U.S. patent application number 12/352153 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for methods of treating infections using il-21.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZymoGenetics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Wayne Kindsvogel, Andrew J. Nelson.
Application Number | 20090191150 12/352153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29736266 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090191150 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelson; Andrew J. ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
METHODS OF TREATING INFECTIONS USING IL-21
Abstract
Methods for treating mammals with infections, particularly viral
infections using molecules that have an IL-21 functional activity
are described. The molecules having functional activities include
polypeptides that have homology to the human IL-21 polypeptide
sequence and proteins fused to a polypeptide with IL-21 functional
activity. The molecules can be used as a monotherapy or in
combination with other known antimicrobial or antiviral
therapeutics.
Inventors: |
Nelson; Andrew J.;
(Shoreline, WA) ; Kindsvogel; Wayne; (Seattle,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZYMOGENETICS, INC.;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
1201 EASTLAKE AVENUE EAST
SEATTLE
WA
98102-3702
US
|
Assignee: |
ZymoGenetics, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
29736266 |
Appl. No.: |
12/352153 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11553395 |
Oct 26, 2006 |
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12352153 |
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10456262 |
Jun 6, 2003 |
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11553395 |
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60387127 |
Jun 7, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/85.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 14/54 20130101;
Y02A 50/465 20180101; A61P 31/12 20180101; A61K 38/2026 20130101;
A61P 31/14 20180101; A61P 37/02 20180101; A61P 31/04 20180101; A61K
38/2086 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; A61P 19/02 20180101; Y02A
50/481 20180101; A61P 31/06 20180101; A61P 31/18 20180101; A61P
33/02 20180101; C07K 16/2878 20130101; C07K 2317/73 20130101; Y02A
50/463 20180101; A61P 1/16 20180101; A61P 31/22 20180101; A61P
35/00 20180101; A61P 31/20 20180101; A61K 38/193 20130101; A61P
1/00 20180101; A61P 25/00 20180101; A61P 37/04 20180101; A61K 38/20
20130101; A61K 38/2013 20130101; Y02A 50/475 20180101; A61P 31/00
20180101; A61P 35/02 20180101; A61P 1/04 20180101; A61K 45/06
20130101; A61P 11/00 20180101; A61P 31/16 20180101; A61P 35/04
20180101; A61P 31/10 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/85.2 |
International
Class: |
A61K 38/20 20060101
A61K038/20 |
Claims
1. A method of treating a bacterial infection in a mammal
comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a
polypeptide that has at least 90% identity to an IL-21 polypeptide
comprising residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein
the bacterial infection is an infection by a bacteria selected from
the group consisting of chlamydiae, listeriae, helicobacter pylori,
mycobacterium, mycoplasma, salmonella, and shigella.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide has at
least 95% identity to an IL-21 polypeptide or residues 32 (Gln) to
162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide
comprises residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
4. A method of treating a bacterial infection in a mammal
comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a
polypeptide that has at least 90% identity to an IL-21 polypeptide
comprising residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein
the bacterial infection is an infection of listeriae or
mycobacterium.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the polypeptide has at
least 95% identity to an IL-21 polypeptide or residues 32 (Gln) to
162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the polypeptide
comprises residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
7. A method of treating a bacterial infection in a mammal
comprising administering a therapeutically effective of a fusion
protein comprising a first polypeptide that has at least 90%
identity to an IL-21 polypeptide comprising residues 32 (Gln) to
162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2, and a second polypeptide, wherein the
bacterial infection is selected from the group consisting of
chlamydiae, listeriae, helicobacter pylori, mycobacterium,
mycoplasma, salmonella, and shigella.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the polypeptide has at
least 95% identity to an IL-21 polypeptide or residues 32 (Gln) to
162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the polypeptide
comprises residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ ID NO:2.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/553,395, filed Oct. 26, 2006; which is a
divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,262, filed
Jun. 6, 2003; which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/387,127, filed on Jun. 7, 2002, and are incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cytokines generally stimulate proliferation or
differentiation of cells of the hematopoietic lineage or
participate in the immune and inflammatory response mechanisms of
the body. Examples of cytokines which affect hematopoiesis are
erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the development of red blood
cells; thrombopoietin (TPO), which stimulates development of cells
of the megakaryocyte lineage; and granulocyte-colony stimulating
factor (G-CSF), which stimulates development of neutrophils. These
cytokines are useful in restoring normal blood cell levels in
patients suffering from anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia
or receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Other cytokines are involved
in inflammatory responses, viral immunity, intracellular parasite
immunity, allograft rejection, humoral responses, helminth immunity
and allergic responses. The cytokines that bind class II cytokine
receptors include interferon-alfa (IFN-.alpha.) subtypes,
interferon-beta (IFN-.beta.), interferon-gamma (IFN-.gamma.),
IL-10, IL-19 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,614), MDA-7 (Jiang et al.,
Oncogene 11, 2477-2486, (1995)), IL-20 (Jiang et al., Oncogene 11,
2477-2486, (1995)), IL-22 (Xie et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275,
31335-31339, (2000)), and AK-155 (Knappe et al., J. Virol. 74,
3881-3887, (2000)).
[0003] In particular, interleukins are a family of cytokines that
mediate immunological responses. Central to an immune response is
the T cell, which produce many cytokines and effect adaptive
immunity to antigens. Mature T cells can be activated, i.e., by an
antigen or other stimulus, to produce, for example, cytokines,
biochemical signaling molecules, or receptors that further
influence the fate of the T cell population.
[0004] B cells can be activated via receptors on their cell surface
including the B cell antigen receptor and other accessory molecules
to produce antibodies and perform accessory cell functions, such as
the production of cytokines.
[0005] Natural killer (NK) cells have a common progenitor cell with
T cells and B cells, and play a role in immune surveillance. NK
cells, which comprise up to 15% of blood lymphocytes, do not
express antigen receptors, and therefore do not use MHC recognition
as requirement for binding to a target cell. NK cells are involved
in the recognition and killing of certain tumor cells and virally
infected cells. In vivo, NK cells are believed to require
activation, however, in vitro, NK cells have been shown to kill
some types of tumor cells without activation.
[0006] In particular, interleukins are a family of cytokines that
mediate immunological responses. Central to an immune response is
the T cell, which produce many cytokines and effect adaptive
immunity to antigens. Mature T cells can be activated, i.e. by an
antigen or other stimulus, to produce, for example, cytokines,
biochemical signaling molecules, or receptors that further
influence the fate of the T cell population.
[0007] Viral infections can be classified in various ways. For
example, viruses may be classified phylogenetically, according to
the infected target cell or organ, or by the disease state they
induce. However, not all viruses and viral diseases are treated
identically because additional factors, such as whether an
infection is acute or chronic and the patient's underlying health,
influence the type of treatment that is recommended. Generally,
treatment of acute infections in immunocompetent patients should
reduce the disease's severity, complications, and decrease the rate
of transmission, making safety, cost, and convenience essential
considerations in recommending an antiviral agent. Treatments for
chronic infections should prevent viral damage to organs such as
liver, lungs, heart, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal
system, making efficacy the primary consideration.
[0008] There are few effective treatments for hepatitis. For the
treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitus C virus (HCV),
the FDA has approved administration of recombinant interferon alpha
(IFN-.alpha.). However, IFN-.alpha. is associated with a number of
dose-dependent adverse effects, including thrombocytopenia,
leukopenia, bacterial infections, and influenza-like symptoms.
Other agents used to treat chronic HBV or HCV include the
nucleoside analog RIBAVIRIN.TM. and uisodeoxycholic acid; however,
neither has been shown to be very effective. RIBAVIRIN.TM.+IFN
combination therapy results in 47% rate of sustained viral
clearance (Lanford, R. E. and Bigger, C. Virology 293: 1-9 (2002).
(See, Medicine, (D. C. Dale and D. D. Federman, eds.) (Scientific
American, Inc., New York), 4:V111:1-8 (1995)).
[0009] Progressive chronic liver disease as a result of chronic
infections, such as HCV and HBV, and tumorigenesis associated with
HIV are three examples of diseases that can be treated with
intervention therapy and/or preventative therapy using the methods
of the present invention. The present invention provides methods
for treating infections, particularly viral infections, by
administering IL-21 to the subject. In certain embodiments, the
IL-21 can be administered in conjunction with other antiviral
compounds.
[0010] The present invention is also based on the discovery that
IL-21 has antimicrobial and antiviral activity against specific
acute infections such as influenza and specific chronic infections
such as hepatitis. These antiviral effects may be mediated through
immune system cells, such as cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. In the
description and examples which follow, animals models and in vitro
assay demonstrate the antiviral activities of 11-21. These and
other uses should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the
teachings herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In another aspect, the methods of the present invention
provide a method of treating an infection comprising administering
a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide having a
functional activity of IL-21, wherein the infection is selected
from the group of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human
immunodeficiency virus, sudden acute respiratory syndrome caused by
a coronovirus, Herpes Simplex viruses. Epstein-Barr virus,
Cytomegalovirus; Pox viruses; Papilloma virus: Adenovirus.
Poliovirus; Orthiomyxoviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Influenza viruses;
caliciviruses; rabies viruses, and rinderpest viruses.
[0012] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
of treating a viral infection in a mammal comprising administering
a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide having a
functional activity of IL-21, wherein the viral infection results
in a disease selected from the group consisting of Acquired
immunodeficiency; Hepatitis; Gastroenteritis; Hemorrhagic diseases;
Enteritis; Carditis; Encephalitis; Paralysis; Brochiolitis; Upper
or lower respiratory disease; Respiratory Papillomatosis;
Arthritis; Disseminated disease, Meningitis, and Mononucleosis.
[0013] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of
treating an infection comprising administering a therapeutically
effective amount of a fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide
having a functional activity of IL-21 and a second polypeptide,
wherein the infection is selected from the group of hepatitis B
virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, sudden
acute respiratory syndrome caused by a coronovirus, Herpes Simplex
viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus; Pox viruses;
Papilloma virus; Adenovirus, Poliovirus; Orthomyxoviruses,
Paramyxoviruses, Influenza viruses; caliciviruses; rabies viruses,
and rinderpest viruses.
[0014] In certain embodiments, the methods of treating viral
infections using polypeptides and fusion proteins having a
functional activity of IL-21, the level of viral infection is
reduced. In other embodiments, the reduction in the level of viral
infection is measured as reduction in viral load, increased
viral-specific antibodies, reduction in alanine aminotransferase
level (ALT), or histologic improvement in a target tissue as
measured by immunohistochemistry.
[0015] The present invention also provides a method of treating a
bacterial infection in a mammal comprising administering a
therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide having a
functional activity of IL-21, wherein the bacterial infection is an
infection by a bacteria selected from the group consisting of
chlamydiae, listeriae, helicobacter pylori, mycobacterium,
mycoplasma, salmonella, and shigella.
[0016] In other aspects, the present invention provides a method of
treating a bacterial infection in a mammal comprising administering
a therapeutically effective of a fusion protein comprising a first
polypeptide that has the functional activity of IL-21 and a second
polypeptide, wherein the bacterial infection is an infection by a
bacteria selected from the group consisting of chlamydiae,
listeriae, helicobacter pylori, mycobacterium, mycoplasma,
salmonella, and shigella.
[0017] For all aspects and embodiments of the present invention,
the polypeptide or first polypeptide in a fusion protein can
comprise a polypeptide has at least 80%, 90%, 95% or complete
identity to an IL-21 polypeptide comprising residues 41 (Gln) to
148 (Iie) of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) of SEQ
ID NO:2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Prior to setting forth the invention in detail, it may be
helpful to the understanding thereof to define the following
terms:
[0019] The term "affinity tag" is used herein to denote a
polypeptide segment that can be attached to a second polypeptide to
provide for purification or detection of the second polypeptide or
provide sites for attachment of the second polypeptide to a
substrate. In principal, any peptide or protein for which an
antibody or other specific binding agent is available can be used
as an affinity tag. Affinity tags include a poly-histidine tract,
protein A (Nilsson et al., EMBO J. 4:1075, 1985; Nilsson et al.,
Methods Enzymol. 198:3, 1991), glutathione S transferase (Smith and
Johnson, Gene 67:31, 1988), Glu-Glu affinity tag (Grussenmeyer et
al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7952-4, 1985), substance P,
Flag.TM. peptide (Hopp et al., Biotechnology 6:1204-10, 1988),
streptavidin binding peptide, or other antigenic epitope or binding
domain. See, in general, Ford et al., Protein Expression and
Purification 2: 95-107, 1991. DNAs encoding affinity tags are
available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Pharmacia Biotech,
Piscataway, N.J.).
[0020] The term "allelic variant" is used herein to denote any of
two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same
chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through
mutation, and may result in phenotypic polymorphism within
populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded
polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid
sequence. The term allelic variant is also used herein to denote a
protein encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.
[0021] The terms "amino-terminal" and "carboxyl-terminal" are used
herein to denote positions within polypeptides. Where the context
allows, these terms are used with reference to a particular
sequence or portion of a polypeptide to denote proximity or
relative position. For example, a certain sequence positioned
carboxyl-terminal to a reference sequence within a polypeptide is
located proximal to the carboxyl terminus of the reference
sequence, but is not necessarily at the carboxyl terminus of the
complete polypeptide.
[0022] The term "cancer" or "cancer cell" is used herein to denote
a tissue or cell found in a neoplasm which possesses
characteristics which differentiate it from normal tissue or tissue
cells. Among such characteristics include but are not limited to:
degree of anaplasia, irregularity in shape, indistinctness of cell
outline, nuclear size, changes in structure of nucleus or
cytoplasm, other phenotypic changes, presence of cellular proteins
indicative of a cancerous or pre-cancerous state, increased number
of mitoses, and ability to metastasize. Words pertaining to
"cancer" include carcinoma, sarcoma, tumor, epithelioma, leukemia,
lymphoma, polyp, and scirrus, transformation, neoplasm, and the
like.
[0023] The term "complement/anti-complement pair" denotes
non-identical moieties that form a non-covalently associated,
stable pair under appropriate conditions. For instance, biotin and
avidin (or streptavidin) are prototypical members of a
complement/anti-complement pair. Other exemplary
complement/anti-complement pairs include receptor/ligand pairs,
antibody/antigen (or hapten or epitope) pairs, sense/antisense
polynucleotide pairs, and the like. Where subsequent dissociation
of the complement/anti-complement pair is desirable, the
complement/anti-complement pair preferably has a binding affinity
of <10.sup.9 M.sup.-1.
[0024] The term "complements of a polynucleotide molecule" denotes
a polynucleotide molecule having a complementary base sequence and
reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence.
[0025] The term "degenerate nucleotide sequence" denotes a sequence
of nucleotides that includes one or more degenerate codons (as
compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that encodes a
polypeptide). Degenerate codons contain different triplets of
nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residue (i.e., GAU and
GAC triplets each encode Asp).
[0026] The term "expression vector" is used to denote a DNA
molecule, linear or circular, that comprises a segment encoding a
polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that
provide for its transcription. Such additional segments include
promoter and terminator sequences, and may also include one or more
origins of replication, one or more selectable markers, an
enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, etc. Expression vectors are
generally derived from plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain
elements of both.
[0027] The term "isolated", when applied to a polynucleotide,
denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural
genetic milieu and is thus free of other extraneous or unwanted
coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for use within
genetically engineered protein production systems. Such isolated
molecules are those that are separated from their natural
environment and include cDNA and genomic clones. Isolated DNA
molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with
which they are ordinarily associated, but may include naturally
occurring 5' and 3' untranslated regions such as promoters and
terminators. The identification of associated regions will be
evident to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan
and Tijan, Nature 316:774-78, 1985).
[0028] An "isolated" polypeptide or protein is a polypeptide or
protein that is found in a condition other than its native
environment, such as apart from blood and animal tissue. In a
preferred form, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free of
other polypeptides, particularly other polypeptides of animal
origin. It is preferred to provide the polypeptides in a highly
purified form, i.e. greater than 95% pure, more preferably greater
than 99% pure. When used in this context, the term "isolated" does
not exclude the presence of the same polypeptide in alternative
physical forms, such as dimers or alternatively glycosylated or
derivatized forms.
[0029] The term "level" when referring to immune cells, such as NK
cells, T cells, in particular cytotoxic T cells, B cells and the
like, an increased level is either increased number of cells or
enhanced activity of cell function.
[0030] The term "level" when referring to viral infections refers
to a change in the level of viral infection and includes, but is
not limited to, a change in the level of CTLs or NK cells (as
described above), a decrease in viral load, an increase antiviral
antibody titer, decrease in serological levels of alanine
aminotransferase, or improvement as determined by histological
examination of a target tissue or organ. Determination of whether
these changes in level are significant differences or changes is
well within the skill of one in the art.
[0031] The term "neoplastic", when referring to cells, indicates
cells undergoing new and abnormal proliferation, particularly in a
tissue where in the proliferation is uncontrolled and progressive,
resulting in a neoplasm. The neoplastic cells can be either
malignant, i.e. invasive and metastatic, or benign.
[0032] The term "operably linked", when referring to DNA segments,
indicates that the segments are arranged so that they function in
concert for their intended purposes, e.g., transcription initiates
in the promoter and proceeds through the coding segment to the
terminator.
[0033] A "polynucleotide" is a single- or double-stranded polymer
of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases read from the 5' to
the 3' end. Polynucleotides include RNA and DNA, and may be
isolated from natural sources, synthesized in vitro, or prepared
from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules. Sizes of
polynucleotides are expressed as base pairs (abbreviated "bp"),
nucleotides ("nt"), or kilobases ("kb"). Where the context allows,
the latter two terms may describe polynucleotides that are
single-stranded or double-stranded. When the term is applied to
double-stranded molecules it is used to denote overall length and
will be understood to be equivalent to the term "base pairs". It
will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the two strands
of a double-stranded polynucleotide may differ slightly in length
and that the ends thereof may be staggered as a result of enzymatic
cleavage; thus all nucleotides within a double-stranded
polynucleotide molecule may not be paired.
[0034] A "polypeptide" is a polymer of amino acid residues joined
by peptide bonds, whether produced naturally or synthetically.
Polypeptides of less than about 10 amino acid residues are commonly
referred to as "peptides".
[0035] The term "promoter" is used herein for its art-recognized
meaning to denote a portion of a gene containing DNA sequences that
provide for the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of
transcription. Promoter sequences are commonly, but not always,
found in the 5' non-coding regions of genes.
[0036] A "protein" is a macromolecule comprising one or more
polypeptide chains. A protein may also comprise non-peptidic
components, such as carbohydrate groups. Carbohydrates and other
non-peptidic substituents may be added to a protein by the cell in
which the protein is produced, and will vary with the type of cell.
Proteins are defined herein in terms of their amino acid backbone
structures; substituents such as carbohydrate groups are generally
not specified, but may be present nonetheless.
[0037] The term "receptor" denotes a cell-associated protein that
binds to a bioactive molecule (i.e., a ligand) and mediates the
effect of the ligand on the cell. Membrane-bound receptors are
characterized by a multi-peptide structure comprising an
extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular effector
domain that is typically involved in signal transduction. Binding
of ligand to receptor results in a conformational change in the
receptor that causes an interaction between the effector domain and
other molecule(s) in the cell. This interaction in turn leads to an
alteration in the metabolism of the cell. Metabolic events that are
linked to receptor-ligand interactions include gene transcription,
phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, increases in cyclic AMP
production, mobilization of cellular calcium, mobilization of
membrane lipids, cell adhesion, hydrolysis of inositol lipids and
hydrolysis of phospholipids. In general, receptors can be membrane
bound, cytosolic or nuclear; monomeric (e.g., thyroid stimulating
hormone receptor, beta-adrenergic receptor) or multimeric (e.g.,
PDGF receptor, growth hormone receptor, IL-3 receptor, GM-CSF
receptor, G-CSF receptor, erythropoietin receptor and IL-6
receptor).
[0038] The term "secretory signal sequence" denotes a DNA sequence
that encodes a polypeptide (a "secretory peptide") that, as a
component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide
through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized.
The larger polypeptide is commonly cleaved to remove the secretory
peptide during transit through the secretory pathway.
[0039] Molecular weights and lengths of polymers determined by
imprecise analytical methods (e.g., gel electrophoresis) will be
understood to be approximate values. When such a value is expressed
as "about" X or "approximately" X, the stated value of X will be
understood to be accurate to .+-.10%.
[0040] All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
[0041] The present invention is based in part upon the discovery
that administration of IL-21 results in antiviral activity, thereby
limiting the pathological effects caused by exposure to or
infection by certain viral agents. In the examples which follow,
animal models and in vitro assays demonstrate the activity of IL-21
on virally infected biological samples and T-cell immunity, in
particular cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.
A. Description of IL-21 and Its Receptor.
[0042] Human IL-21 (SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2) was designated
IL-21, and is described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024,
which is incorporated herein by reference. The IL-21 receptor,
(previously designated zalpha11) now designated IL-21R (SEQ ID NO:5
and SEQ ID NO:6), and heterodimeric receptor IL-21R/IL-2R.gamma.
are described in commonly-owned WIPO Publication Nos. WO 0/17235
and WO 01/77171, which are incorporated herein by reference. As
described in these publications, IL-21 was isolated from a cDNA
library generated from activated human peripheral blood cells
(hPBCs), which were selected for CD3. CD3 is a cell surface marker
unique to cells of lymphoid origin, particularly T cells.
[0043] The amino acid sequence for the IL-21R indicated that the
encoded receptor belonged to the Class I cytokine receptor
subfamily that includes, but is not limited to, the receptors for
IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, EPO, TPO, GM-CSF and G-CSF (for a review
see, Cosman, "The Hematopoietin Receptor Superfamily" in Cytokine
5(2): 95-106, 1993). The tissue distribution of the receptor
suggests that a target for IL-21 is hematopoietic lineage cells, in
particular lymphoid progenitor cells and lymphoid cells. Other
known four-helical-bundle cytokines that act on lymphoid cells
include IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, and IL-15. For a review of
four-helical-bundle cytokines, see, Nicola et al., Advances in
Protein Chemistry 52:1-65, 1999 and Kelso, A., Immunol. Cell Biol.
76:300-317, 1998.
[0044] For IL-21, the secretory signal sequence is comprised of
amino acid residues 1 (Met) to 31 (Gly), and the mature polypeptide
is comprised of amino acid residues 32 (Gln) to 162 (Ser) (as shown
in SEQ ID NO: 2). In general, cytokines are predicted to have a
four-alpha helix structure, with helices A, C and D being most
important in ligand-receptor interactions, and are more highly
conserved among members of the family. Referring to the human IL-21
amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, an alignment of human
IL-21, human IL-15, human IL-4, and human GM-CSF amino acid
sequences predicted that IL-21 helix A is defined by amino acid
residues 41-56; helix B by amino acid residues 69-84; helix C by
amino acid residues 92-105; and helix D by amino acid residues
135-148; as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. Structural analysis suggests
that the A/B loop is long, the B/C loop is short and the C/D loop
is parallel long. This loop structure results in an up-up-down-down
helical organization. The cysteine residues are absolutely
conserved between IL-21 and IL-15. The cysteine residues that are
conserved between IL-15 and IL-21 correspond to amino acid residues
71, 78, 122 and 125 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Conservation of some of the
cysteine residues is also found in IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF and IL-21
corresponding to amino acid residues 78 and 125 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
Consistent cysteine placement is further confirmation of the
four-helical-bundle structure. Also highly conserved in the family
comprising IL-15, IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF and IL-21 is the Glu-Phe-Leu
sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 at residues 136-138. Further
analysis of IL-21 based on multiple alignments predicts that amino
acid residues 44, 47 and 135 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2) play an
important role in IL-21 binding to its cognate receptor. Moreover,
the predicted amino acid sequence of murine IL-21 (SEQ ID NO:4)
shows 57% identity to the predicted human protein. Based on
comparison between sequences of human and murine IL-21
well-conserved residues were found in the regions predicted to
encode alpha helices A and D.
[0045] The corresponding polynucleotides encoding the IL-21
polypeptide regions, domains, motifs, residues and sequences
described herein are as shown in SEQ ID NO:1. The amino acid
residues comprising helices A, B, C, and D, and loops A/B, B/C and
C/D for IL-21, IL-2, IL-4, IL-15 and GM-CSF are shown in Table
1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Helix A A/B Loop Helix B B/C Loop Helix C
C/D Loop Helix D IL-21 41-56 57-68 69-84 85-91 92-105 106-134
135-148 SEQ ID residues NO: 2 IL-2 36-46 47-52 53-75 76-86 87-99
100-102 103-121 SEQ ID residues NO: 5 IL-4 29-43 44-64 65-83 84-94
95-118 119-133 134-151 SEQ ID residues NO: 6 IL-15 45-68 69-83
84-101 102-106 107-119 120-133 134-160 SEQ ID residues NO: 7 GM-CSF
30-44 45-71 72-81 82-90 91-102 103-119 120-131 SEQ ID residues NO:
8
[0046] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sequence
disclosed in SEQ ID NO:1 represents a single allele of human IL-21
and that allelic variation and alternative splicing are expected to
occur. Allelic variants of this sequence can be cloned by probing
cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals according to
standard procedures. Allelic variants of the DNA sequence shown in
SEQ ID NO:1, including those containing silent mutations and those
in which mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, are
within the scope of the present invention, as are proteins which
are allelic variants of SEQ ID NO:2. cDNAs generated from
alternatively spliced mRNAs, which retain the properties of the
IL-21 polypeptide, are included within the scope of the present
invention, as are polypeptides encoded by such cDNAs and mRNAs.
Allelic variants and splice variants of these sequences can be
cloned by probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different
individuals or tissues according to standard procedures known in
the art.
[0047] The present invention also provides isolated IL-21
polypeptides that have a substantially similar sequence identity to
the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:2, or their orthologs. The term
"substantially similar sequence identity" is used herein to denote
polypeptides comprising at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%,
at least 95%, or greater than 95% sequence identity to the
sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or their orthologs. The present
invention also includes polypeptides that comprise an amino acid
sequence having at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least
95% or greater than 95% sequence identity to the sequence of amino
acid residues 1 to 162 or 33 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:2. The present
invention further includes nucleic acid molecules that encode such
polypeptides. Methods for determining percent identity are
described below.
[0048] Percent sequence identity is determined by conventional
methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., Bull. Math. Bio. 48:603
(1986), and Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
89:10915 (1992). Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to
optimize the alignment scores using a gap opening penalty of 10, a
gap extension penalty of 1, and the "BLOSUM62" scoring matrix of
Henikoff and Henikoff (ibid.) as shown in Table 2 (amino acids are
indicated by the standard one-letter codes).
Total number of identical matches [ length of the longer sequence
plus the number of gaps introduced into the longer sequence in
order to align the two sequences ] .times. 100 ##EQU00001##
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 A R N D C Q E G H I L K M F P S T W Y V A 4
R -1 5 N -2 0 6 D -2 -2 1 6 C 0 -3 -3 -3 9 Q -1 1 0 0 -3 5 E -1 0 0
2 -4 2 5 G 0 -2 0 -1 -3 -2 -2 6 H -2 0 1 -1 -3 0 0 -2 8 I -1 -3 -3
-3 -1 -3 -3 -4 -3 4 L -1 -2 -3 -4 -1 -2 -3 -4 -3 2 4 K -1 2 0 -1 -3
1 1 -2 -1 -3 -2 5 M -1 -1 -2 -3 -1 0 -2 -3 -2 1 2 -1 5 F -2 -3 -3
-3 -2 -3 -3 -3 -1 0 0 -3 0 6 P -1 -2 -2 -1 -3 -1 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 -1
-2 -4 7 S 1 -1 1 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 -2 -2 0 -1 -2 -1 4 T 0 -1 0 -1 -1 -1
-1 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -1 1 5 W -3 -3 -4 -4 -2 -2 -3 -2 -2 -3 -2
-3 -1 1 -4 -3 -2 11 Y -2 -2 -2 -3 -2 -1 -2 -3 2 -1 -1 -2 -1 3 -3 -2
-2 2 7 V 0 -3 -3 -3 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 3 1 -2 1 -1 -2 -2 0 -3 -1 4
[0049] Those skilled in the art appreciate that there are many
established algorithms available to align two amino acid sequences.
The "FASTA" similarity search algorithm of Pearson and Lipman is a
suitable protein alignment method for examining the level of
identity shared by an amino acid sequence disclosed herein and the
amino acid sequence of a putative variant IL-21. The FASTA
algorithm is described by Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Nat'l Acad.
Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), and by Pearson, Meth. Enzymol. 183:63
(1990).
[0050] Variant IL-21 polypeptides or polypeptides with
substantially similar sequence identity are characterized as having
one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. These
changes are preferably of a minor nature, that is conservative
amino acid substitutions (see Table 3) and other substitutions that
do not significantly affect the folding or activity of the
polypeptide; small deletions, typically of one to about 30 amino
acids; and amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an
amino-terminal methionine residue, a small linker peptide of up to
about 20-25 residues, or an affinity tag. The present invention
thus includes polypeptides of from about 108 to 216 amino acid
residues that comprise a sequence that is at least 80%, preferably
at least 90%, and more preferably 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more
identical to the corresponding region of SEQ ID NO:2. Polypeptides
comprising affinity tags can further comprise a proteolytic
cleavage site between the IL-21 polypeptide and the affinity tag.
Preferred such sites include thrombin cleavage sites and factor Xa
cleavage sites.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Conservative amino acid substitutions Basic:
arginine lysine histidine Acidic: glutamic acid aspartic acid
Polar: glutamine asparagine Hydrophobic: leucine isoleucine valine
Aromatic: phenylalanine tryptophan tyrosine Small: glycine alanine
serine threonine methionine
[0051] Determination of amino acid residues that comprise regions
or domains that are critical to maintaining structural integrity
can be determined. Within these regions one can determine specific
residues that will be more or less tolerant of change and maintain
the overall tertiary structure of the molecule. Methods for
analyzing sequence structure include, but are not limited to
alignment of multiple sequences with high amino acid or nucleotide
identity, secondary structure propensities, binary patterns,
complementary packing and buried polar interactions (Barton,
Current Opin. Struct. Biol. 5:372-376, 1995 and Cordes et al.,
Current Opin. Struct. Biol. 6:3-10, 1996). In general, when
designing modifications to molecules or identifying specific
fragments determination of structure will be accompanied by
evaluating activity of modified molecules.
[0052] Amino acid sequence changes are made in IL-21 polypeptides
so as to minimize disruption of higher order structure essential to
biological activity. For example, where the IL-21 polypeptide
comprises one or more helices, changes in amino acid residues will
be made so as not to disrupt the helix geometry and other
components of the molecule where changes in conformation abate some
critical function, for example, binding of the molecule to its
binding partners, e.g., A and D helices, residues 44, 47 and 135 of
SEQ ID NO: 2. The effects of amino acid sequence changes can be
predicted by, for example, computer modeling as disclosed above or
determined by analysis of crystal structure (see, e.g., Lapthorn et
al., Nat. Struct. Biol. 2:266-268, 1995). Other techniques that are
well known in the art compare folding of a variant protein to a
standard molecule (e.g., the native protein). For example,
comparison of the cysteine pattern in a variant and standard
molecules can be made. Mass spectrometry and chemical modification
using reduction and alkylation provide methods for determining
cysteine residues which are associated with disulfide bonds or are
free of such associations (Bean et al., Anal. Biochem. 201:216-226,
1992; Gray, Protein Sci. 2:1732-1748, 1993; and Patterson et al.,
Anal. Chem. 66:3727-3732, 1994). It is generally believed that if a
modified molecule does not have the same cysteine pattern as the
standard molecule folding would be affected. Another well known and
accepted method for measuring folding is circular dichrosism (CD).
Measuring and comparing the CD spectra generated by a modified
molecule and standard molecule is routine (Johnson, Proteins
7:205-214, 1990). Crystallography is another well known method for
analyzing folding and structure. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),
digestive peptide mapping and epitope mapping are also known
methods for analyzing folding and structurally similarities between
proteins and polypeptides (Schaanan et al., Science 257:961-964,
1992).
[0053] A Hopp/Woods hydrophilicity profile of the IL-21 protein
sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 can be generated (Hopp et al.,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 78:3824-3828, 1981; Hopp, J. Immun. Meth.
88:1-18, 1986 and Triquier et al., Protein Engineering 11:153-169,
1998). The profile is based on a sliding six-residue window. Buried
G, S, and T residues and exposed H, Y, and W residues were ignored.
For example, in IL-21, hydrophilic regions include amino acid
residues 114-119 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acid residues 101-105 of
SEQ ID NO: 2, amino acid residues 126-131 of SEQ ID NO: 2, amino
acid residues 113-118 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and amino acid residues
158-162 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0054] Those skilled in the art will recognize that hydrophilicity
or hydrophobicity will be taken into account when designing
modifications in the amino acid sequence of a IL-21 polypeptide, so
as not to disrupt the overall structural and biological profile. Of
particular interest for replacement are hydrophobic residues
selected from the group consisting of Val, Leu and Ile or the group
consisting of Met, Gly, Ser, Ala, Tyr and Trp. For example,
residues tolerant of substitution could include residues 100 and
103 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. Cysteine residues at positions 71,
78, 122 and 125 of SEQ ID NO: 2, will be relatively intolerant of
substitution.
[0055] The identities of essential amino acids can also be inferred
from analysis of sequence similarity between IL-15, IL-2, IL-4 and
GM-CSF with IL-21. Using methods such as "FASTA" analysis described
previously, regions of high similarity are identified within a
family of proteins and used to analyze amino acid sequence for
conserved regions. An alternative approach to identifying a variant
IL-21 polynucleotide on the basis of structure is to determine
whether a nucleic acid molecule encoding a potential variant IL-21
gene can hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide
sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, as discussed above.
[0056] Other methods of identifying essential amino acids in the
polypeptides of the present invention are procedures known in the
art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning
mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244:1081 (1989), Bass et
al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4498 (1991), Coombs and Corey,
"Site-Directed Mutagenesis and Protein Engineering," in Proteins:
Analysis and Design, Angeletti (ed.), pages 259-311 (Academic
Press, Inc. 1998)). In the latter technique, single alanine
mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the
resultant mutant molecules are tested for biological or biochemical
activity as disclosed below to identify amino acid residues that
are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:4699 (1996).
[0057] The present invention also includes administration of
molecules having the functional activity of IL-21. Thus,
administration of functional fragments and functional modified
polypeptides of IL-21 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules
encoding such functional fragments and modified polypeptides. A
"functional" IL-21 or fragment thereof as defined herein is
characterized by its proliferative or differentiating activity, by
its ability to induce or inhibit specialized cell functions, in
particular for immune effector cells, such as NK cells, T cells, B
cells and dendritic cells. Functional IL-21 also includes the
ability to exhibit anti-cancer and anti-viral effects in vitro or
in vivo, or by its ability to bind specifically to an anti-IL-21
antibody or IL-21 receptor (either soluble or immobilized). As
previously described herein, IL-21 is characterized by a
four-helical-bundle structure comprising helix A (amino acid
residues 41-56), helix B (amino acid residues 69-84), helix C
(amino acid residues 92-105) and helix D (amino acid residues
135-148), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. Thus, the present invention
further provides fusion proteins encompassing: (a) polypeptide
molecules comprising one or more of the helices described above;
and (b) functional fragments comprising one or more of these
helices. The other polypeptide portion of the fusion protein can
contributed by another four-helical-bundle cytokine, such as IL-15,
IL-2, IL-4 and GM-CSF, or by a non-native and/or an unrelated
secretory signal peptide that facilitates secretion of the fusion
protein.
[0058] Routine deletion analyses of nucleic acid molecules can be
performed to obtain functional fragments of a nucleic acid molecule
that encodes a IL-21 polypeptide. As an illustration, DNA molecules
having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or fragments thereof,
can be digested with Bal31 nuclease to obtain a series of nested
deletions. These DNA fragments are then inserted into expression
vectors in proper reading frame, and the expressed polypeptides are
isolated and tested for IL-21 activity, or for the ability to bind
anti-IL-21 antibodies or zalpha11 receptor. One alternative to
exonuclease digestion is to use oligonucleotide-directed
mutagenesis to introduce deletions or stop codons to specify
production of a desired IL-21 fragment. Alternatively, particular
fragments of a IL-21 gene can be synthesized using the polymerase
chain reaction.
[0059] Standard methods for identifying functional domains are
well-known to those of skill in the art. For example, studies on
the truncation at either or both termini of interferons have been
summarized by Horisberger and Di Marco, Pharmac. Ther. 66:507
(1995). Moreover, standard techniques for functional analysis of
proteins are described by, for example, Treuter et al., Molec. Gen.
Genet. 240:113 (1993); Content et al., "Expression and preliminary
deletion analysis of the 42 kDa 2-5A synthetase induced by human
interferon," in Biological Interferon Systems, Proceedings of
ISIR-TNO Meeting on Interferon Systems, Cantell (ed.), pages 65-72
(Nijhoff 1987); Herschman, "The EGF Receptor," in Control of Animal
Cell Proliferation I, Boynton et al., (eds.) pages 169-199
(Academic Press 1985); Coumailleau et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:29270
(1995); Fukunaga et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:25291 (1995); Yamaguchi
et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 50:1295 (1995); and Meisel et al.,
Plant Molec. Biol. 30:1 (1996).
[0060] Multiple amino acid substitutions can be made and tested
using known methods of mutagenesis and screening, such as those
disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer (Science 241:53 (1988)) or
Bowie and Sauer (Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86:2152 (1989)).
Briefly, these authors disclose methods for simultaneously
randomizing two or more positions in a polypeptide, selecting for
functional polypeptide, and then sequencing the mutagenized
polypeptides to determine the spectrum of allowable substitutions
at each position. Other methods that can be used include phage
display (e.g., Lowman et al., Biochem. 30:10832 (1991), Ladner et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409, Huse, international publication No.
WO 92/06204), and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al.,
Gene 46:145 (1986), and Ner et al., DNA 7:127, (1988)).
[0061] Variants of the disclosed IL-21 nucleotide and polypeptide
sequences can also be generated through DNA shuffling as disclosed
by Stemmer, Nature 370:389 (1994), Stemmer, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA 91:10747 (1994), and international publication No. WO 97/20078.
Briefly, variant DNA molecules are generated by in vitro homologous
recombination by random fragmentation of a parent DNA followed by
reassembly using PCR, resulting in randomly introduced point
mutations. This technique can be modified by using a family of
parent DNA molecules, such as allelic variants or DNA molecules
from different species, to introduce additional variability into
the process. Selection or screening for the desired activity,
followed by additional iterations of mutagenesis and assay provides
for rapid "evolution" of sequences by selecting for desirable
mutations while simultaneously selecting against detrimental
changes.
[0062] Mutagenesis methods as disclosed herein can be combined with
high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of
cloned, mutagenized polypeptides in host cells. Mutagenized DNA
molecules that encode biologically active polypeptides, or
polypeptides that bind with anti-IL-21 antibodies or soluble
zalpha11 receptor, can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly
sequenced using modern equipment. These methods allow the rapid
determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues
in a polypeptide of interest, and can be applied to polypeptides of
unknown structure.
[0063] In addition, the proteins of the present invention (or
polypeptide fragments thereof) can be joined to other bioactive
molecules, particularly other cytokines, to provide
multi-functional molecules. For example, one or more helices from
IL-21 can be joined to other cytokines to enhance their biological
properties or efficiency of production.
[0064] The present invention thus provides a series of novel,
hybrid molecules in which a segment comprising one or more of the
helices of IL-21 is fused to another polypeptide. Fusion is
preferably done by splicing at the DNA level to allow expression of
chimeric molecules in recombinant production systems. The resultant
molecules are then assayed for such properties as improved
solubility, improved stability, prolonged clearance half-life,
improved expression and secretion levels, and pharmacodynamics.
Such hybrid molecules may further comprise additional amino acid
residues (e.g. a polypeptide linker) between the component proteins
or polypeptides.
[0065] Non-naturally occurring amino acids include, without
limitation, trans-3-methylproline, 2,4-methanoproline,
cis-4-hydroxyproline, trans-4-hydroxyproline, N-methylglycine,
allo-threonine, methylthreonine, hydroxyethylcysteine,
hydroxyethylhomocysteine, nitroglutamine, homoglutamine, pipecolic
acid, thiazolidine carboxylic acid, dehydroproline, 3- and
4-methylproline, 3,3-dimethylproline, tert-leucine, norvaline,
2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine, and
4-fluorophenylalanine. Several methods are known in the art for
incorporating non-naturally occurring amino acid residues into
proteins. For example, an in vitro system can be employed wherein
nonsense mutations are suppressed using chemically aminoacylated
suppressor tRNAs. Methods for synthesizing amino acids and
aminoacylating tRNA are known in the art. Transcription and
translation of plasmids containing nonsense mutations is typically
carried out in a cell-free system comprising an E. coli S30 extract
and commercially available enzymes and other reagents. Proteins are
purified by chromatography. See, for example, Robertson et al., J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 113:2722 (1991), Ellman et al., Methods Enzymol.
202:301 (1991), Chung et al., Science 259:806 (1993), and Chung et
al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 90:10145 (1993).
[0066] In a second method, translation is carried out in Xenopus
oocytes by microinjection of mutated mRNA and chemically
aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs (Turcatti et al., J. Biol. Chem.
271:19991 (1996)). Within a third method, E. coli cells are
cultured in the absence of a natural amino acid that is to be
replaced (e.g., phenylalanine) and in the presence of the desired
non-naturally occurring amino acid(s) (e.g., 2-azaphenylalanine,
3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine, or 4-fluorophenylalanine).
The non-naturally occurring amino acid is incorporated into the
protein in place of its natural counterpart. See, Koide et al.,
Biochem. 33:7470 (1994). Naturally occurring amino acid residues
can be converted to non-naturally occurring species by in vitro
chemical modification. Chemical modification can be combined with
site-directed mutagenesis to further expand the range of
substitutions (Wynn and Richards, Protein Sci. 2.395 (1993). It can
advantageous to stabilize IL-21 to extend the half-life of the
molecule, particularly for extending metabolic persistence in an
active state. To achieve extended half-life, IL-21 molecules can be
chemically modified using methods described herein. PEGylation is
one method commonly used that has been demonstrated to increase
plasma half-life, increased solubility, and decreased antigenicity
and immunogenicity (Nucci et al., Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
6:133-155, 1991 and Lu et al., Int. J. Peptide Protein Res.
43:127-138, 1994).
[0067] A limited number of non-conservative amino acids, amino
acids that are not encoded by the genetic code, non-naturally
occurring amino acids, and unnatural amino acids can substituted
for IL-21 amino acid residues.
[0068] The present invention also provides polypeptide fragments or
peptides comprising an epitope-bearing portion of a IL-21
polypeptide described herein. Such fragments or peptides may
comprise an "immunogenic epitope," which is a part of a protein
that elicits an antibody response when the entire protein is used
as an immunogen. Immunogenic epitope-bearing peptides can be
identified using standard methods (see, for example, Geysen et al.,
Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998 (1983)).
[0069] In contrast, polypeptide fragments or peptides may comprise
an "antigenic epitope," which is a region of a protein molecule to
which an antibody can specifically bind. Certain epitopes consist
of a linear or contiguous stretch of amino acids, and the
antigenicity of such an epitope is not disrupted by denaturing
agents. It is known in the art that relatively short synthetic
peptides that can mimic epitopes of a protein can be used to
stimulate the production of antibodies against the protein (see,
for example, Sutcliffe et al., Science 219:660 (1983)).
Accordingly, antigenic epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides of
the present invention are useful to raise antibodies that bind with
the polypeptides described herein. Hopp/Woods hydrophilicity
profiles can be used to determine regions that have the most
antigenic potential (Hopp et al., 1981, ibid. and Hopp, 1986,
ibid.). In IL-21 these regions include: amino acid residues
114-119, 101-105, 126-131, 113-118, and 158-162 of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0070] Antigenic epitope-bearing peptides and polypeptides
preferably contain at least four to ten amino acids, at least ten
to fourteen amino acids, or about fourteen to about thirty amino
acids of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. Such epitope-bearing peptides
and polypeptides can be produced by fragmenting a IL-21
polypeptide, or by chemical peptide synthesis, as described herein.
Moreover, epitopes can be selected by phage display of random
peptide libraries (see, for example, Lane and Stephen, Curr. Opin.
Immunol. 5:268 (1993); and Cortese et al., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol.
7:616 (1996)). Standard methods for identifying epitopes and
producing antibodies from small peptides that comprise an epitope
are described, for example, by Mole, "Epitope Mapping," in Methods
in Molecular Biology, Vol. 10, Manson (ed.), pages 105-116 (The
Humana Press, Inc. 1992); Price, "Production and Characterization
of Synthetic Peptide-Derived Antibodies," in Monoclonal Antibodies:
Production, Engineering, and Clinical Application, Ritter and
Ladyman (eds.), pages 60-84 (Cambridge University Press 1995), and
Coligan et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Immunology, pages
9.3.1-9.3.5 and pages 9.4.1-9.4.11 (John Wiley & Sons
1997).
[0071] Regardless of the particular nucleotide sequence of a
variant IL-21 polynucleotide, the polynucleotide encodes a
polypeptide that is characterized by its proliferative or
differentiating activity, its ability to induce or inhibit
specialized cell functions, or by the ability to bind specifically
to an anti-IL-21 antibody or zalpha11 receptor. More specifically,
variant IL-21 polynucleotides will encode polypeptides which
exhibit at least 50% and preferably, greater than 70%, 80% or 90%,
of the activity of the polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0072] For any IL-21 polypeptide, including variants and fusion
proteins, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily generate a
fully degenerate polynucleotide sequence encoding that variant
using the genetic code and methods known in the art.
[0073] The present invention further provides a variety of other
polypeptide fusions (and related multimeric proteins comprising one
or more polypeptide fusions). For example, a IL-21 polypeptide can
be prepared as a fusion to a dimerizing protein as disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,027 and 5,567,584. Preferred dimerizing
proteins in this regard include immunoglobulin constant region
domains. Immunoglobulin-IL-21 polypeptide fusions can be expressed
in genetically engineered cells (to produce a variety of multimeric
IL-21 analogs). Auxiliary domains can be fused to IL-21
polypeptides to target them to specific cells, tissues, or
macromolecules. For example, a IL-21 polypeptide or protein could
be targeted to a predetermined cell type by fusing a IL-21
polypeptide to a ligand that specifically binds to a receptor on
the surface of that target cell. In this way, polypeptides and
proteins can be targeted for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. A
IL-21 polypeptide can be fused to two or more moieties, such as an
affinity tag for purification and a targeting domain. Polypeptide
fusions can also comprise one or more cleavage sites, particularly
between domains. See, Tuan et al., Connective Tissue Research
34:1-9, 1996.
[0074] Using the methods discussed herein, one of ordinary skill in
the art can identify and/or prepare a variety of polypeptides that
have substantially similar sequence identity to residues 1-162 or
33-162 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or functional fragments and fusions
thereof, wherein such polypeptides or fragments or fusions retain
the properties of the wild-type protein such as the ability to
stimulate proliferation, differentiation, induce specialized cell
function or bind the IL-21 receptor or IL-21 antibodies.
[0075] The IL-21 polypeptides used in the present invention can be
produced in genetically engineered host cells according to
conventional techniques. Suitable host cells are those cell types
that can be transformed or transfected with exogenous DNA and grown
in culture, and include bacteria, fungal cells, and cultured higher
eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells, particularly cultured cells of
multicellular organisms, are preferred. Techniques for manipulating
cloned DNA molecules and introducing exogenous DNA into a variety
of host cells are disclosed by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning:
A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,
Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989, and Ausubel et al., eds., Current
Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY,
1987.
[0076] In general, a DNA sequence encoding a IL-21 polypeptide is
operably linked to other genetic elements required for its
expression, generally including a transcription promoter and
terminator, within an expression vector. The vector will also
commonly contain one or more selectable markers and one or more
origins of replication, although those skilled in the art will
recognize that within certain systems selectable markers may be
provided on separate vectors, and replication of the exogenous DNA
may be provided by integration into the host cell genome. Selection
of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other
elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary
skill in the art. Many such elements are described in the
literature and are available through commercial suppliers.
[0077] To direct a IL-21 polypeptide into the secretory pathway of
a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader
sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in the
expression vector. The secretory signal sequence may be that of
IL-21, or may be derived from another secreted protein (e.g., t-PA)
or synthesized de novo. The secretory signal sequence is operably
linked to the IL-21 DNA sequence, i.e., the two sequences are
joined in the correct reading frame and positioned to direct the
newly synthesized polypeptide into the secretory pathway of the
host cell. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5' to
the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although
certain secretory signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in
the DNA sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830).
[0078] Cultured mammalian cells are suitable hosts within the
present invention. Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into
mammalian host cells include calcium phosphate-mediated
transfection (Wigler et al., Cell 14:725, 1978; Corsaro and
Pearson, Somatic Cell Genetics 7:603, 1981: Graham and Van der Eb,
Virology 52:456, 1973), electroporation (Neumann et al., EMBO J.
1:841-5, 1982), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection (Ausubel et al.,
ibid.), and liposome-mediated transfection (Hawley-Nelson et al.,
Focus 15:73, 1993; Ciccarone et al., Focus 15:80, 1993, and viral
vectors (Miller and Rosman, BioTechniques 7:980-90, 1989; Wang and
Finer, Nature Med. 2:714-6, 1996).
[0079] A wide variety of suitable recombinant host cells includes,
but is not limited to, gram-negative prokaryotic host organisms.
Suitable strains of E. coli include W3110, K12-derived strains
MM294, TG-1, JM-107, BL21, and UT5600. Other suitable strains
include: BL21(DE3), BL21(DE3).sub.pLysS, BL21(DE3)pLysE, DH1, DH41,
DH5, DH51, DH51F', DH51MCR, DH10B, DH10B/p3, DH11S, C600, HB101,
JM101, JM105, JM109, JM110, K38, RR1, Y1088, Y1089, CSH18, ER1451,
ER1647, E. coli K12, E. coli K12 RV308, E. coli K12 C600, E. coli
HB101, E. coli K12 C600 R.sub.k-M.sub.k-, E. coli K12 RR1 (see, for
example, Brown (ed.), Molecular Biology Labfax (Academic Press
1991)). Other gram-negative prokaryotic hosts can include Serratia,
Pseudomonas, Caulobacter. Prokaryotic hosts can include
gram-positive organisms such as Bacillus, for example, B. subtilis
and B. thuringienesis, and B. thuringienesis var. israelensis, as
well as Streptomyces, for example, S. lividans, S. ambofaciens, S.
fradiae, and S. griseofuscus. Suitable strains of Bacillus subtilus
include BR151, YB886, MI119, MI120, and B170 (see, for example,
Hardy, "Bacillus Cloning Methods," in DNA Cloning: A Practical
Approach, Glover (ed.) (IRL Press 1985)). Standard techniques for
propagating vectors in prokaryotic hosts are well-known to those of
skill in the art (see, for example, Ausubel et al. (eds.), Short
Protocols in Molecular Biology. 3.sup.rd Edition (John Wiley &
Sons 1995); Wu et al., Methods in Gene Biotechnology (CRC Press,
Inc. 1997)). In one embodiment, the methods of the present
invention use IL-21 expressed in the W3110 strain, which has been
deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) as ATCC #
27325.
[0080] When large scale production of IL-21 using the expression
system of the present invention is required, batch fermentation can
be used. Generally, batch fermentation comprises that a first stage
seed flask is prepared by growing E. coli strains expressing IL-21
in a suitable medium in shake flask culture to allow for growth to
an optical density (OD) of between 5 and 20 at 600 nm. A suitable
medium would contain nitrogen from a source(s) such as ammonium
sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium chloride, yeast extract,
hydrolyzed animal proteins, hydrolyzed plant proteins or hydrolyzed
caseins. Phosphate will be supplied from potassium phosphate,
ammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid or sodium phosphate. Other
components would be magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate,
ferrous sulfate or ferrous chloride, and other trace elements.
Growth medium can be supplemented with carbohydrates, such as
fructose, glucose, galactose, lactose, and glycerol, to improve
growth. Alternatively, a fed batch culture is used to generate a
high yield of IL-21 protein. The IL-21 producing E. coli strains
are grown under conditions similar to those described for the first
stage vessel used to inoculate a batch fermentation.
[0081] Following fermentation the cells are harvested by
centrifugation, re-suspended in homogenization buffer and
homogenized, for example, in an APV-Gaulin homogenizer (Invensys
APV, Tonawanda, New York) or other type of cell disruption
equipment, such as bead mills or sonicators. Alternatively, the
cells are taken directly from the fermentor and homogenized in an
APV-Gaulin homogenizer. The washed inclusion body prep can be
solubilized using guanidine hydrochloride (5-8 M) or urea (7-8 M)
containing a reducing agent such as beta mercaptoethanol (10-100
mM) or dithiothreitol (5-50 mM). The solutions can be prepared in
Tris, phosphate, HEPES or other appropriate buffers. Inclusion
bodies can also be solubilized with urea (2-4 M) containing sodium
lauryl sulfate (0.1-2%). In the process for recovering purified
IL-21 from transformed E. coli host strains in which the IL-21 is
accumulates as refractile inclusion bodies, the cells are disrupted
and the inclusion bodies are recovered by centrifugation. The
inclusion bodies are then solubilized and denatured in 6 M
guanidine hydrochloride containing a reducing agent. The reduced
IL-21 is then oxidized in a controlled renaturation step. Refolded
IL-21 can be passed through a filter for clarification and removal
of insoluble protein. The solution is then passed through a filter
for clarification and removal of insoluble protein. After the IL-21
protein is refolded and concentrated, the refolded IL-21 protein is
captured in dilute buffer on a cation exchange column and purified
using hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
[0082] It is preferred to purify the polypeptides of the present
invention to .gtoreq.80% purity, more preferably to .gtoreq.90%
purity, even more preferably .gtoreq.95% purity, and particularly
preferred is a pharmaceutically pure state, that is greater than
99.9% pure with respect to contaminating macromolecules,
particularly other proteins and nucleic acids, and free of
infectious and pyrogenic agents. Preferably, a purified polypeptide
is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly other
polypeptides of animal origin.
[0083] A variety of assays known to those skilled in the art can be
utilized to detect antibodies which bind to IL-21 proteins or
polypeptides. Exemplary assays are described in detail in
Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (Eds.), Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988. Representative examples of
such assays include: concurrent immunoelectrophoresis,
radioimmunoassay, radioimmuno-precipitation, enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot blot or Western blot assay,
inhibition or competition assay, and sandwich assay. In addition,
antibodies can be screened for binding to wild-type versus mutant
IL-21 protein or polypeptide.
[0084] The methods of the present invention also contemplate using
chemically modified IL-21 compositions, in which a IL-21
polypeptide is linked with a polymer. Illustrative IL-21
polypeptides are soluble polypeptides that lack a functional
transmembrane domain, such as a mature IL-21 polypeptide.
Typically, the polymer is water soluble so that the IL-21 conjugate
does not precipitate in an aqueous environment, such as a
physiological environment. An example of a suitable polymer is one
that has been modified to have a single reactive group, such as an
active ester for acylation, or an aldehyde for alkylation, In this
way, the degree of polymerization can be controlled. An example of
a reactive aldehyde is polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde, or
mono-(C1-C10) alkoxy, or aryloxy derivatives thereof (see, for
example, Harris, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,714). The polymer may
be branched or unbranched. Moreover, a mixture of polymers can be
used to produce IL-21 conjugates.
[0085] IL-21 conjugates used for therapy can comprise
pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer moieties.
Suitable water-soluble polymers include polyethylene glycol (PEG),
monomethoxy-PEG, mono-(C1-C10)alkoxy-PEG, aryloxy-PEG,
poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)PEG, tresyl monomethoxy PEG, PEG
propionaldehyde, bis-succinimidyl carbonate PEG, propylene glycol
homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer,
polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol), polyvinyl alcohol,
dextran, cellulose, or other carbohydrate-based polymers. Suitable
PEG may have a molecular weight from about 600 to about 60,000,
including, for example, 5,000, 12,000, 20,000 and 25,000. A IL-21
conjugate can also comprise a mixture of such water-soluble
polymers.
B. The Use of IL-21 for Infections
[0086] One requirement for achieving sustained immunity and durable
clinical responses is the amplification in the numbers and activity
of the cells that suppress viral replication, prevent reinfection
and kill infected cells. Thus, new factors that mediate effects on
lymphocytes including cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs), NK cells, and
B-cells, as well myeloid cells such as neutrophils and monocytic
cells will improve antiviral activity by the immune system. IL-21
is a product of activated CD4.sup.+ "helper" T-cells which are
required for both humoral and cell-mediated immunity and for
sustaining long-term memory to antigenic re-challenge (U.S. Pat.
No. 6,307,024: Parrish-Novak J et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000). The
receptor for IL-21 is expressed on cells that mediate antiviral
responses and previous experiments have shown that IL-21 can
stimulate the proliferation of these cell types in vitro (WIPO
Publication Nos. WO 0/17235 and WO 01/77171). Additional
experiments affirm these IL-21 activities in vivo.
[0087] A central role of the immune system is to protect against
microbial infection (reviewed by Paul. WE (Ed), Fundamental
Immunology. Lippincott-Raven, New York, N.Y., 1999). The immune
system makes a rapid and highly specific response to a broad
spectrum of bacteria, parasites and viruses through an
orchestration of cellular interactions and synthesis of Soluble
factors including cytokines. Two categories of activity describe
this protective response: Innate and adaptive immunity. The innate
immune response is an acute response and functions to limit
pathogen replication. Macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells and
neutrophilic granulocytes constitute some of the cell type
responsible for this activity. Innate immunity is accompanied by a
more protracted response, the adaptive immune response, whereby an
antigen-specific effector system regulated by dendritic cells,
T-cells and B-cells mediates resolution of infection and long term
memory.
[0088] Cytokines play a major role in regulating immune responses
to infection. For instance, IFN-(.alpha. and -.gamma. are critical
for inhibiting virus replication and preventing the replication of
cells that harbor virus (reviewed by Vilcek J. and Sen G C, B N,
Knipe D M, Flowlev P M (Eds.), Interferons and other cytokines.
Fields Fundamental Virology., 3.sup.rd ed., Lippincott-Raven
Publishers Philadelphia, Pa., 1996. pages 341-365). IFN's also
stimulate cells regulating innate immunity and are required for the
initiation of the acquired immune response. Additional cytokines
produced at early times during viral infection include NK
cell-produced IFN-.gamma., tumor necrosis factor-.alpha., and
IL-15. These molecules help shape inflammatory responses to
infection as well as stimulate the proliferation and
differentiation of lymphocytes critical for adaptive immunity. With
respect to viral infection, the CD4+ T-cells that become activated
in response to viral antigens initiate a T-helper type 1 (TH1)
response and the subsequent cascade required for cell-mediated
immunity. That is, following their expansion by specific growth
factors like the cytokine IL-2, these T-cells stimulate
antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells, macrophages, and NK cells to kill
virally infected host cells. Again, cytokines play an important
role in mediating these types of responses. IFN-.gamma., for
example, is critical for regulating the differentiation of a Th1
T-cells and for stimulating cell-mediated immunity (reviewed by
Paul, W E supra.).
[0089] Strategies for treating infectious disease often focus on
ways to enhance immunity. For instance, the most common method for
treating viral infection involves prophylactic vaccines that induce
immune-based memory responses. Many endemic childhood diseases such
as measles, chicken pox, and mumps are now quite rare in the U.S.
thanks to aggressive vaccination programs (Dowdle W R, and
Orenstein W A, Proc Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 91:2464-8, 1994). Another
method for treating viral infection includes passive immunization
via immunoglobulin therapy such as infusing antibodies to
respiratory sincytial virus (RSV), into high risk patients
(Meissner H C. J. Pediatr. 124:S17-21., 1994). IFN-.alpha. is
another method for treating viral infections such as genital warts
(Reichman R C et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 108:675-9, 1988) and
chronic diseases like HCV (Davis G L et al., New Engl. J. Med.
339:1493-9, 1998) and HBV. Although oftentimes efficacious, these
methods have limitations in clinical use. For instance, many viral
infections are not amenable to vaccine development, nor are they
treatable with antibodies alone. In addition, IFN's are not
extremely effective and they can cause significant toxicities;
thus, there is a need for improved therapies.
[0090] Improved methods for treating diseases such as viral
infections are dependent on the isolation of reagents that
specifically enhance innate and acquired immunity; compounds that
stimulate the effector cells of an antiviral response. We have
previously reported the discovery of IL-21 (Parrish-Novak J et al.,
supra; U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024). This cytokine is produced by
activated CD4+ T-cells. The IL-21 receptor is expressed by a
variety of cells within the immune system such as CD4+ and CD8+
T-cells, B-cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells. Like IL-2, IL-21
acts as an autocrine factor that drives T-cell proliferation, a
critical requirement for amplifying an antiviral response. In
addition, IL-21 enhances the proliferation and killing activities
of both CD8 T-cells and NK cells, thus demonstrating an important
role in cell-mediated immunity (Parrish-Novak, J. et al., supra.;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024; and Kasaian M T et al. Immunity 16:559-69,
2002). Finally, IL-21 enhances the proliferation of B-cells in the
presence of T-cell help, thereby suggesting an important role in
stimulating antibody-mediated processes (Parrish-Novak, J. et al.,
supra.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024). In addition, data described
herein have shown not only the immunostimulatory effects of IL-21
on the immune system in regard to CTLs, but also IL-21 is
immunostimulatory and represents a novel treatment for viral
disease.
[0091] The IL-21 polypeptides of the present invention are shown to
stimulate CTL and NK cells. IL-21 can hence be used in therapeutic
antiviral applications in humans. As such, IL-21 antiviral activity
is useful in the treatment and prevention of human viral
infections. Examples of the types of viral infections for IL-21 use
include, but are not limited to: infections caused by DNA Viruses
(e.g., Herpes Viruses such as Herpes Simplex viruses. Epstein-Barn
virus. Cytomegalovirus; Pox viruses such as Variola (small pox)
virus; Hepadnaviruses (e.g., Hepatitis B virus); Papilloma viruses;
Adenoviruses); RNA Viruses (e.g., HIV I, II; HTLV I, II;
Poliovirus; Hepatitis A; coronoviruses, such as sudden acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS); Orthomyxoviruses (e.g., Influenza
viruses); Paramyxoviruses (e.g., Measles virus); Rabies virus:
Hepatitis C virus), Flaviviruses, Influenza viruses; caliciviruses;
rabies viruses, rinderpest viruses, Arena virus, and the like.
Moreover, examples of the types of virus-related diseases for which
IL-21 could be used include, but are not limited to: Acquired
immunodeficiency; Hepatitis; Gastroenteritis; Hemorrhagic diseases;
Enteritis; Carditis; Encephalitis; Paralysis; Brochiolitis; Upper
and lower respiratory disease; Respiratory Papillomatosis;
Arthritis; Disseminated disease, Meningitis. Mononucleosis. In
addition, IL-21 can be used in various applications for antiviral
immunotherapy, and in conjunction with other cytokines, other
protein or small molecule antivirals, and the like.
[0092] Moreover, IL-21 will be useful treatment of other microbial
infections. These types of microbes include bacteria and fungus.
Specific bacterial infections that can be treated with IL-21,
include but are not limited to, chlamydiae, listeriae, helicobacter
pylori, mycobacterium, mycoplasma, bacillus anthracis, salmonella,
and shigella. An example of a fungal infection include, but are not
limited to, candidiasis.
[0093] For example:
[0094] (1) IL-21 can be used as a monotherapy for acute and chronic
viral infections and for immunocompromised patients. Methods that
enhance immunity can accelerate the recovery time in patients with
unresolved infections. A partial list of the types of infections is
provided (see above). Immunotherapies can have an even greater
impact on subsets of immunocompromised patients such as the very
young or elderly as well as patients that suffer immunodeficiencies
acquired through infection, or induced following medical
interventions such as chemotherapy or bone marrow ablation.
Examples of the types of indications being treated via
immune-modulation include; the use of IFN-.alpha. for chronic
hepatitis (Perry C M, and Jarvis B, Drugs 61:2263-88, 2001), the
use of IL-2 following HIV infection (Mitsuyasu R. J Infect Dis. 185
Suppl 2:S115-22, 2002; and Ross R W et al. Expert Opin Biol Ther.
1:413-24, 2001), and the use of either interferon (Faro A, Springer
Semin Immunopathol. 20:425-36, 1998) for treating Epstein Barr
Virus infections following transplantation. Experiments performed
in animal models indicate that IL-2 and GM-CSF may also be
efficacious for treating EBV related diseases (Baiocchi R A et al.,
J. Clin. Invest. 108:887-94, 2001).
[0095] (2) IL-21 can be used in combination with antiviral agents.
Some of the more common treatments for viral infection include
drugs that inhibit viral replication such as ACYCLOVIR.TM.. In
addition, the combined use of some of these agents form the basis
for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) used for the
treatment of HIV. Examples in which the combination of
immunotherapy (i.e. cytokines) and antiviral drugs shows improved
efficacy include the use of interferon plus RIBAVIRIN.TM. for the
treatment of chronic HCV infection (Maddrey W C, Semin. Liver. Dis.
19 Suppl 1:67-75, 1999) and the combined use of IL-2 and HAART
(Ross, R W et al, ibid.) Thus, as IL-21 can stimulate the immune
system against disease., it can similarly be used in combination
with HAART and other antiviral drugs.
[0096] In particular, IL-21 may be useful in monotherapy or
combination therapy with IFN-.alpha. (with or without
RIBAVIRIN.TM.) in patients who do not respond well to IFN therapy.
These patients may not respond to IFN therapy due to having less
type I interferon receptor on the surface of their cells
(Yatsuhashi et al. J Hepatol June. 30(6):995-1003, 1999; Mathai et
al., J. Interferon Cytokine Res September. 19(9):1011-8, 1999;
Fukuda et al. J Med Virol Mar. 63(3:220-7, 2001). IL-21 may also be
useful in monotherapy or combination therapy with IFN-.alpha. (with
or without RIBAVIRIN.TM.) in patients who have less type I
interferon receptor on the surface of their cells due to
down-regulation of the type I interferon receptor after type I
interferon treatment (Dupont S A, et al. J. Interferon Cytokine
Res. April; 22(4):491-501, 2002).
[0097] (3) IL-21 can be used in combination with other
immunotherapies including cytokines, immunoglobulin transfer, and
various co-stimulatory molecules. In addition to antiviral drugs,
IL-21 could be used in combination with any other immunotherapy
that is intended to stimulate the immune system. Thus, IL-21 could
be used with other cytokines such as Interferon or IL-2. IL-21
could also be added to methods of passive immunization that involve
immunoglobulin transfer, one example bring the use of antibodies to
treat RSV infection in high risk patients (Meissner H C, ibid.). In
addition, IL-21 could be used with additional co-stimulatory
molecules such as 4-1BB ligand that recognize various cell surface
molecules like CD137 (Tan, J T et al., J Immunol. 163:4859-68,
1999).
[0098] (4) IL-21 can be used as an adjuvant for antiviral vaccines.
The use of prophylactic vaccines for the prevention of viral
disease is well known. IL-21 could be used as an adjuvant with
these vaccines for indications where the efficacy of the vaccine is
reduced, one example being the hepatitis B vaccine (Hasan M S et
al. J Infect Dis. 180:2023-6, 1999; and Evans T G et al. Clin
Nephrol. 54:138-42, 2000). In addition to prophylactic vaccines,
therapeutic vaccines are being developed that are intended to
arrest an ongoing infection. The methodologies for these vaccines
are quite varied and include, but are not limited to, viral
antigens delivered via DNA, viral peptides, viral proteins,
portions of viral particles, and viral antigens loaded into
cell-based therapies such as dendritic cells. Similar to the
combined treatment of a therapeutic cancer with a cytokine like
IL-2 (Shimizu K et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:2268-73,
1999), IL-21 could be used in combination with a therapeutic
antiviral vaccine.
[0099] The tissue distribution of a receptor for a given cytokine
offers a strong indication of the potential sites of action of that
cytokine. Northern analysis of IL-21 receptor revealed transcripts
in human spleen, thymus, lymph node, bone marrow, and peripheral
blood leukocytes. Specific cell types were identified as expressing
IL-21 receptors, and strong signals were seen in a mixed lymphocyte
reaction (MLR) and in the Burkitt's lymphoma Raji. The two
monocytic cell lines, THP-1 (Tsuchiya et al., Int. J. Cancer
26:171-176, 1980) and U937 (Sundstrom et al., Int. J. Cancer
17:565-577, 1976), were negative.
[0100] As discussed herein, IL-21 may activate the immune system
which is important in boosting immunity to infectious diseases,
treating immunocompromised patients, such as HIV+ patients, or in
improving vaccines. In particular, IL-21 stimulation or expansion
of NK cells, or their progenitors, would provide therapeutic value
in treatment of viral infection, and as an anti-neoplastic
(anticancer) factor. NK cells are thought to play a major role in
elimination of metastatic tumor cells and patients with both
metastases and solid tumors have decreased levels of NK cell
activity (Whiteside et. al., Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol.
230:221-244, 1998). Similarly, IL-21 stimulation of the immune
response against viral and non-viral pathogenic agents (including
bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) would provide therapeutic value in
treatment of such infections by inhibiting the growth of such
infections agents. Determining directly or indirectly the levels of
a pathogen or antigen, such as a tumor cell, present in the body
can be achieved by a number of methods known in the art and
described herein. In general, a therapeutically effective amount of
IL-21 includes an amount sufficient to produce a clinically
significant change in virally infected mammals; such changes can
include, but are not limited to an amount of IL-21 sufficient to
produce a clinically significant change in the level of CTLs or NK
cells; an amount of IL-21 sufficient to produce a clinically
significant change in viral load, and in anti-viral antibody titer.
Determination of such clinically significant differences or changes
is well within the skill of one in the art. The measurement of
antiviral CTLs, NK cells, viral load and antiviral antibody titers
have been studied after cytokine administration to both acute and
chronic models of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
infection in the mouse. (Blattman et al. supra) CTL measurements
including enumeration, cytolyic activity, cytokine production and
proliferation have been measured along with viral load in
chronically infected HCV patients (Wedermeyer et al. J. Immunol.
169:3447-3458., 2002).
[0101] Clinically, diagnostic tests for HCV include serologic
assays for antibodies and molecular tests for viral particles.
Enzyme immunoassays are available (Vrielink et al., Transfusion
37:845-849, 1997), but may require confirmation using additional
tests such as an immunoblot assay (Pawlotsky et al., Hepatology
27:1700-1702, 1998). Qualitative and quantitative assays generally
use polymerase chain reaction techniques, and are preferred for
assessing viremia and treatment response (Poynard et al., Lancet
352:1426-1432, 1998; McHutchinson et al., N. Engl. J. Med.
339:1485-1492, 1998). Several commercial tests are available, such
as, quantitative RT-PCR (Amplicor HCV Monitor.TM., Roche Molecular
Systems, Branchburg, N.J.) and a branched DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) signal amplification assay (Quantiplex.TM. HCV RNA Assay
[bDNA], Chiron Corp., Emeryville, Calif.). A non-specific
laboratory test for HCV infection measures alanine aminotransferase
level (ALT) and is inexpensive and readily available (National
Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Panel,
Hepatology 26 (Suppl. 1):2S-10S, 1997). Histologic evaluation of
liver biopsy is generally considered the most accurate means for
determining HCV progression (Yano et al., Hepatology 23:1334-1340,
1996.) For a review of clinical tests for HCV, see, Lauer et al.,
N. Engl. J. Med. 345:41-52, 2001.
[0102] There are several in vivo models for testing HBV and HCV
that are known to those skilled in art. For example, the effects of
IL-21 on mammals infected with HBV can accessed using a woodchuck
model. Briefly, woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck
hepatitis virus (WHV) develop hepatitis and hepatocellular
carcinoma that is similar to disease in humans chronically infected
with HBV. The model has been used for the preclinical assessment of
antiviral activity. A chronically infected WHV strain has been
established and neonates are inoculated with serum to provide
animals for studying the effects of certain compounds using this
model. (For a review, see, Tannant et al., ILAR J. 42 (2):89-102,
2001). Chimpanzees may also be used to evaluate the effect of IL-21
on HBV infected mammals. Using chimpanzees, characterization of HBV
was made and these studies demonstrated that the chimpanzee disease
was remarkably similar to the disease in humans (Barker et al., J.
Infect. Dis. 132:451-458, 1975 and Tabor et al., J. Infect. Dis.
147:531-534, 1983.) The chimpanzee model has been used in
evaluating vaccines (Prince et al., In: Vaccines 97, Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory Press, 1997.) Therapies for HIV are routinely
tested using non-human primates infected with simian
immunodeficiency viruses (for a review, see, Hirsch et al., Adv.
Pharmcol. 49:437-477, 2000 and Nathanson et al., AIDS 13 (suppl.
A):S113-S120, 1999.) For a review of use of non-human primates in
HIV, hepatitis, malaria, respiratory syncytial virus, and other
diseases, see, Sibal et al., ILAR J. 42 (2):74-84, 2001.
[0103] For pharmaceutical use, the proteins of the present
invention are formulated for parenteral, particularly intravenous
or subcutaneous, delivery according to conventional methods. The
bioactive polypeptide or antibody conjugates described herein can
be delivered intravenously, intraarterially or intraductally, or
can be introduced locally at the intended site of action.
Intravenous administration will be by bolus injection or infusion
over a typical period of one to several hours. In general,
pharmaceutical formulations will include a IL-21 protein in
combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, such as
saline, buffered saline, 5% dextrose in water or the like.
Formulations may further include one or more excipients,
preservatives, solubilizers, buffering agents, albumin to prevent
protein loss on vial surfaces, etc. Methods of formulation are well
known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in Remington: The
Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing
Co., Easton, Pa., 19th ed., 1995. Therapeutic doses will generally
be in the range of 0.1 to 100 .mu.g/kg of patient weight per day,
preferably 0.5-20 .mu.g/kg per day, with the exact dose determined
by the clinician according to accepted standards, taking into
account the nature and severity of the condition to be treated,
patient traits, etc. Determination of dose is within the level of
ordinary skill in the art. The proteins can be administered for
acute treatment, over one week or less, often over a period of one
to three days or can be used in chronic treatment, over several
months or years.
[0104] The present invention also contemplates chemically modified
IL-21 compositions, in which a IL-21 polypeptide is linked with a
polymer. Illustrative IL-21 polypeptides are soluble polypeptides
that lack a functional transmembrane domain, such as a mature IL-21
polypeptide. Typically, the polymer is water soluble so that the
IL-21 conjugate does not precipitate in an aqueous environment,
such as a physiological environment. An example of a suitable
polymer is one that has been modified to have a single reactive
group, such as an active ester for acylation, or an aldehyde for
alkylation, In this way, the degree of polymerization can be
controlled. An example of a reactive aldehyde is polyethylene
glycol propionaldehyde, or mono-(C1-C10) alkoxy, or aryloxy
derivatives thereof (see, for example, Harris, et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 5,252,714). The polymer may be branched or unbranched.
Moreover, a mixture of polymers can be used to produce IL-21
conjugates.
[0105] IL-21 conjugates used for therapy can comprise
pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer moieties.
Suitable water-soluble polymers include polyethylene glycol (PEG),
monomethoxy-PEG, mono-(C1-C10)alkoxy-PEG, aryloxy-PEG,
poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)PEG, tresyl monomethoxy PEG, PEG
propionaldehyde, bis-succinimidyl carbonate PEG, propylene glycol
homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer,
polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol), polyvinyl alcohol,
dextran, cellulose, or other carbohydrate-based polymers. Suitable
PEG may have a molecular weight from about 600 to about 60,000,
including, for example, 5,000, 12,000, 20,000 and 25,000. A IL-21
conjugate can also comprise a mixture of such water-soluble
polymers.
[0106] PEGylation of IL-21 can be carried out by any of the
PEGylation reactions known in the art (see, for example, EP 0 154
316, Delgado et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier
Systems 9:249 (1992), Duncan and Spreafico, Clin. Pharmacokinet.
27:290 (1994), and Francis et al., Int J Hematol 68:1 (1998)).
[0107] The present invention contemplates methods for treating
cancer using compositions comprising an IL-21 polypeptide or
polypeptide as described herein. Such compositions can further
comprise a carrier. The carrier can be a conventional organic or
inorganic carrier. Examples of carriers include water, buffer
solution, alcohol, propylene glycol, macrogol, sesame oil, corn
oil, and the like.
[0108] The invention is further illustrated by the following
non-limiting examples.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
IL-21 Purified Recombinant Human Protein Dose-Response Study in
Normal Mice
A. Summary
[0109] Normal six week old female C57Bl/6 (Harlan Sprague Dawley,
Indianapolis, Ind.). mice were treated by intraperitoneal injection
once daily for either four or eight days with one of four dose
levels of purified recombinant human IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No.
6,307,024) at 0.1, 0.5, 5 or 50 .mu.g/mouse/day or with vehicle as
a control. Body weights and body temperatures were monitored daily.
On either day four or day nine, four of the eight mice from each
protein treatment group and five of the ten mice in the vehicle
control group were sacrificed. Blood, bone marrow and tissues were
harvested and analyzed. Potential perturbations in lymphoid tissues
were examined, as well as general physiologic and toxicological
parameters.
[0110] There was no evidence of toxicity of human IL-21 protein at
any of the doses tested. Body weights and temperatures were
unchanged. There were no apparent changes in clinical chemistry
parameters. However, there were consistent findings relating to
increased percentages of myeloid lineage cells in bone marrow,
spleen and peripheral blood in mice treated with the highest dose
of IL-21 compared to the vehicle control. There was a statistically
significant increase in myeloid lineage sized cells identified by
flow cytometric analysis of spleen homogenate in the high-dose
group. The spleens of the two highest dose groups were
statistically significantly larger than the other groups. On
histopathologic examination, however, only a marginal increase in
extramedullary hematopoiesis was seen in the highest dose group.
There was a statistically significant increase in the myeloid to
erythroid ratio of the bone marrow in the highest dose group
compared to the other groups. Finally, there were increases seen in
peripheral blood both in total white blood cell counts and in the
percentage of monocytes in the same group.
B. Dosing Solution Preparation
[0111] Purified recombinant human IL-21 was diluted into sterile
phosphate buffered saline (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) at
concentrations to deliver 50, 5, 0.5 or 0.1 micrograms of protein
in 0.1 ml of PBS vehicle. The doses for the first four days were
made on day 0 and frozen in a frosty -20.degree. C. freezer prior
to use. The doses for days five through eight were made on day five
and frozen as above. Aliquots of the same PBS were similarly frozen
for the vehicle treated control group. On the day of administration
the appropriate aliquots were thawed and 0.1 ml of solution was
injected intraperitoneally into the mice each day for either four
or eight days.
C. Study Design
[0112] The mice were six weeks old at the start of the study. Each
treatment group consisted of eight mice, except for the vehicle
control group that included ten mice. One half of the mice in each
treatment group were sacrificed after four days of treatment and
the other half after eight days.
[0113] Before treatment each day, each mouse was weighed and her
body temperature recorded using the Portable Programmable Notebook
System (BMDS, Inc, Maywood, N.J.), by scanning the mouse for
identification number and body temperature from transponders
implanted subcutaneously (IPTT-100, BMDS, Maywood, N.J.).
[0114] At sacrifice, tissues harvested to assess white blood cell
populations by flow cytometric analysis included bone marrow,
thymus and spleen. FACS analysis of the lymphoid organs and bone
marrow was performed with the FACSCalibur, (Becton Dickinson,
Mansfield, Mass.). The tissues harvested for histologic examination
for signs of toxicity of the protein included: spleen, thymus,
liver, kidney, adrenal gland, heart and lungs. All tissues fixed
for histology were kept at 4.degree. C. overnight in 10% Normal
Buffered Saline (NBF) (Surgipath, Richmond, Ill.). The following
day the NBF was replaced with 70% ethanol and the tissues returned
to 4.degree. C. until processing for histology.
[0115] The tissues were processed and stained for Hematoxylin and
Eosin in house, then sent to a contract pathologist for
histopathologic analysis. Blood was collected for complete blood
cell counts (CBC) and serum chemistry profiles. The CBC's were
analyzed in-house with the Cell Dyn 3500 Hematology Analyzer
(Abbott Diagnostics Division, Abbott Park, Ill.) and manual
differential white blood cell counts were analyzed at Phoenix
Central Laboratory, (Everett, Wash.). The serum was kept frozen at
-20.degree. C. until submission to Phoenix Central Laboratory for
complete serum chemistry panels. To assess myeloid:erythroid
ratios, the bone marrow from one femur was applied to CytoSpin
slides (CYTOSPIN 3 CYTOCENTRIFUGE and CYTO SLIDES, Shandon,
Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sent to Phoenix Central Laboratories for
analysis.
D. Study Results
[0116] There were no apparent clinical indications of physiologic
effects or of toxicity of human IL-21 at doses of 50 .mu.g/day or
lower. Body weights and temperatures remained normal for the
duration of the treatments. Serum chemistry parameters were in
normal ranges. Red blood cell and platelet counts appeared normal.
In the mice receiving 50 .mu.g/day for 8 days, manual differential
white blood cell counts showed that the percentage of monocytes was
elevated in the peripheral blood, and an apparent increase in the
total white blood cell counts. In bone marrow flushed from a femur,
myeloid to erythroid ratios were increased in the 50 .mu.g dose
group, and to a lesser degree the 5 .mu.g dose group from the 8-day
dose set. In a non-parametric multiple column comparison using
InStat (InStat MAC; GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, Calif.),
this difference was statistically significant (p=0.0049). The
difference between the highest dose group and vehicle was also
significant, (p=0.0286). The increased white blood cells in
peripheral blood and the significant increase in myeloid precursors
in the marrow may thus be related.
[0117] Histologic evaluation of the following tissues showed no
apparent evidence of cytologic or structural changes, mitotic
events or necrosis: thymus, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, duodenum,
pancreas, jejunum, caecum, colon, mesenteric lymph nodes, uterus,
ovary, salivary gland, heart, trachea, lung, and brain. There were
no apparent differences between the treatment groups in the weights
of the thymus, kidney, liver or brain. Of all the tissues examined,
only the spleen weights were significantly affected.
[0118] Each mouse spleen weight was normalized to her brain weight.
In the 50 .mu.g/day treatment group compared to the vehicle, 0.1
.mu.g and 0.5 .mu.g treatment groups, the average of the spleen
weights was nearly 50% greater after four days of treatment and
almost 100% greater after eight days than the average spleen
weights of the other three groups. In the four-day set, the 5
.mu.g/day group also tended to have larger spleens than the control
and low dose groups. The difference in the spleen/brain weights
with data from the four-day and the eight-day sets combined by
treatment group was statistically significant (p=0.0072) by
Kruskall-Wallace non-parametric ANOVA, multiple column comparison
test using the InStat program (GraphPad Software).
[0119] A marginal increase in extrameduallary hematopoiesis,
especially in the red pulp was seen in spleens of mice from the
highest dose group, even in the mice treated for four days. Flow
cytometric analysis of the spleens showed a significant increase in
the proportion of myeloid size cells in the highest dose group
(p=0.01, Student's t test), representing increases in both
monocytes and neutrophils. This effect may be related to the
increased peripheral blood mononuclear cell percentage, as well as
the apparent increase in myeloid precursors in the bone marrow,
described above. Moreover, the transgenic mice derived from
insertion of the human IL-21 gene had increased extramedullary
hematopoiesis in their spleens compared to non-transgenic litter
mates.
[0120] Several changes were observed in the 50 .mu.g per day dose
group compared to the control group that implicate IL-21 in
production or development of cells of the myeloid lineage. Taken
together, the observed changes suggest that IL-21 may be useful as
a therapeutic protein in immunologic disorders described
herein.
Example 2
Preliminary Elimination and Tissue Distribution Study of Purified
Recombinant Human IL-21 Protein
A. Summary
[0121] In order to elucidate tissue distribution and elimination
patterns of the purified recombinant human IL-21, a preliminary
pharmacokinetic study was undertaken. Nine week old male C57Bl/6
mice were given purified recombinant human IL-21 protein labeled
with .sup.111Indium (.sup.111In) (NEN, Boston, Mass.) by one of
three routes. A single bolus injection was given to each mouse by
either the intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), or subcutaneous
route (SC). The mice injected by either the subcutaneous or
intraperitoneal route were sacrificed at either one or three hours
after injection. The mice injected intravenously were sacrificed
after either ten minutes or one hour following injection. Blood,
plasma and selected tissues were harvested at various timepoints
and counted by a gamma counter to estimate the approximate
half-life and tissue distribution of the exogenous labeled protein.
The tissues that were harvested for counting as well as the
intervals of sacrifice were selected based on reports of the
distribution of other cytokines labeled with radionuclides.
[0122] At sacrifice, tissues harvested for counting of
radioactivity included thymus, spleen, kidney, a lobe of liver, a
lobe of lung, and urinary bladder. In the group receiving the
injection intraperitoneally, gut was also counted to assess
incidence of injection into the gut, and in the subcutaneously
dosed mice, skin with underlying structures in the area of
injection was counted. The cpm for whole liver and lung were
calculated from a section that was counted and a percentage of the
whole organ weight represented by the section.
[0123] After the end of the study the collected tissues, whole
blood and plasma were counted on the COBRA II AUTO-GAMMA gamma
counter (Packard Instrument Company, Meriden, Conn.). An aliquot of
the original labeled dosing solution was also counted at the end of
the study with the tissues. This allowed calculation of percent
total injected radioactivity for each mouse and simultaneous
correction of all counts for radioactive decay. Approximations of
remaining blood volume and organ weights indicated that the
majority of the counts administered were accounted for, and
therefore the percentage of counts per tissue were a reasonable
representation of distribution of the counts following labeled
IL-21 administration by each route.
B. .sup.111Indium Labeling of IL-21
[0124] Purified recombinant human IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024)
was conjugated with a 10 fold molar excess of DTPA (Peirce,
Rockford, II) by incubating 30 minutes at room temperature in PBS.
Unreacted DTPA and hydrolyzates were removed by buffer exchange on
a Biomax-5k NMWL (Ultrafree-15, Millipore, Bedford, Mass.). The
void volume protein peak was concentrated to 5 mg/ml and an aliquot
taken for testing in a bioassay (anti-CD40 stimulation of murine
B-cells (Example 10)). Upon confirming that the DTPA-conjugate
still had full bioactivity the conjugate was diluted to 0.5 mg/ml
with 1M Na Acetate pH6.0. Two mCi of .sup.111Indium was taken up in
0.5 ml 1M Na Acetate pH6.0 and mixed with the DTPA-human IL-21 for
30 min. at room temperature. Unincorporated .sup.111Indium was
removed during buffer exchange to PBS on a PD-10 column (Pharmacia,
Piscataway, N.J.). The radio-labeled material was diluted with
unlabeled human IL-21 to give a specific activity of 100 mCi/mg,
sterile filtered and stored at 4.degree. C. overnight. One hundred
percent of the labeled protein was retained on a Biomax-5k NMWL
membrane (Millipore). The labeled .sup.111In-human IL-21 was
administered to mice in the elimination and pharmacokinetic
studies. Fifty .mu.g human IL-21 protein labeled with 5 .mu.Ci of
labeled human IL-21 in 0.1 ml of PBS vehicle was administered to
each animal.
C. Results of Preliminary Distribution Study
[0125] After one and three hours following administration by all
three routes, the highest concentration of .sup.111In-human IL-21,
was found in kidney and the second highest was in urine and urinary
bladder, as evinced by these tissues having the highest cpm. The
average counts recovered from kidneys were from 3 to 8 times higher
than the whole liver counts, depending on the route of injection
and the sacrifice timepoint. For example, the average kidney cpm at
60 minutes following IV injection was 4.5 times greater than the
average counts calculated for whole liver from the same group. In
the group that was sacrificed ten minutes after intravenous
administration, the highest cpm was again in kidney, and the second
highest accumulation was equivalent in liver, urinary bladder and
urine.
D. Preliminary Pharmacokinetic Study
[0126] Blood and plasma collections were done at 10, 30 and 60
minutes following injection by all three routes. Following
injection by the IV route, a separate set of mice had blood and
plasma samples taken at two, five and ten minutes. Another set of
mice who received their injections by either the IP or SC route had
blood sampled at one, two and three hours. For the treatment groups
see Table 4. The short collection times bracket the reported
half-life of IL-2 following intravenous injection. The reported
T1/2 was in the range of 2.5 to 5.1 minutes. For reference to in
vivo administration to IL-2, see Donohue J H and Rosenberg S A J
Immunol, 130:2203, 1983. The long timepoints were chosen to outline
the anticipated elimination phase.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Route of injection Bleed Times(min.)
Sacrifice Time Intravenous Group 1 2, 5, 10 10 min. Intravenous
Group 2 10, 30, 60 60 min. Intraperitoneal Group 1 10, 30, 60 60
min. Intraperitoneal Group 2 60, 120, 180 180 min. Subcutaneous
Group 1 10, 30, 60 60 min. Subcutaneous Group 2 60, 120, 180 180
min.
[0127] Unlabeled IL-2 has been shown to be eliminated from the
serum with a half-life of approximately three minutes in mice after
IV injection. For reference see Donahue, J H and Rosenburg supra.
Following IP and SC injection of similar amounts of IL-2, the
duration of persistence of IL-2 activity in serum was prolonged
from 2 units/ml for less than 30 minutes following IV injection to
greater than 2 units/ml for 2 hours following IP and 6 hours
following SC injections. The principle route of clearance of IL-2
appears to be the kidney. IL-21 has been shown to be structurally
similar to IL-2, as discussed herein. Preliminary evaluation of the
elimination of IL-21 appears to be consistent with the apparent
clearance of IL-2 by the kidneys, based on the accumulation of cpm
predominantly in the kidneys, followed by the urinary bladder and
urine in the present study.
[0128] Estimations were made of pharmacokinetic parameters based on
non compartmental analysis of the cpm data obtained from the
plasma, using the PK analysis program WinNonLin, Version 1.1,
(Scientific Consulting Inc., Cary, N.C.). Plasma half-lives of
IL-21 were estimated using the predicted terminal elimination rate
constants for intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal
administration of a 50 .mu.g dose. The pharmacokinetic results were
estimations due to limited data points in the terminal elimination
region of the plasma concentration vs. time profiles. Moreover, the
fit of the terminal elimination phase for SC and IP dosing required
use of data from timepoints during which absorption of the
.sup.111In-human IL-21 was apparently still occurring. However,
estimations of half-lives following intravenous, subcutaneous, and
intraperitoneal dosing were 13.6 min., 18.8 min., and 34.3 min.,
respectively. Since a dosing range was not evaluated it was not
apparent whether saturable or active elimination (Michaelis Menten
kinetics) was occurring. Therefore, these half-life calculations
are estimations.
[0129] Estimates of the bioavailability of the labeled protein were
made based on the area under the curve (AUC) following subcutaneous
or intraperitoneal dosing compared to that of intravenous dosing.
The estimated bioavailability following subcutaneous and
intraperitoneal injection were 35.8% and 63.9% respectively.
Because only one protein dose was studied, the bioavailability was
not evaluated as a function of dose. The estimated clearance and
volume of distribution (based on the data from the intravenous
injection) were 0.48 ml/min. and 6.1 ml, respectively.
[0130] Although the data are preliminary, the fate of IL-21
administered IV was similar to that reported for IL-2, another
4-helix bundle cytokine (Donahue, J H and Rosenburg, S A supra.).
Like IL-2, IV-administered IL-21 had a plasma half life of only
minutes with the main clearance in the kidney. Three hours after
injection, the majority of the labeled material extracted from
kidney was still retained in a Biomax 5K NMLW membrane (Millipore).
Since it has previously been reported that the indium remains
associated with protein even during lysosomal degradation (Staud,
F. et al., J. Pharm. Sciences 88:577-585, 1999) IL-21 is
accumulating and may be degraded in the kidney. The current study
also showed, as observed with many other proteins, including IL-2
(Donahue, J H and Rosenburg, S A, supra.), that IP and SC
administration significantly prolonged the plasma levels of
IL-21.
Example 3
Isolation and Expansion of Fresh Human Bone Marrow MNC CD34+
Fraction Using IL-21 for Assessment of NK Activity
[0131] A. Selection and Isolation of CD34+ Cells from Human Bone
Marrow
[0132] Fresh human bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) were
prepared to enrich for cells having NK cell activity. Fresh human
MNCs were obtained from Poeitic Technologies (Gaithersburg, Md.).
10 ml alpha MEM (JRH, Lenexa, Kans.) containing 10% HIA FBS
(Hyclone, Logan, Utah) and the antibiotic 1% PSN (Gibco, BRL, Grand
Island, N.Y.) was added to the cell suspension and the cells were
passed through a 100 .mu.m sieve. The cells were then counted,
pelleted, washed with 10 ml PBS containing 2% FBS, then pelleted
again and resuspended in 1 ml PBS containing 2% FBS. Cells having a
CD34 cell surface marker (CD34+ cells) were magnetically separated
using a Detachabead kit with Dynabeads M-450 CD34 ((Dynal, Oslo,
Norway), as per manufacturer's instructions. Both the CD34+ cell
and the CD34- cell fractions were further analyzed below.
B. Expansion of CD34+ Cells Using IL-21
[0133] A CD34+ cell fraction was plated into four wells in a
24-well plate. 50,000 positively selected cells suspended in 1 ml
Alpha MEM (JRH) containing 10% HIA FBS (Hyclone) and 1% PSN
(Gibco/BRL), plus the various cytokines described below were plated
in each of the 4 wells (1-4). Various reagents were used to test
for zalpha11 Ligand-induced expansion of the CD34+ selected bone
marrow MNCs: Reagents included human flt3 (R&D, Minneapolis,
Minn.); purified human IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024); human IL-15
(R&D). Reagents were combined as follows at day 0: In well #1,
2 ng/ml human flt3 was added. In well #2, 2 ng/ml human flt3 and 15
ng/ml purified human IL-21 were added. In well #3, 2 ng/ml human
flt3 and 20 ng/ml human IL-15 were added. In well #4, 2 ng/ml human
flt3, 15 ng/ml purified human IL-21, and 20 ng/ml human IL15 were
added. After incubating for 18 days, the suspension cells from each
well were pelleted, and then resuspended in 0.5 ml alpha MEM (JRH)
containing 10% HIA FBS (Hyclone) and 1% PSN (Gibco/BRL), and
counted to assess proliferation of the CD34+ cell fraction. A low
level of proliferation was seen in the presence of flt3 alone
(control well #1), but the presence of IL-15 or IL-21 in addition
to flt3 had not significant effect on the expansion (wells, #2 and
#3). However, expansion beyond the flt3 control was evident in well
#4 which contained IL-15 and IL-21 in addition to flt3. This result
suggested that IL-21 and IL-15 act in synergy to expand the human
CD34+ cell population.
[0134] All cell populations were then tested for NK activity and
subjected to flow cytometry analysis, as shown below (Example
5).
C. Expansion of CD34+ or CD34- Cells Using IL-21 with Delayed
Addition of IL-15
[0135] Both CD34 positive and negative (CD34-) fractions were
plated separately into six 12 well plate wells (1-6). Each of six
wells contained 100,000 positively or negatively selected cells in
2 ml alpha MEM containing 10% HIA FBS and PSN, described above.
Reagents used were as described above. In well #1, 2 ng/ml human
flt3 was added at day 0. In well #2, 2 ng/ml human flt3 was added
at day 0, and after 5 days incubation 20 ng/ml human IL-15 was
added. In well #3, 2 ng/ml human flt3 and 15 ng/ml human IL-21 were
added at day 0. In well #4, 2 ng/ml human flt3 and 15 ng/ml human
IL-21 were added at day 0, and after 5 days incubation 20 ng/ml
human IL-15 was added. In well #5, 2 ng/ml human flt3 and 20 ng/ml
human IL-15 were added at day 0. In well #6, 2 ng/ml human flt3, 15
ng/ml human IL-21, and 20 ng/ml human IL-15 were added at day 0.
After incubating for a total of 15 days from the start of the
experiment, the cells from each well were harvested and
counted.
[0136] In the CD34+ population a low level of proliferation was
seen in the presence of flt3 alone (control well #1), but the
presence of IL-15 or IL-21 added at day 0 in addition to flt3 had
no significant effect on the expansion (wells, #3 and #5). Addition
of IL-15 after 5 days had some proliferative effect in comparison
to the flt3 control (well #2 compared to well #1) and a
proliferative effect in the presence of zalpha11 (well #4 compared
to well #3). However, the greatest expansion was evident in well #6
which contained IL-15 and IL-21 in addition to flt3 at day 0.
[0137] In the CD34- population, no proliferation was seen in the
presence of flt3 alone (control well #1), and in fact a decrease in
the cell population was evident. The presence of IL-21 added at day
0 in addition to flt3 (well #3) was similar to the flt3 control.
The presence of IL-15 added at day 5 increased proliferation effect
of the cells in the presence (well #4) or absence (well #2) of
IL-21. Again, the greatest expansion was evident in well #6 which
contained IL-15 and IL-21 in addition to flt3 at day 0.
[0138] All cell populations were then tested for NK activity and
subjected to FACS analysis, as shown below (Example 5).
Example 4
Isolation and Expansion of Fresh Mouse Cells Using Human and Mouse
IL-21 or Assessment of NK Activity and NK Cell Markers
A. Isolation and Expansion of Fresh Mouse Low Density Bone Marrow
Cells Using Human and Mouse IL-21
[0139] Fresh mouse marrow cells were isolated by clipping both ends
of mouse femurs, and flushing two to three milliliters of growth
medium (see below) through the inside of the bone into a collection
tube. The growth medium was 500 ml RPMI 1640 Medium (JRH
Biosciences. Lenexa, Kans.); 5 ml 100.times.L-glutamine (Gibco BRL.
Grand Island, N.Y.); 5 ml 100.times.Na Pyruvate (Gibco BRL); 5 ml
100.times. Penicillin, Streptomycin, Neomycin (PSN) (Gibco BRL);
and 50 ml heat-inactivated Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) (Hyclone
Laboratories. Logan, Utah). The marrow cells were then broken-up by
pipetting the media up and down several times. The cells were then
pelleted and washed once with growth medium, and passed through a
70-micron sieve. The low-density mononuclear cells were then
isolated by subjecting the marrow cells to a density gradient.
Marrow cells in five to eight milliliters of growth medium were
carefully pipetted on top of five to eight milliliters of NycoPrep
1.077 Animal (Nycomed. Oslo, Norway) in a centrifuge tube. This
gradient was then centrifuged at 600.times.g for 20 minutes. The
low density mononuclear cells were harvested from the interface
layer between the NycoPrep and the medium. These cells were then
diluted to approximately 20 milliliters in growth medium, pelleted
and washed. The cells were then plated at approximately
0.5-1.5.times.10.sup.6 cells per milliliter in growth medium in a
standard tissue culture flask and incubated at 37.degree. C., 5%
CO.sub.2 for two hours.
[0140] The non-adherent, low density (NA LD) marrow cells were then
harvested and plated at 0.5-2.0.times.10.sup.5 cells per milliliter
in growth medium plus 2.5 nanograms per milliliter mouse flt3 (R
& D Systems. Minneapolis, Minn.) plus 25 to 50 nanograms per
milliliter human IL-15 (R & D Systems) with or without 50 to
150 nanograms per milliliter human IL-21; or with or without 0.12
to 10 ng/ml mouse IL-21.
[0141] There was no significant expansion without the addition of
the human or mouse IL-21. Non-adherent cells were expanded in the
cultures containing mouse IL-21 as low as 0.12 ng/ml and in the
cultures containing human IL-21 as low as 22 ng/ml. In cultures
containing both the human and mouse IL-21, non-adherent cell
expansion increased with increasing dose if IL-21, with the mouse
ligand saturating response at about 5-10 ng/ml and the human not
reaching a saturating response even at the highest dose of 200
ng/ml. Human IL-21 appeared to be approximately 20 to 100 fold less
potent on mouse cells as the mouse IL-21. After approximately five
to ten days the IL-21 expanded mouse cells were harvested and
analyzed by flow cytometry (FACSCalibur; Becton Dickinson,
Mansfield, Mass.) to determine what percentage of them were
positive for NK cell antigens, where 46% were positive for the
PanNK cell marker DX5 (Pharmingen).
B. Isolation and Expansion of Fresh lineage Depleted Mouse Marrow
Cells
[0142] Fresh mouse lineage depleted (lin-) marrow cells were
isolated from fresh mouse marrow cells by first incubating the
cells with the following antibodies: TER119, Gr-1, B220, MAC-1,
CD3e and 1-Ab (Pharmingen. San Diego, Calif.). The lin+ cells were
then removed with Dynabeads M-450 sheep anti-rat IgG (Dynal, Lake
Success, N.Y.) as per manufacturer's instructions.
[0143] The negatively selected lin- marrow cells were then plated
as above in growth medium plus either 2.5 ng/mL flt3(R&D
Systems) and 25 ng/mL IL-15 (R&D Systems); or flt3, IL-15 and
mouse IL-21, 2 to 5% BHK mouse IL-21 conditioned medium. After six
days of growth, the cultures were harvested, counted and submitted
to an NK cell activity assay (Example 5). Cells grown with mouse
IL-21 were approximately two to three times more effective at
lysing NK cell target cells (YAC-1 cells) as the cells grown
without IL-21.
C. Isolation and Expansion of CD4- CD8- (Double Negative or DN)
Thymocytes
[0144] Fresh mouse thymocytes were isolated by chopping and sieving
thymuses from three to eight week old mice. CD4- CD8- (DN) cells
were then negatively selected by incubating the thymocytes with
anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies (PharMingen), then removing the
CD4+ CD8+ cells with Dynabeads M-450 sheep anti-rat IgG (Dynal) as
per manufacturer's instructions.
[0145] The DN mouse thymocytes were then grown in growth medium
plus 2.5 ng/mL flt3 (R&D Systems), 25 ng/mL IL-15 (R&D
Systems) and 10 ng/mL IL-7 (R&D Systems) with or without mouse
IL-21 as above. Six days later the cells were harvested, counted,
analyzed by flow cytometry as described above, and also submitted
to an NK cell activity assay (Example 5).
[0146] The culture grown with mouse IL-21 yielded approximately
480,000 cells while the culture without IL-21 yielded only
approximately 160,000 cells. The culture grown with mouse IL-21 was
found to be approximately 16.2% positive for the NK cell antigen
Pan NK, DX5 (PharMingen). The culture grown without IL-21 was 14.6%
positive for DX5. The cells grown with IL-21 lysed NK cell target
cells, YAC-1, approximately two times better than the cells grown
without IL-21. The expanded cells did not lyse significantly a
negative control target cell line, EL4. These results suggested
that IL-21 selectively expands lytic NK cells.
Example 5
Activity of Human and Mouse IL-21 Expanded Cells and Mature Murine
NK Cells in NK Cell Cytotoxicity Assays
A. NK Cell Assay
[0147] NK cell-mediated target cytolysis was examined by a standard
.sup.51Cr-release assay. Target cells (K562 cells (ATCC No.
CCL-243) in human assays, and YAC-1 cells (ATCC No. TIB-160) in
mouse assays) lack expression of major histocompatability complex
(MHC) molecules, rendering them susceptible to NK cell-mediated
lysis. A negative control target cell line in mouse assays is the
MHC.sup.+ thymoma EL4 (ATCC No. TIB-39). We grew K562, EL4, and
YAC-1 cells in RP10 medium (standard RPMI 1640 (Gibco/BRL, Grand
Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 10% FBS (Hyclone, Logan, Utah), as
well as 4 mM glutamine (Gibco/BRL), 100 I.U./ml penicillin+100
MCG/ml streptomycin (Gibco/BRL), 50 .mu.M .beta.-mercaptoethanol
(Gibco/BRL) and 10 mM HEPES buffer (Gibco/BRL). On the day of
assay, 1-2.times.10.sup.6 target cells were harvested and
resuspended at 2.5-5.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml in RP10 medium. We
added 50-100 .mu.l of 5 mCi/ml .sup.51Cr-sodium chromate (NEN,
Boston, Mass.) directly to the cells and incubated them for 1 hour
at 37.degree. C., then washed them twice with 12 ml of PBS and
resuspended them in 2 ml of RP10 medium. After counting the cells
on a hemacytometer, the target cells were diluted to
0.5-1.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and 100 .mu.l (0.5-1.times.10.sup.4
cells) were mixed with effector cells as described below.
[0148] In human assays, effector cells were prepared from selected
and expanded human CD34.sup.+ BM cells which were harvested,
washed, counted, mixed at various concentrations with
.sup.51Cr-labeled target cells in 96-well round bottomed plates,
and incubated for 4 hours at 37.degree. C. After co-incubation of
effector cells and the labeled target cells, half of the
supernatant from each well was collected and counted in a gamma
counter for 1 min/sample. The percentage of specific .sup.51Cr
release was calculated from the formula 100.times.(X-Y)/(Z-Y),
where X is .sup.51Cr release in the presence of effector cells, Y
is the spontaneous release in the absence of effectors, and Z is
the total .sup.51Cr release from target cells incubated with 0.5%
Triton X-100. Data were plotted as the % specific lysis versus the
effector-to-target ratio in each well.
B. Activity of Human IL-21 Expanded Cells
[0149] Isolated CD34.sup.+ human HPCs cultured with flt3+/-IL-21
and flt3+IL-15+/-IL-21 (Example 5), were harvested the cells on day
15 to assess their capacity to lyse MHC.sup.- K562 cells in a
standard .sup.51Cr-release assay as described above, and to analyze
their surface phenotype by flow cytometry. As expected from
previous reports (Mrozek, E et al., Blood 87:2632-2646, 1996; and
Yu, H et al., Blood 92:3647-3657, 1998), simultaneous addition of
IL-15 and flt3L did induce the outgrowth of a small population of
CD56.sup.+ cells. Interestingly, although BM cells cultured
simultaneously with IL-21 and flt3L did not expand significantly,
there was a significant increase in total cell numbers in cultures
containing a combination of flt3L, IL-21 and IL-15 (see, Example
3).
[0150] For an assessment of the surface phenotype of these human BM
cultures, we stained small aliquots of the cells for 3-color flow
cytometric analysis with anti-CD3-FITC, anti-CD56-PE and
anti-CD16-CyChrome mAbs (all from PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.)
and analyzed them on a FACSCalibur using CellQuest software (Becton
Dickinson, Mountain View, Calif.). This flow cytometric analysis
confirmed that the cells growing out of these cultures were
differentiated NK cells, as they were large and granular and
expressed both CD56 and CD16, and were CD3.sup.- (Lanier, L L Annu.
Rev. Immunol. 16:359-393, 1998). Furthermore, these cells exhibited
significantly higher effector function than those cells grown with
IL-15 and flt3. More specifically, cells grown in all three
cytokines lysed more than 40% of the K562 targets at an
effector-to-target ratio (E:T) of 1.5, whereas cells grown in
IL-15+flt3L lysed fewer than 5% of the targets at an E:T of 2.
These data demonstrate that, in combination with IL-15, IL-21
stimulates the differentiation of NK cells from CD34.sup.+ BM
cells.
C. Activity of Mouse IL-21 Expanded Cells
[0151] To test the effects of IL-21 on murine hematopoietic
progenitor cells, purified Lineage-negative (Lin-) bone marrow
cells from C57Bl/6 mice were expanded in flt3+IL-15+/-IL-21, as
described in Example 4B. On day 6 of culture, the cells
("effectors") were harvested and counted, then resuspended in 0.4
ml of RP10 medium (Example 5A). Two aliquots (0.15 ml each) of each
sample expanded with or without IL-21 (Example 5A) were diluted
serially 3-fold in duplicate in 96-well round bottomed plates, for
a total of 6 wells of 100 .mu.l each. The remaining 100 .mu.l of
cells were stained for NK cell surface markers with FITC-anti-2B4
and PE-anti-DX5 mAbs (PharMingen) and analyzed by flow cytometry.
Each group of cells exposed to flt3+IL-15 with or without the
presence of IL-21 had similar fractions of 2B4+DX5+ cells, ranging
from 65-75% positive for both NK markers.
[0152] For the NK lysis assay, target cells (YAC-1 and EL4) were
labeled with .sup.51Cr as described above. After counting the
target cells on a hemacytometer, the target cells were diluted to
0.5-1.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and 100 .mu.l of YAC-1 or EL4
(0.5-1.times.10.sup.4 cells) were mixed with 100 .mu.l effector
cells and incubated for 4 hours at 37.degree. C. Specific lysis was
determined for each well as described above.
[0153] We found that cells grown in the presence of
flt3+IL-15+IL-21 exhibited enhanced lytic activity (roughly 2-fold)
against the YAC-1 targets (but did not kill the MHC.sup.+ control
cell line EL4). At an effector-to-target ratio (E:T) of 5, NK cells
generated in the presence of all 3 cytokines (IL-21+flt3+IL-15)
lysed 12% of the YAC-1 cells, whereas those NK cells expanded with
flt3+IL-15 lysed 6% of the YAC-1 targets. Subsequent experiments
confirmed this trend.
[0154] In a second approach to determine the biological activity of
IL-21 on murine NK cells, we isolated immature CD4.sup.-CD8.sup.-
("double negative", DN) mouse thymocytes as described in Example 6C
and cultured them with IL-15+flt3+IL-7 or IL-15+flt3+IL-2, with or
without IL-21. On day 6 of culture, the cells were harvested and
assayed for NK lytic activity on YAC-1 and EL4 cells as described
above. We found that cells cultured in the presence of IL-21 had
the greatest lytic activity in this assay, with enhanced lytic
activity over those cells cultured in the presence of the other
cytokines. Specifically, DN thymocytes grown with IL-15+flt3+IL-7
killed 18% of the YAC-1 cells at E:T of 24 while cells grown in the
presence of IL-15+flt3+IL-7 plus IL-21 killed 48% of the targets at
the same E:T. DN thymocytes grown in IL-15+flt3+IL-2 killed 15% of
the YAC-1 targets at an E:T of 6, whereas cells grown with these 3
cytokines and IL-21 killed 35% of the YAC-1 cells at an E:T of 9.
Flow cytometry was performed on the cultured cells one day before
the NK lysis assay. As was true for the bone marrow cultures,
despite the proliferative effect of IL-21 (cell numbers increase
approximately 2-fold when IL-21 is added), it did not significantly
enhance the fraction of DX5.sup.+ cells (17-20% of total cells in
the cultures with IL-7, and 35-46% of total in cultures with IL-2).
These data imply that IL-21, in combination with IL-15 and flt3,
enhances the lytic activity of NK cells generated from murine bone
marrow or thymus.
D. Activity of Mouse IL-21 on Mature Murine NK Cells
[0155] In order to test the effects of mouse IL-21 on mature NK
cells, we isolated spleens from four 5-week old C57Bl/6 mice
(Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, Me.) and mashed them with
frosted-end glass slides to create a cell suspension. Red blood
cells were removed by hypotonic lysis as follows: cells were
pelleted and the supernatant removed by aspiration. We disrupted
the pellet with gentle vortexing, then added 900 .mu.l of sterile
water while shaking, followed quickly (less than 5 sec later) by
100 .mu.l of 10.times. HBSS (Gibco/BRL). The cells were then
resuspended in 10 ml of 1.times.HBSS and debris was removed by
passing the cells over a nylon mesh-lined cell strainer (Falcon).
These RBC-depleted spleen cells were then pelleted and resuspended
in MACS buffer (PBS+1% BSA+2 mM EDTA) and counted. We stained
300.times.10.sup.6 of the cells with anti-DX5-coated magnetic beads
(Miltenyi Biotec) and positively selected DX5+NK cells over a MACS
VS+ separation column, according to the manufacturer's
instructions, leading to the recovery of 8.4.times.10.sup.6
DX5.sup.+ cells and 251.times.10.sup.6 DX5.sup.- cells. Each of
these groups of cells were cultured in 24-well plates
(0.67.times.10.sup.6 cells/well, 2 wells per treatment condition)
in RP10 medium (Example 7A) alone or with 1) 30 ng/ml mouse
zalpha11 Ligand, 2) 30 ng/ml recombinant mouse IL-2 (R&D
Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.), 3) 30 ng/ml recombinant human
IL-15 (R&D), 4) 30 ng/ml each of mouse IL-21 and hIL-15, or 5)
30 ng/ml each of mIL-2 and hIL-15. The cells were harvested after
21 hours, washed, and resuspended in RP10 medium and counted. The
cells were then assayed for their ability to lyse .sup.51Cr-labeled
YAC-1 or EL4 targets cells, as described in Example 5A.
[0156] In general, there was little NK activity from the DX5.sup.-
(non-NK cells) groups, but the DX5.sup.- cells cultured with IL-21
and hIL-15 did lyse 25% of the YAC-1 target cells at an E:T of 82.
By comparison, DX5.sup.- cells cultured with hIL-15 alone lysed 14%
of the YAC-1 targets at an E:T of 110. This suggests that IL-21 and
IL-15 are acting together on the residual NK1.1.sup.+ NK cells in
this cell preparation. As for the DX5.sup.+ cell preparation,
treatment with mouse IL-21 alone did not significantly increase
their effector function (their lysis of YAC-1 cells was similar to
the untreated group). As expected, both IL-2 and IL-15
significantly improved NK activity. The highest level of lysis,
however, was detected in the group treated with IL-21 and hIL-15
(65% lysis of YAC-1 cells at an E:T of 3.3, vs. 45% lysis at an E:T
of 4 for the hIL-15 treatment group). Taken together, these results
suggest that although IL-21 alone may not increase NK cell lysis
activity, it does enhance NK lysis activity of mature NK cells,
when administered with IL-15.
Example 6
IL-21 Proliferation of Human and Mouse T-Cells in a T-Cell
Proliferation Assay
A. Murine IL-21 Proliferation of Mouse T-Cells
[0157] T cells from C57Bl/6 mice (Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor,
Me.) were isolated from pooled splenocytes and lymphocytes from
axillary, brachial, inguinal, cervical, and mesenteric lymph nodes
(LNs). Spleens were mashed with frosted-end glass slides to create
a cell suspension. LNs were teased apart with forceps and passed
through a cell strainer to remove debris. Pooled splenocytes and LN
cells were separated into CD8.sup.+ and CD4.sup.+ subsets using two
successive MACS magnetic separation columns, according to the
manufacturer's instructions (Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, Calif.).
Whole thymocytes were collected from the same mice.
[0158] Cells were cultured at 3.times.10.sup.5 cells/well
(thymocytes) or 10.sup.5 cells/well (mature T cells) with
increasing concentrations of purified murine IL-21 (0-30 ng/ml)
(U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024) in 96-well flat bottomed plates
pre-coated overnight at 4.degree. C. with various concentrations of
anti-CD3 mAb 2C11 (PharMingen) for 3 days at 37.degree. C. The
anti-CD3 antibody served to activate the murine T-cells through the
T-cell receptor. Each well was pulsed with 1 .mu.Ci
.sup.3H-thymidine on day 2 and plates were harvested and counted 16
hours later to assess proliferation.
[0159] When we tested IL-21 in T cell proliferation assays, we
found that it co-stimulated anti-CD3-activated murine thymocytes,
leading to an accelerated outgrowth of CD8.sup.+ CD4.sup.- cells
(the majority of the thymocytes cultured with anti-CD3+IL-21 were
CD8.sup.+CD4.sup.- by day 3 of culture, while cells cultured with
anti-CD3 alone did not significantly skew to this phenotype until
day 5). We did not observe significant levels of proliferation of
thymocytes to IL-21 in the absence of anti-CD3.
[0160] Interestingly, when we assayed mature peripheral murine T
cells for their ability to respond to IL-21+anti-CD3, we found that
only the CD8.sup.+, but not the CD4.sup.+ subset, responded in a
dose-dependent manner to IL-21. We also observed weak but
reproducible proliferation of CD8.sup.+ cells (but not CD4.sup.+
cells) in response to IL-21 alone.
B. Human IL-21 Proliferation of Human T-Cells
[0161] In an initial experiment, human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were
isolated from PBMC as described in Example 9 (below) Cells were
cultured at about 10.sup.5 cells/well with increasing
concentrations of purified human IL-21 (0-50 ng/ml) (U.S. Pat. No.
6,307,024) in 96-well flat bottomed plates pre-coated overnight at
4.degree. C. with various concentrations of anti-human CD3 mAb
UCHT1 (PharMingen) for 3 days at 37.degree. C. Each well was pulsed
with 1 .mu.Ci .sup.3H-thymidine on day 2 and plates were harvested
and counted 16 hours later. Unlike our results with mouse T cells,
our preliminary data suggests that human IL-21 co-stimulates CD4+,
but not CD8+, human T cells in a dose-dependent fashion.
[0162] In other experiments, mature murine CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
were enriched from pooled C57Bl/6 spleen and LN cells by depletion
of CD19.sup.+ B cells using a magnetic bead column. The resulting
cell populations were assayed for proliferation to plate-bound
anti-mouse CD3.epsilon. mAb in the absence or presence of
increasing concentrations of murine IL-21, as indicated. Data shown
are representative of results from 4 experiments.
[0163] T cells from C57Bl/6 mice were isolated from pooled
splenocytes and lymphocytes from auxiliary, brachial, inguinal,
cervical, and mesenteric LNs. Spleens were mashed with frosted-end
glass slides to create a cell suspension. LNs were teased apart
with forceps and passed through a cell strainer to remove debris.
Pooled splenocytes and LN cells were separated into CD8.sup.+ and
CD4.sup.+ subsets using two successive MACS magnetic separation
columns, according to the manufacturer's instructions (Miltenyi
Biotec, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Cells were cultured at 10.sup.5/well
with increasing concentrations of murine IL-21 (0-30 ng/ml) in
96-well flat bottomed plates pre-coated overnight at 4.degree. C.
with various concentrations of anti-CD36 mAb 2C11 (PharMingen) for
3 days at 37.degree. C. Each well was pulsed with 1 .mu.Ci
.sup.3H-thymidine on day 2 and plates were harvested and counted 16
hours later.
[0164] Table 5 illustrates that mIL-21 co-stimulates the
proliferation of murine CD8+ T cells. Values represent the CPM
incorporated of .sup.3H-thymidine (average+/-standard deviation of
triplicate wells).
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Anti-CD3 mAb (ug/ml) ng/ml mIL-21 0 0.11
0.33 1.0 3.0 CD4+ 0 405 +/- 101 67895 +/- 18752 141175 +/- 6733
202251 +/- 35571 246626 +/- 45106 1.2 247 +/- 86 80872 +/- 23598
126487 +/- 7472 178863 +/- 33583 205861 +/- 14675 6 302 +/- 106
75192 +/- 5323 102005 +/- 20059 191598 +/- 15881 218718 +/- 12142
30 364 +/- 126 86164 +/- 8065 141065 +/- 4921 186089 +/- 17585
266650 +/- 39839 CD8+ 0 168 +/- 47 40198 +/- 4557 70272 +/- 4141
84771 +/- 9450 97869 +/- 3368 1.2 268 +/- 117 50095 +/- 3959 84319
+/- 6373 105176 +/- 10828 113394 +/- 3657 6 323 +/- 159 78113 +/-
6967 108461 +/- 2175 132301 +/- 13386 178551 +/- 16373 30 2007 +/-
470 132238 +/- 1915 182485 +/- 4991 272229 +/- 9325 330434 +/-
47185
Example 7
IL-21 Effects on Serum Cytokines and Vascular Leak
A. Analysis of IL-21 on Serum Cytokines
[0165] IL-2 therapy is effective in the treatment of certain
cancers. However, the use of IL-2 as a therapeutic agent has been
limited by its toxic effects, namely vascular leak syndrome (VLS).
IL-2 induced VLS is characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes,
monocytes and neutrophils into the lung causing endothelial damage
in the lung eventually leading to vascular leak (reviewed in
Lentsch A B et al, Cancer Immunol. Immunother., 47:243, 1999). VLS
in mice can be induced with administration of repeated high doses
of IL-2 and measuring vascular leak by Evan's Blue uptake by the
lung. Other parameters that have been shown to be characteristic of
VLS in mice include increased serum levels of TNF.alpha. and
IFN.gamma. (Anderson J A et al, J. Clin. Invest. 97:1952, 1996) as
well as increased numbers of activated T, NK and monocytes in
various organs. Blocking of TNF.alpha. with a soluble TNFR-Fc
molecule inhibited lung infiltration by lymphocytes and therefore
lung injury (Dubinett S M et al, Cell. Immunol. 157:170, 1994). The
aim was to compare the ability of IL-2 and IL-21 to induce VLS in
mice and to measure the different parameters indicative of VLS
(Evan's Blue uptake, serum cytokine analysis, spleen cellular
phenotype).
[0166] Mice (female, C57Bl6, 11 week old; Charles River Labs,
Kingston, N.Y.) were divided into five groups. All groups contained
10 mice per group. Groups are as follows: Group I or Vehicle group
received Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS); Group II and III received
IL-20.6 or 1.8 million IU/injection respectively; Group IV and V
received mouse IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024) or 100
.mu.g/injection respectively. The study consisted of 4 days, body
weight was measured daily and animals received 7 intraperitoneal
injection of test substance over the 4-day period. Animals received
two daily injections on day 1-3 and on the fourth day received a
single morning injection. Two hours post final injection animals
received a tail vein injection of 1% Evan's blue (0.2 ml). Two
hours post Evan's blue injection mice where anesthetized with
Isoflurane and blood was drawn was serum cytokine analysis.
Following blood draw animals where transcardial perfused with
heparinized saline (25 Uhep/ml saline). Following perfusion spleen
was removed and weighed, liver and lung where removed and placed
into 10 mls of formamide for 24 hr incubation at room temperature.
Following 24 hr incubation vascular leakage was quantitated by
Evan's blue extravasation via measurement of the absorbance of the
supernatant at 650 nm using a spectrophotometer.
[0167] Mice were bled and serum separated using a standard serum
separator tube. 25 .mu.l of sera from each animal was used in a
Becton Dickenson (BD) Cytokine Bead Array (Mouse Th1/Th2 CBA Kit)
assay. The assay was done as per the manufacturer's protocol.
Briefly, 25 .mu.l of serum was incubated with 25 .mu.l bead mix
(IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, TNF.alpha. and IFN.gamma.) and 25 .mu.l
PE-detection reagent for two hours at room temperature in the dark.
A set of cytokine standards at dilutions ranging from 0-5000 pg/ml
was also set up with beads as per the manufacturer's instructions.
The incubated beads were washed once in wash buffer and data
acquired using a BD FACScan as per instructions outlined in the
Kit. The data was analyzed using the BD Cytometric Bead Array
Software (BD Biosciences, San Diego, Calif.).
[0168] Serum cytokine analysis using the CBA cytokine kit (Becton
Dickenson, San Diego, Calif.) showed no increases in levels of
IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN.gamma. or TNF.alpha. in the PBS control
treated groups. There was a dose dependent increase in the levels
of IL-5, IFN.gamma. and TNF.alpha. in sera from IL-2 treated mice.
There was no increase in the levels of the 5 measured cytokines in
the serum of mice treated with IL-21. The cytokine levels in the
highest dose of IL-21 mirrored that of the PBS treated animals.
This shows that unlike IL-2 treatment that leads to increase in
serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-5, TNF.alpha. and
IFN.gamma., treatment with IL-21 does not have any effect on these
inflammatory cytokines.
[0169] The results from a representative experiment is given in
Table 5. All concentrations are expressed in pg/ml were an average
of 4 animals/group.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 TNF.alpha. IFN.gamma. IL5 IL4 IL2 PBS 2.4
0.0 2.9 2.2 1.3 IL2 0.6 millU 22.9 21.6 1095.0 2.5 2.0 IL2 1.8
millU 69.1 185.1 1132.9 2.0 1.9 IL2 3.6 millU 78.9 195.6 651.3 1.8
2.1 IL-21 33 .mu.g 2.1 1.6 2.7 1.7 1.6 IL-21 100 .mu.g 3.1 0.0 4.0
0.0 1.1 IL-21 200 .mu.g 7.3 1.9 4.0 2.6 1.9
[0170] As shown in Table 5 above, treatment of mice with IL-2
resulted in a dramatic increase in serum inflammatory cytokines,
namely IL-5, IFN.gamma. and TNF.alpha.. Treatment of mice with
IL-21 did not show any increase in cytokine levels above PBS
treated mice. These results show that even at the highest doses,
IL-21 does not upregulate inflammatory cytokines and it's effect on
cells in vivo is different from IL-2.
[0171] Treatment of mice with repeated high dose IL-2 resulted in
increased serum levels of IL-5, IFN.gamma. and TNF.alpha.. These
pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to play a role in VLS
associated with IL-2 toxicity. Blocking TNF.alpha. resulted in
decreased lymphocyte infiltration into the lungs and decreased lung
injury associated with IL-2 toxicity (Dubinett S M et al, 1994,
Cell. Immunol. 157:170). IL-21 treatment did not have any effects
on serum IL-5, TNF.alpha. or IFN.gamma. levels. This suggests that
IL-21 acts different from IL-2 in vivo and that the lack of
pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera of IL-21 treated mice might
indicate lesser toxicity of IL-21 compared to IL-2.
B. Analysis of IL-21 on Vascular Leak-Immunophenotyping of Splenic
Cells
[0172] IL-2 induced vascular leak syndrome (VLS) involves organ
damage that occurs at the level of postcapillary endothelium.
However, this damage occurs secondary to two distinct pathological
processes: the development of VLS, and transendothelial migration
of lymphocytes. Acute organ injury is mediated by infiltrating
neutrophils while chronic organ injury is mediated by infiltration
monocytes and lymphocytes (reviewed in Lentsch A B et al, supra.).
In mice, depletion of cells with surface phenotypes characteristic
of LAK or NK cells ameliorates organ damage (Anderson T D et al,
Lab. Invest. 59:598, 1988; Gately, M K et al. J. Immunol., 141:189,
1988). Increased numbers of NK cells and monocytes is therefore a
marker for IL-2 mediated cellular effects of VLS. In addition, IL-2
directly upregulates the expression of adhesion molecules (i.e.
LFA-1, VLA-4 and ICAM-1) on lymphocytes and monocytes (Anderson J A
et al, supra.). This increase is thought to enable cells to bind
activated endothelial cells and help in transmigration of cells to
the tissue. Increased expression of these molecules is considered
another marker of IL-2 induced cellular activation during VLS. The
aim of this study was to study splenic cells from IL-2 and IL-21
treated mice under a VLS protocol and compare the effects of the
two cytokines to mediate cellular effects associated with VLS.
[0173] Groups of age and sex matched C57BL/6 mice treated and
described above were analysed. On d4, mice were sacrificed and
phenotype of splenic cell populations studied by standard flow
cytometry. Splenic weight and cellularity were dramatically
increased in IL-2 treated mice compared to PBS treated mice. IL-21
treated mice had a slight increase in splenic weights (at the
higher doses) but no significant increase in splenic cellularity
compared to the PBS treated groups. Cell population analysis showed
a significant increase in the percentage and numbers of NK, NKT and
monocytes in IL-2 treated mice but not in the IL-21 treated mice.
Furthermore, there was a dose dependent dramatic increase in LFA-1
expressing cells in the IL-2 treated groups compared to PBS
controls. IL-21 treatment had no effect on LFA-1 expression on
splenic cells.
[0174] Spleens were isolated from mice from the various groups. Red
blood cells were lysed by incubating cells for 4 minutes in ACK
lysis buffer (0.15M NH4Cl, 1 mM KHCO3, 0.1 mM EDTA) followed by
neutralization in RPMI-10 media (RPMI with 10% FBS). The expression
of cell surface markers was analyzed by standard three color flow
cytometry. All antibodies were obtained from BD Pharmingen (San
Diego, Calif.). Fluorescin-isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated CD11a
(LFA-1), CD49d (VLA-4, a chain), Gr-I FITC, phycoerythrin (PE)
conjugated CD4, NK1.1, CD11b and CyC-conjugated CD8, CD3 and B220
were used to stain cells. 1-3.times.10.sup.6 cells were used for
individual stains. Non-specific binding was blocked by incubating
cells in blocking buffer (PBS, 10% FBS, 20 ug/ml 2.4G2). After
blocking, cells were incubated with primary antibodies for 20
minutes. Unless specified otherwise, all mAbs were used at 1
ug/stain in a volume of 100 ul. Cells were washed once in
1.times.PBS and resuspended in PBS before being acquired using the
FACScan or FACSCalibur instruments (BD Biosciences, San Diego,
Calif.). Data was analyzed using the Cellquest Software (BD
Biosciences).
[0175] IL-2 treated mice had significantly increased spleen weights
compared to PBS treated groups (Table 6, below) IL-21 treated mice
had significant increase in spleen weight over controls. However,
the increases in IL-21 treated groups were significantly less than
in the IL-2 treated groups (p=0.0002). The increase in spleen
weights in both groups was dose dependent. Table 6 below shows the
treatment groups; the average splenic weights were shown in mg, and
n=4.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Total spleen weight (mg) Stdev p value (vs
PBS) PBS 63.5 9.7 0 IL-2 (0.6) 177.5 17.8 <0.0001 IL-2 (1.8)
204.25 10 <0.0001 IL-2 (3.6) 231.2 9.6 <0.0001 IL-21 (33)
92.8 6 0.0022 IL-21 (100) 117.6 19.3 0.0024 IL-21 (200) 125.85 33
0.0111
[0176] Average Splenic cellularity data is shown in Table 7, below
(n=4). Higher dose IL-2 treatment increased splenic cellularity
significantly over control PBS treated groups. IL-21 treated groups
did not show significant increase in splenic cellularity compared
to PBS groups.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Total cells (x10e6) Stdev p value (vs PBS)
PBS 48 16.4 o IL-2 (0.6) 57.1 11.8 0.4014 IL-2 (1.8) 100.4 21.6
<.0083 IL-2 (3.6) 101.8 4.25 <.0007 IL-21 (33) 58.8 13.5
0.3463 IL-21 (100) 48 7.83 0.9769 IL-21 (200) 53.8 22.5 0.6917
[0177] IL-2 induced VLS is characterized by increased numbers of NK
cells, monocytes and cells expressing the adhesion marker LFA-1
(reviewed in Lentsch A B et al, supra.). The above data using IL-2
reproduces published reports on the increase of NK cells, monocytes
and LFA-1+ cells. IL-2 treated mice show all signs of VLS compared
to controls. In contrast, IL-21 treated mice, although having an
increased uptake of Evan's Blue, show no increase in serum
pro-inflammatory cytokines, or increase in LFA-1+ cells or NK
cells. Furthermore, although IL-21 treated mice do show increased
numbers of monocytes, the increase is less than what is seen with
IL-2 treated animals, suggesting that IL-2 mediated effects are
more severe than IL-21 mediated effects. Taking together the
splenic cellularity data and the serum cytokine data, IL-21 does
not induce a comparable inflammatory response as IL-2. All
parameters analyzed would indicate that IL-21 induces minor if any
inflammatory response when administered in a VLS protocol in
similar doses to IL-2 (weight/weight).
[0178] In addition, as shown in Table 8 and Table 9, below, flow
cytometry analysis of spleen cells from mice revealed that IL-2
treated mice had a dose dependent increase in the % and numbers of
splenic NK/T cells (NK1.1+CD3+), NK cells (NK1.1+CD3-), macrophages
(CD11b+) and LFA-1+ cells (TABLE III and IV). IL-21 treated mice
had no increase in NK/T cells, NK cells or LFA-1+ cells. There was
an increase in the % and numbers of macrophages and granulocytes
(data not shown) in IL-21 treated group compared to the control PBS
treated groups. This increase was similar or less than the increase
in IL-2 treated mice.
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Average % of lineage cells in spleen (n = 4)
% NK/T % NK % macrophages % B % CD4 T % CD8 T % LFA-1+ PBS 0.7225
3.1925 6.625 50.025 21.975 14.275 11.1775 IL-2 (0.6) 4.34 9.3375
12.525 43.9 17.65 10.15 29.26 IL-2 (1.8) 3.2 13.9 14.525 43.75
15.55 11.55 34.825 IL-2 (3.6) 3.075 14.3 11.875 42.8 14.875 17.325
44.05 IL-21 (33) 0.615 2.9875 7.825 53.65 17.925 10.95 8.4375 IL-21
(100) 0.63 2.76 11.375 48.325 17.825 11.275 13.35 IL-21 (200) 1.025
3.4325 16.175 45.125 17.225 12.15 15.7
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Splenic cell numbers (.times.10.sup.6
cells, n = 4) NKT NK CD11b B220 Cd4 Cd8 LFA-1 Gr-1 PBS 0.33 1.54
3.19 24.34 10.19 6.58 5.41 1.11 IL-2 (0.6) 2.34 5.33 7.04 25.23
10.16 5.77 16.60 2.82 IL-2 (1.8) 3.08 14.29 14.16 43.63 15.57 11.62
35.11 7.65 IL-2 (3.6) 3.15 14.59 12.08 43.53 15.13 17.64 44.83 4.76
IL-21 (33) 0.37 1.77 4.67 31.50 10.47 6.32 5.05 1.05 IL-21 (100)
0.30 1.33 5.35 23.16 8.55 5.40 6.35 1.54 IL-21 (200) 0.56 1.86 8.46
23.85 9.20 6.39 8.43 3.20
[0179] In addition, additional endpoints were measured between
groups. The following endpoints where compared: Body weight, spleen
weight, vascular leakage in lung and liver, and serum cytokines. No
significant difference in body weights was observed between groups.
As discussed above, animals treated with both doses of IL-2, Group
II and III, had significantly heavier spleen weights as compared to
IL-21 and PBS control treated animals (p<0.0001). Animals
treated with both doses of IL-21 treated animals, Group IV and V,
had significantly heavier spleen weights as compared to PBS control
animals (p<0.007 Group IV and p<0.0001 Group V).
[0180] Vascular leakage was also measured in both lung and liver.
In lung, both groups of IL-2 treated animals, Group II and III, had
a significant increase in vascular leakage (p<0.0001) as
compared to PBS control animals. Only Group III, the high dose of
IL-2 had a significant increase in vascular leakage as compared to
both low dose and high dose IL-21 (p<0.0001 and p<0.0065)
respectively. Only the highest dose of IL-21, Group V, had a
significant increase in vascular leakage as compared to PBS treated
animals (p<0.0001). However, the amount of vascular leak was
significantly lower than all of the IL-2 treated animals. In liver,
both the low and high dose of IL-2 treated animals had a
significant increase in vascular leakage (p<0.0016 and
p<0.0001 respectively) as compared to PBS treated animals.
Animals treated with the high dose of IL-2 had a significant
increase in vascular leakage as compared to both low and high dose
IL-21 treated animals (p<0.0002 and p<0.0001 respectively).
Only the low dose IL-21 treated animals had a significant increase
in vascular leakage as compared to PBS treated animals
(p<0.0397).
Example 8
Activity of Mouse IL-21-Treated Alloreactive Murine CTL
Cytotoxicity Assays
A. CTL Assay
[0181] CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte)-mediated target cytolysis was
examined by a standard .sup.51Cr-release assay. Alloreactive
(H-2.sup.b anti-H-2.sup.d) CTL were generated in a mixed lymphocyte
culture with C57Bl/6 splenocytes (H-2.sup.b) with 3000
rad-irradiated Balb/c splenocytes (H-2.sup.d). After 7 days, the
CTL were re-stimulated with irradiated Balb/c splenocytes (and no
additional cytokines). After an additional 7 days, CTL were
re-stimulated for 5 days in the presence of supernatants collected
from conA-activated rat splenocytes (a crude source of cytokines
known to support CTL growth), 10 ng/ml recombinant mouse IL-2
(R&D Systems, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn.), recombinant human IL-15
(R&D Systems), mouse IL-21, or a combination of IL-15 and IL-21
(5 ng/ml each). After 5 days, the CTL were assayed for their
capacity to lyse .sup.51Cr-labeled target cells: H-2d P815
mastocytoma cells (ATCC No. TIB-64) and the H-2 b thymoma EL4 (ATCC
No. TIB-39) as a negative control.
[0182] We grew P815 and EL4 cells in RP10 medium (standard RPMI
1640 (Gibco/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 10% FBS
(Hyclone) as well as 4 mM glutamine (Gibco/BRL), 100 I.U./ml
penicillin+100 MCG/ml streptomycin (Gibco/BRL), 50 .mu.M
.beta.-mercaptoethanol (Gibco/BRL) and 10 mM HEPES buffer
(Gibco/BRL). On the day of assay, 1-2.times.10.sup.6 target cells
were harvested and resuspended at 2.5-5.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml in
RP10 medium. We added 50-100 .mu.l of 5 mCi/ml .sup.51Cr-sodium
chromate (NEN, Boston, Mass.) directly to the cells and incubated
them for 1 hour at 37.degree. C., then washed them twice with 12 ml
of PBS and resuspended them in 2 ml of RP10 medium. After counting
the cells on a hemacytometer, the target cells were diluted to
0.5-1.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and 100 .mu.l (0.5-1.times.10.sup.4
cells) were mixed with effector cells at various effector:target
ratios. After a 4-hour co-incubation of effector cells and the
labeled target cells at 37.degree. C., half of the supernatant from
each well was collected and counted in a gamma counter for 1
min/sample. The percentage of specific .sup.51Cr release was
calculated from the formula 100.times.(X-Y)/(Z-Y), where X is
.sup.51Cr release in the presence of effector cells, Y is the
spontaneous release in the absence of effectors, and Z is the total
.sup.51Cr release from target cells incubated with 0.5% Triton
X-100. Data were plotted as the % specific lysis versus the
effector-to-target ratio in each well.
[0183] CTLs re-stimulated in the presence of rmIL-2 exhibited the
highest lytic activity on the P815 target cells, achieving >70%
specific lysis at an effector-to-target ratio of 33:1. The next
most active CTLs were those re-stimulated in the presence of IL-21
rhIL-15 (62% specific lysis), followed by CTL cultured with rhIL-15
(.about.50% lysis), CTL cultured with IL-21 alone (30% lysis), and
CTL re-stimulated with rat conA supernatant (.about.10% lysis).
None of the CTL lysed the H-2.sup.b EL4 cells (all CTL lysed fewer
than 2% of the EL4 targets, even at the highest effector-to-target
ratio of 33:1). This pattern of cytokine enhancement of cytolysis
(IL-2>IL-21+IL-15>IL-15>IL-21>conA SN) held true in 2
replicate experiments. These data demonstrate that IL-21,
particularly in combination with IL-15, can enhance CTL effector
function.
Example 9
IL-21 Modifies the Response of OT-1 T Cells to OVA Peptide as
Presented by Murine Dendritic Cells
A. Isolation and Labeling of OT-1 T Cells
[0184] Mice bearing a transgenic T cell receptor specific for
OVA257-264 in H-2K.sup.b are available (OT-1 transgenics, Jackson
Laboratories). Cells from lymph nodes from these animals were
adherence depleted and the CD8 T cells (OT-1 T cells) were enriched
by negative selection using CD8 Cellect columns (Cedarlane
Laboratories, Hornby, Ontario, Canada). Purity of CD8 T cells was
assessed by flow cytometry and was typically 90-95% with <1% CD4
T cells.
[0185] OT-1 T cells were labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate
succinimidyl ester (CFSE; Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.) by
placing them in growth media comprising RPMI-1640 medium
supplemented with 10% FCS (JRH, Lenexa Kans.; Hyclone, Logan Utah),
2 mM glutamine (Gibco BRL), 50 U/ml penicillin (Gibco BRL), 50
.mu.g/ml streptomycin (Gibco BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) and 50 .mu.M
2-mercaptoethanol (Sigma, St Louis, Mo.) containing 5 .mu.M CFSE
for 5 min at room temperature. The cells were then washed three
times, each time by resuspending in PBS containing 5% FBS,
centrifuging 5 min at 300 g, 20.degree. C., and removing the
supernatant. Cells were resuspended in growth media prior to
use.
B. Preparation of Murine Dendritic Cells
[0186] Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) from mouse bone
marrow were cultured in growth media the presence of GM-CSF using
well-known methods (e.g., Inaba, K. et al., J. Exp. Med.
176:1693-1702, 1992). After six days in culture they were
stimulated with 1 .mu.g/ml LPS (Sigma, St Louis, Mo.) overnight and
then washed in growth media prior to use.
C. In Vitro Stimulation of T Cells
[0187] DCs prepared as above were pulsed with 10 nm OVA257-264
peptide (SEQ ID NO:9) for 2 hours. The pulsed DCs are washed in
growth media to remove any unbound peptide and then cultured with
purified OT-1 T cells prepared as described above in the presence
of either media alone or 20 ng/ml mouse rIL-2 (R&D Systems,
Minneapolis, Minn.) or 50 ng/ml murine IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No.
6,307,024). After either 48 or 72 hours of incubation the cells
were harvested and analyzed by flow cytometry for levels of CFSE
fluorescence and Annexin V binding (Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.)
per manufacturers instruction.
[0188] Results showed that when OT-1 T cells are presented specific
antigen on DC's they undergo 3-5 rounds of cell division by day 2
and 5-7 rounds of cell division by day 3 as evidenced with CFSE
labeling. In the presence of IL-2 their proliferation is increased
such that by day 2 they have gone 5-6 rounds and by day 3, 7-9
rounds. When the T cells are treated with IL-2 they undergoing
apoptosis at day 3 as demonstrated by Annexin V binding. In
contrast to IL-2, IL-21 induces increased T cell proliferation and
prevents Annexin V labeling up to day 3. IL-21 continues to enhance
proliferation and prevent apoptosis even in the presence of added
IL-2.
[0189] IL-21 both enhances proliferation and reduces apoptosis of
the murine CTL cells. This activity implies a positive
immunostimulatory role for IL-21 in clinical settings, such as
cancer or viral disease, where CTL's can play a role.
Example 10
IL-21 Promotes IL-2 Stimulated NK-Cell Expansion in PBMNC Cultures
in the Presence of IL-4
[0190] IL-4 inhibits the expansion of NK-cells stimulated with
IL-2. In two experiments human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMNCs) were seeded at 200,000 cells/well in alpha-MEM+10%
autologous serum with 10 ng/ml IL-2 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis,
Minn.) with or without 0.5 ng/ml IL-4 (R&D Systems,
Minneapolis, Minn.), and with or without 10 ng/ml IL-21 (U.S. Pat.
No. 6,307,024) and grown for 8 days. The number of viable cells per
well was determined using standard methods and the cells analyzed
by flow cytometry for expression of CD3, CD16, and CD56. NK-cells
were defined as the CD56 positive CD3 negative population.
[0191] The cultures from the two donors cultured with IL-2 alone
contained about 151,000 and 326,000 NK-cells respectively on day 8.
The cultures from the two donors cultured with IL-2 and IL-21
contained about 446,000 and 588,000 NK-cells respectively. The
cultures from the two donors cultured with IL-2 and IL-4 contained
about 26,000 and 29,000 NK-cells on day 8. However, cultures from
the two donors cultured with IL-2, IL-4 and IL-21 contained about
229,000 and 361,000 NK-cells representing an 8.8 and 12.5 fold
increase in NK-cell yield over the culture with IL-2 and IL-4
only.
[0192] These results demonstrate that IL-21 promotes NK-cell
expansion, and that IL-21 can largely overcome the inhibitory
effects of IL-4 on NK-cell growth. In some diseases IL-4 expression
can play a role in the pathology. For example mice bearing the
B16F10 melanoma generate a large population of IL-4 producing CD4+
T-cells which appear to limit the host anti-tumor response.
Furthermore, STAT 6 (required for IL-4 signaling) gene deficient
mice exhibit an enhanced ability to reject tumors. The ability of
IL-21 to antagonize the action of IL-4, and induce the expression
of Interferon-.gamma. (described herein), in addition to the in
vivo anti-tumor activity and data described herein, suggest that
IL-21 can be useful in treating malignancies, infections or
autoimmune disease where there is a Th2 response limiting the hosts
ability to control the disease.
Example 11
IL-21 Stimulates Outgrowth of NK and NKT From Peripheral Blood
Lymphocyte Cultures that Contain IL-2 or IL-15
[0193] Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 3 healthy human donors
were prepared by the standard Ficoll centrifugation method.
Lymphocytes were then cultured at a starting concentration of
200,000/ml in alpha MEM with 10% donor serum, 50 .mu.M BME (Sigma),
2 ng/ml flt3L (R&D Systems), and 0, 0.5, 10, or 50 ng/ml of
IL-2 (R&D Systems) or IL-15 (R&D Systems)+/-0, 5, or 50
ng/ml IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,024). After 12 days of culture
cells were harvested, counted, and analyzed by flow cytometry for
CD3, CD56, and CD8. NK cells were defined as CD56+/CD3- and NKT
cells were defined as CD56+/CD3+.
[0194] The "fold increase" in cell number (defined as final cell
number/starting cell number) was widely variable between the three
donors, but the trends were fairly consistent. In general, the
results at 10 ng/ml of IL-2 or IL-15 were similar to the results
obtained with 50 ng/ml of IL-2 or IL-15, and the results at 5 ng/ml
IL-21 were similar to those obtained with 50 ng/ml IL-21. With no
IL-2 or IL-15 present, the fold increase in total cells was 0.33,
0.23, and 0.19 among the three donors. When 5 ng/ml IL-21 was
included in the culture, the fold increases were 0.47, 0.31, and
0.35. At a low concentration of 0.5 ng/ml IL-2, we saw total cell
fold increases of 2.2, 1.1, and 1.0 among the three donors. When 5
ng/ml IL-21 was included, we saw total cells increase by 5.5, 2.3,
3.1. We saw fold increases in NK numbers without IL-21 of 16, 4.2,
and 3.5. When IL-21 was present (at 5 ng/ml) these increases were
24, 15, and 21 respectively. NKT's were also positively effected
under these conditions. NKT fold increases were 4.4, 5.7, and 1.8
without IL-21, and 10, 9, and 15 with 5 ng/ml IL-21.
[0195] These results are mirrored with IL-15. At 0.5 ng/ml IL-15,
total cell fold increases of 0.98, 0.43, and 0.88 were seen among
the three donors. When 5 ng/ml IL-21 was included, we saw total
cells increase by 1.4, 0.9, 1.7 fold. Fold increases of NK numbers
of 8.0, 0.85, and 3.7 were seen without IL-21. When 5 ng/ml IL-21
was present, these fold increases were 13, 5.5, and 11. NKT fold
increases at 0.5 ng/ml IL-15 were 3.3, 2.3, and 1.6 for the three
donors, but they were 3.9, 5.2, and 4.7 when 5 ng/ml IL-21 was
included.
[0196] At higher concentrations of IL-2 the fold increases were
overall higher, but the effect of IL-21 was in general decreased,
although still positive. At 10 ng/ml IL-2 we saw total cell fold
increases of 18, 2.5, and 2.8 among the three donors. When 5 ng/ml
IL-21 was included, we saw total cells increase by 21, 3.6, 9.8
fold. We saw fold increases in NK numbers of 114, 13, and 13
without IL-21. When IL-21 was also present (at 5 ng/ml) these
increases were 100, 19, and 56 respectively, NKT's were also
positively effected under these conditions. NKT fold increases were
33, 15, and 12 without IL-21, and 52, 20, and 38 with 5 ng/ml
IL-21.
[0197] At 10 ng/ml IL-15, we saw total cell fold increases of 18,
0.8, and 1.7 among the three donors. When 5 ng/ml IL-21 was
included, we saw total cells increase by 23, 1.4, 6.9 fold. We saw
fold increases of NK numbers of 128, 58, and 2.0 without IL-21.
When 5 ng/ml IL-21 was present, these fold increases were 107, 1.1,
and 9.4. NKT fold increases at 10 ng/ml IL-15 were 60, 6.5, and 5.7
for the three donors, but they were 66, 12, and 33 when 5 ng/ml
IL-21 was included.
[0198] IL-21's effects in these cultures were dependent on the
presence of at least low dose IL-2 or IL-15. Without those
cytokines, the effect of IL-21 was minimal. When IL-2 or IL-15 is
present, especially at the lower, perhaps physiological,
concentrations, IL-21's effect is the most profound. The lack of
effect of IL-21 alone, coupled with its ability to synergize with
low concentrations of other cytokines may allow it to act
therapeutically at sites of infection or malignancy without causing
systemic toxicity.
Example 12
IL-21 Inhibits the Production of IL-13 in NK-Cell Cultures
[0199] IL-13 shares receptor subunits and many of the biological
activities of IL-4, but unlike IL-4, IL-13 is produced by NK-cells.
Since NK-cells also produce IFN-gamma, and these two cytokines have
in large part opposing activities, experiments were conducted to
examine the effects of IL-21 on IL-13 and IFN-gamma expression in
PBMNC and NK-cell cultures.
[0200] Negatively selected human peripheral blood NK-cells were
seeded at about 3.75.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and stimulated 2 days
with 10 ng/ml IL-2, IL-4 (R&D Systems) or IL-21 (U.S. Pat. No.
6,307,024) or without any cytokine in alpha-MEM+10% autologous
serum. After two days in culture IL-2 was added to all wells to 10
ng/ml, and the cell were cultured for an additional 3 days, then
the supernatants were collected and analyzed by ELISA for IL-13 and
IFN-.gamma.. NK-cells grown for two days without any cytokine
produced about 2130 pg/ml IFN-.gamma. and 175 pg/ml IL-13. Cells
stimulated with IL-21 produced abut 10,300 pg/ml IFN-.gamma. and 90
pg/ml IL-13. Cells stimulated with IL-2 produced 12,700 pg/ml
IFN-.gamma. and 1000 pg/ml IL-13. Cells stimulated with IL-4
produced no detectable IFN-.gamma. nor IL-13.
[0201] Of note, cells stimulated for the first two days with IL-21
produced 5 times more IFN-.gamma., but only one half the IL-13 of
unstimulated cells. When compared to cell stimulated with IL-2 for
the first two days of culture cells stimulated with IL-21 produced
80% as much IFN-.gamma., but only 9% as much IL-13. Thus IL-21
selectively promotes the expression of IFN-.gamma. and depresses
IL-13 expression.
Example 13
IL-21 Synergizes With IL-2 to Promote IFN-.gamma. Production in
Mouse Splenic NK Cells
[0202] C57BL/6 mouse splenic NK cells were prepared by water lysing
a cell suspension from the spleens, then utilizing the Stem Cell
Technologies murine NK negative enrichment magnetic cell sorting
protocol. The cells prepared using this method were 65% Pan NK
positive based on flow analysis using the DX5 Pan NK antibody from
PharMingen.
[0203] The negatively enriched murine NK cells were cultured for 8
days at 500,000 cells/ml in RPMI 1640 with 10% heat inactivated
fetal bovine serum and 2 mM L-glutamine, 50 .mu.M BME, and PSN
antibiotic with 20 ng/ml mIL-2 (R&D Systems) or 10 ng/ml mIL-21
or both. The cell supernatants were harvested and cells were
counted at the end of the culture period. Cell supernatants were
assayed for mIFN-.gamma. using a commercially available ELISA kit
from PharMingen.
[0204] Cell numbers at the end of the eight day period were about
1,300,000 for the IL-2 containing culture, 220,000 for the
IL-2/IL-21 culture, and 10,000 for the IL-21 culture. The
mIFN-.gamma. levels were 2.2 ng/ml, 30 ng/ml, and 0.28 ng/ml
respectively. When expressed as pg/500,000 cells, the results are
238, 14,000, and 12,000. IL-21 enhances IFN-.gamma. expression in
these cultures, which when combined with the cell
survival/proliferation effects of IL-2, results in high levels of
IFN-.gamma. being secreted into the medium. IFN-.gamma. is an
important initiator of the immune response, and is considered a TH1
biased cytokine. This data supports that IL-21 plays a role in the
antiviral activity of the immune system, and hence can be used as a
therapeutic in anti-viral and other applications.
Example 14
LCMV Models
[0205] LCMV models are in vilro models to test a compound's effect
on cells infected with a member of the Flaviviridae family, to
which HCV is a member. These models are used to evaluate the effect
IL-21 has on CTLs and the effect IL-21 has on viral load. There are
two models that are used: LCMV Armstrong (acute) infection and LCMV
Clone 13 (chronic) infection. (See, e.g., Wherry et al., J. Virol.
77:4911-4927, 2003; Blattman et al. Nature Med. 9(5):540-547, 2003;
Hoffman et al. J. Immunol. 170: 1339-1353, 2003.) There are three
stages of CD8 T cell development in response to virus: 1)
expansion, 2) contraction, and 3) memory (acute model). IL-21 is
injected during each stage for both acute and chronic models. In
the chronic model, IL-21 is injected 60 days after infection to
assess the effect of IL-21. For both acute and chronic models.
IL-21 is injected, and the following parameters are examined:
tetramer staining by flow to count the number of LCMV-specific CD8+
T cells: the ability of tetramer+ cells to produce cytokines when
stimulated with their cognate LCMV antigen; and the ability of
LCMV-specific CD8+ T cells to proliferate in response to their
cognate LCMV antigen. LCMV-specific T cells are phenotyped by flow
cytometry to assess the cells activation and differentiation state.
Also, the ability of LCMV-specific CTL to lyse target cells bearing
their cognate LCMV antigen is examined. The number and function of
LCMV-specific CD4+T cells is accessed, except for in the cytolysis
assay.
[0206] Improvement in the quality and quantity of LCMV specific
CD8+ T cells after IL-21 administration is determined.
Specifically, results in increased cytokine production, especially
IFN-.gamma. increased percentages of tetramer+ cells that
proliferate and an increase in the cytolytic activity are shown.
The phenotype of CD8+ T cells from IL-21 treated mice reflects
differentiation to an effector cell, that is loss of CD27
expression and loss of CCR7 expression as well as increased
perforin and granzyme B expression. Also, a reduction in viral load
after treatment with IL-21 is shown. For IL-21 treated mice a 20%
increase in the percentage of tetrainer positive T cells that
proliferate, make cytokine, or display a mature phenotype relative
to untreated mice, is considered significant. A 20% increase in
cytolytic activity is considered significant.
[0207] IL-21 injection leading to a reduction in viral load is due
to more effective control of viral infection especially in the
chronic model where untreated the viral titers remain elevated for
an extended period of time. A 5 fold reduction in viral titer
relative to untreated mice is considered significant.
Example 15
Ex Vivo Studies of Human CTL from HCV Patients
[0208] Blood obtained from chronically infected HCV patients and
HCV-specific CTL is examined in vitro after culture with IL-21. The
HCV-specific T cells are enumerated by staining with tetramers
containing HCV peptides and soluble HLA Class I proteins. Using
flow cytometry the ability of CD8+ HCV-specific T cells to
proliferate and produce cytokines (especially interferon-.gamma.
and IL-2) in response to HCV antigens incubated in the presence or
absence of IL21 is accessed. HCV-specific CTLs are phenotyped with
respect to activation state and effector function (specifically for
CD27 and CCR7 expression). Cytolytic activity for HLA-matched
target cells bearing HCV peptides is also evaluated. (See, e.g.,
Wedemeyer et al., J. Immol. 169:3447-58, 2002; Gruener et al., J.
Virol. 75:5550-58, 2001; Cramp et al., Gastroenterology 118:346-55,
2000.)
[0209] In vitro culture of HCV-specific T cells with their cognate
antigen with IL-21 is measured to demonstrate increased survival,
proliferation, and cytokine production by the CTL,, as compared to
those cultured in media alone. Cytolytic activity of the HCV
specific CTL, is measured to demonstrate significant increases
after culture in IL-21 relative to the same CTL cultured in
media.
Example 16
Influenza Model of Acute Viral Infection
A. Preliminary Experiment to Test Antiviral Activity.
[0210] To determine the antiviral activity of IL-21 on Influenza
virus and measure various immune parameters, focusing on
cell-mediated and humoral immunity, an in vivo study using
influenza infected c57Bl/6 mice was performed using the following
protocol:
Animals: 6 weeks-old female BALB/c mice (Charles River) with 148
mice, 30 per group.
Groups:
[0211] (1) Absolute control (not infected) to run in parallel for
antibody titre and histopathology (2 animals per group) (2) Vehicle
(i.p.) saline (3) Amantadine (positive control) 10 mg/day during 5
days (per os) starting 2 hours before infection (4) IL-21 treated
(5 .mu.g, i.p. starting 2 hours after infection) (5) IL-21 (25
.mu.g, i.p. starting 2 hours after infection) (6) IL-21 (125 .mu.g,
i.p. starting 2 hours after infection) Day 0--Except for the
absolute controls, all animals infected with Influenza virus
[0212] For viral load (10 at LD50)
[0213] For immunology workout (LD30)
Day 0-9--daily injections of IL-21 (i.p.)
[0214] Body weight and general appearance recorded (3
times/week)
Day 3--sacrifice of 8 animals per group
[0215] Viral load in right lung (TCID50)
[0216] Histopathology in left lung
[0217] Blood sample for antibody titration
Day 10--sacrifice of all surviving animals collecting blood samples
for antibody titration, isolating lung lymphocytes (4 pools of 3)
for direct CTL assay (in all 5 groups), and quantitative
immunophenotyping for the following markers: CD3/CD4. CD3/CD8,
CD3/CD8/CD11b, CD8/CD44/CD62L. CD3/DX5, GR-1/F480, and CD19.
[0218] Results demonstrated IL-21 treatment enhanced the virus
specific cytolytic activity of pulmonary mononuclear cells. This
enhanced CTL activity is hypothesized to be important for
resolution of human viral disease. The treatment had no significant
effect on day 4 viral load, day 10 antibody production or weight
loss. The failure to alter day 4 viral load suggests that IL-21
treatment did not significantly enhance NK activity. Day 10
antibody production is an early time point of uncertain
significance. The failure to alter weight loss suggests that IL-21
enhancement of CTL activity was inadequate to alter the course of
the infection. This could be because the infection was simply too
aggressive.
B. Secondary Experiment to Test for Antiviral Activity.
[0219] Study No 1:
[0220] 1. LD.sub.50 determination of a new stock of mouse-adapted
influenza virus and analysis of the capacity to induce immune
responses in infected C57Bl/6 mice. First, two new stocks of human
influenza virus are produced and titrated. Second, the last passage
of mouse-adapted virus is passaged in in embryonated eggs. Also, a
non-adapted virus stock (ATCC frozen stock) passaged in embryonated
eggs. Third, an allantoic fluid control stock is prepared in
embryonated eggs inoculated with PBS. Both stocks are titrated by
HAU (using 0.5% rooster erythrocytes) and TCID.sub.50 (using MDCK
cells). The virus stocks and allantoic fluid control are frozen at
-80.degree. C.
[0221] 2. Determination of the LD.sub.50 for mouse-adapted virus
stocks in C57Bl/6 mice is made using 6 Female C57Bl/6 mice (8
weeks-old) (Charles River). The mice are given an intranasal
inoculation (20 .mu.l) with a micropipette of anaesthetized animals
(Ketamine/xylazine, i.p.), and then given 6 doses of each virus
stock ( 1/10 dilution)+PBS control. There are 8 animals per dose.
The numbers of animals are recorded daily, and the body weight
measured every other day.
[0222] On day 14 post-infection, the number of animals that
survived the virus challenge and their body weight are recorded,
and the LD.sub.30 for both virus stocks for C57Bl/6 mice is
calculated.
[0223] 3. Immune response induced by mouse-adapted influenza virus
in C57BL/6 mice is analyzed.
[0224] CTL-mediated cytotoxicity is assayed using effector cells
(mononuclear cells from the lungs), 10 days post infection in mice
given 1 LD.sub.30 of virus stock. The target cells are
influenza-infected EL-4 (H-2.sup.b) tumor cell line ATCC #T1B39
(Brit. J. Cancer 4: 372, 1950) Assays are done in quadruplicates at
different E:T ratios starting from 50:1. In addition to compare
susceptibility of target cells infected with non-adapted and
mouse-adapted A/PR/8/34 influenza virus, uninfected target cells
and EL-4 cells infected with B-Lee/40 influenza virus are used for
specificity control. Three experiments are done to compare CTL
responses in mice infected with the virus stocks.
[0225] Immunophenotyping: Preliminary immunophenotyping experiments
are done on 3 pools of mononuclear cells from the lungs harvested
on Day 10 post-infection from 3 mice infected with 1 LD.sub.30 Of
mouse-adapted virus. Lung cell populations of interest are also be
determined in normal C57BL/6 mice using pooled cells from 8 mice
for each determination. These studies will use 44 animals.
[0226] Study No. 2:
[0227] To determine infecting doses at which clinical signs of
illness (loss of weight) are not too severe while still inducing a
detectable but suboptimal lung CTL response a dose response study
starting with the LD.sub.30 of mouse-adapted virus is tested. The
experiment uses 40 female C57Bl/6 mice (8 weeks-old) (Charles
River), and the animals are anaesthetized. `T`here are 4 groups of
2 animals for 1 LD.sub.30 and of 4 animals per dose for lower
doses. The doses are 1 LD30, 1/10 dilution, 1/100 dilution of
virus.
[0228] The number of animals are recorded daily, and body weight is
recorded every other day. Day 10 post-infection: Record the number
of animals that survived the virus challenge and their body weight.
On day 10, the animals are sacrificed and evaluated for CTL
induction in 4 pools per dose (2 or 4 animals per pool), using
uninfected, A/PR/8/34 and B/Lee/40-infected EL-4 as targets and 7
different E:T ratio (50/1, 25/1, 12/1, 6/1; 3/1, 1.5/1; and
0.75/1).
[0229] Study No. 3
[0230] Efficacy study of IL-21 in C57Bl/6 mice infected with
mouse-adapted virus is done using 8 weeks-old female C57Bl/6 mice
(Charles River). The groups have 36 animals per group.
[0231] Group 1: Vehicle (i.p.)
[0232] Group 2: Positive control: Anti-influenza neutralizing
antibody (goat anti-influenza A/USSR (H1N1) (Chemicon
International, Temecula, Calif.); 40 .mu.g/mouse at 2 h and 4 h
post infection (10 .mu.l intranasal)
[0233] Group 3: ZG-01 (5 .mu.g, i.p.)
[0234] Group 4: ZG-01 (25 .mu.g, i.p.)
[0235] Group 5: ZG-01 (125 .mu.g, i.p.)
TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Sacrificed at Day 10 Treatment Groups
Immunology RNA + IHC + H&E Group 1 (28 mice) 24 animals 4
animals Vehicle (6 mice/pool) Group 2 (28 mice) +ve 24 animals 4
animals control (6 mice/pool) (Neutralizing Ab) Group 3 (28 mice)
24 animals 4 animals IL-21 (5 .mu.g) (6 mice/pool) Group 4 (28
mice) 24 animals 4 animals IL-21 (25 .mu.g) (6 mice/pool) Group 5
(28 mice) 24 animals 4 animals IL-21 (125 .mu.g) (6 mice/pool)
Total 120 20 (140 animals)
[0236] Following-life observations and immunological workouts are
prepared:
[0237] Day O--all animals infected with Influenza virus (dose
determined in experiment 2)
[0238] Day 0-9--daily injections of IL-21 (i.p.)
[0239] Body weight and general appearance recorded every other
day
[0240] Day 10--sacrifice of surviving animals (24 animals will be
used for complete immune evaluation. 4 for DNA isolation and
H&E staining)
[0241] Isolation of lung lymphocytes (4 pools of 6) for direct CTL
assay in the lungs (in all 5 groups) using EL-4 as targets and
different E:T ratio (based on best results from experiments 1 and
2).
[0242] Tetramer staining: The number of CD8+ T cells binding MHC
Class I tetramers containing influenza A nucleoprotein (NP) epitope
are assessed using complexes of MHC class I with viral peptides:
FLU-NP.sub.366-374/D.sup.b (ASNENME.TM.). (LMCV
peptide/D.sup.b).
[0243] Quantitative immunophenotyping of the following: CD8,
tetramer, intracellular IFN.gamma.. NK1.1, CD8, tetramer, CD62L,
CD44. CD3(+ or -), NK1.1(+), intracellular IFN.gamma., CD4, CD8,
NK1.1, DX5, CD3 (+ or -). NK1.1, DX5, tetramer, Single colour
samples for cytometer adjustment.
[0244] Survival/Re-Challenge Study
TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 Re-challenged with Re-challenged with
Treatment Groups 1LD.sub.30 5LD.sub.50 Group 6 (32 mice) Group 6A
Group 6B Vehicle 12 animals 20 animals Group 7 (32 mice) Group 7A
Group 7A IL-21 (125 .mu.g) 12 animals 20 animals Total 24 animals
40 animals (64 animals)
[0245] Day 30: Survival study (12 animals per group) with mice are
treated for 9 days with different doses of IL-21 or with positive
anti-influenza antibody control. Body weight and antibody
production in individual serum samples (Total, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b)
are measured.
[0246] Re-Challenge Study:
[0247] 2 groups of 32 animals are used in this study.
[0248] Day 0: Both groups will be infected with A/PR virus
(1LD30).
[0249] Group 6 will not be treated.
[0250] Group 7 will be treated for 9 days with 125 .mu.g of
IL-21.
[0251] Day 30: Survival study
[0252] Body weight and antibody production in individual serum
samples (Total, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b) are measured.
[0253] Day 60: Re-challenge study
[0254] Survivors in each group will be divided into 2 subgroups
[0255] Group 6A and 7A will be re-challenge with A/PR virus (1
LD30)
[0256] Group 6B and 7B will be re-challenge with A/PR virus (1
LD30).
[0257] Both groups will be followed up and day of sacrifice will be
determined. Body weight and antibody production in individual serum
samples (Total, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b) are measured.
[0258] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
171642DNAHomo sapiensCDS(47)...(532) 1gctgaagtga aaacgagacc
aaggtctagc tctactgttg gtactt atg aga tcc 55 Met Arg Ser 1agt cct
ggc aac atg gag agg att gtc atc tgt ctg atg gtc atc ttc 103Ser Pro
Gly Asn Met Glu Arg Ile Val Ile Cys Leu Met Val Ile Phe 5 10 15ttg
ggg aca ctg gtc cac aaa tca agc tcc caa ggt caa gat cgc cac 151Leu
Gly Thr Leu Val His Lys Ser Ser Ser Gln Gly Gln Asp Arg His 20 25
30 35atg att aga atg cgt caa ctt ata gat att gtt gat cag ctg aaa
aat 199Met Ile Arg Met Arg Gln Leu Ile Asp Ile Val Asp Gln Leu Lys
Asn 40 45 50tat gtg aat gac ttg gtc cct gaa ttt ctg cca gct cca gaa
gat gta 247Tyr Val Asn Asp Leu Val Pro Glu Phe Leu Pro Ala Pro Glu
Asp Val 55 60 65gag aca aac tgt gag tgg tca gct ttt tcc tgt ttt cag
aag gcc caa 295Glu Thr Asn Cys Glu Trp Ser Ala Phe Ser Cys Phe Gln
Lys Ala Gln 70 75 80cta aag tca gca aat aca gga aac aat gaa agg ata
atc aat gta tca 343Leu Lys Ser Ala Asn Thr Gly Asn Asn Glu Arg Ile
Ile Asn Val Ser 85 90 95att aaa aag ctg aag agg aaa cca cct tcc aca
aat gca ggg aga aga 391Ile Lys Lys Leu Lys Arg Lys Pro Pro Ser Thr
Asn Ala Gly Arg Arg100 105 110 115cag aaa cac aga cta aca tgc cct
tca tgt gat tct tat gag aaa aaa 439Gln Lys His Arg Leu Thr Cys Pro
Ser Cys Asp Ser Tyr Glu Lys Lys 120 125 130cca ccc aaa gaa ttc cta
gaa aga ttc aaa tca ctt ctc caa aag atg 487Pro Pro Lys Glu Phe Leu
Glu Arg Phe Lys Ser Leu Leu Gln Lys Met 135 140 145att cat cag cat
ctg tcc tct aga aca cac gga agt gaa gat tcc 532Ile His Gln His Leu
Ser Ser Arg Thr His Gly Ser Glu Asp Ser 150 155 160tgaggatcta
acttgcagtt ggacactatg ttacatactc taatatagta gtgaaagtca
592tttctttgta ttccaagtgg aggagcccta ttaaattata taaagaaata
6422162PRTHomo sapiens 2Met Arg Ser Ser Pro Gly Asn Met Glu Arg Ile
Val Ile Cys Leu Met 1 5 10 15Val Ile Phe Leu Gly Thr Leu Val His
Lys Ser Ser Ser Gln Gly Gln 20 25 30Asp Arg His Met Ile Arg Met Arg
Gln Leu Ile Asp Ile Val Asp Gln 35 40 45Leu Lys Asn Tyr Val Asn Asp
Leu Val Pro Glu Phe Leu Pro Ala Pro 50 55 60Glu Asp Val Glu Thr Asn
Cys Glu Trp Ser Ala Phe Ser Cys Phe Gln65 70 75 80Lys Ala Gln Leu
Lys Ser Ala Asn Thr Gly Asn Asn Glu Arg Ile Ile 85 90 95Asn Val Ser
Ile Lys Lys Leu Lys Arg Lys Pro Pro Ser Thr Asn Ala 100 105 110Gly
Arg Arg Gln Lys His Arg Leu Thr Cys Pro Ser Cys Asp Ser Tyr 115 120
125Glu Lys Lys Pro Pro Lys Glu Phe Leu Glu Arg Phe Lys Ser Leu Leu
130 135 140Gln Lys Met Ile His Gln His Leu Ser Ser Arg Thr His Gly
Ser Glu145 150 155 160Asp Ser33072DNAMus musculusCDS(54)...(491)
3gagaaccaga ccaaggccct gtcatcagct cctggagact cagttctggt ggc atg 56
Met 1gag agg acc ctt gtc tgt ctg gta gtc atc ttc ttg ggg aca gtg
gcc 104Glu Arg Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Val Val Ile Phe Leu Gly Thr Val
Ala 5 10 15cat aaa tca agc ccc caa ggg cca gat cgc ctc ctg att aga
ctt cgt 152His Lys Ser Ser Pro Gln Gly Pro Asp Arg Leu Leu Ile Arg
Leu Arg 20 25 30cac ctt att gac att gtt gaa cag ctg aaa atc tat gaa
aat gac ttg 200His Leu Ile Asp Ile Val Glu Gln Leu Lys Ile Tyr Glu
Asn Asp Leu 35 40 45gat cct gaa ctt cta tca gct cca caa gat gta aag
ggg cac tgt gag 248Asp Pro Glu Leu Leu Ser Ala Pro Gln Asp Val Lys
Gly His Cys Glu 50 55 60 65cat gca gct ttt gcc tgt ttt cag aag gcc
aaa ctc aag cca tca aac 296His Ala Ala Phe Ala Cys Phe Gln Lys Ala
Lys Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn 70 75 80cct gga aac aat aag aca ttc atc att
gac ctc gtg gcc cag ctc agg 344Pro Gly Asn Asn Lys Thr Phe Ile Ile
Asp Leu Val Ala Gln Leu Arg 85 90 95agg agg ctg cct gcc agg agg gga
gga aag aaa cag aag cac ata gct 392Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Arg Arg Gly
Gly Lys Lys Gln Lys His Ile Ala 100 105 110aaa tgc cct tcc tgt gat
tcg tat gag aaa agg aca ccc aaa gaa ttc 440Lys Cys Pro Ser Cys Asp
Ser Tyr Glu Lys Arg Thr Pro Lys Glu Phe 115 120 125cta gaa aga cta
aaa tgg ctc ctt caa aag atg att cat cag cat ctc 488Leu Glu Arg Leu
Lys Trp Leu Leu Gln Lys Met Ile His Gln His Leu130 135 140 145tcc
tagaacacat aggacccgaa gattcctgag gatccgagaa gattcccgag
541Sergactgaggag acgccggaca ctatagacgc tcacgaatgc aggagtacat
cttgcctctt 601gggattgcaa gtggagaagt acgatacgtt atgataagaa
caactcagaa aagctatagg 661ttaagatcct ttcgcccatt aactaagcag
acattgtggt tccctgcaca gactccatgc 721tgtcaacatg gaaaatctca
actcaacaag agcccagctt cccgtgtcag ggatttctgg 781tgcttctcaa
gctgtggctt catcttattg cccaactgtg acattctttg attggaaggg
841gaaaactaaa gcttttagca aaaatacagc tagggaattt gtcgatctgc
gagagtaaga 901cctcttatga tcctaacgga atgatgtaag ctggaaataa
taagcataag atgaaattga 961aaattgaagt ctttattctt taagaaaaac
tttgtacttg aaagcatgtc tgaagagttt 1021actcattacc acaaacatct
agcatattga taactaacat ctttatactc tacaagagag 1081gctttccaga
taggtacagt ttttcttctc tattaggtct atcaaaattt aacctattat
1141gagggtcacc cctggctttc actgtttttc taaagaggca agggtgtagt
aagaagcagg 1201cttaagttgc cttcctccca atgtcaagtt cctttataag
ctaatagttt aatcttgtga 1261agatggcaat gaaagcctgt ggaagtgcaa
acctcactat cttctggagc caagtagaat 1321tttcaagttt gtagctctca
cctcaagtgg ttatgggtgt cctgtgatga atctgctagc 1381tccagcctca
gtctcctctc ccacatcctt tcctttcttt cctctttgaa acttctaaga
1441aaaagcaatc caaacaagtt cagcacttaa gacacattgc atgcacactt
ttgataagtt 1501aaatccaacc atctatttaa aatcaaaatc aggagatgag
ccaagagacc agaggttctg 1561ttccagtttt aaacagactt ttactgaaca
tcccaatctt ttaaccacag aggctaaatt 1621gagcaaatag ttttgccatt
tgatataatt tccaacagta tgtttcaatg tcaagttaaa 1681aagtctacaa
agctattttc cctggagtgg tatcatcgct ttgagaattt cttatggtta
1741aaatggatct gagatccaag catggcctgg gggatggttt tgatctaagg
aaaaaggtgt 1801ctgtacctca cagtgccttt aaaacaagca gagatcccgt
gtaccgccct aagatagcac 1861agactagtgt taactgattc ccagaaaagt
gtcacaatca gaaccaacgc attctcttaa 1921actttaaaaa tatgtattgc
aaagaacttg tgtaactgta aatgtgtgac tgttgatgac 1981attatacaca
catagcccac gtaagtgtcc aatggtgcta gcattggttg ctgagtttgc
2041tgctcgaaag ctgaagcaga gatgcagtcc ttcacaaagc aatgatggac
agagagggga 2101gtctccatgt tttattcttt tgttgtttct ggctgtgtaa
ctgttgactt cttgacattg 2161tgatttttat atttaagaca atgtatttat
tttggtgtgt ttattgttct agccttttaa 2221atcactgaca atttctaatc
aagaagtaca aataattcaa tgcagcacag gctaagagct 2281tgtatcgttt
ggaaaagcca gtgaaggctt ctccactagc catgggaaag ctacgcttta
2341gagtaaacta gacaaaattg cacagcagtc ttgaacctct ctgtgctcaa
gactcagcca 2401gtcctttgac attattgttc actgtgggtg ggaacacatt
ggacctgaca cactgttgtg 2461tgtccatgaa ggttgccact ggtgtaagct
ttttttggtt ttcattctct tatctgtaga 2521acaagaatgt ggggctttcc
taagtctatt ctgtatttta ttctgaactt cgtatgtctg 2581agttttaatg
ttttgagtac tcttacagga acacctgacc acacttttga gttaaatttt
2641atcccaagtg tgatatttag ttgttcaaaa agggaaggga tatacataca
tacatacata 2701catacataca tatatatata tatatataca tatatatata
tatatatatg tatatatata 2761tatatataga gagagagaga gagagagaga
gagaaagaga gagaggttgt tgtaggtcat 2821aggagttcag aggaaatcag
ttatggccgt taatactgta gctgaaagtg ttttctttgt 2881gaataaattc
atagcattat tgatctatgt tattgctctg ttttatttac agtcacacct
2941gagaatttag ttttaatatg aatgatgtac tttataactt aatgattatt
tattatgtat 3001ttggttttga atgtttgtgt tcatggcttc ttatttaaga
cctgatcata ttaaatgcta 3061cccagtccgg a 30724146PRTMus musculus 4Met
Glu Arg Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Val Val Ile Phe Leu Gly Thr Val 1 5 10
15Ala His Lys Ser Ser Pro Gln Gly Pro Asp Arg Leu Leu Ile Arg Leu
20 25 30Arg His Leu Ile Asp Ile Val Glu Gln Leu Lys Ile Tyr Glu Asn
Asp 35 40 45Leu Asp Pro Glu Leu Leu Ser Ala Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Gly
His Cys 50 55 60Glu His Ala Ala Phe Ala Cys Phe Gln Lys Ala Lys Leu
Lys Pro Ser65 70 75 80Asn Pro Gly Asn Asn Lys Thr Phe Ile Ile Asp
Leu Val Ala Gln Leu 85 90 95Arg Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Arg Arg Gly Gly
Lys Lys Gln Lys His Ile 100 105 110Ala Lys Cys Pro Ser Cys Asp Ser
Tyr Glu Lys Arg Thr Pro Lys Glu 115 120 125Phe Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys
Trp Leu Leu Gln Lys Met Ile His Gln His 130 135 140Leu
Ser14551614DNAHomo sapiensCDS(1)...(1614) 5atg ccg cgt ggc tgg gcc
gcc ccc ttg ctc ctg ctg ctg ctc cag gga 48Met Pro Arg Gly Trp Ala
Ala Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Gln Gly 1 5 10 15ggc tgg ggc tgc
ccc gac ctc gtc tgc tac acc gat tac ctc cag acg 96Gly Trp Gly Cys
Pro Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Thr Asp Tyr Leu Gln Thr 20 25 30gtc atc tgc
atc ctg gaa atg tgg aac ctc cac ccc agc acg ctc acc 144Val Ile Cys
Ile Leu Glu Met Trp Asn Leu His Pro Ser Thr Leu Thr 35 40 45ctt acc
tgg caa gac cag tat gaa gag ctg aag gac gag gcc acc tcc 192Leu Thr
Trp Gln Asp Gln Tyr Glu Glu Leu Lys Asp Glu Ala Thr Ser 50 55 60tgc
agc ctc cac agg tcg gcc cac aat gcc acg cat gcc acc tac acc 240Cys
Ser Leu His Arg Ser Ala His Asn Ala Thr His Ala Thr Tyr Thr 65 70
75 80tgc cac atg gat gta ttc cac ttc atg gcc gac gac att ttc agt
gtc 288Cys His Met Asp Val Phe His Phe Met Ala Asp Asp Ile Phe Ser
Val 85 90 95aac atc aca gac cag tct ggc aac tac tcc cag gag tgt ggc
agc ttt 336Asn Ile Thr Asp Gln Ser Gly Asn Tyr Ser Gln Glu Cys Gly
Ser Phe 100 105 110ctc ctg gct gag agc atc aag ccg gct ccc cct ttc
aac gtg act gtg 384Leu Leu Ala Glu Ser Ile Lys Pro Ala Pro Pro Phe
Asn Val Thr Val 115 120 125acc ttc tca gga cag tat aat atc tcc tgg
cgc tca gat tac gaa gac 432Thr Phe Ser Gly Gln Tyr Asn Ile Ser Trp
Arg Ser Asp Tyr Glu Asp 130 135 140cct gcc ttc tac atg ctg aag ggc
aag ctt cag tat gag ctg cag tac 480Pro Ala Phe Tyr Met Leu Lys Gly
Lys Leu Gln Tyr Glu Leu Gln Tyr145 150 155 160agg aac cgg gga gac
ccc tgg gct gtg agt ccg agg aga aag ctg atc 528Arg Asn Arg Gly Asp
Pro Trp Ala Val Ser Pro Arg Arg Lys Leu Ile 165 170 175tca gtg gac
tca aga agt gtc tcc ctc ctc ccc ctg gag ttc cgc aaa 576Ser Val Asp
Ser Arg Ser Val Ser Leu Leu Pro Leu Glu Phe Arg Lys 180 185 190gac
tcg agc tat gag ctg cag gtg cgg gca ggg ccc atg cct ggc tcc 624Asp
Ser Ser Tyr Glu Leu Gln Val Arg Ala Gly Pro Met Pro Gly Ser 195 200
205tcc tac cag ggg acc tgg agt gaa tgg agt gac ccg gtc atc ttt cag
672Ser Tyr Gln Gly Thr Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Pro Val Ile Phe Gln
210 215 220acc cag tca gag gag tta aag gaa ggc tgg aac cct cac ctg
ctg ctt 720Thr Gln Ser Glu Glu Leu Lys Glu Gly Trp Asn Pro His Leu
Leu Leu225 230 235 240ctc ctc ctg ctt gtc ata gtc ttc att cct gcc
ttc tgg agc ctg aag 768Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Val Phe Ile Pro Ala
Phe Trp Ser Leu Lys 245 250 255acc cat cca ttg tgg agg cta tgg aag
aag ata tgg gcc gtc ccc agc 816Thr His Pro Leu Trp Arg Leu Trp Lys
Lys Ile Trp Ala Val Pro Ser 260 265 270cct gag cgg ttc ttc atg ccc
ctg tac aag ggc tgc agc gga gac ttc 864Pro Glu Arg Phe Phe Met Pro
Leu Tyr Lys Gly Cys Ser Gly Asp Phe 275 280 285aag aaa tgg gtg ggt
gca ccc ttc act ggc tcc agc ctg gag ctg gga 912Lys Lys Trp Val Gly
Ala Pro Phe Thr Gly Ser Ser Leu Glu Leu Gly 290 295 300ccc tgg agc
cca gag gtg ccc tcc acc ctg gag gtg tac agc tgc cac 960Pro Trp Ser
Pro Glu Val Pro Ser Thr Leu Glu Val Tyr Ser Cys His305 310 315
320cca cca cgg agc ccg gcc aag agg ctg cag ctc acg gag cta caa gaa
1008Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Ala Lys Arg Leu Gln Leu Thr Glu Leu Gln Glu
325 330 335cca gca gag ctg gtg gag tct gac ggt gtg ccc aag ccc agc
ttc tgg 1056Pro Ala Glu Leu Val Glu Ser Asp Gly Val Pro Lys Pro Ser
Phe Trp 340 345 350ccg aca gcc cag aac tcg ggg ggc tca gct tac agt
gag gag agg gat 1104Pro Thr Ala Gln Asn Ser Gly Gly Ser Ala Tyr Ser
Glu Glu Arg Asp 355 360 365cgg cca tac ggc ctg gtg tcc att gac aca
gtg act gtg cta gat gca 1152Arg Pro Tyr Gly Leu Val Ser Ile Asp Thr
Val Thr Val Leu Asp Ala 370 375 380gag ggg cca tgc acc tgg ccc tgc
agc tgt gag gat gac ggc tac cca 1200Glu Gly Pro Cys Thr Trp Pro Cys
Ser Cys Glu Asp Asp Gly Tyr Pro385 390 395 400gcc ctg gac ctg gat
gct ggc ctg gag ccc agc cca ggc cta gag gac 1248Ala Leu Asp Leu Asp
Ala Gly Leu Glu Pro Ser Pro Gly Leu Glu Asp 405 410 415cca ctc ttg
gat gca ggg acc aca gtc ctg tcc tgt ggc tgt gtc tca 1296Pro Leu Leu
Asp Ala Gly Thr Thr Val Leu Ser Cys Gly Cys Val Ser 420 425 430gct
ggc agc cct ggg cta gga ggg ccc ctg gga agc ctc ctg gac aga 1344Ala
Gly Ser Pro Gly Leu Gly Gly Pro Leu Gly Ser Leu Leu Asp Arg 435 440
445cta aag cca ccc ctt gca gat ggg gag gac tgg gct ggg gga ctg ccc
1392Leu Lys Pro Pro Leu Ala Asp Gly Glu Asp Trp Ala Gly Gly Leu Pro
450 455 460tgg ggt ggc cgg tca cct gga ggg gtc tca gag agt gag gcg
ggc tca 1440Trp Gly Gly Arg Ser Pro Gly Gly Val Ser Glu Ser Glu Ala
Gly Ser465 470 475 480ccc ctg gcc ggc ctg gat atg gac acg ttt gac
agt ggc ttt gtg ggc 1488Pro Leu Ala Gly Leu Asp Met Asp Thr Phe Asp
Ser Gly Phe Val Gly 485 490 495tct gac tgc agc agc cct gtg gag tgt
gac ttc acc agc ccc ggg gac 1536Ser Asp Cys Ser Ser Pro Val Glu Cys
Asp Phe Thr Ser Pro Gly Asp 500 505 510gaa gga ccc ccc cgg agc tac
ctc cgc cag tgg gtg gtc att cct ccg 1584Glu Gly Pro Pro Arg Ser Tyr
Leu Arg Gln Trp Val Val Ile Pro Pro 515 520 525cca ctt tcg agc cct
gga ccc cag gcc agc 1614Pro Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Pro Gln Ala Ser 530
535 6538PRTHomo sapiens 6Met Pro Arg Gly Trp Ala Ala Pro Leu Leu
Leu Leu Leu Leu Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Gly Trp Gly Cys Pro Asp Leu Val
Cys Tyr Thr Asp Tyr Leu Gln Thr 20 25 30Val Ile Cys Ile Leu Glu Met
Trp Asn Leu His Pro Ser Thr Leu Thr 35 40 45Leu Thr Trp Gln Asp Gln
Tyr Glu Glu Leu Lys Asp Glu Ala Thr Ser 50 55 60Cys Ser Leu His Arg
Ser Ala His Asn Ala Thr His Ala Thr Tyr Thr65 70 75 80Cys His Met
Asp Val Phe His Phe Met Ala Asp Asp Ile Phe Ser Val 85 90 95Asn Ile
Thr Asp Gln Ser Gly Asn Tyr Ser Gln Glu Cys Gly Ser Phe 100 105
110Leu Leu Ala Glu Ser Ile Lys Pro Ala Pro Pro Phe Asn Val Thr Val
115 120 125Thr Phe Ser Gly Gln Tyr Asn Ile Ser Trp Arg Ser Asp Tyr
Glu Asp 130 135 140Pro Ala Phe Tyr Met Leu Lys Gly Lys Leu Gln Tyr
Glu Leu Gln Tyr145 150 155 160Arg Asn Arg Gly Asp Pro Trp Ala Val
Ser Pro Arg Arg Lys Leu Ile 165 170 175Ser Val Asp Ser Arg Ser Val
Ser Leu Leu Pro Leu Glu Phe Arg Lys 180 185 190Asp Ser Ser Tyr Glu
Leu Gln Val Arg Ala Gly Pro Met Pro Gly Ser 195 200 205Ser Tyr Gln
Gly Thr Trp Ser Glu Trp Ser Asp Pro Val Ile Phe Gln 210 215 220Thr
Gln Ser Glu Glu Leu Lys Glu Gly Trp Asn Pro His Leu Leu Leu225 230
235 240Leu Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Val Phe Ile Pro Ala Phe Trp Ser Leu
Lys 245 250 255Thr His Pro Leu Trp Arg Leu Trp Lys Lys Ile Trp Ala
Val Pro Ser 260 265 270Pro Glu Arg Phe Phe Met Pro Leu Tyr Lys Gly
Cys Ser Gly Asp Phe 275 280 285Lys Lys
Trp Val Gly Ala Pro Phe Thr Gly Ser Ser Leu Glu Leu Gly 290 295
300Pro Trp Ser Pro Glu Val Pro Ser Thr Leu Glu Val Tyr Ser Cys
His305 310 315 320Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Ala Lys Arg Leu Gln Leu Thr
Glu Leu Gln Glu 325 330 335Pro Ala Glu Leu Val Glu Ser Asp Gly Val
Pro Lys Pro Ser Phe Trp 340 345 350Pro Thr Ala Gln Asn Ser Gly Gly
Ser Ala Tyr Ser Glu Glu Arg Asp 355 360 365Arg Pro Tyr Gly Leu Val
Ser Ile Asp Thr Val Thr Val Leu Asp Ala 370 375 380Glu Gly Pro Cys
Thr Trp Pro Cys Ser Cys Glu Asp Asp Gly Tyr Pro385 390 395 400Ala
Leu Asp Leu Asp Ala Gly Leu Glu Pro Ser Pro Gly Leu Glu Asp 405 410
415Pro Leu Leu Asp Ala Gly Thr Thr Val Leu Ser Cys Gly Cys Val Ser
420 425 430Ala Gly Ser Pro Gly Leu Gly Gly Pro Leu Gly Ser Leu Leu
Asp Arg 435 440 445Leu Lys Pro Pro Leu Ala Asp Gly Glu Asp Trp Ala
Gly Gly Leu Pro 450 455 460Trp Gly Gly Arg Ser Pro Gly Gly Val Ser
Glu Ser Glu Ala Gly Ser465 470 475 480Pro Leu Ala Gly Leu Asp Met
Asp Thr Phe Asp Ser Gly Phe Val Gly 485 490 495Ser Asp Cys Ser Ser
Pro Val Glu Cys Asp Phe Thr Ser Pro Gly Asp 500 505 510Glu Gly Pro
Pro Arg Ser Tyr Leu Arg Gln Trp Val Val Ile Pro Pro 515 520 525Pro
Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Pro Gln Ala Ser 530 5357153PRTHomo sapiens 7Met
Tyr Arg Met Gln Leu Leu Ser Cys Ile Ala Leu Ser Leu Ala Leu 1 5 10
15Val Thr Asn Ser Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Ser Thr Lys Lys Thr Gln Leu
20 25 30Gln Leu Glu His Leu Leu Leu Asp Leu Gln Met Ile Leu Asn Gly
Ile 35 40 45Asn Asn Tyr Lys Asn Pro Lys Leu Thr Arg Met Leu Thr Phe
Lys Phe 50 55 60Tyr Met Pro Lys Lys Ala Thr Glu Leu Lys His Leu Gln
Cys Leu Glu65 70 75 80Glu Glu Leu Lys Pro Leu Glu Glu Val Leu Asn
Leu Ala Gln Ser Lys 85 90 95Asn Phe His Leu Arg Pro Arg Asp Leu Ile
Ser Asn Ile Asn Val Ile 100 105 110Val Leu Glu Leu Lys Gly Ser Glu
Thr Thr Phe Met Cys Glu Tyr Ala 115 120 125Asp Glu Thr Ala Thr Ile
Val Glu Phe Leu Asn Arg Trp Ile Thr Phe 130 135 140Cys Gln Ser Ile
Ile Ser Thr Leu Thr145 1508153PRTHomo sapiens 8Met Gly Leu Thr Ser
Gln Leu Leu Pro Pro Leu Phe Phe Leu Leu Ala 1 5 10 15Cys Ala Gly
Asn Phe Val His Gly His Lys Cys Asp Ile Thr Leu Gln 20 25 30Glu Ile
Ile Lys Thr Leu Asn Ser Leu Thr Glu Gln Lys Thr Leu Cys 35 40 45Thr
Glu Leu Thr Val Thr Asp Ile Phe Ala Ala Ser Lys Asn Thr Thr 50 55
60Glu Lys Glu Thr Phe Cys Arg Ala Ala Thr Val Leu Arg Gln Phe Tyr65
70 75 80Ser His His Glu Lys Asp Thr Arg Cys Leu Gly Ala Thr Ala Gln
Gln 85 90 95Phe His Arg His Lys Gln Leu Ile Arg Phe Leu Lys Arg Leu
Asp Arg 100 105 110Asn Leu Trp Gly Leu Ala Gly Leu Asn Ser Cys Pro
Val Lys Glu Ala 115 120 125Asn Gln Ser Thr Leu Glu Asn Phe Leu Glu
Arg Leu Lys Thr Ile Met 130 135 140Arg Glu Lys Tyr Ser Lys Cys Ser
Ser145 1509162PRTHomo sapiens 9Met Arg Ile Ser Lys Pro His Leu Arg
Ser Ile Ser Ile Gln Cys Tyr 1 5 10 15Leu Cys Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser
His Phe Leu Thr Glu Ala Gly Ile His 20 25 30Val Phe Ile Leu Gly Cys
Phe Ser Ala Gly Leu Pro Lys Thr Glu Ala 35 40 45Asn Trp Val Asn Val
Ile Ser Asp Leu Lys Lys Ile Glu Asp Leu Ile 50 55 60Gln Ser Met His
Ile Asp Ala Thr Leu Tyr Thr Glu Ser Asp Val His65 70 75 80Pro Ser
Cys Lys Val Thr Ala Met Lys Cys Phe Leu Leu Glu Leu Gln 85 90 95Val
Ile Ser Leu Glu Ser Gly Asp Ala Ser Ile His Asp Thr Val Glu 100 105
110Asn Leu Ile Ile Leu Ala Asn Asn Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn Gly Asn Val
115 120 125Thr Glu Ser Gly Cys Lys Glu Cys Glu Glu Leu Glu Glu Lys
Asn Ile 130 135 140Lys Glu Phe Leu Gln Ser Phe Val His Ile Val Gln
Met Phe Ile Asn145 150 155 160Thr Ser10144PRTHomo sapiens 10Met Trp
Leu Gln Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Thr Val Ala Cys Ser Ile 1 5 10
15Ser Ala Pro Ala Arg Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Thr Gln Pro Trp Glu His
20 25 30Val Asn Ala Ile Gln Glu Ala Arg Arg Leu Leu Asn Leu Ser Arg
Asp 35 40 45Thr Ala Ala Glu Met Asn Glu Thr Val Glu Val Ile Ser Glu
Met Phe 50 55 60Asp Leu Gln Glu Pro Thr Cys Leu Gln Thr Arg Leu Glu
Leu Tyr Lys65 70 75 80Gln Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Leu Thr Lys Leu Lys
Gly Pro Leu Thr Met 85 90 95Met Ala Ser His Tyr Lys Gln His Cys Pro
Pro Thr Pro Glu Thr Ser 100 105 110Cys Ala Thr Gln Ile Ile Thr Phe
Glu Ser Phe Lys Glu Asn Leu Lys 115 120 125Asp Phe Leu Leu Val Ile
Pro Phe Asp Cys Trp Glu Pro Val Gln Glu 130 135
1401122DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC22281
11tgtgaatgac ttggtccctg aa 221223DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC22279 12aacaggaaaa agctgaccac tca
231331DNAArtificial Sequencezalpha11 Ligand TaqMan probe, ZG32
13tctgccagct ccagaagatg tagagacaaa c 311420DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC22277 14ccaggagtgt ggcagctttc
201521DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC22276
15gcttgccctt cagcatgtag a 211623DNAArtificial Sequencezalpha11
TaqMan(r) probe, designated ZG31 16cggctccccc tttcaacgtg act
23178PRTArtificial SequenceOVA257-264 peptide 17Ser Ile Ile Asn Phe
Glu Lys Leu 1 5
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