U.S. patent application number 12/404990 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for vaccine compositions for inducing immune responses against components of drusen.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to ARTHUR H. NEUFELD, AI LING WANG.
Application Number | 20090232836 12/404990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41063282 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090232836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NEUFELD; ARTHUR H. ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Vaccine Compositions for Inducing Immune Responses Against
Components of Drusen
Abstract
Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating or
preventing the formation of drusen in a patient in need thereof.
The compositions include an effective amount of at least one
polypeptide present in drusen, or an immunogenic fragment or
variant thereof that induces an immune response against the
polypeptide, together with a pharmaceutical carrier, excipient, or
diluent. The compositions are suitable as vaccines for treating or
preventing drusen and diseases associated with drusen.
Inventors: |
NEUFELD; ARTHUR H.;
(CHICAGO, IL) ; WANG; AI LING; (CHICAGO,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANDRUS, SCEALES, STARKE & SAWALL, LLP
100 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 1100
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Assignee: |
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON
IL
|
Family ID: |
41063282 |
Appl. No.: |
12/404990 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61037091 |
Mar 17, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/184.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 39/0008 20130101;
A61P 27/02 20180101; A61P 37/04 20180101; A61P 37/00 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/184.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 39/00 20060101
A61K039/00 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING U.S. GOVERNMENT SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] This invention was made with U.S. government support under
grant number EY012017 awarded by the National Institutes of Health.
The U.S. government has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
1. A vaccine composition for treating or preventing drusen in a
patient in need thereof, the composition comprising: (a) an
effective amount of at least one polypeptide present in drusen or
an immunogenic fragment or variant of the polypeptide, wherein the
amount is effective for stimulating an immune response against the
polypeptide after the vaccine composition is administered to the
patient; and (b) a pharmaceutical carrier, excipient, or
diluent.
2. The vaccine composition of claim 1., further comprising an
adjuvant.
3. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the
polypeptide is selected from a group consisting of histone H1,
histone H2A, histone H.sub.2B, histone H2AC, histone H2AZ, histone
H2A/O, histone H2A2, histone H.sub.2BF, histone h2bc, histone H3,
histone H4, aldehyde dehydrogenase 3, aldehyde dehydrogenase 5, ATP
synthase .alpha.-chain of mitochondria, cell adhesion protein SQM1,
creatine kinase B, enolase 2, aldolase A, malate dehydrogenase 1,
pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, recoverin, lactate
dehydrogenase A, protein kinase inhibitor .beta., glucose phosphate
isomerase, cyclophilin A, phosphoglycerate kinase, calmodulin 2,
G3PDH, dystrobrevin .alpha., phosphoinositide-3-kinase,
triosephosphate isomerase 1, 14-3-3 .beta., apolipoprotein A1,
phospholipase A2, myosin, .beta..sub.S-crystallin,
.alpha.-B-crystallin, .beta.-A3-crystallin, .beta.-A4-crystallin,
.beta.-B1-crystallin, .beta.-B2-crystallin, polyubiquitin,
ubiquitin, peroxiredoxin, VEGF, retinoic acid binding protein 3,
calrecticulin, calrecticulin precursor, CD63, CD81, LAMP-2, actin
.beta., actinin .alpha., vimentin, plectin 1, actin a2, tubulin
.alpha.1a, tubulin, .alpha.3, tubulin .beta., and combinations
thereof.
4. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the
polypeptide is a crystallin protein.
5. The vaccine composition according to claim 4, wherein the
crystallin protein is selected from the group consisting of
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.-B-crystallin,
.beta.-A3-crystallin, .beta.-A4-crystallin, .beta.-B1-crystallin,
.beta.-B2-crystallin, and combinations thereof.
6. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one polypeptide is .beta..sub.S-crystallin.
7. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one polypeptide is .alpha.-B-crystallin.
8. The vaccine composition according to claim 1 wherein the at
least one polypeptide is vimentin.
9. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one polypeptide is calreticulin precursor.
10. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one polypeptide is cyclophilin A.
11. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the
immune response is an antibody response.
12. The vaccine composition according to claim 1, wherein the
vaccine composition is effective for preventing the formation of
drusen after the vaccine composition is administered to the
patient.
13. A method for treating or preventing drusen in a patient in need
thereof, the method comprising administering the vaccine
composition of claim 1 to the patient in a manner effective for
stimulating an immune response against the polypeptide of the
vaccine.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the vaccine is administered
under a prime-boost vaccination regimen.
15. A method for inhibiting accumulation of drusen proteins
extracellularly in the region of the retinal pigment epithelium and
choroid of a patient in need thereof, the method comprising
administering the vaccine composition of claim 1 to the patient in
a manner effective for stimulating an immune response against the
polypeptide of the vaccine.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the vaccine is administered
under a prime-boost vaccination regimen.
17. A method for treating or preventing macular degeneration in a
patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering the
composition of claim 1 to the patient in a manner effective for
stimulating an immune response against the polypeptide of the
vaccine.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the vaccine is administered
under a prime-boost vaccination regimen.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the patient has dry AMD.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the patient has wet AMD.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/037,091, filed on
Mar. 17, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The field of the invention relates to methods for treating
or preventing macular degeneration. In particular, the invention
relates to compositions and methods that are useful for preventing
the formation of drusen associated with macular degeneration, such
as macular drusen. The compositions and methods also are useful for
preventing an increase in the size or amount of existing drusen, or
for causing a decrease in the size or amount of existing drusen.
The compositions and methods also are useful for preventing the
appearance of new drusen.
[0004] Macular degeneration is a medical condition predominantly
found in elderly adults in which the center of the retina of the
eye, otherwise known as the "macula" area of the retina, exhibits
thinning, atrophy, and sometimes new blood vessel formation.
Macular degeneration can result in the loss of central vision,
including the ability to see fine details, to read, or even to
recognize faces. According to the American Academy of Opthalmology,
macular degeneration is the leading cause of central vision loss in
the United States for those over the age of fifty years. Although
macular degeneration sometimes may affect younger individuals, the
term generally refers to "age-related" macular degeneration (i.e.,
"AMD" or "ARMD").
[0005] Early stages of AMD are characterized by development of
yellow deposits in the macula called drusen. These deposits form in
the macula between the retinal pigment epithelium and the
underlying choroid. At this early stage (referred to as the
maculopathy stage), most patients still have good vision. However,
patients with macular drusen can go on to develop advanced AMD. The
risk for developing advanced AMD is considerably higher when the
drusen are large and numerous or when the drusen are associated
with a disturbance in the pigmented cell layer under the
macula.
[0006] Advanced AMD has two forms referred to as the "dry" and
"wet" forms. The dry form of advanced AMD is characterized by
central geographic atrophy, which causes vision loss through the
loss of photoreceptors in the central part of the eye (i.e., rods
and cones). While no treatment is available for the dry form, the
National Eye Institute has suggested that vitamin supplements with
high doses of antioxidants may slow the progression of dry macular
degeneration and in some patients, improve visual acuity.
[0007] The wet form of advanced AMD, otherwise referred to as
"neovascular" or "exudative" AMD, causes vision loss due to
abnormal blood vessel growth in the choriocapillaries, through a
retinal layer referred to as "Bruch's membrane." The wet form of
AMD ultimately leads to blood and protein leakage below the macula.
This bleeding, leaking, and scarring below the macula eventually
cause irreversible damage to the photoreceptors and rapid vision
loss if left untreated. Until recently, no effective treatments
were known for wet macular degeneration. However, new drugs that
inhibit angiogenesis (i.e., "anti-angiogenic agents") have been
shown to cause regression of the abnormal blood vessels and
improvement of vision. In order to be effective, anti-angiogenic
agents, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, must be
injected directly into the vitreous humor of the eye. Furthermore,
anti-angiogenic agents are expensive and must be administered
repeatedly several times a year.
[0008] Therefore, new compositions and methods for treating or
preventing macular degeneration are desirable.
SUMMARY
[0009] Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating or
preventing the formation of drusen in a patient, which may include
macular drusen. The disclosed compositions and methods also may be
utilized for treating or preventing diseases associated with
drusen. The compositions may be immunogenic and may be useful for
preventing formation of drusen, for preventing an increase in size
of existing drusen or appearance of new drusen, or for causing a
decrease in size or amount of drusen in a patient, thereby treating
or preventing diseases associated with macular drusen such as
macular degeneration.
[0010] The disclosed compositions may include pharmaceutical
compositions that are useful as vaccines for treating or preventing
drusen formation in a patient. The compositions may include: (a) an
effective amount of at least one polypeptide present in drusen or
an immunogenic fragment or variant of the polypeptide for inducing
or eliciting an immune response against the polypeptide; and (b) a
pharmaceutical carrier, excipient, or diluent. In some embodiments,
the polypeptide may be selected from a group consisting of:
.beta..sub.S-crystallin; .alpha.-B-crystallin; vimentin;
calreticulin or calreticulin precursor; and cyclophilin A (i.e.,
peptidylprolyl isomerase A). Optionally, the compositions may
include a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant (e.g., an
immunological adjuvant).
[0011] After the composition is administered to the patient, the
composition is effective at inducing or eliciting an immune
response, such as an antibody-mediated immune response or a
cell-mediated immune response against at least one component
present in drusen (e.g., a polypeptide). In some embodiments, the
composition may comprise an immunogen that is a polypeptide present
in drusen or that induces or elicits an immune response against a
polypeptide that is present in drusen. After the composition is
administered to a patient, the resulting immune response is
effective for treating drusen or preventing the formation of drusen
in the patient. In some embodiments, the administered composition
is effective for inhibiting formation of drusen in the patient. In
other embodiments, the administered composition is effective for
reducing existing drusen in the patient or for slowing or
preventing further enlargement of existing drusen in the patient.
In further embodiments, the administered composition is effective
for preventing formation of drusen in the patient. The administered
composition further may treat or prevent macular degeneration in a
patient having macular degeneration or at risk for developing
macular degeneration.
[0012] In some embodiments, the composition may include an
effective amount of at least one polypeptide present in drusen or
an immunogenic fragment or variant of the polypeptide that is
effective for inducing or eliciting an immune response against the
polypeptide. For example, the composition may include an effective
amount of at least one polypeptide that normally is present
intracellularly but is present extracellularly in drusen. Suitable
polypeptides may include, but are not limited to a polypeptide
selected from a group consisting of: .beta..sub.S-crystallin;
.alpha.-B-crystallin; vimentin; calreticulin precursor; cyclophilin
A (i.e., peptidylprolyl isomerase A); or an immunogenic fragment or
variant of these polypeptides that is effective for inducing or
eliciting an immune response against these polypeptides. In further
embodiments, the composition may include an additional polypeptide
present in drusen other than .beta..sub.S-crystallin;
.alpha.-B-crystallin; vimentin; calreticulin precursor; cyclophilin
A (i.e., peptidylprolyl isomerase A); or an immunogenic fragment or
variant of the additional polypeptide that is effective for
inducing or eliciting an immune response against this additional
polypeptide. For example, the composition further may include
another drusen protein as discussed herein or as known in the
art.
[0013] The disclosed compositions may be immunogenic compositions
and may be useful as vaccines. In some embodiments, the
compositions may be administered to a patient, where after the
composition is administered to the patient, the patient produces
antibodies against one or more components of drusen. In further
embodiments, after the composition is administered to the patient,
the patient exhibits a T-cell response against one or more
components of drusen. In even further embodiments, after the
composition is administered to the patient, the patient produces
antibodies against one or more components of drusen and exhibits a
T-cell response against one or more components of drusen.
[0014] The disclosed compositions may be effective for treating or
preventing drusen and diseases associated with drusen. In some
embodiments, the compositions may be effective for treating or
preventing macular degeneration (e.g., the dry form, wet form, or
both forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)).
[0015] Also disclosed are methods for treating or preventing the
formation of drusen in a patient and diseases associated with the
formation of drusen in a patient (e.g., macular degeneration, such
as the dry or wet forms of age-related macular degeneration). The
methods may include administering any of the compositions disclosed
herein to a patient in need thereof (e.g., a patient exhibiting
drusen or at risk for developing drusen and diseases associated
with macular drusen such as macular degeneration).
[0016] Also disclosed are kits. The disclosed kits may include
components for preparing the compositions described herein (e.g.,
lyophilized polypeptides and solvents for resuspending or
dissolving the lyophilized polypeptides). The disclosed kits also
may include components for administering the compositions described
herein to a patient in need thereof.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1. Illustrates the anti-.beta..sub.S-crystallin
antibody titers in control mice (#'s 793, 794, 795, and 797) and
mice immunized with s-crystallin (#'s 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, and
803).
[0018] FIG. 2. Western Blot analysis of drusen components in the
RPE/choroid from control mice (lanes 1 and 2) and from mice
immunized with .beta..sub.S-crystallin (lanes 3-6).
[0019] FIG. 3. Immunohistochemistry of enucleated eyes from control
mice and mice immunized with .beta..sub.S-crystallin.
[0020] FIG. 4. Illustrates the antibody titers in control mice (#'s
807, 811, and 817) and immunized mice (#'s 805, 806, 808, 809, 812,
815, 816, and 818). A. Anti-.beta..sub.S-crystallin antibody
titers; B. Anti-.alpha.B crystallin antibody titers; C.
Anti-cyclophilin A antibody titers; D. Anti-vimentin antibody
titers; and E. Anti-calreticulin antibody titers.
[0021] FIG. 5. Western Blot analysis of drusen components in the
RPE/choroid from control mice (lanes 1 and 2) and from mice
immunized with mixture of .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin, cyclophilin A, vimentin, and calreticulin (lanes
3-7).
[0022] FIG. 6. Immunohistochemistry of enucleated eyes from control
mice and mice immunized with mixture of .beta..sub.S-crystallin,
.alpha.B crystallin, cyclophilin A, vimentin, and calreticulin.
[0023] FIG. 7. Illustrates the anti-CD63 antibody titers in control
mice (#'s 1-10) and mice immunized with CD63 (#'s 30-33, 36, 38,
and 41-44).
[0024] FIG. 8. Western Blot analysis of drusen components in the
RPE/choroid from control mice (lanes 1-5) and from mice immunized
with CD63 (lanes 6-10).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The subject matter disclosed herein is described using
several definitions, as set forth below and throughout the
application.
[0026] Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein are to be
understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary
skill in the relevant art. In addition to the definitions of terms
provided below, it is to be understood that as used in the
specification, embodiments, and in the claims, "a", "an", and "the"
can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is
used.
[0027] As used herein, "about," "approximately," "substantially,"
and "significantly" will be understood by persons of ordinary skill
in the art and will vary to some extent on the context in which
they are used. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to
persons of ordinary skill in the art given the context in which it
is used, "about" or "approximately" will mean up to plus or minus
10% of the particular term and "substantially" and "significantly"
will mean more than plus or minus 10% of the particular term.
[0028] As used herein, the terms "include" and "including" have the
same meaning as the terms "comprise" and "comprising." For example,
a "composition that includes a polypeptide" should be interpreted
to mean "a composition that comprises a polypeptide."
[0029] As used herein, a "patient" may be interchangeable with a
"subject." A patient is an animal that may include a human or
non-human animal in need of treatment or vaccination.
[0030] A "patient in need thereof" may include a patient having a
disease, disorder, or condition that is responsive to vaccination
with one or more immunogenic components of drusen (e.g., macular
drusen). For example, a "patient in need thereof" may include a
patient having macular drusen or diagnosed with macular
degeneration. A "patient in need thereof" may include a patient at
risk for developing drusen, such as macular drusen, or at risk for
developing macular degeneration. The phrase "treating or preventing
macular degeneration" includes, but is not limited to, treating or
preventing AMD.
[0031] As used herein, the phrase "treating or preventing drusen in
a patient in need thereof" includes, but is not limited to,
preventing or inhibiting the formation of drusen, preventing or
inhibiting an increase in the size of existing drusen or the
appearance of new drusen, and causing a decrease in the size or
amount of drusen in the patient in need thereof. The phrase
"treating or preventing drusen in a patient in need thereof"
includes but is not limited to, treating or preventing macular
drusen in the patient in need thereof.
[0032] Drusen
[0033] As utilized herein "drusen" (singular, "druse") refers to
tiny yellow or white accumulations of acellular material that build
up in the eye, particularly in or on Bruch's membrane. The
molecular components of drusen include protein markers for
autopliagy and exosomes. (See Wang et al., (2009) PLoS ONE 4(1):
e4160, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety). The presence of a relatively few small hard drusen
is normal with advancing age, and many middle-aged people (>40
years of age) have some hard drusen. However, the occurrence of
larger and more numerous drusen in the macula is a common early
sign of AMD. As such, the term "drusen" may include "macular
drusen."
[0034] Molecular components of drusen may include intracellular
proteins, or variants or fragments thereof, selected from a group
consisting of nuclear proteins, mitochondrial proteins, cytoplasmic
proteins, cytoskeleton proteins, and combinations thereof. Nuclear
proteins may include, but are not limited to, histones (e.g.,
histone H1, histone H2A, histone H2B, histone H2AC, histone H2AZ,
histone H2A/O, histone H2A2, histone H2BF, histone h2bc, histone
H3, histone H4, and combinations thereof). Mitochondrial or
cytoplasmic proteins may include, but are not limited to aldehyde
dehydrogenase 3, aldehyde dehydrogenase 5, ATP synthase
.alpha.-chain of mitochondria, cell adhesion protein SQM1, creatine
kinase b, enolase 2, aldolase (e.g., aldolase A), malate
dehydrogenase 1, pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase (e.g.,
pyruvate kinase of muscle or M1 isozyme), recoverin, lactate
dehydro-enase A, protein kinase (cAMP-dependent, catalytic)
inhibitor .beta., glucose phosphate isomerase, cyclophilin A (i.e.,
peptidylprolyl isomerase A), phosphoglycerate kinase (e.g., GTP or
phosphorgylcerate kinase 1), calmodulin 2, G3PDH, dystrobrevin
.alpha., phosphoinositide-3-kinase, triosephosphate isomerase
(e.g., triosephosphate isomerase 1), 14-3-3 .beta., apolipoprotein
A1, phospholipase A2, myosin, crystallin proteins (e.g.,
crystallin, .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.-B-crystallin,
O.beta.-A3-crystallin, .beta.-A4-crystallin, .beta.-B1-crystallin,
.beta.-B2-crystallin, and combinations thereof), polyubiquitin,
ubiquitin, peroxiredoxin, VEGF, retinoic acid binding protein 3,
calreticulin or calreticulin precursor, exosome proteins (e.g.,
CD63, CD81, LAMP-2), and combinations thereof. Cytoskeleton
proteins may include, but are not limited to, actin .beta., actinin
.alpha., vimentin, plectin 1, actin a2, tubulin (e.g., tubulin
.alpha.1a, tubulin .alpha.3, and tubulin .beta.), and combinations
thereof.
[0035] Molecular components of drusen also may include
extracellular proteins such as extracellular matrix proteins, serum
proteins, or a protein of unknown origin referred to as "novel
leucine-rich protein." Extracellular matrix proteins may include,
but are not limited to, clusterin, TIMP3, annexins (e.g., annexin
I, annexin II, annexin V, and annexin VI), vitronectin,
apolipoprotein E, clathrin, lactalbumin .beta., collagen type XII
.alpha.1, annexin 5, HtrA serine peptidase 1, prostasin binding,
protease inhibitor 4, integrin .beta., fibronectin,
glycosaminoglycans, and combinations thereof. Serum proteins may
include, but are not limited to, complement 3, complement 5,
complement 8, complement 9, CFH, Ig .alpha.2C, Ig gamma 2C, Ig
lambda, albumin, hemoglobin (e.g., hemoglobin .beta.), haptoglobin,
haptoglobin-related protein, amyloid P component of serum,
transferrin, ceruloplasmin, .alpha.-1-microglobulin/bikunin
precursor, .alpha.-1 antiproteinase, glycoprotein .alpha.1.beta.,
HLA-DR, MHC II, CD46, CCL2, F4/80, CD11B, ceruloplasmin,
plasminogen, and combinations thereof.
[0036] In some embodiments, the disclosed pharmaceutical
compositions include an effective amount of at least one
intracellular polypeptide present in drusen or an immunogenic
fragment or variant of the polypeptide that is effective for
inducing or eliciting an immune response against the polypeptide.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide may be selected from a group
consisting of: .beta..sub.S-crystallin; .alpha.-B-crystallin;
vimentin; calreticulin precursor; cyclophilin A (i.e.,
peptidylprolyl isomerase A); histone H2A type 1-E; histone cluster
1, H2ai; H2A histone family, member Z; histone cluster 1, H2bb; and
combinations thereof, or an immunogenic fragment or variant of the
polypeptide that is effective for inducing or eliciting an immune
response against the polypeptide.
[0037] In some embodiments, the disclosed compositions include
human drusen proteins. However, the disclosed compositions may
include human or non-human drusen proteins, provided that the
drusen proteins in the composition are antigenic in a patient after
administration and induce or elicit an immune response against the
patient's native drusen protein. For example, the disclosed
compositions may include a non-human protein provided that the
non-human protein is antigenic in a human patient and induces or
elicits an immune response against the human patient's native
drusen protein.
[0038] As used herein, ".beta..sub.S-crystallin" includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. P22914 (version
P22914.4, GI:4033688), alternatively referred to as
"beta-crystallin S," "Gamma-crystallin B," and
"Gamma-5-crystallin.".beta..sub.S-crystallin may include an amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
[0039] As used herein, ".alpha.-B-crystallin" includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. P02511 (version
P02511.2, GI: 117385), alternatively referred to as
"Alpha-crystallin B chain," "Alpha(B)-crystallin," "Rosenthal fiber
component," "Heat shock protein beta-5," and "Renal carcinoma
antigen NY-REN-27." .alpha.-B-crystallin chain may include an amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
[0040] As used herein, "vimentin" includes the polypeptide
referenced by GenBank Accession No. P08670 (version P08670.4,
GI:55977767). Vimentin may include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NO:3.
[0041] As used herein, calreticulin precursor includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--004343
(version NP.sub.--004334.1, GI:4757900). Calreticulin precursor may
include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
[0042] As used herein, cyclophilin A alternatively referred to as
"peptidylprolyl isomerase A" includes the polypeptide referenced by
GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--066953 NP.sub.--001008741 (version
NP.sub.--066953.1, GI:10863927). Cyclophilin A may include an amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.
[0043] As used herein, "Histone H2A type 1-E" includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. P28001 (version
P28001.2, GI:121968), alternatively referred to as "H2A.2," and
"H2A/a." Histone H2A type 1-E may include an amino acid sequence of
SEQ ID NO:6.
[0044] As used herein, "histone cluster 1, H2ai" includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--003500
(version NP.sub.--003500.1, GI:450-4239). Histone cluster 1, H2ai
may include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7. As used herein,
"H2A histone family, member Z" includes the polypeptide referenced
by GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--002097 (version
NP.sub.--002097.1, GI:450-4255). H2A histone family, member Z may
include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.
[0045] As used herein, "Histone cluster 1, H2bb" includes the
polypeptide referenced by GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--066406
(version NP.sub.--066406.1, GI:10800140). Histone cluster 1, H2bb
may include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.
[0046] As used herein, "CD63" includes the polypeptide referenced
by GenBank Accession No. AAP36787 (version AAP36787.1,
GI:30585029). CD63 may include an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NO:10.
[0047] Efficacy
[0048] As used herein, the phrase "effective amount" shall mean
that dosage that provides the specific pharmacological response for
which the vaccine or pharmaceutical composition is administered in
a significant number of subjects in need of treatment or
vaccination. An effective amount of a vaccine or pharmaceutical
composition that is administered to a specific subject in a
specific instance will not always be effective in treating or
preventing the conditions or diseases described herein, even though
such dosage is deemed to be a generally effective amount by those
of skill in the art. Efficacy of treatment in a subject or patient
having AMD may be determined by the guidelines, or a modification
of the guidelines, in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) as
provided at its website (https://web.emmes.com/study/areds/mop.htm)
or by current clinical instruments and methods used by the care
giver (e.g., retinal specialist, ophthalmologist or physician) that
are being used at the time to assess changes in die retina caused
by disease. Tests and methods may include, but are not limited to,
vision testing (e.g., via the Snellen chart, where the patient
exhibits at least a one, or preferably two, line improvement), the
Amsler grid test (e.g., where the patient exhibits improvement in
ability to see corners or sides of the grid, where the patient
observes fewer wavy lines in the grid, or where the patient
observes fewer holes or missing lines in the grid), opthalmoscopy,
fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography. Efficacy of
treatment in a patient (e.g., a patient having AMD or at risk for
developing AMD) may be assessed by observing a decrease in size of
drusen (e.g., a decrease in the mass of selected macular drusen of
at least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%) or
a decrease in number of total drusen (e.g., a decrease in number of
total macular drusen of at least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%,
70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%). Efficacy of treatment in a patient (e.g.,
a patient having AMD or at risk for developing AMD) may be assessed
by observing the non-occurrence of drusen in the patient (e.g., the
non-occurrence of macular drusen in the patient).
[0049] An "effective amount" of a polypeptide, a fragment thereof,
or a variant thereof, is that amount which when administered to a
patient induces or elicits an immune response against a
corresponding drusen protein of the patient. Immune responses may
include antibody-mediated responses, cell-mediated responses, or
both. In order to assess the efficacy of the vaccine or immunogenic
composition, the immune response may be assessed by measuring
antibody induction to particular epitopes of the drusen protein or
by measuring the induction of T-cell responses (e.g., CD8.sup.+
responses) against the drusen protein. Antibody responses may be
measured by assays known in the art such as Southern Blots and
ELISA. T-cell responses may be measured, for example, by using
tetramer staining of fresh or cultured PBMC, ELISPOT assays, or by
using functional cytotoxic assays, which are well-known to those of
skill in the art. In order to assess the efficacy of the vaccine or
immunogenic composition, the immune response also may be assessed
by observing a decrease in size of drusen (e.g., a decrease in the
mass of selected macular drusen of at least about 20%, 30%, 40%,
50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%) or a decrease in number of total
drusen (e.g., a decrease in number of total macular drusen of at
least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%).
Efficacy of the vaccine or immunogenic composition (e.g., in a
patient having AMD or at risk for developing AMD) also may be
assessed by observing the non-occurrence of drusen in the patient
(e.g., the non-occurrence of macular drusen in the patient).
[0050] In some embodiments, the disclosed pharmaceutical
compositions may be utilized to illicit an immune response de novo.
In further embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions disclosed
herein may be utilized to "potentiate" or "enhance" an immune
response. As used herein, "potentiating" or "enhancing" an immune
response means increasing the magnitude or the breadth of the
immune response. For example, the number of cells that recognize a
particular epitope may be increased ("magnitude") or the numbers of
epitopes that are recognized may be increased ("breadth") (e.g.,
5-fold, or 10-fold relative to a reference composition).
[0051] Formulation and Delivery of the Compositions
[0052] The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein include at
least one immunogenic component for inducing or eliciting an immune
response against a component of drusen. The disclosed compositions
may be utilized as vaccines or immunogenic compositions for
treating or preventing drusen formation or macular degeneration.
The terms "vaccine" and "immunogenic composition" are defined
herein in a broad sense to refer to any type or biological agent in
an administratable form capable of stimulating an immune response
in an animal inoculated with the vaccine or immunogenic
composition. An immune response may include induction of antibodies
or induction of a T-cell response. Herein, the term "protection"
when used in reference to an immunogenic composition or vaccine
refers to the amelioration (either partial or complete) of any of
the signs or symptoms associated with the disease or condition in
question.
[0053] The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein include at
least one immunogenic component for inducing or eliciting an immune
response against a component of drusen (e.g., a component of
macular drusen). Immunogenic components may include polypeptides,
carbohydrates, or lipid components. In some embodiments,
immunogenic components include polypeptides, or variants or
fragments thereof, which normally are found intracellularly (e.g.,
intracellular nuclear, mitochondrial, structural, or cytoplasmic
proteins) or which are not normally found extracellularly (e.g.,
proteins which are not found on the cell surface membrane, the
extracellular matrix, or are not observed to circulate in
blood).
[0054] As used herein, a "polypeptide," "peptide," or "protein"
means a linear series of amino acid residues, which may be
naturally-occurring or modified amino acid residues, connected one
to the other by peptide bonds between the alpha-amino and carboxy
groups of adjacent residues. "Polypeptides," peptides," or
"proteins" may be modified (e.g., via processes including
glycosylation, myristoylation, conjugation, and the like). A
"peptide" has a relatively short amino acid sequence compared to a
"polypeptide" or a "protein." The terms "polypeptide" and "protein"
may be utilized interchangeably herein.
[0055] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may include a
polypeptide present in drusen or an immunogenic fragment or variant
of the polypeptide that is glycosylated or non-glycosylated and
that induces or elicits an immune response against the polypeptide
present in drusen. The polypeptide of the composition may be
recombinant.
[0056] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may include the
full-length polypeptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant
thereof that induces or elicits an immune response against the
full-length polypeptide. An immunogenic fragment may include a
polypeptide having at least 10 contiguous amino acids of the
full-length polypeptide (or at least 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, or
400 contiguous amino acids of the full-length polypeptide). For
example, a contiguous ten amino acid fragment may include an amino
acid sequence 1-10 of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-10 (or an amino acid
sequence 2-11 of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-10, or an amino acid sequence
3-12 of any of SEQ ID NOS:1-10, etc.). Optionally, a fragment may
retain one or more biological activities of a reference
polypeptide. Preferably, the fragment is immunogenic and induces or
elicits an immune response against at least one epitope of the
full-length polypeptide.
[0057] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may include an
effective amount of at least one variant of a polypeptide present
in drusen or an immunogenic fragment of the variant, where the
variant or fragment thereof induces or elicits an immune response
against the polypeptide present in drusen. A variant may include a
polypeptide having significant sequence identity to a reference
polypeptide. For example, a variant may include a polypeptide
having at least about 95% amino acid sequence identity to a
reference polypeptide (e.g., a polypeptide having at least about
95% amino acid sequence identity to a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID
NOS:1-10), which sequence identity may be determined by methods
known in the art (e.g., using the BLAST algorithm software provided
at the website for the National Center for Biotechnology
Information). A variant may have deletions, insertions, or amino
acid substitutions relative to a reference polypeptide. Amino acid
substitutions may include conservative amino acid substitutions
(e.g., D<->E, K<->R, S<->T, and the like) or
non-conservative amino acid substitutions. A variant may include a
fusion polypeptide, where the fusion polypeptide includes: (a) a
portion derived from a polypeptide present in drusen or a fragment
thereof (e.g., at least a ten (10) contiguous amino acid sequence
of a polypeptide present in drusen), fused at the N-terminus,
C-terminus, or both, to; (b) a heterologous portion (i.e., a
portion not derived from a polypeptide present in drusen). A fusion
polypeptide may include a polypeptide that is biotinylated or fused
to a hapten. Optionally, a variant may retain one or more
biological activities of a reference polypeptide or the variant
induces or elicits an immune response against at least one epitope
of the reference polypeptide after the variant is administered to a
patient.
[0058] The pharmaceutical compositions may include a polypeptide,
or a variant or fragment thereof, that has been modified to enhance
immunogenicity. For example, the polypeptide may be conjugated or
fused to one or more haptens.
[0059] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions typically include
a polypeptide, or a variant or fragment thereof, at a concentration
sufficient to induce or elicit an immune response (e.g., antibody
induction, a T-cell response, or both) against the polypeptide. In
some embodiments, the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may
include at least about 10 .mu.g of the polypeptide, or a variant or
fragment thereof (or at least about 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 .mu.g of
the polypeptide, or a variant or fragment thereof). In other
embodiments, the immunogenic composition or vaccine includes about
1-1000 .mu.g (preferably about 10-100 .mu.g) of a polypeptide
present in drusen or an immunogenic fragment or variant
thereof.
[0060] The pharmaceutical compositions may be monovalent or
polyvalent. The pharmaceutical compositions may include an
effective amount of at least one polypeptide present in drusen or
an immunogenic fragment or variant of the polypeptide for inducing
or eliciting an immune response against the polypeptide. Suitable
polypeptides may include, but are not limited to:
.beta..sub.S-crystallin; .alpha.-B-crystallin; vimentin;
calreticulin precursor; cyclophilin A (i.e., peptidylprolyl
isomerase A), or an immunogenic fragment or variant of the
polypeptide. The pharmaceutical composition further may include an
additional polypeptide present in drusen other than
.beta..sub.S-crystallin; .alpha.-B-crystallin; vimentin;
calreticulin precursor; and cyclophilin A (i.e. peptidylprolyl
isomerase A); or an immunogenic fragment or variant of the
additional polypeptide. For example, the compositions may include
another drusen protein on non-drusen protein as disclosed herein or
as known in the art.
[0061] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may include a
panel or plurality of immunogenic components for inducing or
eliciting immune responses against drusen components. For example,
the compositions may include a panel or plurality of macular drusen
polypeptides or immunogenic fragments or variants thereof that
induce or elicit an immune responses against the drusen
polypeptides. As used herein, a "panel" or "plurality" of
components means two or more separate and different components
(e.g., two or more separate and different polypeptides).
[0062] The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may be
formulated as vaccines for administration to a subject in need
thereof. Such compositions can be formulated or administered in
dosages and by techniques well known to those skilled in the
medical arts taking into consideration such factors as the age,
sex, weight, and condition of the particular patient, and the route
of administration.
[0063] The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated
for delivery in any suitable manner. For example, the compositions
may be formulated for at least one of intramuscular delivery,
subdermal delivery, subcutaneous delivery, ocular delivery, oral
delivery, intravenous delivery, intraperitoneal delivery,
intranasal delivery, or pulmonary delivery.
[0064] The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may be
delivered via a variety of routes. Typical delivery routes include
parenteral administration (e.g., intradermal, intramuscular or
subcutaneous delivery). Other potential routes of delivery include
ocular administration, oral administration, intranasal
administration, pulmonary administration, intravaginal
administration, and intrarectal administration. Formulations of the
pharmaceutical compositions may include liquid formulations for
parenteral, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, intravenous,
or ocular administration (e.g., injectable administration) such as
sterile solutions, suspensions, or emulsions. Formulations of the
pharmaceutical compositions also may include liquid formulations
(e.g., topical formulations or ingestible formulations) for ocular,
oral, nasal, anal, and vaginal administration, including solutions,
suspensions, syrups or elixirs. The vaccines may be lyophilized
prior to delivery and reconstituted prior to administration.
[0065] It is generally advantageous to formulate the present
compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and
uniformity of dosage. "Dosage unit form" as used herein refers to
physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for a
patient; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of the
active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic
effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier,
excipient, or diluent. The specification for the dosage unit forms
are dictated by and depend on among other factors (a) the unique
characteristics of the active material and the particular
therapeutic effect to be achieved; (b) the limitations inherent in
the art of compounding such active material for the treatment of
disease; and (c) the manner of intended administration of the
dosage unit form. In some embodiments, a dose of the immunogenic
composition or vaccine includes at least about 10 .mu.g (or at
least about 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 .mu.g) of a polypeptide present
in drusen or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof. In other
embodiments, a dose of the immunogenic composition or vaccine
includes about 1-1000 .mu.g (preferably about 10-100 .mu.g) of a
polypeptide present in drusen or an immunogenic fragment or variant
thereof.
[0066] The present immunogenic composition and vaccines may be
formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient,
or diluent. The forms suitable for injectable commonly include
sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and
sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile
injectable solutions or dispersion. The formulation should
desirably be sterile and fluid to the extent that it can be
delivered easily with a syringe. The dosage form should be stable
under the conditions of manufacture and storage and typically is
preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such
as bacteria and fungi. The carrier, excipient, or diluent can be a
solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water,
ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid
polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof and
vegetable oils. One possible carrier, excipient, or diluent is a
physiological salt solution. The proper fluidity of the solution
can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as
lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the
case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. The prevention of
the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various
antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens,
chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal (sodium
ethylinercuri-thiosalicylate), deomycin, gentamicin and the like.
In many cases it may be preferable to include isotonic agents, for
example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the
injectable compositions, if desired, can be brought about by the
use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example,
aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
[0067] Sterile solutions may be prepared by incorporating a desired
amount of the polypeptide in an appropriate solvent, optionally
with various amounts of the other ingredients enumerated above, as
required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally,
dispersions can be prepared by incorporating the various active
ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic
dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those
enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the
preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods
of preparation are vacuum-drying and the freeze-drying technique
which yield a powder of the active ingredient (i.e., lyophilized
form of the active ingredient) plus any additional desired
ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.
[0068] It may also be advantageous to add a stabilizer to the
present compositions. Suitable stabilizers include, for example,
glycerol/EDTA, carbohydrates (such as sorbitol, mannitol,
trehalose, starch, sucrose, dextran or glucose), proteins (such as
albumin or casein) and protein degradation products (e.g.,
partially hydrolyzed gelatin). If desired, the formulation may be
buffered by methods known in the art, using reagents such as alkali
metal phosphates, e.g., sodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium
dihydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate or potassium
dihydrogen phosphate. Other solvents, such as ethanol or propylene
glycol, can be used to increase solubility of ingredients in the
vaccine formulation or the stability of the solution. Further
additives which can be used in the present formulation include
conventional antioxidants and conventional chelating agents, such
as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).
[0069] The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered
prophylactically or therapeutically. For example, in prophylactic
administration the vaccines may be administered in an amount
sufficient to induce CD8.sup.+, CD4.sup.+, or antibody responses
for preventing drusen formation or macular degeneration. In another
example, in therapeutic applications the vaccines may be
administered to a patient in an amount sufficient to induce or
elicit a therapeutic effect (e.g., CD8.sup.+, CD4.sup.+, or
antibody responses to the drusen immunogenic components, which
reduces drusen formation or macular degeneration or at least
partially arrests or slows drusen formation or macular degeneration
(i.e., as a "therapeutically effective dose")).
[0070] The compositions included in the vaccine regimen of the
invention can be co-administered or sequentially administered with
other immunological, immunogenic or vaccine or therapeutic
compositions. The compositions may be co-administered or
sequentially administered with an adjuvant or other therapeutic or
prophylactic agent. For example, the disclosed compositions may be
administered together with additional agents for treating or
preventing drusen in a patient in need thereof. Furthermore, the
disclosed compositions may be administered together with additional
agents for treating or preventing AMD in a patient in need thereof.
Additional agents for treating or preventing AMD may include, but
are not limited to, anti-angiogenic agents such as pegaptanib
(e.g., pegaptanib sodium injection sold under the tradename
Macugen.RTM.), bevacizumab (e.g., sold under the tradename
Avastin.RTM.), and ranibizumab (e.g., sold under the tradename
Lucentis.RTM.).
[0071] Adjuvants
[0072] The term "adjuvant" refers to a compound or mixture that is
present in a vaccine and enhances the immune response to an antigen
present in the vaccine. For example, an adjuvant may enhance the
immune response to a polypeptide present in a vaccine as
contemplated herein, or to an immunogenic fragment or variant
thereof as contemplated herein. An adjuvant can serve as a tissue
depot that slowly releases the antigen and also as a lymphoid
system activator that non-specifically enhances the immune
response. Examples of adjuvants which may be employed include
MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A/synthetic trehalose
dicorynomycolate, e.g., available from GSK Biologics). Another
suitable adjuvant is the immunostimulatory adjuvant AS021/AS02
(GSK). These immunostimulatory adjuvants are formulated to give a
strong T cell response and include QS-21, a saponin from Quillay
saponaria, the TL4 ligand, a monophosphoryl lipid A, together in a
lipid or liposomal carrier. Other adjuvants include, but are not
limited to, nonionic block co-polymer adjuvants (e.g., CRL1005),
aluminum phosphates (e.g., AlPO.sub.4), R-848 (a Th1-like
adjuvant), imiquimod, PAM3CYS, poly (I:C), loxoribine, potentially
useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and
Corynebacterium parvum, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), cholera
toxin derived antigens (e.g., CTA 1-DD), lipopolysaccharide
adjuvants, complete Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's
adjuvant, saponin, mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface
active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols,
polyanions, peptides, oil or hydrocarbon emulsions in water (e.g.,
MF59 available from Novartis Vaccines or Montanide ISA 720),
keyhole limpet hemocyanins, and dinitrophenol.
[0073] Prime-Boost Vaccination Regimen
[0074] The disclosed composition may be administered as vaccines
utilizing a selected "prime-boost vaccination regimen." As used
herein, a "prime-boost vaccination regimen" refers to a regimen in
which a subject is administered a first composition one or more
times (e.g., one time or two or three times with about 2, 3, or 4
weeks between administrations) and then after a determined period
of time after having administered the first composition (e.g.,
about 2 weeks, about 4 weeks, about 2 months, about 3 months, about
4 months, about 5 months, about 6 months, or longer), the subject
is administered a second composition. The second composition may
also be administered more than once, with at least 2, 3, or 4 weeks
between administrations. The first and second compositions may be
the same or different.
[0075] Methods and Kits
[0076] The disclosed compositions may be utilized in methods for
immunizing a patient against one or more components of drusen. The
methods disclosed herein may include administering the disclosed
compositions to an animal (e.g., a human). The methods may be
effective for treating or preventing drusen (e.g., macular drusen)
in a patient in need thereof. The disclosed compositions may also
be utilized in methods for inhibiting accumulation of drusen
proteins extracellularly in the region of the retinal pigment
epithelium and choroid of a patient in need thereof. The methods
disclosed herein may be effective for treating or preventing
macular degeneration (e.g., AMD) in a patient in need thereof.
[0077] Kits are also contemplated herein including kits for
administering the disclosed compositions and kits for making the
disclosed compositions. The kits may include one or more components
for performing the administration methods disclosed herein. For
example, the kits may include one or more of the vaccine or
pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein or components for
making or administering the vaccine or pharmaceutical compositions
disclosed herein. The vaccine or pharmaceutical compositions or
components may be provided in any suitable form (e.g., liquid form
or lyophilized form). Kits further may include solvents for
resuspending or dissolving a lyophilized protein.
EXAMPLES
[0078] The following examples are illustrative and are not intended
to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0079] Introduction and Strategy
[0080] Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a progressive
degeneration of the macula of the retina, usually bilateral,
leading to a severe decrease in fine vision and a central scotoma
in the elderly. AMD is broadly classified as either dry
(non-neovascular) or wet (neovascular). The dry form of AMD, which
is characterized by drusen in the macula, is more common and
accounts for about 85 to 90% of patients with AMD. Patients with
dry AMD have a substantial risk of developing wet AMD.
[0081] The formation of drusen, an extracellular, amorphous deposit
of material on Bruch's membrane in the macula of the retina, occurs
early in the course of the pathogenesis of AMD. Drusen is an
extracellular deposit associated with Bruch's membrane and the
deposition of drusen in the macula is a key factor in the etiology
of AMD. The composition of drusen has been studied by proteomics,
histology and immunohistochemistry. Apparently, drusen contains a
wide variety of molecules, including proteins that have been
contributed from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), choroidal
vasculature endothelia and the blood. Proteins that are present in
drusen normally are present in the nucleus, mitochondria,
cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and serum.
[0082] Mouse models were used to test whether immunization against
specific components of drusen can stimulate an immune response that
prevents the accumulation of or reduces the amount of proteins, and
perhaps other molecules, that are found in drusen-like material
around Bruch's membrane. Intracellular nuclear, mitochondrial or
cytoplasmic proteins were selected as candidates for inducing
drusen-specific immune responses in the mouse models based on the
hypothesis that immunization with these proteins may be less likely
to cause damage to other tissues because the intracellular proteins
are accessible to immune cell activity only when exposed in a
pathological, extracellular states, such as in drusen. Furthermore,
when the intracellular proteins found in drusen are excreted from
the cell, these proteins may be the "nucleating factors" which
cause the formation of drusen that then "attracts" otherwise
commonly present extracellular proteins and blood proteins.
Extracellular proteins and blood proteins may not form drusen
unless intracellular proteins are present extracellularly.
[0083] Thus, by removing these proteins via an immune response,
these proteins and other proteins associated with these removed
proteins may be decreased in the environment around Bruch's
membrane. The formation of drusen therefore may be inhibited or
prevented. This immunotherapy approach may lead to a novel
therapeutic treatment for AMD by modulating the formation of
drusen.
[0084] Methods
[0085] Group 1: Immunization of AMD Model Mice-APOE (Males)
[0086] Transgenic APOE4 male mice (001549-M-M, homozygous,
B6.129P2-Apoe.sup.tm3(APOE4)Mae N8, purchased from Taconic Farms,
Inc.) were put on a high fat cholesterol-rich diet (HFD) starting
at 18 mos of age. These animals are considered a model for the
changes that can occur in human AMD (Malek G. et al.,
"Apolipoprotein E allele-dependent pathogenesis: a model for
age-related macular degeneration." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005;
102:11900-11905, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety). The animals were kept on the HFD diet for 3 mos. 10 mice
were randomized to two arms: Arm #1(4 mice). 50 .mu.g Complete
Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.) was used for initial
injections and 50 .mu.g Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA)
(Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.) for subsequent boosters. Arm #2 (6 mice). 101
g bovine .beta..sub.S-crystallin (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.) containing
50 .mu.g CFA was used for initial injections and 10 .mu.g bovine
.beta..sub.S-crystallin containing 50 .mu.g IFA for subsequent
boosters. Bovine .beta..sub.S-crystallin and murine
.beta..sub.S-crystallin exhibit 96% sequence identity (comparing
GenBank Accession No. AAA30401.1 to NCBI Reference Sequence No.
NP.sub.--034095.1 via the blastp algorithm available from the
National Center for Biotechnology Information at its website).
[0087] The time table for Arms #1 and 2 was as follows: [0088] Day
1: Initial immunization [0089] Day 22: Booster 1 [0090] Day 33:
Start HFD and continue to the day of sacrifice [0091] Day 43:
Booster 2 [0092] Day 50: Bleed 1 to check antibody titer [0093] Day
64: Booster 3 [0094] Day 85: Booster 4 [0095] Day 92: Bleed 2 to
check antibody titer [0096] Day 106: Booster 5 [0097] Day 125:
Bleed 3 to check antibody titer [0098] Day 127: Sacrificed animals
for Western blots (WB) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).
[0099] Group 2: Immunization of AMD Model Mice-APOE (Females)
[0100] Transgenic APOE4 female mice (001549-M-F, homozygous,
B6.129P2-Apoe.sup.tm3(APOE4)Mae N8, purchased from Taconic Farms,
Inc.) were put on a high fat cholesterol-rich diet starting at 18
mos of age. The animals were kept on the HFD diet for 3 mos. 11
mice were randomized to two arms: Arm #1 (3 mice): 50 .mu.g CFA was
used for initial injections and 50 .mu.g IFA for subsequent
boosters; Arm #2 (8 mice): 50 .mu.g CFA and a mixture of antigens
were used for initial injections and 50 .mu.g IFA and a mixture of
antigens for subsequent boosters. The mixture of antigens contained
10 .mu.g bovine .beta..sub.S-crystallin (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.), 50
.mu.g murine .alpha.B crystallin (Bio-Synthesis, Inc.), 50 .mu.g
murine calreticulin (Bio-Synthesis, Inc.), 50 .mu.g murine vimentin
(Bio-Synthesis, Inc.) and 50 .mu.g murine cyclophilin A
(Bio-Synthesis, Inc.).
[0101] The time table for Arms #1 and 2 was as follows: [0102] Day
1: Initial immunization [0103] Day 22: Booster 1 [0104] Day 29:
Start HFD and continue to the day of sacrifice [0105] Day 43:
Booster 2 [0106] Day 50: Bleed 1 to check antibody titer [0107] Day
64: Booster 3 [0108] Day 85: Booster 4 [0109] Day 92: Bleed 2 to
check antibody titer [0110] Day 106: Booster 5 [0111] Day 109:
Bleed 3 to check antibody titer [0112] Day 110: Sacrificed animals
for WB and IHC.
[0113] Group 3: Immunization of Old Mice with CD63
[0114] Animal models for AMD utilizing old mice have been
described. (See Wang et al., (2009) PLoS ONE 4(1): e4160, the
content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety). C57BL/6 male mice (Harlan Laboratories, Inc.) were used
for immunization procedures starting at 18 mos of age. Twenty mice
were randomized equally to two arms: Arm #1 (10 mice). Fifty .mu.g
CFA was used for initial injections and 50 .mu.g IFA for subsequent
boosters; Arm #2 (10 mice). Fifty .mu.g CFA and murine CD63
(Bio-Synthesis, Inc.) were used for initial injections and 50 .mu.g
IFA and CD63 for subsequent boosts.
[0115] The time table for Arms #1 and 2 was as follows: [0116] Day
1: Initial immunization [0117] Day 22: Booster 1 [0118] Day 43:
Booster 2 [0119] Day 50: Bleed 1 to check antibody titer [0120] Day
64: Booster 3 [0121] Day 85: Booster 4 [0122] Day 92: Bleed 2 to
check antibody titer [0123] Day 106: Booster 5 [0124] Day 127:
Booster 6 [0125] Day 134: Bleed 3 to check antibody titer [0126]
Day 147: Sacrificed animals for WB.
[0127] Serum Antibody Levels
[0128] The collected sera from the tail vein of each mouse was
immediately frozen and stored at -80.degree. C. until assayed by
direct ELISA for antibody titer. Ninety-six well plates
(Costar.RTM. EIA/RIA, VWR International, LLC) were coated with 50
.mu.l of target protein (4 mg/ml in 50 mM carbonate buffer, pH
10.4) and incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. Blocking was done
with 100 .mu.l of 1% normal rabbit serum in carbonate buffer
overnight at 4.degree. C. followed by three washings with PBS/0.01%
Tween-20. The serum test samples were serially diluted and 100
.mu.L added to each well. The plates were sealed and incubated at
room temperature for 1 hr. After three washes with PBS/Tween (100
.mu.l/well), the detection antibody (Goat anti-mouse, all IgG, IgM)
HRP conjugate at 1:5000, 50 .mu.l/well) was added, and the plates
were incubated 1 hr at room temperature in a humidified box. After
three washes with PBS/Tween, followed by addition of 50 .mu.l of
developing reagent to each well, plates were incubated in the dark
for 30 min. The reaction was stopped with 1 N H.sub.2SO.sub.4.
Plates were read at OD 450 nm in a plate reader. Data was imported
into Excel for analyses of the antigens with an appropriate
immunological response
[0129] Western Blot (WB)
[0130] RPE/Choroid was dissected, lysed in buffer (20 mM HEPES, pH
7.0, 10 mM KCl, 2 mM MgC.sub.2, 0.5% Nonidet P-40, 1 mM
Na.sub.3VO.sub.4, 1 mM PMSF, and 0.15 U/ml aprotinin) and
homogenized. Protein concentrations were determined using the
Bradford colorimetric assay. Thirty micrograms of each protein
lysate were loaded in each lane in sample buffer (2% SDS, 10%
glycerol, 0.001% bromophenol blue, 1% DTT, and 0.05 M Tris-HCl, pH
6.8), separated on 10% SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen Corporation), and
transferred to a PVDF membrane (Millipore Corporation). The blots
were blocked with 5% nonfat milk in PBS for 1 hr and incubated with
mouse anti-.beta..sub.S-crystallin (1:1000), mouse anti-.alpha.B
crystallin (1:200, Stressgen Bioreagents Corporation), rabbit
anti-fibronectin (1:200, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.), rabbit
anti-moesin (1:1000, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.), rabbit
anti-polyubiquitin (1:1000, Abcam Plc.), mouse anti-CD63, rabbit
anti-annexin V, followed by peroxidase-conjugated donkey anti-mouse
or rabbit IgG (1:15,000) for 1 hr at room temperature. Finally, the
blots were developed by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) (Pierce
Chem. Co.) on Hyperfilm.RTM. brand film (Amersham Corporation).
[0131] Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
[0132] Enucleated eyes from mice were fixed in 2% wt/vol
paraformaldehyde in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4)
at 4.degree. C. overnight. Immunohistochemistry was performed on
paraffin sagittal sections of the retinas for the primary
antibodies overnight at 4.degree. C. Primary antibodies included
anti-.beta..sub.S-crystallin (1:50), anti-.alpha.B crystallin
(1:50, Stressgen Bioreagents Corporation), anti-fibronectin (1:50,
Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.), anti-moesin (1:50, Cell Signaling
Technology, Inc.), anti-polyubiquitin (1:500, Abcam Plc.). Primary
antibody was omitted in the negative control. After several washes,
tissue sections were incubated with the secondary antibody,
anti-mouse rhodamine red (1:1000, Molecular Probe.RTM. Dyes,
Invitrogen Corporation) for 1 hr at room temperature. After washing
with PBS, the slides were mounted with Vectorshield containing
4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) (Vector Laboratories Co.) and
observed using confocal microscopy.
[0133] Results
[0134] Group 1: anti-.beta..sub.S-crystallin Antibody Titers
ELISA:
[0135] Mice were immunized with CFA alone (controls, Arm #1) or
.beta..sub.S-crystallin in CFA (Arm #2) day 0. Booster compositions
included s-crystallin in IFA (Arm #2) or IFA alone (Arm #1) and
were administered approximately every three weeks for a total of 6
injections/mouse. The final immunizations were given 21 d before
the mice were sacrificed. .beta..sub.S-crystallin-specific antibody
titer was determined on the collected sera for mice in Arms #1 and
#2. (see FIG. 1).
[0136] Titers of antibody to .beta..sub.S-crystallin in Arm #2
(i.e., in mice immunized with .beta..sub.S-crystallin) were more
than ten times higher than titers in naive mice or control mice
immunized with CFA/IFA. FIG. 1 shows that administering
.beta..sub.S-crystallin induces an antibody-mediated immune
response. There were no immune responses to .beta..sub.S-crystallin
observed in mice #793, #794, #795, and #797. In contrast, there
were strong immune responses to .beta..sub.S-crystallin observed in
mice #798, #799, #800, #801, #802, and #803.
[0137] Group 1: Western Blot
[0138] Protein levels of drusen components in the RPE/choroid from
mice from Arms #1 and #2 were determined using specific antibodies
against .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion. As shown in FIG. 2, the western blots for
two control animals from Arm #1 (lanes 1 and 2) were positive for
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesin. However, most mice immunized against
.beta..sub.S-crystallin (lanes 3, 4, 5 and 6) had significantly
less .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion. The western blots show that for mice in Arm
#2, 4/4 mice had decreased .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin and fibronectin, and 3/4 mice had decreased ubiquitin
and moesion. Actin is an intracellular protein used as an internal
standard to show that the loading of the gels for WB was
uniform.
[0139] Group 1: Immunohistochemistry
[0140] To observe the immunization effects, the tissue locations of
certain proteins were visualized by immunohistochemistry with
specific antibodies to .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin, fibronectin, ubiquitin and moesion. As shown in FIG. 3,
there were markedly less depositions of drusen components in the
region of Bruch's membrane in the group with high antibody titers
to .beta..sub.S-crystallin (HFD+Immun), Arm #2) compared with the
control group (HFD, Arm #1). Overall, 2/2 mice (4 eyes) had
decreased .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin and
fibronectin, and 1/2 mice (2 eyes) had decreased ubiquitin and
moesion in the region of Bruch's membrane.
[0141] Group 1: Conclusions
[0142] Transgenic APOE4 mice on HFD accumulate
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion in the region of Bruch's membrane as they
age, as seen in the immunization control animals. The accumulation
of these proteins in mice can be considered similar to the
formation of drusen in the human eye. Immunization against
.beta..sub.S-crystallin led to high circulating antibodies to
.beta..sub.S-crystallin in transgenic APOE4 mice on HFD. Transgenic
APOE4 mice with high circulating antibodies to
.beta..sub.S-crystallin had less accumulation of
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion in the region of Bruch's membrane as they
aged. Decreased accumulation of these proteins was demonstrated by
both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. These findings suggest
that the .beta..sub.S-crystallin-antibody reaction led to less
deposition of .beta..sub.S-crystallin in the region of Bruch's
membrane as well as less deposition of other intracellular
proteins, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin, ubiquitin and moesion,
in the region of Bruch's membrane. In addition, there were likely
other untested proteins that also exhibit decreased deposition in
the region of Bruch's membrane.
[0143] .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystalline fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion are all components of human drusen.
Therefore, these results suggest that immunization against certain
intracellular proteins of drusen, for example
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, reduces the deposition of other drusen
proteins on Bruch's membrane. Furthermore, these results suggest
that immunization against certain intracellular proteins, for
example .beta..sub.S-crystallin, may prevent or decrease the
accumulation of drusen in human subjects.
[0144] Group 2: Antibody Titers, ELISA:
[0145] Mice were immunized with CFA alone (controls, Arm 41) or
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, calreticulin,
vimentin and cyclophilin A in CFA (Arm #2) day 0. Booster
compositions included .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin,
calreticulin, vimentin and cyclophilin A in IFA (Arm #2) or IFA
alone (Arm #1) and were administered approximately every three
weeks for a total of 6 injections/mouse. The final immunizations
were given 4 d before the mice were sacrificed.
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, calreticulin,
vimentin and cyclophilin A-specific antibody titers were determined
on the collected sera for mice in Arms #1 and #2. (See FIG. 4.)
[0146] Titers of antibody to .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin, calreticulin, vimentin and cyclophilin A in Arm #2 were
more than five times higher than titers in naive mice or control
mice immunized with CFA/IFA. FIG. 4 shows that administering
.beta..sub.S-crystallin induces a relatively strong
antibody-mediated immune response; whereas, administering .alpha.B
crystallin, calreticulin and vimentin induces a lesser
antibody-mediated immune response. There were no immune responses
to .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, calreticulin,
vimentin and cyclophilin A observed in mice #807, #811, and #817.
In contrast, strong immune responses to s-crystallin were observed
for mice #805, #806, #808, #809, #812, #815, #816, and #818. (See
FIG. 4A.) Lesser immune responses to .alpha.B crystalline were
observed for mice #809, #812, and #815. (See FIG. 4B.) Lesser
immune responses to vimentin also were observed for mice #816 and
#818. (See FIG. 4D.) Moderate immune responses to calreticulin were
observed for mice #805, #806, #815 and # 818. (See FIG. 4E.) No
immune response to cyclophyllin A was observed. (See FIG. 4C.)
[0147] Group 2: Western Blot
[0148] Protein levels of drusen components in the RPE/choroid from
mice from Arms #1 and #2 were determined using specific antibodies
against .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion. As shown in FIG. 5, the western blots for
two control animals from Arm #1 (lanes 1 and 2) were positive for
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
polyubiquitin and moesion. However, most mice immunized against
.beta..sub.S-crystallin (lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) had significantly
less .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
polyubiquitin and moesion. The western blots show that for mice in
Arm #2, 5/5 mice had decreased .beta..sub.S-crystallin and .alpha.B
crystallin, 4/5 mice had decreased fibronectin, and 3/5 mice had
decreased moesion and polyubiquitin. Actin is an intracellular
protein that was used as an internal standard to show that the
loading of the gels for WB was uniform.
[0149] Group 2: Immunohistochemistry
[0150] To observe the immunization effects, the tissue locations of
certain proteins were visualized by immunohistochemistry with
specific antibodies to .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin, fibronectin, ubiquitin and moesion. As shown in FIG. 6,
there were markedly less depositions of drusen components in the
region of Bruch's membrane in the group with high antibody titers
to .beta..sub.S-crystallin (HFD+Immun), Arm #2) compared with the
control group (HFD, Arm #1). Overall, 3/3 mice (6 eyes) had
decreased .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin and
fibronectin, and 213 mice (4 eyes) had decreased moesion and
polyubiquitin in the region of Bruch's membrane.
[0151] Group 2: Conclusions
[0152] The results from Group 2, using slightly different methods
from Group 1, reproduce the results from Group 1. The immunized
mice in Group 2 were immunized with a mixture of antigens,
including .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin,
calreticulin, vimentin and cyclophilin A. Immunization against this
mixture led to high circulating antibodies against
.beta..sub.S-crystallin in transgenic APOE4 mice. The other
antigens were not as effective at inducing antibodies. However, it
is possible that these antigens alone or in some combination with
other antigens could produce high circulating antibodies and have
effects similar to immunization with .beta..sub.S-crystallin. It is
also possible that even lesser levels of circulating antibodies
against .alpha.B crystalline calreticulin and vimentin aided in the
reduction of deposition of .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B
crystallin, fibronectin, ubiquitin and moesion in the region of
Bruch's membrane in our experiments.
[0153] Transgenic APOE4 mice with high circulating antibodies to
.beta..sub.S-crystallin had less accumulation of
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion in the region of Bruch's membrane as they
aged. Decreased accumulation of these proteins was demonstrated by
both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. These findings may
indicate that the .beta..sub.S-crystallin-antibody reaction led to
less deposition of .beta..sub.S-crystallin in the region of Bruch's
membrane as well as less deposition of other intracellular
proteins, including .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin, ubiquitin and
moesion, in the region of Bruch's membrane. In addition, there were
likely other untested proteins that also exhibit decreased
deposition.
[0154] .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin, fibronectin,
ubiquitin and moesion are all components of human drusen.
Therefore, these results suggest that immunization against certain
intracellular proteins of drusen, for example
.beta..sub.S-crystallin, reduces the deposition of other drusen
proteins on Bruch's membrane. Furthermore, these results suggest
that immunization against certain intracellular proteins, for
example .beta..sub.S-crystallin, will prevent or decrease the
accumulation of drusen in human subjects.
[0155] Group 3: CD63 Titers, ELISA:
[0156] Mice were immunized with CFA alone (controls, Arm # 1) or
CD63 in CFA (Arm #2) day 0. Booster compositions included CD63 in
IFA (Arm #2) or IFA alone (Arm # 1) and were administered
approximately every three weeks for a total of 6 injections/mouse.
The final immunizations were given 20 d before the mice were
sacrificed. CD63-specific antibody titers were determined on the
collected sera for mice in Arms #1 and #2. (See FIG. 7.)
[0157] Titers of antibody to CD63 in Arm #2 were more than ten
times higher than titers in naive mice or control mice immunized
with CFA/IFA. FIG. 7 shows that CD63 induces an antibody-mediated
immune response. There were no immune responses to CD63 observed in
mice #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and #10. In contrast,
strong immune responses to CD63 were observed in mice #30, #31,
#32, #33, #36, #38, #41, #42, #43, and #44.
[0158] Group 3: Western Blot
[0159] Protein levels of drusen components in the RPE/choroid from
mice from Arms #1 and #2 were determined using specific antibodies
against CD63, .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin,
ubiquitin, moesin and annexin V. Immunization against CD63 did not
change the accumulation of CD63 in the RPE/choroid. (See FIG. 8.)
Furthermore, immunization against CD63 did not change the
accumulation of .beta..sub.S-crystallin, .alpha.B crystallin,
ubiquitin or moesin in the RPE/choroid in any interpretable manner
(data not shown). However, immunization against CD63 did alter the
accumulation of annexin V in the RPE/choroid.
[0160] Group 3: Conclusions
[0161] The results from Group 3 demonstrate that immunization
against certain antigens, for example CD63, is effective at
reducing the accumulation of certain proteins on Bruch's membrane
(annexin V), but not necessarily the same proteins that were
affected by immunization to .beta..sub.S-crystallin. However, it is
possible that CD63 antibody was effective at reducing the
deposition of other proteins, in addition to annexin V, which was
not tested. Mice immunized with CD63 had high antibody titers.
Nevertheless, the deposition of CD63 was not consistently
altered.
[0162] Therefore, these results suggest that immunization against
certain intracellular proteins may prevent or decrease the
accumulation of drusen in human subjects. Furthermore, based on the
results from Groups 1, 2 and 3, a mixture of intracellular proteins
may be useful for immunotherapy to prevent or decrease the
accumulation of drusen in human subjects.
[0163] All publications and patent applications cited in this
specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each
individual publication or patent application were specifically and
individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Sequence CWU 1
1
101178PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(178) 1Met Ser Lys Thr Gly Thr
Lys Ile Thr Phe Tyr Glu Asp Lys Asn Phe1 5 10 15Gln Gly Arg Arg Tyr
Asp Cys Asp Cys Asp Cys Ala Asp Phe His Thr20 25 30Tyr Leu Ser Arg
Cys Asn Ser Ile Lys Val Glu Gly Gly Thr Trp Ala35 40 45Val Tyr Glu
Arg Pro Asn Phe Ala Gly Tyr Met Tyr Ile Leu Pro Gln50 55 60Gly Glu
Tyr Pro Glu Tyr Gln Arg Trp Met Gly Leu Asn Asp Arg Leu65 70 75
80Ser Ser Cys Arg Ala Val His Leu Pro Ser Gly Gly Gln Tyr Lys Ile85
90 95Gln Ile Phe Glu Lys Gly Asp Phe Ser Gly Gln Met Tyr Glu Thr
Thr100 105 110Glu Asp Cys Pro Ser Ile Met Glu Gln Phe His Met Arg
Glu Ile His115 120 125Ser Cys Lys Val Leu Glu Gly Val Trp Ile Phe
Tyr Glu Leu Pro Asn130 135 140Tyr Arg Gly Arg Gln Tyr Leu Leu Asp
Lys Lys Glu Tyr Arg Lys Pro145 150 155 160Ile Asp Trp Gly Ala Ala
Ser Pro Ala Val Gln Ser Phe Arg Arg Ile165 170 175Val
Glu2175PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(175) 2Met Asp Ile Ala Ile
His His Pro Trp Ile Arg Arg Pro Phe Phe Pro1 5 10 15Phe His Ser Pro
Ser Arg Leu Phe Asp Gln Phe Phe Gly Glu His Leu20 25 30Leu Glu Ser
Asp Leu Phe Pro Thr Ser Thr Ser Leu Ser Pro Phe Tyr35 40 45Leu Arg
Pro Pro Ser Phe Leu Arg Ala Pro Ser Trp Phe Asp Thr Gly50 55 60Leu
Ser Glu Met Arg Leu Glu Lys Asp Arg Phe Ser Val Asn Leu Asp65 70 75
80Val Lys His Phe Ser Pro Glu Glu Leu Lys Val Lys Val Leu Gly Asp85
90 95Val Ile Glu Val His Gly Lys His Glu Glu Arg Gln Asp Glu His
Gly100 105 110Phe Ile Ser Arg Glu Phe His Arg Lys Tyr Arg Ile Pro
Ala Asp Val115 120 125Asp Pro Leu Thr Ile Thr Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser
Asp Gly Val Leu Thr130 135 140Val Asn Gly Pro Arg Lys Gln Val Ser
Gly Pro Glu Arg Thr Ile Pro145 150 155 160Ile Thr Arg Glu Glu Lys
Pro Ala Val Thr Ala Ala Pro Lys Lys165 170 1753466PRTHomo
SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(466) 3Met Ser Thr Arg Ser Val Ser Ser Ser
Ser Tyr Arg Arg Met Phe Gly1 5 10 15Gly Pro Gly Thr Ala Ser Arg Pro
Ser Ser Ser Arg Ser Tyr Val Thr20 25 30Thr Ser Thr Arg Thr Tyr Ser
Leu Gly Ser Ala Leu Arg Pro Ser Thr35 40 45Ser Arg Ser Leu Tyr Ala
Ser Ser Pro Gly Gly Val Tyr Ala Thr Arg50 55 60Ser Ser Ala Val Arg
Leu Arg Ser Ser Val Pro Gly Val Arg Leu Leu65 70 75 80Gln Asp Ser
Val Asp Phe Ser Leu Ala Asp Ala Ile Asn Thr Glu Phe85 90 95Lys Asn
Thr Arg Thr Asn Glu Lys Val Glu Leu Gln Glu Leu Asn Asp100 105
110Arg Phe Ala Asn Tyr Ile Asp Lys Val Arg Phe Leu Glu Gln Gln
Asn115 120 125Lys Ile Leu Leu Ala Glu Leu Glu Gln Leu Lys Gly Gln
Gly Lys Ser130 135 140Arg Leu Gly Asp Leu Tyr Glu Glu Glu Met Arg
Glu Leu Arg Arg Gln145 150 155 160Val Asp Gln Leu Thr Asn Asp Lys
Ala Arg Val Glu Val Glu Arg Asp165 170 175Asn Leu Ala Glu Asp Ile
Met Arg Leu Arg Glu Lys Leu Gln Glu Glu180 185 190Met Leu Gln Arg
Glu Glu Ala Glu Asn Thr Leu Gln Ser Phe Arg Gln195 200 205Asp Val
Asp Asn Ala Ser Leu Ala Arg Leu Asp Leu Glu Arg Lys Val210 215
220Glu Ser Leu Gln Glu Glu Ile Ala Phe Leu Lys Lys Leu His Glu
Glu225 230 235 240Glu Ile Gln Glu Leu Gln Ala Gln Ile Gln Glu Gln
His Val Gln Ile245 250 255Asp Val Asp Val Ser Lys Pro Asp Leu Thr
Ala Ala Leu Arg Asp Val260 265 270Arg Gln Gln Tyr Glu Ser Val Ala
Ala Lys Asn Leu Gln Glu Ala Glu275 280 285Glu Trp Tyr Lys Ser Lys
Phe Ala Asp Leu Ser Glu Ala Ala Asn Arg290 295 300Asn Asn Asp Ala
Leu Arg Gln Ala Lys Gln Glu Ser Thr Glu Tyr Arg305 310 315 320Arg
Gln Val Gln Ser Leu Thr Cys Glu Val Asp Ala Leu Lys Gly Thr325 330
335Asn Glu Ser Leu Glu Arg Gln Met Arg Glu Met Glu Glu Asn Phe
Ala340 345 350Val Glu Ala Ala Asn Tyr Gln Asp Thr Ile Gly Arg Leu
Gln Asp Glu355 360 365Ile Gln Asn Met Lys Glu Glu Met Ala Arg His
Leu Arg Glu Tyr Gln370 375 380Asp Leu Leu Asn Val Lys Met Ala Leu
Asp Ile Glu Ile Ala Thr Tyr385 390 395 400Arg Lys Leu Leu Glu Gly
Glu Glu Ser Arg Ile Ser Leu Pro Leu Pro405 410 415Asn Phe Ser Ser
Leu Asn Leu Arg Glu Thr Asn Leu Asp Ser Leu Pro420 425 430Leu Val
Asp Thr His Ser Lys Arg Thr Leu Leu Ile Lys Thr Val Glu435 440
445Thr Arg Asp Gly Gln Val Ile Asn Glu Thr Ser Gln His His Asp
Asp450 455 460Leu Glu4654417PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(417)
4Met Leu Leu Ser Val Pro Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Gly Leu Ala Val1 5
10 15Ala Glu Pro Ala Val Tyr Phe Lys Glu Gln Phe Leu Asp Gly Asp
Gly20 25 30Trp Thr Ser Arg Trp Ile Glu Ser Lys His Lys Ser Asp Phe
Gly Lys35 40 45Phe Val Leu Ser Ser Gly Lys Phe Tyr Gly Asp Glu Glu
Lys Asp Lys50 55 60Gly Leu Gln Thr Ser Gln Asp Ala Arg Phe Tyr Ala
Leu Ser Ala Ser65 70 75 80Phe Glu Pro Phe Ser Asn Lys Gly Gln Thr
Leu Val Val Gln Phe Thr85 90 95Val Lys His Glu Gln Asn Ile Asp Cys
Gly Gly Gly Tyr Val Lys Leu100 105 110Phe Pro Asn Ser Leu Asp Gln
Thr Asp Met His Gly Asp Ser Glu Tyr115 120 125Asn Ile Met Phe Gly
Pro Asp Ile Cys Gly Pro Gly Thr Lys Lys Val130 135 140His Val Ile
Phe Asn Tyr Lys Gly Lys Asn Val Leu Ile Asn Lys Asp145 150 155
160Ile Arg Cys Lys Asp Asp Glu Phe Thr His Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ile
Val165 170 175Arg Pro Asp Asn Thr Tyr Glu Val Lys Ile Asp Asn Ser
Gln Val Glu180 185 190Ser Gly Ser Leu Glu Asp Asp Trp Asp Phe Leu
Pro Pro Lys Lys Ile195 200 205Lys Asp Pro Asp Ala Ser Lys Pro Glu
Asp Trp Asp Glu Arg Ala Lys210 215 220Ile Asp Asp Pro Thr Asp Ser
Lys Pro Glu Asp Trp Asp Lys Pro Glu225 230 235 240His Ile Pro Asp
Pro Asp Ala Lys Lys Pro Glu Asp Trp Asp Glu Glu245 250 255Met Asp
Gly Glu Trp Glu Pro Pro Val Ile Gln Asn Pro Glu Tyr Lys260 265
270Gly Glu Trp Lys Pro Arg Gln Ile Asp Asn Pro Asp Tyr Lys Gly
Thr275 280 285Trp Ile His Pro Glu Ile Asp Asn Pro Glu Tyr Ser Pro
Asp Pro Ser290 295 300Ile Tyr Ala Tyr Asp Asn Phe Gly Val Leu Gly
Leu Asp Leu Trp Gln305 310 315 320Val Lys Ser Gly Thr Ile Phe Asp
Asn Phe Leu Ile Thr Asn Asp Glu325 330 335Ala Tyr Ala Glu Glu Phe
Gly Asn Glu Thr Trp Gly Val Thr Lys Ala340 345 350Ala Glu Lys Gln
Met Lys Asp Lys Gln Asp Glu Glu Gln Arg Leu Lys355 360 365Glu Glu
Glu Glu Asp Lys Lys Arg Lys Glu Glu Glu Glu Ala Glu Asp370 375
380Lys Glu Asp Asp Glu Asp Lys Asp Glu Asp Glu Glu Asp Glu Glu
Asp385 390 395 400Lys Glu Glu Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Val Pro Gly Gln
Ala Lys Asp Glu405 410 415Leu5165PRTHomo
SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(165) 5Met Val Asn Pro Thr Val Phe Phe Asp
Ile Ala Val Asp Gly Glu Pro1 5 10 15Leu Gly Arg Val Ser Phe Glu Leu
Phe Ala Asp Lys Val Pro Lys Thr20 25 30Ala Glu Asn Phe Arg Ala Leu
Ser Thr Gly Glu Lys Gly Phe Gly Tyr35 40 45Lys Gly Ser Cys Phe His
Arg Ile Ile Pro Gly Phe Met Cys Gln Gly50 55 60Gly Asp Phe Thr Arg
His Asn Gly Thr Gly Gly Lys Ser Ile Tyr Gly65 70 75 80Glu Lys Phe
Glu Asp Glu Asn Phe Ile Leu Lys His Thr Gly Pro Gly85 90 95Ile Leu
Ser Met Ala Asn Ala Gly Pro Asn Thr Asn Gly Ser Gln Phe100 105
110Phe Ile Cys Thr Ala Lys Thr Glu Trp Leu Asp Gly Lys His Val
Val115 120 125Phe Gly Lys Val Lys Glu Gly Met Asn Ile Val Glu Ala
Met Glu Arg130 135 140Phe Gly Ser Arg Asn Gly Lys Thr Ser Lys Lys
Ile Thr Ile Ala Asp145 150 155 160Cys Gly Gln Leu Glu1656130PRTHomo
SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(130) 6Met Ser Gly Arg Gly Lys Gln Gly Gly
Lys Ala Arg Ala Lys Ala Lys1 5 10 15Thr Arg Ser Ser Arg Ala Gly Leu
Gln Phe Pro Val Gly Arg Val His20 25 30Arg Leu Leu Arg Lys Gly Asn
Tyr Ser Glu Arg Val Gly Ala Gly Ala35 40 45Pro Val Tyr Leu Ala Ala
Val Leu Glu Tyr Leu Thr Ala Glu Ile Leu50 55 60Glu Leu Ala Gly Asn
Ala Ala Arg Asp Asn Lys Lys Thr Arg Ile Ile65 70 75 80Pro Arg His
Leu Gln Leu Ala Ile Arg Asn Asp Glu Glu Leu Asn Lys85 90 95Leu Leu
Gly Arg Val Thr Ile Ala Gln Gly Gly Val Leu Pro Asn Ile100 105
110Gln Ala Val Leu Leu Pro Lys Lys Thr Glu Ser His His Lys Ala
Lys115 120 125Gly Lys1307130PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(130)
7Met Ser Gly Arg Gly Lys Gln Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg Ala Lys Ala Lys1 5
10 15Thr Arg Ser Ser Arg Ala Gly Leu Gln Phe Pro Val Gly Arg Val
His20 25 30Arg Leu Leu Arg Lys Gly Asn Tyr Ala Glu Arg Val Gly Ala
Gly Ala35 40 45Pro Val Tyr Leu Ala Ala Val Leu Glu Tyr Leu Thr Ala
Glu Ile Leu50 55 60Glu Leu Ala Gly Asn Ala Ala Arg Asp Asn Lys Lys
Thr Arg Ile Ile65 70 75 80Pro Arg His Leu Gln Leu Ala Ile Arg Asn
Asp Glu Glu Leu Asn Lys85 90 95Leu Leu Gly Lys Val Thr Ile Ala Gln
Gly Gly Val Leu Pro Asn Ile100 105 110Gln Ala Val Leu Leu Pro Lys
Lys Thr Glu Ser His His Lys Ala Lys115 120 125Gly Lys1308128PRTHomo
SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(128) 8Met Ala Gly Gly Lys Ala Gly Lys Asp
Ser Gly Lys Ala Lys Thr Lys1 5 10 15Ala Val Ser Arg Ser Gln Arg Ala
Gly Leu Gln Phe Pro Val Gly Arg20 25 30Ile His Arg His Leu Lys Ser
Arg Thr Thr Ser His Gly Arg Val Gly35 40 45Ala Thr Ala Ala Val Tyr
Ser Ala Ala Ile Leu Glu Tyr Leu Thr Ala50 55 60Glu Val Leu Glu Leu
Ala Gly Asn Ala Ser Lys Asp Leu Lys Val Lys65 70 75 80Arg Ile Thr
Pro Arg His Leu Gln Leu Ala Ile Arg Gly Asp Glu Glu85 90 95Leu Asp
Ser Leu Ile Lys Ala Thr Ile Ala Gly Gly Gly Val Ile Pro100 105
110His Ile His Lys Ser Leu Ile Gly Lys Lys Gly Gln Gln Lys Thr
Val115 120 1259126PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(126) 9Met Pro Glu
Pro Ser Lys Ser Ala Pro Ala Pro Lys Lys Gly Ser Lys1 5 10 15Lys Ala
Ile Thr Lys Ala Gln Lys Lys Asp Gly Lys Lys Arg Lys Arg20 25 30Ser
Arg Lys Glu Ser Tyr Ser Ile Tyr Val Tyr Lys Val Leu Lys Gln35 40
45Val His Pro Asp Thr Gly Ile Ser Ser Lys Ala Met Gly Ile Met Asn50
55 60Ser Phe Val Asn Asp Ile Phe Glu Arg Ile Ala Gly Glu Ala Ser
Arg65 70 75 80Leu Ala His Tyr Asn Lys Arg Ser Thr Ile Thr Ser Arg
Glu Ile Gln85 90 95Thr Ala Val Arg Leu Leu Leu Pro Gly Glu Leu Ala
Lys His Ala Val100 105 110Ser Glu Gly Thr Lys Ala Val Thr Lys Tyr
Thr Ser Ser Lys115 120 12510239PRTHomo SapiensPolypeptide(1)..(239)
10Met Ala Val Glu Gly Gly Met Lys Cys Val Lys Phe Leu Leu Tyr Val1
5 10 15Leu Leu Leu Ala Phe Cys Ala Cys Ala Val Gly Leu Ile Ala Val
Gly20 25 30Val Gly Ala Gln Leu Val Leu Ser Gln Thr Ile Ile Gln Gly
Ala Thr35 40 45Pro Gly Ser Leu Leu Pro Val Val Ile Ile Ala Val Gly
Val Phe Leu50 55 60Phe Leu Val Ala Phe Val Gly Cys Cys Gly Ala Cys
Lys Glu Asn Tyr65 70 75 80Cys Leu Met Ile Thr Phe Ala Ile Phe Leu
Ser Leu Ile Met Leu Val85 90 95Glu Val Ala Ala Ala Ile Ala Gly Tyr
Val Phe Arg Asp Lys Val Met100 105 110Ser Glu Phe Asn Asn Asn Phe
Arg Gln Gln Met Glu Asn Tyr Pro Lys115 120 125Asn Asn His Thr Ala
Ser Ile Leu Asp Arg Met Gln Ala Asp Phe Lys130 135 140Cys Cys Gly
Ala Ala Asn Tyr Thr Asp Trp Glu Lys Ile Pro Ser Met145 150 155
160Ser Lys Asn Arg Val Pro Asp Ser Cys Cys Ile Asn Val Thr Val
Gly165 170 175Cys Gly Ile Asn Phe Asn Glu Lys Ala Ile His Lys Glu
Gly Cys Val180 185 190Glu Lys Ile Gly Gly Trp Leu Arg Lys Asn Val
Leu Val Val Ala Ala195 200 205Ala Ala Leu Gly Ile Ala Phe Val Glu
Val Leu Gly Ile Val Phe Ala210 215 220Cys Cys Leu Val Lys Ser Ile
Arg Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val Met Leu225 230 235
* * * * *
References