOGE

Highly insoluble proteins are not readily isolatable by standard two- dimensional gel electrophoresis. One aspect of the present invention concerns the development of a novel method for protein purification, termed "Reversed Order O'Farrell Gel Electrophoresis" ("ROOGE"). In this technique, proteins are extracted in the presence of increased detergent concentration, allowing isolation in the first dimension according to molecular weight. Purification in the second dimension is then dependant upon a combination of pi and differential solubility. Amino acid composition analysis permits distinctive characterization of each isolated protein. Candidate genes in databases are readily identified based upon molecular weight and unusual amino acid composition. Antibodies are developed against the purified protein, and synthetic peptides based on predicted sequence, allowing confirmation of a one to one correspondence between gene and protein. The antibodies and identified genes are then available for intensive molecular study of highly insoluble proteins in various disease states. A test set of forty-five candidate genes encoding hypothetical insoluble proteins of characteristic amino acid composition, ranging in size from 13,000 to 134,000 molecular weight have been identified using ROOGE. Since these proteins likely are not resolvable by standard two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, this strategy is complementary to current genomic and proteomic initiatives.

By the ROOGE process, proteins are exposed to much higher levels of detergents, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the first dimension. Electroelution of a limited molecular weight range limits the number of contaminating total cell proteins to a small subset of identical size, which are then exposed to electrophoresis on an isoelectric focusing gel. During electrophoresis, the detergents separate from the proteins and focus according to their electrical charge properties. The purpose of electrophoretic separation is to separate and purify individual proteins from samples containing a multitude of different proteins. Such samples may be derived from numerous sources, such as animal or human tissues or body cells, bacteria, viruses, vaccines and the like. Electrophoretic separation is also applicable to protein subunits, such as peptides, or nucleic acids. Soluble proteins are then separated according to their isoelectric points. As the detergents separate from the proteins, highly insoluble proteins rapidly drop out of solution and form a concentrated protein precipitate at the extreme basic end of the gel. This limited portion of the gel is excised and the proteins are electroeluted.

ROOGE has proven useful in isolating cytonectin, a highly insoluble protein important in tauopathy and cancer. The ROOGE technique provides a general means for purifying highly insoluble proteins. A search of human genome databases has revealed 45 other hypothetical proteins of similar amino acid composition, which may be better isolated by ROOGE than by standard two- dimensional page electrophoresis. Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through reference to the following Example, which is provided by way of illustration, and not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Example 1 Identification of the Cytonectin Gene and Its Encoded Protein

ROOGE: As indicated above, cytonectin is a highly insoluble protein, of interest in tauopathy and neoplasia. Its abnormal expression is believed to allow evasion of immunosurveillant destruction by phagocytic cells. Molecular characterization of cytonectin is therefore useful in devising therapeutic strategies against various diseases. However, because of its extreme insolubility, cytonectin cannot be separated by standard two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To address this problem, a new protocol: Reversed Order O'Farrell Gel Electrophoresis (ROOGE) was employed.

Purification Methods: Tissue frozen at -80°C is diced with a cold scalpel blade and disrupted with a sonicator in 125 mM Tris-Cl buffer pH 8.0. Other agents are added to a final concentration of: 10% v/v glycerol, 2% v/v SDS, 2% v/v beta- mercaptoethanol. The final proportion is 100 μg tissue/ml buffer. The tissue lysate is heated 3 minutes at 95°C. Separation of insoluble tissue particles and DNA is accomplished by centrifugation in a fixed-angle ultracentrifuge rotor at 100,000 x g for one hour. The supernatant lysate is separated into component proteins according to molecular weight using standard SDS-PAGE (with the buffer changes noted above) (Anderson, S.J. et al. (1980) "A UNIQUE GLYCOPROTEIN CONTAINING GR-MOUSE MAMMARY TUMOR VIRUS PEPTIDES AND ADDITIONAL PEPTIDES UNRELATED TO VIRAL STRUCTURAL PROTEINS," Cell 21 :837-47). The gel is stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. Proteins with a relative mobility of approximately 35,000 molecular weight are excised from the gel, electroeluted, and then run on pH 3 to 10 isoelectric focusing gels. During electrophoresis, the detergents separate from the proteins and focus according to their electrical charge properties. Soluble proteins separate according to their isoelectric points. As the detergents separate from the proteins, highly insoluble proteins such as cytonectin rapidly drop out of solution and form a concentrated protein precipitate at the extreme basic end of the gel. This limited portion of the gel is cut and the proteins are electroeluted. The presence of highly concentrated cytonectin is confirmed by amino acid analysis. The protein is used as antigen for hen immunization in generating a monospecific hen IgY antibody.

Glioblastoma Multiforme: Of central nervous system tumors, neoplasms of astrocyte origin are common. These are graded from I to IV by increasing degree of malignancy, with grade IV designated "glioblastoma multiforme" (GBM). Pathologic characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme include pleomorphism and pseudopahsading of neoplastic astrocytes, nuclear anaplasia, frequent mitoses, multinucleated giant cells, vascular proliferation, necrosis and hemorrhage.

In higher grade astrocytic neoplasms there are abundant microglia (brain cells of monocyte lineage, which respond to similar molecular stimuli as macrophage) (Greaves, D.R. et al. (2002) "MACROPHAGE-SPECIFIC GENE EXPRESSION: CURRENT PARADIGMS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES," Int J Hematol. 76:6- 15). Increased microglial infiltrates appear, paradoxically, to correlate with escape of the tumor cells from immune surveillance (Tran, C.T. et al. (1998) "DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF MHC CLASS II MOLECULES BY MICROGLIA AND

NEOPLASTIC ASTROGLIA: RELEVANCE FOR THE ESCAPE OF ASTROCYTOMA CELLS FROM IMMUNE SURVEILLANCE," Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 24:293-301). It is thought that the 'immunosuppressive status' in glioblastomas associated with intense microglial infiltrates could account for the failure of immunotherapy in such cases (Hao, C. et al. (2002) "CYTOKINE AND CYTOKJNE RECEPTOR MRNA EXPRESSION IN HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMAS: EVIDENCE OF THl, TH2 AND TH3 CYTOKINE DYSREGULATION," Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 103:171-8).

Glioblastoma multiforme neoplasms display intense, ineffectual microglial infiltrates with paradoxical immunosuppression. Cytonectin overexpression in GBM may contribute to suppression of microglial cell attack of the cancer. To test the hypothesis that cytonectin represents a "do not attack" signal for cells of macrophage lineage in both normal and abnormal tissues (Anderson, S.J. et al. (2002) "CYTONECTIN EXPRESSION IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE," J Neuropath Exp Neurol. 61 :230-236), cytonectin is isolated from normal human third trimester placenta. The protein is purified by the ROOGE separation protocol described above. Purified cytonectin is used as antigen in a hen immunization protocol (Gallus Immunotech, Fergus, Ontario, Canada) (Gallus Immunotech Online: http://www.gallusimmunotech.com/). The hen anti-cytonectin IgY is then used in immunoblots to determine the level of cytonectin expression in normal and cancerous specimens. The results of the immunoblotting with chicken anti- cytonectin IgY are presented in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The results indicate that pre-immune IgY isolated from hen eggs shows no reactivity in immunoblots. The post-immune anti-cytonectin antibody detected multiple isoforms (Figure 1). Immunoblotting was used to compare cytonectin expression in normal brain, grade II and grade III gliomas, and glioblastoma multiforme (grade IV) (Anderson, S.J. et al. (1982) "MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES To THE TRANSFORMATION-SPECIFIC GLYCOPROTEIN ENCODED BY THE FELINE RETROVIRAL ONCOGENES," J Virol 44:696-702). In contrast to normal brain and lower grade gliomas, all patient specimens of grade IV glioblastoma multiforme showed overexpression of cytonectin (Figure 2).

In conclusion, detected overexpression of cytonectin accounts for the immunosuppression observed in glioblastoma multiforme, a uniformly fatal brain cancer. Cytonectin represents a target for molecular therapeutic protocols. And ROOGE is a technique which is useful in isolating highly insoluble pathologic proteins.

All publications and patents mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A method of diagnosing a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises evaluating the sequence of cytonectin of said patient, wherein said method comprises comparing the nucleotide sequence of the cytonectin gene of said patient, or the amino acid sequence of the cytonectin protein of said patient to SEQ ID NO.:l or SEQ ID NO.:2, respectively.

2. A method of diagnosing a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises evaluating the expression or activity of cytonectin of said patient, wherein said method comprises an immunoassay involving: (A) an antibody elicited against a protein having an epitope of the cytonectin protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:2; or (B) a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO.:l.

3. A method of treating a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises providing said patient with an inhibitor of cytonectin.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said inhibitor is a peptide mimetic of cytonectin or an immunoglobulin that specifically binds to cytonectin.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said cytonectin-related disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of cancer and tauopathy.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said tauopathy is Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.

7. A method of treating a cytonectin-related disease or condition of a patient which comprises providing said patient with cytonectin or with a polynucleotide that encodes cytonectin.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said cytonectin-related disease or condition is an immune system disorder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said immune system disorder is an autoimmune disorder.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said immune system disorder is a macrophage-mediated autoimmune disorder.

11. A method of purifying proteins which comprises ROOGE.

12. The method of claim 10 comprising the steps of: (A) extracting the proteins in the presence of increased detergent concentration; (B) running the proteins through sodium dodecyl sulfϊte polyacrylamide-gel (SDS-PAGE) electrophoresis; (C) exposing the proteins to electrophoresis on isoelectric focusing gel; (D) separating soluble proteins according to their isoelectric points; (E) coring out the extreme basic of the gel containing concentrated protein precipitate; (F) electroeluting the proteins.

13. An immunoglobulin that specifically binds to cytonectin.

14. A peptide fragment of cytonectin.

15. An oligonucleotide fragment of a polynucleotide encoding cytonectin.