U.S. patent application number 12/489236 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for soluble zcytor 11 cytokine receptors.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZYMOGENETICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Wayne R. Kindsvogel, Stavros Topouzis.
Application Number | 20100047168 12/489236 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26918167 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100047168 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kindsvogel; Wayne R. ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
Soluble Zcytor 11 Cytokine Receptors
Abstract
Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the
polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed
for soluble zcytor11 receptors that may be used as novel cytokine
antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that
stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic,
lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding
receptor polypeptides and antibodies can also be used to block TIF
activity in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in conjunction with
TIF and other cytokines to selectively stimulate the immune system.
The present invention also includes methods for producing the
protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
Inventors: |
Kindsvogel; Wayne R.;
(Seattle, WA) ; Topouzis; Stavros; (Seattle,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Darby/ZymoGenetics, Inc.
P.O. Box 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Assignee: |
ZYMOGENETICS, INC.
Seattle
WA
|
Family ID: |
26918167 |
Appl. No.: |
12/489236 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11274910 |
Nov 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
12489236 |
|
|
|
|
09925055 |
Aug 8, 2001 |
7045498 |
|
|
11274910 |
|
|
|
|
60223827 |
Aug 8, 2000 |
|
|
|
60250876 |
Dec 1, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/1.69 ;
424/178.1; 424/9.2; 424/94.1; 435/183; 514/1.1; 530/350;
530/387.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 17/06 20180101;
A61P 19/02 20180101; A61P 29/00 20180101; A61P 37/06 20180101; C07K
2319/30 20130101; C07K 14/715 20130101; A61P 11/06 20180101; C07K
14/7155 20130101; A61P 37/00 20180101; A61P 37/02 20180101; C07K
2319/00 20130101; C07K 16/2866 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/1.69 ;
514/12; 424/9.2; 530/350; 424/178.1; 424/94.1; 435/183;
530/387.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 51/08 20060101
A61K051/08; A61K 38/16 20060101 A61K038/16; A61K 49/00 20060101
A61K049/00; C07K 14/00 20060101 C07K014/00; A61K 39/00 20060101
A61K039/00; A61K 38/43 20060101 A61K038/43; C12N 9/00 20060101
C12N009/00; C07K 16/00 20060101 C07K016/00; A61P 37/02 20060101
A61P037/02 |
Claims
1. A method of reducing IL-TIF-induced inflammation or suppressing
an IL-TIF-induced inflammatory response comprising administering to
a mammal with inflammation an amount of a composition of soluble
cytokine receptor comprising SEQ ID NO:3 sufficient to reduce
inflammation or suppress the inflammatory response.
2. A method of suppressing an IL-TIF-induced inflammatory response
in a mammal exposed to an antigen or pathogen comprising: (1)
determining a level of an antigen- or pathogen-specific antibody;
(2) administering a composition comprising a soluble cytokine
receptor polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:3 in an acceptable
pharmaceutical vehicle; (3) determining a post administration level
of antigen- or pathogen-specific antibody; (4) comparing the level
of antibody in step (1) to the level of antibody in step (3),
wherein a lack of increase or a decrease in antibody level is
indicative of suppressing the immune response.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor
further comprises a soluble CRF2-4 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33)
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor
further comprises a soluble CRF2-4 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33).
5. A method of suppressing an IL-TIF-induced inflammatory response
in a mammal with inflammation comprising: (1) determining a level
of SAA protein; (2) administering a composition comprising a
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:3 in an
acceptable pharmaceutical vehicle; (3) determining a post
administration level of SAA protein; (4) comparing the level of SAA
protein in step (1) to the level of SAA protein in step (3),
wherein a lack of increase or a decrease in SAA protein level is
indicative of suppressing the inflammatory response.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide further comprises an affinity tag, label, chemical
moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label, radionuclide, enzyme,
substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent marker,
chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an immunoglobulin Fc
domain.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor
further comprises a soluble CRF2-4 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33).
8. A method of treating a mammal afflicted with an IL-TIF-induced
inflammatory disease in which IL-TIF plays a role, comprising:
administering an antagonist of IL-TIF to the mammal such that the
inflammation is reduced, wherein the antagonist comprises a
polypeptide or cytokine-binding polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID
NO:3; and wherein the inflammatory activity of IL-TIF is
reduced.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the disease is a chronic
inflammatory disease.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease is a chronic
inflammatory disease selected from the group consisting of: (a)
inflammatory bowel disease; (b) colitis; (c) Crohn's disease; (d)
arthritis; (e) asthma; and (f) psoriasis.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the disease is an acute
inflammatory disease.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the disease is an acute
inflammatory disease selected from the group consisting of: (a)
sepsis; (b) allergy; and (c) infectious disease.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the polypeptide or
cytokine-binding polypeptide fragment further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the antagonist further comprises
a polypeptide or cytokine-binding polypeptide fragment of soluble
CRF2-4 (SEQ ID NO:33).
15. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
comprising more than one soluble receptor subunit, wherein at least
one of the soluble receptor subunits comprises a sequence of amino
acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second soluble
receptor subunits comprises a soluble Class I or Class II cytokine
receptor, and wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
binds IL-TIF or antagonizes IL-TIF activity.
16. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 15, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor or homodimeric receptor complex.
17. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 15, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
18. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
consisting of two soluble receptor subunits, wherein at least one
of the soluble receptor subunits consists of a sequence of amino
acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second soluble
receptor subunit consists of a soluble Class I or Class II cytokine
receptor; and wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
binds IL-TIF or antagonizes IL-TIF activity.
19. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 18, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor or homodimeric receptor complex.
20. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 18, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
21. The isolated polypeptide according to claim 15, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a multimeric
receptor complex.
22. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
comprising more than one soluble receptor subunit, wherein at least
one of the soluble receptor subunits comprises a sequence of amino
acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second soluble
receptor subunit comprises a soluble CRF2-4 polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:33).
23. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
consisting of two soluble receptor subunits, wherein at least one
of the soluble receptor subunits consists of a sequence of amino
acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second soluble
receptor subunit consists of soluble CRF2-4 polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:33).
24. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 22, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor complex.
25. The isolated polypeptide according to claim 22, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a multimeric
receptor complex.
26. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 22, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
27. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 23, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor receptor complex.
28. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 23, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
29. A method for inhibiting IL-TIF-induced proliferation of
neutrophils or platelets comprising culturing bone marrow or
peripheral blood cells with a composition comprising an amount of
soluble cytokine receptor comprising SEQ ID NO:3 and a soluble A
soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34) sufficient to
reduce proliferation of the neutrophils or platelets in the bone
marrow or peripheral blood cells as compared to bone marrow or
peripheral blood cells cultured in the absence of the soluble
cytokine receptor.
30. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
comprising more than one soluble receptor subunit, wherein at least
one of the soluble receptor subunits comprises the sequence of
amino acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second
soluble receptor subunit comprises the soluble A soluble IL-10
receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), and wherein the soluble
cytokine receptor polypeptide binds IL-TIF or antagonizes IL-TIF
activity.
31. An isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide complex
consisting of two soluble receptor subunits, wherein at least one
of the soluble receptor subunits consists of the sequence of amino
acid residues shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein a second soluble
receptor subunit consists of soluble A soluble IL-10 receptor
polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), and wherein the soluble cytokine
receptor polypeptide binds IL-TIF or antagonizes IL-TIF
activity.
32. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 30, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor complex.
33. The isolated polypeptide according to claim 30, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a multimeric
receptor complex.
34. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 30, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
35. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 31, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprises a heterodimeric
receptor receptor complex.
36. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 31, wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity
tag, label, chemical moiety, toxin, biotin/avidin label,
radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, inhibitor, fluorescent
marker, chemiluminescent marker, cytotoxic molecule or an
immunoglobulin Fc domain.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/925,055, filed Aug. 8, 2001, which claims
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/223,827, filed on Aug.
8, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Application 60/250,876, filed on Dec.
1, 2000, all of which are incorporated by reference. Under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(e)(1), this application claims benefit of said
Provisional Applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cytokines are soluble proteins that influence the growth and
differentiation of many cell types. Their receptors are composed of
one or more integral membrane proteins that bind the cytokine with
high affinity and transduce this binding event to the cell through
the cytoplasmic portions of the certain receptor subunits. Cytokine
receptors have been grouped into several classes on the basis of
similarities in their extracellular ligand binding domains. For
example, the receptor chains responsible for binding and/or
transducing the effect of interferons (IFNs) are members of the
type II cytokine receptor family (CRF2), based upon a
characteristic 200 residue extracellular domain. The demonstrated
in vivo activities of these interferons illustrate the enormous
clinical potential of, and need for, other cytokines, cytokine
agonists, and cytokine antagonists.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention fills this need by providing novel
cytokine receptors and related compositions and methods. In
particular, the present invention provides for an extracellular
ligand-binding region of a mammalian Zcytor11 receptor,
alternatively also containing either a transmembrane domain or both
an intracellular domain and a transmembrane domain.
[0004] Moreover, the present invention fills this need by providing
novel soluble cytokine receptors that can be used to antagonize the
effects of T-cell inducible factor (IL-TIF) in certain human
disease states. In particular, the present invention provides for
an extracellular ligand-binding region of a mammalian Zcytor11
receptor, that is either homodimeric, heterodimeric, or
multimeric.
[0005] Within one aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated polynucleotide that encodes a soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at
least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID
NO:3, and wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded
by the polynucleotide sequence binds or antagonizes IL-TIF (SEQ ID
NO:8). In one embodiment, the polynucleotide is as disclosed above,
wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded by the
polynucleotide forms a homodimeric receptor complex.
[0006] Within a second aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated polynucleotide that encodes a soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at
least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID
NO:3, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded by
the polynucleotide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor
complex. In one embodiment, the polynucleotide is as disclosed
above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded by
the polynucleotide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor
complex further comprising a soluble Class I or Class II cytokine
receptor. In another embodiment, the polynucleotide is as disclosed
above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded by
the polynucleotide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor
complex further comprising a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide
(SEQ ID NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:34), or a soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35). In
another embodiment, the polynucleotide is as disclosed above,
wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide encoded by the
polynucleotide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex
further comprising a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a
soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35).
[0007] Within a third aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated polynucleotide that encodes a soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues as shown
in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
encoded by the polynucleotide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric
receptor complex. In another embodiment, the polynucleotide is as
disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
encoded by the polynucleotide further comprises a soluble Class I
or Class II cytokine receptor. In another embodiment, the
polynucleotide is as disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine
receptor polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide forms a
heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex further comprising a
soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33) or a soluble
IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a soluble DIRS1
receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35). In another embodiment, the
polynucleotide is as disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine
receptor polypeptide further encodes an intracellular domain. In
another embodiment, the polynucleotide is as disclosed above,
wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises
an affinity tag.
[0008] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
expression vector comprising the following operably linked
elements: (a) a transcription promoter; a first DNA segment
encoding a soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide having an amino
acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:3; and a transcription
terminator; and (b) a second transcription promoter; a second DNA
segment encoding a soluble Class I or Class II cytokine receptor
polypeptide; and a transcription terminator; and wherein the first
and second DNA segments are contained within a single expression
vector or are contained within independent expression vectors.
[0009] In one embodiment, the expression vector disclosed above,
further comprises a secretory signal sequence operably linked to
the first and second DNA segments. In another embodiment, the
expression vector is as disclosed above, wherein the second DNA
segment encodes a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a
soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35).
[0010] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
cultured cell comprising an expression vector as disclosed above,
wherein the cell expresses the polypeptides encoded by the DNA
segments. In one embodiment, the cultured cell comprises an
expression vector as disclosed above, wherein the first and second
DNA segments are located on independent expression vectors and are
co-transfected into the cell, and cell expresses the polypeptides
encoded by the DNA segments. In another embodiment, the cultured
cell comprises an expression vector as disclosed above, wherein the
cell expresses a heterodimeric or multimeric soluble receptor
polypeptide encoded by the DNA segments. In another embodiment, the
cultured cell is as disclosed above, wherein the cell secretes a
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide heterodimer or multimeric
complex. In another embodiment, the cultured cell is as disclosed
above, wherein the cell secretes a soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide heterodimer or multimeric complex that binds IL-TIF or
antagonizes IL-TIF activity.
[0011] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a DNA
construct encoding a fusion protein comprising: a first DNA segment
encoding a polypeptide having a sequence of amino acid residues as
shown in SEQ ID NO:3; and at least one other DNA segment encoding a
soluble Class I or Class II cytokine receptor polypeptide, wherein
the first and other DNA segments are connected in-frame; and
wherein the first and other DNA segments encode the fusion
protein.
[0012] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a DNA
construct encoding a fusion protein as disclosed above, wherein at
least one other DNA segment encodes a soluble CRF2-4 receptor
polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide
(SEQ ID NO:34), or a soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:35).
[0013] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
expression vector comprising the following operably linked
elements: a transcription promoter; a DNA construct encoding a
fusion protein as disclosed above; and
[0014] a transcription terminator, wherein the promoter is operably
linked to the DNA construct, and the DNA construct is operably
linked to the transcription terminator.
[0015] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
cultured cell comprising an expression vector as disclosed above,
wherein the cell expresses a polypeptide encoded by the DNA
construct.
[0016] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method of producing a fusion protein comprising: culturing a cell
as disclosed above; and isolating the polypeptide produced by the
cell.
[0017] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprising a
sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 90% identical to
an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:3, and wherein the
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide binds IL-TIF or antagonizes
IL-TIF activity. In one embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is as
disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
forms a homodimeric receptor complex.
[0018] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues
that is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence as shown
in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex. In one
embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is as disclosed above, wherein
the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide forms a heterodimeric or
multimeric receptor complex further comprising a soluble Class I or
Class II cytokine receptor.
[0019] In another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is as
disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex further
comprising a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33) or
a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a soluble
DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35). In another embodiment,
the isolated polypeptide is as disclosed above, wherein the
polypeptide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex
further comprising a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a
soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35).
[0020] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
isolated soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprising a
sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein
the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide forms a heterodimeric or
multimeric receptor complex. In another embodiment, the isolated
polypeptide is as disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine
receptor polypeptide forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor
complex further comprising a soluble Class I or Class II cytokine
receptor. In another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is as
disclosed above, wherein the soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide
forms a heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex comprising a
soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33) or a soluble
IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34), or a soluble DIRS1
receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35). In another embodiment, the
isolated polypeptide is as disclosed above, wherein the soluble
cytokine receptor polypeptide further comprises an affinity tag,
chemical moiety, toxin, or label. Within another aspect, the
present invention provides an isolated heterodimeric or multimeric
soluble receptor complex comprising soluble receptor subunits,
wherein at least one of soluble receptor subunits comprises a
soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide comprising a sequence of
amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO:3. In one embodiment, the
isolated heterodimeric or multimeric soluble receptor complex
disclosed above, further comprises a soluble Class I or Class II
cytokine receptor polypeptide. In one embodiment, the isolated
heterodimeric or multimeric soluble receptor complex disclosed
above, further comprises a soluble CRF2-4 receptor polypeptide (SEQ
ID NO:33) or a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34),
or a soluble DIRS1 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:35).
[0021] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method of producing a soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide that
forms a heterodimeric or multimeric complex comprising: culturing a
cell as disclosed above; and isolating the soluble receptor
polypeptides produced by the cell.
[0022] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method of producing an antibody to soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide comprising: inoculating an animal with a soluble
cytokine receptor polypeptide selected from the group consisting
of: (a) a polypeptide comprising a homodimeric soluble cytokine
receptor complex; (b) a polypeptide comprising a soluble cytokine
receptor heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex comprising a
soluble Class I or Class II cytokine receptor polypeptide; (c) a
polypeptide comprising a soluble cytokine receptor heterodimeric or
multimeric receptor complex comprising a soluble CRF2-4 receptor
polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:33); (d) a polypeptide comprising a soluble
cytokine receptor heterodimeric or multimeric receptor complex
comprising a soluble IL-10 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34); (e)
a polypeptide comprising a soluble cytokine receptor heterodimeric
or multimeric receptor complex comprising a soluble DIRS1 receptor
polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:34); and wherein the polypeptide elicits an
immune response in the animal to produce the antibody; and
isolating the antibody from the animal.
[0023] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
antibody produced by the method as disclosed above, which
specifically binds to a homodimeric, heterodimeric or multimeric
receptor complex comprising a soluble cytokine receptor
polypeptide. In one embodiment, the antibody disclosed above is a
monoclonal antibody.
[0024] Within another aspect, the present invention provides an
antibody which specifically binds to a homodimeric, heterodimeric
or multimeric receptor complex as disclosed above.
[0025] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method for inhibiting IL-TIF-induced proliferation of hematopoietic
cells and hematopoietic cell progenitors comprising culturing bone
marrow or peripheral blood cells with a composition comprising an
amount of soluble cytokine receptor sufficient to reduce
proliferation of the hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow or
peripheral blood cells as compared to bone marrow or peripheral
blood cells cultured in the absence of soluble cytokine receptor.
In one embodiment, the method is as disclosed above, wherein the
hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells are lymphoid
cells. In one embodiment, the method is as disclosed above, wherein
the lymphoid cells are macrophages or T cells.
[0026] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method of reducing IL-TIF-induced or IL-9 induced inflammation
comprising administering to a mammal with inflammation an amount of
a composition of soluble cytokine receptor sufficient to reduce
inflammation.
[0027] Within another aspect, the present invention provides a
method of suppressing an immune response in a mammal exposed to an
antigen or pathogen comprising: (1) determining a level of an
antigen- or pathogen-specific antibody; (2) administering a
composition comprising soluble cytokine receptor polypeptide in an
acceptable pharmaceutical vehicle; (3) determining a post
administration level of antigen- or pathogen-specific antibody; (4)
comparing the level of antibody in step (1) to the level of
antibody in step (3), wherein a lack of increase or a decrease in
antibody level is indicative of suppressing an immune response.
[0028] These and other aspects of the invention will become evident
upon reference to the following detailed description and the
attached drawing.
[0029] 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.
[0030] "Corresponding to", when used in reference to a nucleotide
or amino acid sequence, indicates the position in a second sequence
that aligns with the reference position when two sequences are
optimally aligned.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] "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.
[0034] 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.
[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] The term "receptor" is used herein to denote a
cell-associated protein, or a polypeptide subunit of such a
protein, that binds to a bioactive molecule (the "ligand") and
mediates the effect of the ligand on the cell. Binding of ligand to
receptor results in a conformational change in the receptor (and,
in some cases, receptor multimerization, i.e., association of
identical or different receptor subunits) that causes interactions
between the effector domain(s) and other molecule(s) in the cell.
These interactions in turn lead to alterations in the metabolism of
the cell. Metabolic events that are linked to receptor-ligand
interactions include gene transcription, phosphorylation,
dephosphorylation, cell proliferation, increases in cyclic AMP
production, mobilization of cellular calcium, mobilization of
membrane lipids, cell adhesion, hydrolysis of inositol lipids and
hydrolysis of phospholipids. The term "receptor polypeptide" is
used to denote complete receptor polypeptide chains and portions
thereof, including isolated functional domains (e.g.,
ligand-binding domains).
[0037] A "secretory signal sequence" is 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.
[0038] A "soluble receptor" is a receptor polypeptide that is not
bound to a cell membrane. Soluble receptors are most commonly
ligand-binding receptor polypeptides that lack transmembrane and
cytoplasmic domains. Soluble receptors can comprise additional
amino acid residues, such as affinity tags that provide for
purification of the polypeptide or provide sites for attachment of
the polypeptide to a substrate, or immunoglobulin constant region
sequences. Many cell-surface receptors have naturally occurring,
soluble counterparts that are produced by proteolysis or translated
from alternatively spliced mRNAs. Receptor polypeptides are said to
be substantially free of transmembrane and intracellular
polypeptide segments when they lack sufficient portions of these
segments to provide membrane anchoring or signal transduction,
respectively.
[0039] The term "splice variant" is used herein to denote
alternative forms of RNA transcribed from a gene. Splice variation
arises naturally through use of alternative splicing sites within a
transcribed RNA molecule, or less commonly between separately
transcribed RNA molecules, and may result in several mRNAs
transcribed from the same gene. Splice variants may encode
polypeptides having altered amino acid sequence. The term splice
variant is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by a splice
variant of an mRNA transcribed from a gene.
[0040] 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%.
[0041] Cytokine receptors subunits are characterized by a
multi-domain structure comprising a ligand-binding domain and an
effector domain that is typically involved in signal transduction.
Multimeric cytokine receptors include homodimers (e.g., PDGF
receptor .alpha..alpha. and .beta..beta. isoforms, erythropoietin
receptor, MPL (thrombopoietin receptor), and G-CSF receptor),
heterodimers whose subunits each have ligand-binding and effector
domains (e.g., PDGF receptor .alpha..beta. isoform), and multimers
having component subunits with disparate functions (e.g., IL-2,
IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and GM-CSF receptors). Some receptor
subunits are common to a plurality of receptors. For example, the
AIC2B subunit, which cannot bind ligand on its own but includes an
intracellular signal transduction domain, is a component of IL-3
and GM-CSF receptors. Many cytokine receptors can be placed into
one of four related families on the basis of their structures and
functions. Class I hematopoietic receptors, for example, are
characterized by the presence of a domain containing conserved
cysteine residues and the WSXWS motif. Additional domains,
including protein kinase domains; fibronectin type III domains; and
immunoglobulin domains, which are characterized by disulfide-bonded
loops, are present in certain hematopoietic receptors. Cytokine
receptor structure has been reviewed by Urdal, Ann. Reports Med.
Chem. 26:221-228, 1991 and Cosman, Cytokine 5:95-106, 1993. It is
generally believed that under selective pressure for organisms to
acquire new biological functions, new receptor family members arose
from duplication of existing receptor genes leading to the
existence of multi-gene families. Family members thus contain
vestiges of the ancestral gene, and these characteristic features
can be exploited in the isolation and identification of additional
family members.
[0042] Cell-surface cytokine receptors are further characterized by
the presence of additional domains. These receptors are anchored in
the cell membrane by a transmembrane domain characterized by a
sequence of hydrophobic amino acid residues (typically about 21-25
residues), which is commonly flanked by positively charged residues
(Lys or Arg). On the opposite end of the protein from the
extracellular domain and separated from it by the transmembrane
domain is an intracellular domain.
[0043] The Zcytor11 receptor is a class II cytokine receptor. These
receptors usually bind to four-helix-bundle cytokines.
Interleukin-10 and the interferons have receptors in this class
(e.g., interferon-gamma alpha and beta chains and the
interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha and beta chains). Class II
cytokine receptors are characterized by the presence of one or more
cytokine receptor modules (CRM) in their extracellular domains. The
CRMs of class II cytokine receptors are somewhat different than the
better known CRMs of class I cytokine receptors. While the class II
CRMs contain two type-III fibronectin-like domains, they differ in
organization.
[0044] Zcytor11, like all known class II receptors except
interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha chain, has only a single class
II CRM in its extracellular domain. Zcytor11 is a receptor for a
helical cytokine of the interferon/IL-10 class. As was stated
above, Zcytor11 is similar to the interferon .alpha. receptor
.alpha. chain. Uze et al. Cell 60 255-264 (1996) Analysis of a
human cDNA clone encoding Zcytor11 (SEQ ID NO:1) revealed an open
reading frame encoding 574 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:2) comprising an
extracellular ligand-binding domain of approximately 211 amino acid
residues (residues 18-228 of SEQ ID NO:2; SEQ ID NO:3), a
transmembrane domain of approximately 23 amino acid residues
(residues 229-251 of SEQ ID NO:2), and an intracellular domain of
approximately 313 amino acid residues (residues 252 to 574 of SEQ
ID NO:2). Those skilled in the art will recognize that these domain
boundaries are approximate and are based on alignments with known
proteins and predictions of protein folding. Deletion of residues
from the ends of the domains is possible.
[0045] Moreover, the zcytor11 receptor has been shown to bind a
ligand called T-cell inducible Factor (TIF, or IL-TIF) (See, WIPO
publication WO 00/24758; Dumontier et al., J. Immunol.
164:1814-1819, 2000; and Xie et al., J. Biol. Chem. manuscript in
press M005304200). The human IL-TIF nucleotide sequence is
represented in SEQ ID NO:7 and corresponding polypeptide sequence
is shown in SEQ ID NO:8. Within preferred embodiments, the soluble
receptor form of zcytor11, residues 18-228 of SEQ ID NO:2, (SEQ ID
NO:3) is a homodimer, heterodimer, or multimer that antagonizes the
effects of IL-TIF in vivo. Antibodies to such homodimer,
heterodimer, or multimers also serve as antagonists of IL-THF
activity.
[0046] IL-TIF has been shown to be induced in the presence of IL-9,
and is suspected to be involved in promoting Th1-type immune
responses. IL-9 stimulates proliferation, activation,
differentiation and/or induction of immune function in a variety of
ways and is implicated in asthma, lung mastocytosis, and other
diseases, as well as activate STAT pathways. Antagonists of IL-TIF
or IL-9 function can have beneficial use against such human
diseases. The present invention provides such novel antagonists of
IL-TIF.
[0047] The present invention is based in part upon the discovery of
a novel heterodimeric soluble receptor protein having the structure
of a class II cytokine receptor, and antibodies thereto. The
heterodimeric soluble receptor includes at least one zcytor11
soluble receptor subunit, disclosed in the commonly owned U.S. Pat.
No. 5,965,704. A second soluble receptor polypeptide included in
the heterodimeric soluble receptor belongs to the receptor
subfamily that includes Interleukin-10 (Liu Y et al, J. Immunol.
152; 1821-1829, 1994 (IL-10R cDNA) (SEQ ID NO:34)), the interferons
(e.g., interferon-gamma alpha and beta chains and the
interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha and beta chains), CRF2-4
(Genbank Accession No. Z17227; SEQ ID NO:33), and DIRS1 (WIPO
Publication WO99/46379, Schering Corporation, 1999; SEQ ID NO:35).
The zcytor11 receptor in conjunction with CRF2-4 and IL-10 Receptor
was shown to signal JAK-STAT pathway in response to the natural
ligand for the zcytor11 receptor, IL-TIF (Xie et al., supra.).
According to the present invention, a heterodimeric soluble
zcytor11 receptor, as exemplified by a preferred embodiment of a
soluble zcytor11 receptor+soluble CRF2-4 receptor heterodimer
(zcytor11/CRF2-4), can act as a potent antagonist of the IL-TIF.
Other embodiments include soluble heterodimer zcytor11/IL-10R,
zcytor11/IL-9R, and other class II receptor subunits, as well as
multimeric receptors including but not limited to
zcytor11/CRF2-4/IL-10R, and zcytor11/CRF2-4/IL-9R.
[0048] Analysis of the tissue distribution of the mRNA
corresponding zcytor11 cDNA showed that mRNA level was highest in
pancreas, followed by a much lower levels in thymus, colon, liver,
skin, lung, kidney and small intestine. Thus, particular
embodiments of the present invention are directed toward use of
soluble zcytor11 heterodimers as antagonists in inflammatory and
immune diseases or conditions such as pancreatitis, type I diabetes
(IDDM), pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, Graves Disease,
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's Disease, colon and
intestinal cancer, diverticulosis, autoimmune disease, sepsis,
asthma, end-stage renal diseases, psoriasis, organ or bone marrow
transplant; and where inhibition of inflammation, immune
suppression, reduction of proliferation of hematopoietic, immune,
inflammatory or lymphoid cells, macrophages, T-cells (including Th1
and Th2 cells), suppression of immune response to a pathogen or
antigen, or inhibition of IL-TIF or IL-9 cytokine production is
desired.
[0049] Moreover, antibodies recognizing zcytoR11, soluble
zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers, and multimers described herein and/or
soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers, and multimers themselves are
useful to:
[0050] 1) Antagonize or block signaling via the IL-TIF receptors in
the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as IDDM, multiple
sclerosis (MS), systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE), myasthenia
gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBD to prevent or inhibit
signaling in immune cells (e.g. lymphocytes, monocytes, leukocytes)
via zcytoR11 (Hughes C et al., J. Immunol. 153: 3319-3325, 1994).
Alternatively anti-soluble zcytor11, anti-soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4
heterodimer or mulitmer monoclonal antibody (Mab) can be used as an
antagonist to deplete unwanted immune cells to treat autoimmune
disease. Asthma, allergy and other atopic disease may be treated
with an MAb against soluble zcytor11 soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4
heterodimers to inhibit the immune response or to deplete offending
cells. Blocking or inhibiting signaling via zcytoR11, using the
polypeptides and antibodies of the present invention, may also
benefit diseases of the pancreas, kidney, pituitary and neuronal
cells. IDDM, NIDDM, pancreatitis, and pancreatic carcinoma may
benefit. ZcytoR11 may serve as a target for MAb therapy of cancer
where an antagonizing MAb inhibits cancer growth and targets
immune-mediated killing. (Holliger P, and Hoogenboom, H: Nature
Biotech. 16: 1015-1016, 1998). Mabs to soluble zcytoR11, and
soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers and multimers may also be
useful to treat nephropathies such as glomerulosclerosis,
membranous neuropathy, amyloidosis (which also affects the kidney
among other tissues), renal arteriosclerosis, glomerulonephritis of
various origins, fibroproliferative diseases of the kidney, as well
as kidney dysfunction associated with SLE, IDDM, type II diabetes
(NIDDM), renal tumors and other diseases.
[0051] 2) Agonize or initiate signaling via the IL-TIF receptors in
the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as IDDM, MS, SLE,
myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, and IBD. Anti-soluble
zcytor11, anti-soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers and multimer
monoclonal antibodies may signal lymphocytes or other immune cells
to differentiate, alter proliferation, or change production of
cytokines or cell surface proteins that ameliorate autoimmunity.
Specifically, modulation of a T-helper cell response to an
alternate pattern of cytokine secretion may deviate an autoimmune
response to ameliorate disease (Smith J A et al., J. Immunol.
160:4841-4849, 1998). Similarly, agonistic Anti-soluble zcytor11,
anti-soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers and multimer monoclonal
antibodies may be used to signal, deplete and deviate immune cells
involved in asthma, allergy and atopoic disease. Signaling via
zcytoR11 may also benefit diseases of the pancreas, kidney,
pituitary and neuronal cells. IDDM, NIDDM, pancreatitis, and
pancreatic carcinoma may benefit. ZcytoR11 may serve as a target
for MAb therapy of pancreatic cancer where a signaling MAb inhibits
cancer growth and targets immune-mediated killing (Tutt, A L et
al., J. Immunol. 161: 3175-3185, 1998). Similarly renal cell
carcinoma may be treated with monoclonal antibodies to
zcytoR11-comprising soluble receptors of the present invention.
[0052] Soluble zcytor11, soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4 heterodimers and
multimers described herein can be used to neutralize/block IL-TIF
activity in the treatment of autoimmune disease, atopic disease,
NIDDM, pancreatitis and kidney dysfunction as described above. A
soluble form of zcytoR11 may be used to promote an antibody
response mediated by Th cells and/or to promote the production of
IL-4 or other cytokines by lymphocytes or other immune cells.
[0053] The soluble receptors of the present invention are useful as
antagonists of the IL-TIF cytokine. Such antagonistic effects can
be achieved by direct neutralization or binding of the IL-TIF. In
addition to antagonistic uses, the soluble receptors of the present
invention can bind IL-TIF and act as carrier proteins for the
IL-TIF cytokine, in order to transport the Ligand to different
tissues, organs, and cells within the body. As such, the soluble
receptors of the present invention can be fused or coupled to
molecules, polypeptides or chemical moieties that direct the
soluble-receptor-Ligand complex to a specific site, such as a
tissue, specific immune cell, or tumor. Thus, the soluble receptors
of the present invention can be used to specifically direct the
action of the IL-TIF. See, Cosman, D. Cytokine 5: 95-106, 1993; and
Fernandez-Botran, R. Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 9:497-513, 2000.
[0054] Moreover, the soluble receptors of the present invention can
be used to stabilize the IL-TIF, to increase the bio-availability,
therapeutic longevity, and/or efficacy of the Ligand by stabilizing
the Ligand from degradation or clearance, or by targeting the
ligand to a site of action within the body. For example the
naturally occurring IL-6/soluble IL-6R complex stabilizes IL-6 and
can signal through the gp130 receptor. See, Cosman, D. supra., and
Fernandez-Botran, R. supra.
[0055] Within preferred embodiments of the invention the isolated
polynucleotides will hybridize to similar sized regions of
nucleotides SEQ ID NO:1 corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequence
complementary thereto, under stringent conditions. In general,
stringent conditions are selected to be about 5.degree. C. lower
than the thermal melting point (T.sub.m) for the specific sequence
at a defined ionic strength and pH. The T.sub.m is the temperature
(under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target
sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. Typical stringent
conditions are those in which the salt concentration is at least
about 0.02 M at pH 7 and the temperature is at least about
60.degree. C. As previously noted, the isolated polynucleotides of
the present invention include DNA and RNA. Methods for isolating
DNA and RNA are well known in the art. It is generally preferred to
isolate RNA from pancreas or prostate tissues although cDNA can
also be prepared using RNA from other tissues or isolated as
genomic DNA. Total RNA can be prepared using guanidine HCl
extraction followed by isolation by centrifugation in a CsCl
gradient (Chirgwin et al., Biochemistry 18:52-94, (1979)). Poly
(A).sup.+ RNA is prepared from total RNA using the method of Aviv
and Leder Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69:1408-1412, (1972).
Complementary DNA (cDNA) is prepared from poly(A).sup.+ RNA using
known methods. Polynucleotides encoding Zcytor11 polypeptides are
then identified and isolated by, for example, hybridization or
PCR.
[0056] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sequences
disclosed in SEQ ID NO:3 and the corresponding nucleotides of SEQ
ID NO: 1 and represent single alleles of the human Zcytor11
receptor. Allelic variants of these sequences can be cloned by
probing cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals
according to standard procedures.
[0057] The present invention further provides counterpart receptors
and polynucleotides from other species ("species orthologs"). Of
particular interest are Zcytor11 receptors from other mammalian
species, including murine, porcine, ovine, bovine, canine, feline,
equine, and non-human primates. Species orthologs of the human
Zcytor11 receptor can be cloned using information and compositions
provided by the present invention in combination with conventional
cloning techniques. For example, a cDNA can be cloned using mRNA
obtained from a tissue or cell type that expresses the receptor.
Suitable sources of mRNA can be identified by probing Northern
blots with probes designed from the sequences disclosed herein. A
library is then prepared from mRNA of a positive tissue or cell
line. A receptor-encoding cDNA can then be isolated by a variety of
methods, such as by probing with a complete or partial cDNA of
human and other primates or with one or more sets of degenerate
probes based on the disclosed sequences. A cDNA can also be cloned
using the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR (Mullis, U.S. Pat. No.
4,683,202), using primers designed from the sequences disclosed
herein. Within an additional method, the cDNA library can be used
to transform or transfect host cells, and expression of the cDNA of
interest can be detected with an antibody to the receptor. Similar
techniques can also be applied to the isolation of genomic
clones.
[0058] The present invention also provides isolated soluble
monomeric, homodimeric, heterodimeric and multimeric receptor
polypeptides that comprise at least one zcytor11 receptor subunit
that is substantially homologous to the receptor polypeptide of SEQ
ID NO:3. By "isolated" is meant a protein or polypeptide 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. The term
"substantially homologous" is used herein to denote polypeptides
having 50%, preferably 60%, more preferably at least 80%, sequence
identity to the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:3. Such polypeptides
will more preferably be at least 90% identical, and most preferably
95% or more identical to SEQ ID NO:3. Percent sequence identity is
determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et
al., Bull. Math. Bio. 48: 603-616, (1986) and Henikoff and
Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-10919, (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 "blossom 62" scoring matrix of Henikoff and
Henikoff (id.) as shown in Table 2 (amino acids are indicated by
the standard one-letter codes). The percent identity is then
calculated as:
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-00001 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
[0059] Sequence identity of polynucleotide molecules is determined
by similar methods using a ratio as disclosed above.
[0060] 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 ztryp1. 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).
[0061] Briefly, FASTA first characterizes sequence similarity by
identifying regions shared by the query sequence (e.g., SEQ ID
NO:3) and a test sequence that have either the highest density of
identities (if the ktup variable is 1) or pairs of identities (if
ktup=2), without considering conservative amino acid substitutions,
insertions, or deletions. The ten regions with the highest density
of identities are then rescored by comparing the similarity of all
paired amino acids using an amino acid substitution matrix, and the
ends of the regions are "trimmed" to include only those residues
that contribute to the highest score. If there are several regions
with scores greater than the "cutoff" value (calculated by a
predetermined formula based upon the length of the sequence and the
ktup value), then the trimmed initial regions are examined to
determine whether the regions can be joined to form an approximate
alignment with gaps. Finally, the highest scoring regions of the
two amino acid sequences are aligned using a modification of the
Needleman-Wunsch-Sellers algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol.
Biol. 48:444 (1970); Sellers, SIAM J. Appl. Math. 26:787 (1974)),
which allows for amino acid insertions and deletions. Preferred
parameters for FASTA analysis are: ktup=1, gap opening penalty=10,
gap extension penalty=1, and substitution matrix=BLOSUM62. These
parameters can be introduced into a FASTA program by modifying the
scoring matrix file ("SMATRIX"), as explained in Appendix 2 of
Pearson, Meth. Enzymol., supra.
[0062] FASTA can also be used to determine the sequence identity of
nucleic acid molecules using a ratio as disclosed above. For
nucleotide sequence comparisons, the ktup value can range between
one to six, preferably from three to six, most preferably three,
with other FASTA program parameters set as default.
[0063] The BLOSUM62 table (Table 2) is an amino acid substitution
matrix derived from about 2,000 local multiple alignments of
protein sequence segments, representing highly conserved regions of
more than 500 groups of related proteins (Henikoff and Henikoff,
Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1992)). Accordingly, the
BLOSUM62 substitution frequencies can be used to define
conservative amino acid substitutions that may be introduced into
the amino acid sequences of the present invention. Although it is
possible to design amino acid substitutions based solely upon
chemical properties (as discussed below), the language
"conservative amino acid substitution" preferably refers to a
substitution represented by a BLOSUM62 value of greater than -1.
For example, an amino acid substitution is conservative if the
substitution is characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of 0, 1, 2, or 3.
According to this system, preferred conservative amino acid
substitutions are characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of at least 1
(e.g., 1, 2 or 3), while more preferred conservative amino acid
substitutions are characterized by a BLOSUM62 value of at least 2
(e.g., 2 or 3).
[0064] Substantially homologous proteins and polypeptides 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 protein or polypeptide; small deletions,
typically of one to about 30 amino acids; and small amino- or
carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine
residue, a small linker peptide of up to about 20-25 residues, or a
small extension that facilitates purification (an affinity tag),
such as 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), 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.).
TABLE-US-00002 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
[0065] Essential amino acids in the receptor polypeptides of the
present invention can be identified according to procedures known
in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning
mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244, 1081-1085, (1989);
Bass et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4498-4502, (1991)). In
the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at
every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules
are tested for biological activity (e.g., ligand binding and signal
transduction) to identify amino acid residues that are critical to
the activity of the molecule. Sites of ligand-receptor interaction
can also be determined by analysis of crystal structure as
determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance,
crystallography or photoaffinity labeling. See, for example, de Vos
et al., Science 255:306-312, (1992); Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol.
224:899-904, (1992); Wlodaver et al., FEBS Lett. 309:59-64, (1992).
The identities of essential amino acids can also be inferred from
analysis of homologies with related receptors.
[0066] 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 241:53-57, (1988) or
Bowie and Sauer Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2152-2156, (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. 30:10832-10837, (1991);
Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; Huse, WIPO Publication WO
92/06204) and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., Gene
46:145, (1986); Ner et al., DNA 7:127, (1988)).
[0067] Mutagenesis methods as disclosed above can be combined with
high-throughput screening methods to detect activity of cloned,
mutagenized receptors in host cells. Preferred assays in this
regard include cell proliferation assays and biosensor-based
ligand-binding assays, which are described below. Mutagenized DNA
molecules that encode active receptors or portions thereof (e.g.,
ligand-binding fragments) 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.
[0068] Using the methods discussed above, one of ordinary skill in
the art can prepare a variety of polypeptides that comprise a
soluble receptor subunit that is substantially homologous to SEQ ID
NO:3 or allelic variants thereof and retain the ligand-binding
properties of the wild-type receptor. Such polypeptides may include
additional amino acids from an extracellular ligand-binding domain
of a Zcytor11 receptor as well as part or all of the transmembrane
and intracellular domains. Such polypeptides may also include
additional polypeptide segments as generally disclosed above.
[0069] The receptor polypeptides of the present invention,
including soluble homodimeric, heterodimeric and multimeric
receptors, full-length receptors, receptor fragments (e.g.
ligand-binding fragments), and fusion polypeptides 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., ibid., which
are incorporated herein by reference.
[0070] In general, a DNA sequence encoding a Zcytor11 soluble
receptor polypeptide, or a DNA sequence encoding an additional
subunit of a heterodimeric or multimeric Zcytor11 soluble receptor,
e.g., CRF2-4 or IL10R, 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. Multiple components of a soluble
receptor complex can be co-transfected on individual expression
vectors or be contained in a single expression vector. Such
techniques of expressing multiple components of protein complexes
are well known in the art.
[0071] To direct a homodimeric, heterodimeric and multimeric
Zcytor11 receptor 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 the receptor,
or may be derived from another secreted protein (e.g., t-PA) or
synthesized de nova. The secretory signal sequence is joined to the
Zcytor11 DNA sequence in the correct reading frame. Secretory
signal sequences are commonly positioned 5' to the DNA sequence
encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain 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).
[0072] Cultured mammalian cells are preferred 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. 1:841-845, (1982)), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection (Ausubel
et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., NY, 1987), and liposome-mediated transfection
(Hawley-Nelson et al., Focus 15:73, (1993); Ciccarone et al., Focus
15:80, (1993)), which are incorporated herein by reference. The
production of recombinant polypeptides in cultured mammalian cells
is disclosed, for example, by Levinson et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,713,339; Hagen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,950; Palmiter et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,821; and Ringold, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,134.
Suitable cultured mammalian cells include the COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL
1650), COS-7 (ATCC No. CRL 1651), BHK (ATCC No. CRL 1632), BHK 570
(ATCC No. CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC No. CRL 1573; Graham et al., J.
Gen. Virol. 36:59-72, 1977) and Chinese hamster ovary (e.g. CHO-K1;
ATCC No. CCL 61) cell lines. Additional suitable cell lines are
known in the art and available from public depositories such as the
American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. In general, strong
transcription promoters are preferred, such as promoters from SV-40
or cytomegalovirus. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,288. Other
suitable promoters include those from metallothionein genes (U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,579,821 and 4,601,978) and the adenovirus major late
promoter.
[0073] Drug selection is generally used to select for cultured
mammalian cells into which foreign DNA has been inserted. Such
cells are commonly referred to as "transfectants". Cells that have
been cultured in the presence of the selective agent and are able
to pass the gene of interest to their progeny are referred to as
"stable transfectants." A preferred selectable marker is a gene
encoding resistance to the antibiotic neomycin. Selection is
carried out in the presence of a neomycin-type drug, such as G-418
or the like. Selection systems may also be used to increase the
expression level of the gene of interest, a process referred to as
"amplification." Amplification is carried out by culturing
transfectants in the presence of a low level of the selective agent
and then increasing the amount of selective agent to select for
cells that produce high levels of the products of the introduced
genes. A preferred amplifiable selectable marker is dihydrofolate
reductase, which confers resistance to methotrexate. Other drug
resistance genes (e.g. hygromycin resistance, multi-drug
resistance, puromycin acetyltransferase) can also be used.
[0074] Other higher eukaryotic cells can also be used as hosts,
including insect cells, plant cells and avian cells. Transformation
of insect cells and production of foreign polypeptides therein is
disclosed by Guarino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,222; Bang et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,624; and WIPO publication WO 94/06463, which
are incorporated herein by reference. The use of Agrobacterium
rhizogenes as a vector for expressing genes in plant cells has been
reviewed by Sinkar et al., J. Biosci. (Bangalore) 11:47-58,
(1987).
[0075] Fungal cells, including yeast cells, and particularly cells
of the genus Saccharomyces, can also be used within the present
invention, such as for producing receptor fragments or polypeptide
fusions. Methods for transforming yeast cells with exogenous DNA
and producing recombinant polypeptides therefrom are disclosed by,
for example, Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kawasaki et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373; Brake, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,008; Welch et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; and Murray et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,845,075. Transformed cells are selected by phenotype determined
by the selectable marker, commonly drug resistance or the ability
to grow in the absence of a particular nutrient (e.g., leucine). A
preferred vector system for use in yeast is the POT1 vector system
disclosed by Kawasaki et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,373), which
allows transformed cells to be selected by growth in
glucose-containing media. Suitable promoters and terminators for
use in yeast include those from glycolytic enzyme genes (see, e.g.,
Kawasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,311; Kingsman et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,615,974; and Bitter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,092) and alcohol
dehydrogenase genes. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,990,446; 5,063,154;
5,139,936 and 4,661,454. Transformation systems for other yeasts,
including Hansenula polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe,
Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces fragilis, Ustilago maydis,
Pichia pastoris, Pichia methanolica, Pichia guillermondii and
Candida maltosa are known in the art. See, for example, Gleeson et
al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 132:3459-3465, (1986) and Cregg, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,882,279. Aspergillus cells may be utilized according to the
methods of McKnight et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,349. Methods for
transforming Acremonium chrysogenum are disclosed by Sumino et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,228. Methods for transforming Neurospora are
disclosed by Lambowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,533.
[0076] Transformed or transfected host cells are cultured according
to conventional procedures in a culture medium containing nutrients
and other components required for the growth of the chosen host
cells. A variety of suitable media, including defined media and
complex media, are known in the art and generally include a carbon
source, a nitrogen source, essential amino acids, vitamins and
minerals. Media may also contain such components as growth factors
or serum, as required. The growth medium will generally select for
cells containing the exogenously added DNA by, for example, drug
selection or deficiency in an essential nutrient which is
complemented by the selectable marker carried on the expression
vector or co-transfected into the host cell.
[0077] Within one aspect of the present invention, a novel soluble
receptor of the present invention is produced by a cultured cell,
and the cell is used to screen for ligands for the receptor,
including the natural ligand, IL-TIF, as well as agonists and
antagonists of the natural ligand. To summarize this approach, a
cDNA or gene encoding the receptor is combined with other genetic
elements required for its expression (e.g., a transcription
promoter), and the resulting expression vector is inserted into a
host cell. Cells that express the DNA and produce functional
receptor are selected and used within a variety of screening
systems. Each component of the homodimeric, heterodimeric and
multimeric receptor complex can be expressed in the same cell.
[0078] Mammalian cells suitable for use in expressing Zcytor11
receptors and transducing a receptor-mediated signal include cells
that express other receptor subunits which may form a functional
complex with Zcytor11. These subunits may include those of the
interferon receptor family or of other class II or class I cytokine
receptors, e.g., CRF2-4, IL-10R, and IL-9R. It is also preferred to
use a cell from the same species as the receptor to be expressed.
Within a preferred embodiment, the cell is dependent upon an
exogenously supplied hematopoietic growth factor for its
proliferation. Preferred cell lines of this type are the human TF-1
cell line (ATCC number CRL-2003) and the AML-193 cell line (ATCC
number CRL-9589), which are GM-CSF-dependent human leukemic cell
lines and BaF3 (Palacios and Steinmetz, Cell 41: 727-734, (1985))
which is an IL-3 dependent murine pre-B cell line. Other cell lines
include BHK, COS-1 and CHO cells.
[0079] Suitable host cells can be engineered to produce the
necessary receptor subunits or other cellular component needed for
the desired cellular response. This approach is advantageous
because cell lines can be engineered to express receptor subunits
from any species, thereby overcoming potential limitations arising
from species specificity. Species orthologs of the human receptor
cDNA can be cloned and used within cell lines from the same
species, such as a mouse cDNA in the BaF3 cell line. Cell lines
that are dependent upon one hematopoietic growth factor, such as
GM-CSF or IL-3, can thus be engineered to become dependent upon
IL-TIF.
[0080] Cells expressing functional receptor are used within
screening assays. A variety of suitable assays are known in the
art. These assays are based on the detection of a biological
response in a target cell. One such assay is a cell proliferation
assay. Cells are cultured in the presence or absence of a test
compound, and cell proliferation is detected by, for example,
measuring incorporation of tritiated thymidine or by colorimetric
assay based on the metabolic breakdown of
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT)
(Mosman, J. Immunol. Meth. 65: 55-63, (1983)). An alternative assay
format uses cells that are further engineered to express a reporter
gene. The reporter gene is linked to a promoter element that is
responsive to the receptor-linked pathway, and the assay detects
activation of transcription of the reporter gene. A preferred
promoter element in this regard is a serum response element, or
SRE. See, e.g., Shaw et al., Cell 56:563-572, (1989). A preferred
such reporter gene is a luciferase gene (de Wet et al., Mol. Cell.
Biol. 7:725, (1987)). Expression of the luciferase gene is detected
by luminescence using methods known in the art (e.g., Baumgartner
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:29094-29101, (1994); Schenborn and
Goiffin, Promega Notes 41:11, 1993). Luciferase activity assay kits
are commercially available from, for example, Promega Corp.,
Madison, Wis. Target cell lines of this type can be used to screen
libraries of chemicals, cell-conditioned culture media, fungal
broths, soil samples, water samples, and the like. For example, a
bank of cell-conditioned media samples can be assayed on a target
cell to identify cells that produce ligand. Positive cells are then
used to produce a cDNA library in a mammalian expression vector,
which is divided into pools, transfected into host cells, and
expressed. Media samples from the transfected cells are then
assayed, with subsequent division of pools, re-transfection,
subculturing, and re-assay of positive cells to isolate a cloned
cDNA encoding the ligand.
[0081] A natural ligand for the Zcytor11 receptor can also be
identified by mutagenizing a cell line expressing the full-length
receptor and culturing it under conditions that select for
autocrine growth. See WIPO publication WO 95/21930. Within a
typical procedure, IL-3 dependent BaF3 cells expressing Zcytor11
and the necessary additional subunits are mutagenized, such as with
2-ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS). The cells are then allowed to
recover in the presence of IL-3, then transferred to a culture
medium lacking IL-3 and IL4. Surviving cells are screened for the
production of a IL-TIF, such as by adding soluble receptor to the
culture medium or by assaying conditioned media on wild-type BaF3
cells and BaF3 cells expressing the receptor. Using this method,
cells and tissues expressing IL-TIF can be identified.
[0082] An additional screening approach provided by the present
invention includes the use of hybrid receptor polypeptides. These
hybrid polypeptides fall into two general classes. Within the first
class, the intracellular domain of Zcytor11, comprising
approximately residues 252 to 574 of SEQ ID NO:2, is joined to the
ligand-binding domain of a second receptor. It is preferred that
the second receptor be a hematopoietic cytokine receptor, such as
mpl receptor (Souyri et al., Cell 63: 1137-1147, (1990). The hybrid
receptor will further comprise a transmembrane domain, which may be
derived from either receptor. A DNA construct encoding the hybrid
receptor is then inserted into a host cell. Cells expressing the
hybrid receptor are cultured in the presence of a ligand for the
binding domain and assayed for a response. This system provides a
means for analyzing signal transduction mediated by Zcytor11 while
using readily available ligands. This system can also be used to
determine if particular cell lines are capable of responding to
signals transduced by Zcytor11 heterodimers and multimers of the
present invention. A second class of hybrid receptor polypeptides
comprise the extracellular (ligand-binding) domain of Zcytor11
(approximately residues 18 to 228 of SEQ ID NO:2; SEQ ID NO:3) with
an intracellular domain of a second receptor, preferably a
hematopoietic cytokine receptor, and a transmembrane domain. Hybrid
zacytor11 heterodimers and multimers of the present invention
receptors of this second class are expressed in cells known to be
capable of responding to signals transduced by the second receptor.
Together, these two classes of hybrid receptors enable the
identification of a responsive cell type for the development of an
assay for detecting a IL-TIF. Moreover, such cells can be used in
the presence of IL-TIF to assay the soluble receptor antagonists of
the present invention in a competition-type assay. In such assay, a
decrease in the proliferation or signal transduction activity of
IL-TIF in the presence of a soluble receptor of the present
invention demonstrates antagonistic activity. Moreover
IL-TIF-soluble receptor binding assays can be used to assess
whether a soluble receptor antagonizes IL-TIF activity.
[0083] Cells found to express the ligand are then used to prepare a
cDNA library from which the ligand-encoding cDNA can be isolated as
disclosed above. The present invention thus provides, in addition
to novel receptor polypeptides, methods for cloning polypeptide
ligands for the receptors.
[0084] The tissue specificity of Zcytor11 expression suggests a
role in the development of the pancreas, small intestine, colon and
the thymus. In view of the tissue specificity observed for this
receptor, agonists (including the natural ligand) and antagonists
have enormous potential in both in vitro and in vivo applications.
Compounds identified as receptor agonists are useful for
stimulating proliferation and development of target cells in vitro
and in vivo. For example, agonist compounds are useful as
components of defined cell culture media, and may be used alone or
in combination with other cytokines and hormones to replace serum
that is commonly used in cell culture. Agonists or antagonist may
be useful in specifically regulating the growth and/or development
of pancreatic, gasto-intestinal or thymic-derived cells in culture.
These compounds are useful as research reagents for characterizing
sites of ligand-receptor interaction. In vivo, receptor agonists or
antagonists may find application in the treatment pancreatic,
gastro-intestinal or thymic diseases.
[0085] Agonists or antagonists to Zcytor11 may include small
families of peptides. These peptides may be identified employing
affinity selection conditions that are known in the art, from a
population of candidates present in a peptide library. Peptide
libraries include combinatory libraries chemically synthesized and
presented on solid support (Lam et al., Nature 354: 82-84 (1991))
or are in solution (Houghten et al., BioTechniques 13: 412-421,
(1992)), expressed then linked to plasmid DNA (Cull et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 1865-1869 (1992)) or expressed and
subsequently displayed on the surfaces of viruses or cells (Boder
and Wittrup, Nature Biotechnology 15: 553-557 (1997); Cwirla et al.
Science 276: 1696-1699 (1997)).
[0086] Zcytor11 homodimeric, heterodimeric and multimeric may also
be used within diagnostic systems for the detection of circulating
levels of IL-TIF ligand. Within a related embodiment, antibodies or
other agents that specifically bind to Zcytor11 soluble receptors
of the present invention can be used to detect circulating receptor
polypeptides. Elevated or depressed levels of ligand or receptor
polypeptides may be indicative of pathological conditions,
including cancer.
[0087] Zcytor11 homodimeric, heterodimeric and multimeric receptor
polypeptides can be prepared by expressing a truncated DNA encoding
the extracellular domain, for example, a polypeptide which contains
SEQ ID NO:3 or the corresponding region of a non-human receptor. It
is preferred that the extracellular domain polypeptides be prepared
in a form substantially free of transmembrane and intracellular
polypeptide segments. For example, the C-terminus of the receptor
polypeptide may be at residue 228 of SEQ ID NO:2 or the
corresponding region of an allelic variant or a non-human receptor.
To direct the export of the receptor domain from the host cell, the
receptor DNA is linked to a second DNA segment encoding a secretory
peptide, such as a t-PA secretory peptide. To facilitate
purification of the secreted receptor domain, a C-terminal
extension, such as a poly-histidine tag, substance P, Flag.TM.
peptide (Hopp et al., Biotechnology 6:1204-1210, (1988); available
from Eastman Kodak Co., New Haven, Conn.) or another polypeptide or
protein for which an antibody or other specific binding agent is
available, can be fused to the receptor polypeptide. Moreover,
heterodimeric and multimeric non-zcytor11 subunit extracellular
cytokine binding domains are a also prepared as above.
[0088] In an alternative approach, a receptor extracellular domain
of zcytor11 or other class I or II cytokine receptor component can
be expressed as a fusion with immunoglobulin heavy chain constant
regions, typically an F.sub.c fragment, which contains two constant
region domains and a hinge region but lacks the variable region
(See, Sledziewski, A Z et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,018,026 and
5,750,375). The soluble zcytor11, soluble zcytoR11/CRF2-4
heterodimers and multimers of the present invention include such
fusions. Such fusions are typically secreted as multimeric
molecules wherein the Fc portions are disulfide bonded to each
other and two receptor polypeptides are arrayed in closed proximity
to each other. Fusions of this type can be used to affinity purify
the cognate ligand from solution, as an in vitro assay tool, to
block signals in vitro by specifically titrating out ligand, and as
antagonists in vivo by administering them parenterally to bind
circulating ligand and clear it from the circulation. To purify
ligand, a Zcytor11-Ig chimera is added to a sample containing the
ligand (e.g., cell-conditioned culture media or tissue extracts)
under conditions that facilitate receptor-ligand binding (typically
near-physiological temperature, pH, and ionic strength). The
chimera-ligand complex is then separated by the mixture using
protein A, which is immobilized on a solid support (e.g., insoluble
resin beads). The ligand is then eluted using conventional chemical
techniques, such as with a salt or pH gradient. In the alternative,
the chimera itself can be bound to a solid support, with binding
and elution carried out as above. The chimeras may be used in vivo
to regulate gastrointestinal, pancreatic or thymic functions.
Chimeras with high binding affinity are administered parenterally
(e.g., by intramuscular, subcutaneous or intravenous injection).
Circulating molecules bind ligand and are cleared from circulation
by normal physiological processes. For use in assays, the chimeras
are bound to a support via the F.sub.c region and used in an ELISA
format.
[0089] The present invention further provides a variety of other
polypeptide fusions and related multimeric proteins comprising one
or more polypeptide fusions. For example, a soluble zcytor11
receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 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, e.g., IgG.gamma.1, and the human .kappa.
light chain. Immunoglobulin-soluble zcytor11 receptor or
immunoglobulin-soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
immunoglobulin-soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 fusions can be expressed in
genetically engineered cells to produce a variety of multimeric
zcytor11 receptor analogs. Auxiliary domains can be fused to
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 to target them to
specific cells, tissues, or macromolecules (e.g., collagen, or
cells expressing the IL-TIF). A zcytor11 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.
[0090] A preferred assay system employing a ligand-binding receptor
fragment uses a commercially available biosensor instrument
(BLAcore.TM., Pharmacia Biosensor, Piscataway, N.J.), wherein the
receptor fragment is immobilized onto the surface of a receptor
chip. Use of this instrument is disclosed by Karlsson, J. Immunol.
Methods 145:229-240, (1991) and Cunningham and Wells, J. Mol. Biol.
234:554-563, (1993). A receptor fragment is covalently attached,
using amine or sulfhydryl chemistry, to dextran fibers that are
attached to gold film within the flow cell. A test sample is passed
through the cell. If ligand is present in the sample, it will bind
to the immobilized receptor polypeptide, causing a change in the
refractive index of the medium, which is detected as a change in
surface plasmon resonance of the gold film. This system allows the
determination of on- and off-rates, from which binding affinity can
be calculated, and assessment of stoichiometry of binding.
[0091] Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used within
other assay systems known in the art. Such systems include
Scatchard analysis for determination of binding affinity. See,
Scatchard, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 51: 660-672, (1949) and calorimetric
assays (Cunningham et al., Science 253:545-548, (1991); Cunningham
et al., Science 254:821-825, (1991)).
[0092] A receptor ligand-binding polypeptide can also be used for
purification of IL-TIF ligand. The receptor polypeptide is
immobilized on a solid support, such as beads of agarose,
cross-linked agarose, glass, cellulosic resins, silica-based
resins, polystyrene, cross-linked polyacrylamide, or like materials
that are stable under the conditions of use. Methods for linking
polypeptides to solid supports are known in the art, and include
amine chemistry, cyanogen bromide activation, N-hydroxysuccinimide
activation, epoxide activation, sulfhydryl activation, and
hydrazide activation. The resulting media will generally be
configured in the form of a column, and fluids containing ligand
are passed through the column one or more times to allow ligand to
bind to the receptor polypeptide. The ligand is then eluted using
changes in salt concentration or pH to disrupt ligand-receptor
binding.
[0093] Moreover, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4, can be used as a "ligand sink," i.e., antagonist,
to bind ligand in vivo or in vitro in therapeutic or other
applications where the presence of the ligand is not desired. For
example, in cancers that are expressing large amounts of bioactive
IL-TIF, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
and multimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 can be used as a direct antagonist of the ligand in
vivo, and may aid in reducing progression and symptoms associated
with the disease, and can be used in conjunction with other
therapies (e.g., chemotherapy) to enhance the effect of the therapy
in reducing progression and symptoms, and preventing relapse.
Moreover, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 can be used to slow the progression of cancers that
over-express zcytor11 receptors, by binding ligand in vivo that
would otherwise enhance proliferation of those cancers.
[0094] Moreover, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 can be used in vivo or in diagnostic applications
to detect IL-TIF-expressing cancers in vivo or in tissue samples.
For example, the soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 can be conjugated to a radio-label or fluorescent
label as described herein, and used to detect the presence of the
IL-TIF in a tissue sample using an in vitro ligand-receptor type
binding assay, or fluorescent imaging assay. Moreover, a
radiolabeled soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric receptor polypeptides, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 could be administered in vivo to detect
Ligand-expressing solid tumors through a radio-imaging method known
in the art.
[0095] Soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides can also
be used to prepare antibodies that bind to epitopes, peptides, or
polypeptides contained within the antigen. The zcytor11 polypeptide
or a fragment thereof serves as an antigen (immunogen) to inoculate
an animal and elicit an immune response. One of skill in the art
would recognize that antigens or immunogenic epitopes can consist
of stretches of amino acids within a longer polypeptide, from about
10 amino acids and up to about the entire length of the polypeptide
or longer depending on the polypeptide. Suitable antigens include
the zcytor11 polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:3 or a contiguous 9
to 211 AA amino acid fragment thereof. Preferred peptides to use as
antigens are the cytokine binding domain, disclosed herein, and
zcytor11 hydrophilic peptides such as those predicted by one of
skill in the art from a hydrophobicity plot, determined for
example, from a Hopp/Woods hydrophilicity profile based on a
sliding six-residue window, with buried G, S, and T residues and
exposed H, Y, and W residues ignored, or from a Jameson-Wolf plot
of SEQ ID NO:3 using a DNA*STAR program. In addition, conserved
motifs, and variable regions between conserved motifs of zcytor11
soluble receptor are suitable antigens. Suitable antigens also
include the zcytor11 polypeptides disclosed above in combination
with another class I or II cytokine extracellular domain, such as
those that form soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptides, such
as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4. Moreover, corresponding regions of the
mouse soluble zcytor11 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:3) can be
used to generate antibodies against the soluble mouse zcytor11
receptor. In addition Antibodies generated from this immune
response can be isolated and purified as described herein. Methods
for preparing and isolating polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
are well known in the art. See, for example, Current Protocols in
Immunology, Cooligan, et al. (eds.), National Institutes of Health,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1995; Sambrook et al., Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor,
N.Y., 1989; and Hurrell, J. G. R., Ed., Monoclonal Hybridoma
Antibodies: Techniques and Applications, CRC Press, Inc., Boca
Raton, Fla., 1982.
[0096] As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art,
polyclonal antibodies can be generated from inoculating a variety
of warm-blooded animals such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, dogs,
chickens, rabbits, mice, and rats with a soluble zcytor11 receptor
or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptide or a fragment thereof. The
immunogenicity of a zcytor11 polypeptide may be increased through
the use of an adjuvant, such as alum (aluminum hydroxide) or
Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. Polypeptides useful for
immunization also include fusion polypeptides, such as fusions of
zcytor11 or a portion thereof with an immunoglobulin polypeptide or
with maltose binding protein. The polypeptide immunogen may be a
full-length molecule or a portion thereof. If the polypeptide
portion is "hapten-like", such portion may be advantageously joined
or linked to a macromolecular carrier (such as keyhole limpet
hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or tetanus toxoid) for
immunization.
[0097] As used herein, the term "antibodies" includes polyclonal
antibodies, affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal
antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments, such as F(ab').sub.2 and
Fab proteolytic fragments. Genetically engineered intact antibodies
or fragments, such as chimeric antibodies, Fv fragments, single
chain antibodies and the like, as well as synthetic antigen-binding
peptides and polypeptides, are also included. Non-human antibodies
may be humanized by grafting non-human CDRs onto human framework
and constant regions, or by incorporating the entire non-human
variable domains (optionally "cloaking" them with a human-like
surface by replacement of exposed residues, wherein the result is a
"veneered" antibody). In some instances, humanized antibodies may
retain non-human residues within the human variable region
framework domains to enhance proper binding characteristics.
Through humanizing antibodies, biological half-life may be
increased, and the potential for adverse immune reactions upon
administration to humans is reduced.
[0098] Antibodies are considered to be specifically binding if: 1)
they exhibit a threshold level of binding activity, and 2) they do
not significantly cross-react with related polypeptide molecules. A
threshold level of binding is determined if anti-soluble zcytor11
receptor or anti-soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such
as anti-soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 antibodies herein bind to a soluble
zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide,
such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptide, peptide or epitope
with an affinity at least 10-fold greater than the binding affinity
to control (non-soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4)
polypeptide. It is preferred that the antibodies exhibit a binding
affinity (K.sub.a) of 10.sup.6 M.sup.-1 or greater, preferably
10.sup.7 M.sup.-1 or greater, more preferably 10.sup.8 M.sup.-1 or
greater, and most preferably 10.sup.9 M.sup.-1 or greater. The
binding affinity of an antibody can be readily determined by one of
ordinary skill in the art, for example, by Scatchard analysis
(Scatchard, G., Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 51: 660-672, 1949).
[0099] Whether anti-soluble zcytor11 receptor or anti-soluble
zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as anti-soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 antibodies do not significantly cross-react with
related polypeptide molecules is shown, for example, by the
antibody detecting soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4
polypeptide but not known related polypeptides using a standard
Western blot analysis (Ausubel et al., ibid.). Examples of known
related polypeptides are those disclosed in the prior art, such as
known orthologs, and paralogs, and similar known members of a
protein family. Screening can also be done using non-human soluble
zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide,
such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4, and soluble zcytor11 receptor or
soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 mutant polypeptides. Moreover, antibodies can be
"screened against" known related polypeptides, to isolate a
population that specifically binds to the soluble zcytor11 receptor
or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides. For example, antibodies raised to
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 are adsorbed to
related polypeptides adhered to insoluble matrix; antibodies
specific to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 will
flow through the matrix under the proper buffer conditions.
Screening allows isolation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
non-crossreactive to known closely related polypeptides
(Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (eds.), Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988; Current Protocols in
Immunology, Cooligan, et al. (eds.), National Institutes of Health,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1995). Screening and isolation of
specific antibodies is well known in the art. See, Fundamental
Immunology, Paul (eds.), Raven Press, 1993; Getzoff et al., Adv. in
Immunol. 43: 1-98, 1988; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Practice, Goding, J. W. (eds.), Academic Press Ltd., 1996; Benjamin
et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 2: 67-101, 1984. Specifically binding
anti-soluble zcytor11 receptor or anti-soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as anti-soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4
antibodies can be detected by a number of methods in the art, and
disclosed below.
[0100] A variety of assays known to those skilled in the art can be
utilized to detect antibodies that bind to soluble zcytor11
receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 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 soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 protein
or polypeptide.
[0101] Alternative techniques for generating or selecting
antibodies useful herein include in vitro exposure of lymphocytes
to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 protein or peptide,
and selection of antibody display libraries in phage or similar
vectors (for instance, through use of immobilized or labeled
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 protein or peptide).
Genes encoding polypeptides having potential binding domains for
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptide, can be
obtained by screening random peptide libraries displayed on phage
(phage display) or on bacteria, such as E. coli. Nucleotide
sequences encoding the polypeptides can be obtained in a number of
ways, such as through random mutagenesis and random polynucleotide
synthesis. These random peptide display libraries can be used to
screen for peptides which interact with a known target which can be
a protein or polypeptide, such as a ligand or receptor, a
biological or synthetic macromolecule, or organic or inorganic
substances. Techniques for creating and screening such random
peptide display libraries are known in the art (Ladner et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 5,223,409; Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Ladner
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,484 and Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,571,698) and random peptide display libraries and kits for
screening such libraries are available commercially, for instance
from Clontech (Palo Alto, Calif.), Invitrogen Inc. (San Diego,
Calif.), New England Biolabs, Inc. (Beverly, Mass.) and Pharmacia
LKB Biotechnology Inc. (Piscataway, N.J.). Random peptide display
libraries can be screened using the soluble zcytor11 receptor or
soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 sequences disclosed herein to identify proteins
which bind to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4. These
"binding polypeptides" which interact with soluble zcytor11
receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides can be used for tagging cells;
for isolating homolog polypeptides by affinity purification; they
can be directly or indirectly conjugated to drugs, toxins,
radionuclides and the like. These binding polypeptides can also be
used in analytical methods such as for screening expression
libraries and neutralizing activity, e.g., for blocking interaction
between IL-TIF ligand and receptor, or viral binding to a receptor.
The binding polypeptides can also be used for diagnostic assays for
determining circulating levels of soluble zcytor11 receptor or
soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides; for detecting or quantitating soluble
zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide,
such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides as marker of
underlying pathology or disease. These binding polypeptides can
also act as zcytor11 receptor or zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as zcytor11/CRF2-4 "antagonists" to block
zcytor11 receptor or zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
zcytor11/CRF2-4 binding and signal transduction in vitro and in
vivo. Again, these anti-soluble zcytor11 receptor or anti-soluble
zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as anti-soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 binding polypeptides would be useful for inhibiting
IL-TIF activity, as well as receptor activity or protein-binding.
Antibodies raised to the heterodimer or multimeric combinations of
the present invention are preferred embodiments, as they may act
more specifically against the IL-TIF, or more potently than
antibodies raised to only one subunit. Moreover, the antagonistic
and binding activity of the antibodies of the present invention can
be assayed in the IL-TIF proliferation and other biological assays
described herein.
[0102] Antibodies to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 may be
used for tagging cells that express zcytor11 receptor or zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptides, such as zcytor11/CRF2-4; for isolating
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptide by
affinity purification; for diagnostic assays for determining
circulating levels of soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4
polypeptides; for detecting or quantitating soluble zcytor11
receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 as marker of underlying pathology or
disease; in analytical methods employing FACS; for screening
expression libraries; for generating anti-idiotypic antibodies; and
as neutralizing antibodies or as antagonists to block zcytor11
receptor or zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as
zcytor11/CRF2-4, or IL-TIF activity in vitro and in vivo. Suitable
direct tags or labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates,
cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent markers, chemiluminescent
markers, magnetic particles and the like; indirect tags or labels
may feature use of biotin-avidin or other
complement/anti-complement pairs as intermediates. Antibodies
herein may also be directly or indirectly conjugated to drugs,
toxins, radionuclides and the like, and these conjugates used for
in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Moreover,
antibodies to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 or
fragments thereof may be used in vitro to detect denatured or
non-denatured soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 or
fragments thereof in assays, for example, Western Blots or other
assays known in the art.
[0103] Antibodies to soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 are
useful for tagging cells that express the corresponding receptors
and assaying their expression levels, for affinity purification,
within diagnostic assays for determining circulating levels of
soluble receptor polypeptides, analytical methods employing
fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Moreover, divalent antibodies,
and anti-idiotypic antibodies may be used as agonists to mimic the
effect of the IL-TIF.
[0104] Antibodies herein can also be directly or indirectly
conjugated to drugs, toxins, radionuclides and the like, and these
conjugates used for in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic applications.
For instance, antibodies or binding polypeptides which recognize
soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 polypeptides of the
present invention can be used to identify or treat tissues or
organs that express a corresponding anti-complementary molecule
(i.e., a zcytor11 receptor, or zcytor11 heterodimeric receptor,
such as zcytor11/CRF2-4). More specifically, anti-soluble zcytor11
receptor or anti-soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such
as anti-soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 antibodies, or bioactive fragments
or portions thereof, can be coupled to detectable or cytotoxic
molecules and delivered to a mammal having cells, tissues or organs
that express the zcytor11 receptor or a zcytor11 heterodimeric
receptor, such as zcytor11/CRF2-4 receptor molecules.
[0105] Suitable detectable molecules may be directly or indirectly
attached to polypeptides that bind soluble zcytor11 receptor or
soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble
zcytor11/CRF2-4 ("binding polypeptides," including binding peptides
disclosed above), antibodies, or bioactive fragments or portions
thereof. Suitable detectable molecules include radionuclides,
enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent markers,
chemiluminescent markers, magnetic particles and the like. Suitable
cytotoxic molecules may be directly or indirectly attached to the
polypeptide or antibody, and include bacterial or plant toxins (for
instance, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, ricin, abrin and
the like), as well as therapeutic radionuclides, such as
iodine-131, rhenium-188 or yttrium-90 (either directly attached to
the polypeptide or antibody, or indirectly attached through means
of a chelating moiety, for instance). Binding polypeptides or
antibodies may also be conjugated to cytotoxic drugs, such as
adriamycin. For indirect attachment of a detectable or cytotoxic
molecule, the detectable or cytotoxic molecule can be conjugated
with a member of a complementary/anticomplementary pair, where the
other member is bound to the binding polypeptide or antibody
portion. For these purposes, biotin/streptavidin is an exemplary
complementary/anticomplementary pair.
[0106] In another embodiment, binding polypeptide-toxin fusion
proteins or antibody-toxin fusion proteins can be used for targeted
cell or tissue inhibition or ablation (for instance, to treat
cancer cells or tissues). Alternatively, if the binding polypeptide
has multiple functional domains (i.e., an activation domain or a
ligand binding domain, plus a targeting domain), a fusion protein
including only the targeting domain may be suitable for directing a
detectable molecule, a cytotoxic molecule or a complementary
molecule to a cell or tissue type of interest. In instances where
the fusion protein including only a single domain includes a
complementary molecule, the anti-complementary molecule can be
conjugated to a detectable or cytotoxic molecule. Such
domain-complementary molecule fusion proteins thus represent a
generic targeting vehicle for cell/tissue-specific delivery of
generic anti-complementary-detectable/cytotoxic molecule
conjugates.
[0107] In another embodiment, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble
zcytor11 heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4
binding polypeptide-cytokine or antibody-cytokine fusion proteins
can be used for enhancing in vivo killing of target tissues (for
example, pancreatic, blood, lymphoid, colon, and bone marrow
cancers), if the binding polypeptide-cytokine or anti-soluble
zcytor11 receptor or anti-soluble zcytor11 heterodimeric
polypeptide, such as anti-soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 antibody targets
the hyperproliferative cell (See, generally, Hornick et al., Blood
89:4437-47, 1997). The described fusion proteins enable targeting
of a cytokine to a desired site of action, thereby providing an
elevated local concentration of cytokine. Suitable anti-zcytor11
homodimer and heterodimer antibodies target an undesirable cell or
tissue (i.e., a tumor or a leukemia), and the fused cytokine
mediates improved target cell lysis by effector cells. Suitable
cytokines for this purpose include interleukin 2 and
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), for
instance.
[0108] Alternatively, soluble zcytor11 receptor or soluble zcytor11
heterodimeric polypeptide, such as soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 binding
polypeptide or antibody fusion proteins described herein can be
used for enhancing in vivo killing of target tissues by directly
stimulating a zcytor11 receptor-modulated apoptotic pathway,
resulting in cell death of hyperproliferative cells expressing
zcytor11 receptor or a zcytor11 heterodimeric receptor, such as
soluble zcytor11/CRF2-4 receptor.
[0109] The invention is further illustrated by the following
non-limiting examples.
Example 1
Construction of Mammalian Expression Vectors that Express Zcytor11
Soluble Receptors: Zcytor11CEE, Zcytor11CFLG, Zcytor11CHIS and
Zcytor11-Fc4
A. Construction of Zcytor11 Mammalian Expression Vector Containing
Zcytor11CEE, Zcytor11CFLG and Zcytor11CHIS
[0110] An expression vector is prepared for the expression of the
soluble, extracellular domain of the zcytor11 polypeptide (SEQ ID
NO:3), pC4 zcytor11CEE, wherein the construct is designed to
express a zcytor11 polypeptide comprised of the predicted
initiating methionine and truncated adjacent to the predicted
transmembrane domain, and with a C-terminal Glu-Glu tag (SEQ ID
NO:4).
[0111] A zcytor11 DNA fragment comprising the zcytor11
extracellular cytokine binding domain (SEQ ID NO:3) is created
using PCR, and purified. The excised DNA is subcloned into a
plasmid expression vector that has a signal peptide, e.g., the
native zcytor11 signal peptide, and attaches a Glu-Glu tag (SEQ ID
NO:4) to the C-terminus of the zcytor11 polypeptide-encoding
polynucleotide sequence. Such an expression vector mammalian
expression vector contains an expression cassette having a
mammalian promoter, multiple restriction sites for insertion of
coding sequences, a stop codon and a mammalian terminator. The
plasmid can also have an E. coli origin of replication, a mammalian
selectable marker expression unit having an SV40 promoter, enhancer
and origin of replication, a DHFR gene and the SV40 terminator.
[0112] Restriction digested zcytor11 insert and previously digested
vector are ligated using standard molecular biological techniques,
and electroporated into competent cells such as DH10B competent
cells (GIBCO BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) according to manufacturer's
direction and plated onto LB plates containing 50 mg/ml ampicillin,
and incubated overnight. Colonies are screened by restriction
analysis of DNA prepared from individual colonies. The insert
sequence of positive clones is verified by sequence analysis. A
large scale plasmid preparation is done using a QIAGEN.RTM. Maxi
prep kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer's instructions.
[0113] The same process is used to prepare the zcytor11 soluble
homodimeric, heterodimeric or multimeric receptors (including
non-zcytor11 soluble receptor subunits, such as, soluble CRF2-4 or
IL-10R) with a C-terminal his tag, composed of 6 His residues in a
row; and a C-terminal flag (SEQ ID NO:5) tag, zcytor11CFLAG. To
construct these constructs, the aforementioned vector has either
the HIS or the FLAG.RTM. tag in place of the glu-glu tag (SEQ ID
NO:4).
B. Mammalian Expression Construction of Soluble Zcytor11 Receptor
Zcytor11-Fc4
[0114] An expression plasmid containing all or part of a
polynucleotide encoding zcytor11 is constructed via homologous
recombination. A fragment of zcytor11 cDNA was isolated using PCR
that includes the polynucleotide sequence from extracellular domain
of the zcytor11 receptor. Primers used in PCR for the production of
the zcytor11 fragment are from 5' to 3' end: (1) about 40 bp of the
vector flanking sequence (5' of the insert) and about 17 bp
corresponding to the 5' end of the zcytor11 extracellular domain;
and (2) about 40 bp of the 5' end of the Fc4 polynucleotide
sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) and about 17 bp corresponding to the 3' end
of the zcytor11 extracellular domain. The fragment of Fc4 for
fusion with the zcytor11 is generated by PCR in a similar fashion.
The two primers used in the production of the Fc4 fragment include:
(1) a 5' primer consisting of about 40 bp of sequence from the 3'
end of zcytor11 extracellular domain and about 17 bp of the 5' end
of Fc4 (SEQ ID NO:6); and (2) a 3' primer consisting of about 40 bp
of vector sequence (3' of the insert) and about 17 bp of the 3' end
of Fc4 (SEQ ID NO:6). PCR amplification of the each of the
reactions described above is then performed using conditions
standard in the art.
[0115] An exemplary expression vector is derived from the plasmid
pCZR199 (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801
University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, designated No.
98668), that is cut with SmaI (BRL). The expression vector was
derived from the plasmid pCZR199, and is a mammalian expression
vector containing an expression cassette having the CMV immediate
early promoter, a consensus intron from the variable region of
mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, multiple restriction sites
for insertion of coding sequences, a stop codon and a human growth
hormone terminator. The expression vector also has an E. coli
origin of replication, a mammalian selectable marker expression
unit having an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a
DHFR gene and the SV40 terminator. The expression vector used was
constructed from pCZR1199 by the replacement of the metallothionein
promoter with the CMV immediate early promoter.
[0116] Competent yeast cells (S. cerevisiae) are combined with
approximately 1 .mu.g each of the zcytor11 and Fc4 inserts, and 100
ng of SmaI (BRL) digested expression vector and electroporated. The
yeast/DNA mixtures are electropulsed at, for example, 0.75 kV (5
kV/cm), "infinite" ohms, 25 .mu.F. To each cuvette is added 600
.mu.l of 1.2 M sorbitol and the yeast was plated in aliquots onto
URA-D plates and incubated at 30.degree. C.
[0117] After about 48 hours, the Ura+ yeast transformants from a
single plate are picked, DNA isolated, and transformed into
electrocompetent E. coli cells (e.g., DH10B, GibcoBRL), and plated
using standard procedures. Individual clones harboring the correct
expression construct for zcytor11-Fc4 are identified by restriction
digest to verify the presence of the zcytor11-Fc4 insert and to
confirm that the various DNA sequences have been joined correctly
to one another. The insert of positive clones is subjected to
sequence analysis. Larger scale plasmid DNA is isolated using the
Qiagen Maxi kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer's
instructions.
[0118] Similar methods are used to prepare non-zcytor11 subunits of
heterodimeric and multimeric receptors, such as CRF2-4 and IL-10R
tagged with Fc4.
Example 2
Transfection and Expression of Soluble Receptor Polypeptides
[0119] BHK 570 cells (ATCC No. CRL-10314), DG-44 CHO, or other
mammalian cells are plated at about 1.2.times.10.sup.6 cells/well
(6-well plate) in 800 .mu.l of appropriate serum free (SF) media
(e.g., DMEM, Gibco/BRL High Glucose) (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg,
Md.). The cells are transfected with expression plasmids containing
zcytor11CEE, zcytor11CFLG, zcytor11CHIS or zcytor11-Fc4 (Example
1), or non-zcytor11 subunits of heterodimeric and multimeric
receptors, such as -CEE, -CFLG, -CHIS, or -Fc4 tagged CRF2-4 and
IL-10R, using Lipofectin.TM. (Gibco BRL), in serum free (SF) media
according to manufacturer's instruction. Single clones expressing
the soluble receptors are isolated, screened and grown up in cell
culture media, and purified using standard techniques.
Example 3
Expression of Zcytor11 Soluble Receptor in E. Coli
[0120] A. Construction of Expression Vector pCZR225 that Expresses
Huzcytor11/MBP-6H Fusion Polypeptide
[0121] An expression plasmid containing a polynucleotide encoding a
zcytor11 soluble receptor fused C-terminally to maltose binding
protein (MBP) is constructed via homologous recombination. The
fusion polypeptide contains an N-terminal approximately 388 amino
acid MBP portion fused to the zcytor11 soluble receptor (SEQ ID
NO:3). A fragment of zcytor11 cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 1) is isolated using
PCR as described herein. Two primers are used in the production of
the zcytor11 fragment in a standard PCR reaction: (1) one
containing about 40 bp of the vector flanking sequence and about 25
bp corresponding to the amino terminus of the zcytor11, and (2)
another containing about 40 bp of the 3' end corresponding to the
flanking vector sequence and about 25 bp corresponding to the
carboxyl terminus of the zcytor11. Two .mu.l of the 100 .mu.l PCR
reaction is run on a 1.0% agarose gel with 1.times.TBE buffer for
analysis, and the expected approximately fragment is seen. The
remaining PCR reaction is combined with the second PCR tube and
precipitated with 400 .mu.l of absolute ethanol. The precipitated
DNA used for recombining into the Sma1 cut recipient vector pTAP98
to produce the construct encoding the MBP-zcytor11 fusion, as
described below.
[0122] Plasmid pTAP98 is derived from the plasmids pRS316 and
pMAL-c2. The plasmid pRS316 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae shuttle
vector (Hieter P. and Sikorski, R., Genetics 122:19-27, 1989).
pMAL-C2 (NEB) is an E. coli expression plasmid. It carries the tac
promoter driving MalE (gene encoding MBP) followed by a His tag, a
thrombin cleavage site, a cloning site, and the rrnB terminator.
The vector pTAP98 is constructed using yeast homologous
recombination. 100 ng of EcoR1 cut pMAL-c2 is recombined with 1
.mu.g Pvu1 cut pRS316, 1 .mu.g linker, and 1 .mu.g Sca1/EcoR1 cut
pRS316 are combined in a PCR reaction. PCR products are
concentrated via 100% ethanol precipitation.
[0123] Competent yeast cells (S. cerevisiae) are combined with
about 10 .mu.l of a mixture containing approximately 1 .mu.g of the
zcytor11 receptor PCR product above, and 100 ng of SmaI digested
pTAP98 vector, and electroporated using standard methods and plated
onto URA-D plates and incubated at 30.degree. C.
[0124] After about 48 hours, the Ura+ yeast transformants from a
single plate are picked, DNA isolated, and transformed into
electrocompetent E. coli cells (e.g., MC1061, Casadaban et. al. J.
Mol. Biol. 138, 179-207), and plated on MM/CA+AMP 100 mg/L plates
(Pryor and Leiting, Protein Expression and Pruification 10:309-319,
1997). using standard procedures. Cells are grown in MM/CA with 100
.mu.g/ml Ampicillin for two hours, shaking, at 37.degree. C. 1 ml
of the culture is induced with 1 mM IPTG. 2-4 hours later the 250
.mu.l of each culture is mixed with 250 .mu.l acid washed glass
beads and 250 .mu.l Thorner buffer with 5% ME and dye (8M urea, 100
mM Tris pH7.0, 10% glycerol, 2 mM EDTA, 5% SDS). Samples are
vortexed for one minute and heated to 65.degree. C. for 10 minutes.
20 .mu.l are loaded per lane on a 4%-12% PAGE gel (NOVEX). Gels are
run in 1XMES buffer. The positive clones are designated pCZR225 and
subjected to sequence analysis.
[0125] One microliter of sequencing DNA is used to transform strain
BL21. The cells are electropulsed at 2.0 kV, 25 .mu.F and 400 ohms.
Following electroporation, 0.6 ml MM/CA with 100 mg/L Ampicillin.
Cells are grown in MM/CA and induced with ITPG as described above.
The positive clones are used to grow up for protein purification of
the huzcytor11MBP-6H fusion protein using standard techniques.
Example 4
Zcytor11 Soluble Receptor Polyclonal Antibodies
[0126] Polyclonal antibodies are prepared by immunizing female New
Zealand white rabbits with the purified huzcytor11/MBP-6H
polypeptide (Example 3), or the purified recombinant zcytor11CEE
soluble receptor (Example 1). The rabbits are each given an initial
intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 200 mg of purified protein in
Complete Freund's Adjuvant (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) followed by
booster IP injections of 100 mg purified protein in Incomplete
Freund's Adjuvant every three weeks. Seven to ten days after the
administration of the third booster injection, the animals are bled
and the serum is collected. The rabbits are then boosted and bled
every three weeks.
[0127] The zcytor11-specific polyclonal antibodies are affinity
purified from the rabbit serum using an CNBr-SEPHAROSE 4B protein
column (Pharmacia LKB) that is prepared using about 10 mg of the
purified huzcytor11/MBP-6H polypeptide per gram CNBr-SEPHAROSE,
followed by 20.times. dialysis in PBS overnight. Zcytor11-specific
antibodies are characterized by an ELISA titer check using 1 mg/ml
of the appropriate protein antigen as an antibody target. The lower
limit of detection (LLD) of the rabbit anti-zcytor11 affinity
purified antibodies is determined using standard methods.
Example 5
Zcytor11 Receptor Monoclonal Antibodies
[0128] Zcytor11 soluble receptor Monoclonal antibodies are prepared
by immunizing male BalbC mice (Harlan Sprague Dawley, Indianapolis,
Ind.) with the purified recombinant soluble zcytor11 proteins
described herein. The mice are each given an initial
intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 20 mg of purified protein in
Complete Freund's Adjuvant (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) followed by
booster IP injections of 10 mg purified protein in Incomplete
Freund's Adjuvant every two weeks. Seven to ten days after the
administration of the third booster injection, the animals are bled
and the serum is collected, and antibody titer assessed.
[0129] Splenocytes are harvested from high-titer mice and fused to
murine SP2/0 myeloma cells using PEG 1500 (Boerhinger Mannheim, UK)
in two separate fusion procedures using a 4:1 fusion ratio of
splenocytes to myeloma cells (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, E.
Harlow and D. Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Press). Following 10 days
growth post-fusion, specific antibody-producing hybridomas are
identified by ELISA using purified recombinant zcytor11 soluble
receptor protein (Example 6C) as an antibody target and by FACS
using Baf3 cells expressing the zcytor11 sequence (Example 8) as an
antibody target. The resulting hybridomas positive by both methods
are cloned three times by limiting dilution.
Example 6
Assessing Zcytor11 Receptor Heterodimerization Using ORIGEN
Assay
[0130] Soluble zcytor11 receptor zcytor11CFLAG (Example 1), or
gp130 (Hibi, M. et al., Cell 63:1149-1157, 1990) are biotinylated
by reaction with a five-fold molar excess of sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin
(Pierce, Inc., Rockford, Ill.) according to the manufacturer's
protocol. Soluble zcytor11 receptor and another soluble receptor
subunit, for example, soluble IL-10R (sIL-10R) or CRF2-4 receptor
(CRF2-4) (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.), or soluble zcytor11
receptor (U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,704) are labeled with a five fold
molar excess of Ru-BPY-NHS (Igen, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.)
according to manufacturer's protocol. The biotinylated and
R-BPY-NHS-labeled forms of the soluble zcytor11 receptor can be
respectively designated Bio-zcytor11 receptor and Ru-zcytor11; the
biotinylated and Ru-BPY-NHS-labeled forms of the other soluble
receptor subunit can be similarly designated. Assays can be carried
out using conditioned media from cells expressing a ligand, such as
IL-TIF, that binds zcytor11 heterodimeric receptors, or using
purified IL-TIF.
[0131] For initial receptor binding characterization a panel of
cytokines or conditioned medium are tested to determine whether
they can mediate homodimerization of zcytor11 receptor and if they
can mediate the heterodimerization of zcytor11 receptor with the
soluble receptor subunits described above. To do this, 50
.quadrature.l of conditioned media or TBS-B containing purified
cytokine, is combined with 50 .quadrature.l of TBS-B (20 mM Tris,
150 mM NaCl, 1 mg/ml BSA, pH 7.2) containing e.g., 400 ng/ml of
Ru-zcytor11 receptor and Bio-zcytor11, or 400 ng/ml of Ru-zcytor11
receptor and e.g., Bio-gp130, or 400 ng/ml of e.g., Ru-CRF2-4 and
Bio-zcytor11. Following incubation for one hour at room
temperature, 30 .mu.g of streptavidin coated, 2.8 mm magnetic beads
(Dynal, Inc., Oslo, Norway) are added and the reaction incubated an
additional hour at room temperature. 200 .mu.l ORIGEN assay buffer
(Igen, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) is then added and the extent of
receptor association measured using an M8 ORIGEN analyzer (Igen,
Inc.).
Example 7
Construct for Generating a Zcytor11 Receptor Heterodimer
[0132] A vector expressing a secreted human zcytor11 heterodimer
was constructed. In this construct, the extracellular
cytokine-binding domain of zcytor11 was fused to the heavy chain of
IgG gamma 1 (IgG.gamma.1) with a Glu-Glu tag (SEQ ID NO:4) at the
C-terminus, while the extracellular portion of the heteromeric
cytokine receptor subunit (e.g., an CRF2-4, IL-9, IL-10 IL-4
receptor component) was fused to the heavy chain of IgG gamma 1
(IgG.gamma.1) with a His tag at the C-terminus.
A. Construction of IgG Gamma 16-His and IgG Gamma 1 Glu-Glu Fusion
Vectors
[0133] The heavy chain of IgG.gamma.1 with a 6-His c-terminal tag
(SEQ ID NO:13) was cloned into the pZP-9 mammalian expression
vector (ATCC Deposit No. 98668) such that any desired cytokine
receptor extracellular domain having a 5' EcoRI and 3' BamHI site
can be cloned in, resulting in an N-terminal extracellular
domain-C-terminal IgG.gamma.1 fusion. The IgG.gamma.1 fragment used
in this construct was made by using PCR to isolate the IgG.gamma.1
uaing oligonucleotide primers ZC29,239 (SEQ ID NO: 14) and ZC29,232
(SEQ ID NO: 15). PCR products were purified using methods described
herein and digested with XhoI and BamHI (Boerhinger-Mannheim) and
subsequently gel purified. The extracellular portion of CRF2-4 (SEQ
ID NO:18) was amplified using PCR, using oligonucleotide primers
ZC39,319 (SEQ ID NO:16) and ZC39,325 (SEQ ID NO: 17). PCR products
were purified using methods described herein and digested with
EcoRI and BamHI (Boerhinger-Mannheim) and subsequently gel
purified. The BamHI/XhoI IgG.gamma.1 fragment and EcoRI/BamHI
CRF2-4 fragment derived above were then ligated together into pZP-9
previously digested with EcoRI and XhoI to derive a construct that
had the extracellular portion of CRF2-4 extracellular cytokine
binding domain fused to IgG.gamma.1 with a 6-HIS tag at the
c-terminus. This construct was subsequently modified to introduce a
thrombin cleavage site 3' of CRF2-4 and 5' of the 6-HIS tag. This
was done by using the above construct as template in PCR with
oligonucleotide primers ZC38,981 (SEQ ID NO:20) and ZC39,042 (SEQ
ID NO:21). PCR products were purified using methods described
herein and digested with SacII and XhoI. This SacII/XhoI fragment
was ligated into the construction described above that had been
previously digested with SacII and XhoI. The polynucleotide
sequence of the CRF2-4 extracellular cytokine binding domain fused
to IgG.gamma.1 with a 6-HIS tag is shown in SEQ ID NO:22 and the
corresponding polypeptide sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO:23.
[0134] The heavy chain of IgG.gamma.1 with a Glu-Glu c-terminal tag
(SEQ ID NO:4) was cloned into the Zem228R mammalian expression
vector (ATCC deposit No. 69446) such that any desired cytokine
receptor extracellular domain having a 5' EcoRI site and a 3' BamHI
site can be cloned in resulting in a N-terminal cytokine
extracellular domain-C-terminal IgG.gamma.1 fusion. The IgG.gamma.1
fragment used in this construct was made by using PCR to isolate
the IgG.gamma.1 sequence using oligonucleotide primers ZC29238 (SEQ
ID NO:24) and ZC29231 (SEQ ID NO:25). PCR products were purified
using methods described herein and digested with XhoI and EcoRI
(Boerhinger-Mannheim) and subsequently gel purified. The
extracellular portion of hzcytor11 (SEQ ID NO: 1) was amplified
using PCR using oligonucleotides ZC39335 (SEQ ID NO:26) and ZC28981
(SEQ ID NO:27). PCR products were purified using methods described
herein and digested with EcoRI and BamHI (Boerhinger-Mannheim) and
subsequently gel purified. The BamHI/XhoI IgG.gamma.1 fragment and
EcoRI/BamHI hzcytor11 fragments derived above were then ligated
together into Zem228R previously digested with EcoRI and XhoI to
derive a construct that had the extracellular domain of hzcytor11
fused to IgG.gamma.1 with a Glu-Glu epitope tag at the C-terminus.
This construct was subsequently modified to introduce a thrombin
cleavage site 3' of CRF2-4 and 5' of the 6-HIS tag. This was done
by using the above construct as template in PCR with
oligonucleotide primers ZC38981 (SEQ ID NO:27) and ZC39043 (SEQ ID
NO:28). PCR products were purified using methods described herein
and digested with SacII and XhoI. This SacII/XhoI fragment was
ligated into the construction described above that had been
previously digested with SacII and XhoI. The polynucleotide
sequence of the hzcytor11 extracellular cytokine binding domain
fused to IgG.gamma.1 with a Glu-Glu tag is shown in SEQ ID NO:29
and the corresponding polypeptide sequence is shown in SEQ ID
NO:30.
B. Co-Expression of the Zcytor11 and Heterodimeric Cytokine
Receptor Subunit Extracellular Domain
[0135] 16 .mu.g of each of vectors above, were co-transfected into
mammalian cells, e.g., BHK-570 cells (ATCC No. CRL-10314) using
LipofectaminePlus.TM. reagent (Gibco/BRL), as per manufacturer's
instructions. The transfected cells were selected for 10 days in
DMEM+5% FBS (Gibco/BRL) containing 1 .mu.M of methotrexate (MTX)
(Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) and 0.5 mg/ml G418 (Gibco/BRL) for 10 days.
The resulting pool of transfectants was selected again in 10 .mu.m
of MTX and 0.5 mg/ml G418 for 10 days.
[0136] The resulting pool of doubly selected cells was used to
generate zcytor11/CRF2-4 soluble receptor protein. Three Factories
(Nunc, Denmark) of this pool were used to generate 10 L of serum
free conditioned medium. This conditioned media was passed over a
nickel column followed by a Glu-Glu column to purify heterodimers
away from homodimers.
Example 8
Determination of Receptor Subunits that Heterodimerize or
Multimerize with Zcytor11 Receptor
[0137] Using standard methods described herein, The
BaF3/MPL-zcytor11 chimera cells are transfected with an additional
heterodimeric cytokine receptor subunit serve as a bioassay cell
line to measure signal transduction response of heterodimeric
zcytor11 receptor complexes to the luciferase reporter in the
presence of TPO. In the presence of TPO, the BaF3/MPL-zcytor11
cells do not signal, suggesting that zcytor11 receptor must
heterodimerize to signal. Transfection of the BaF3/MPL-zcytor11
cell line with and additional MPL-class I cytokine receptor fusion
that signals in the presence of the TPO ligand, determines which
heterodimeric cytokine receptor subunits are required for zcytor11
receptor signaling. Use of MPL-receptor fusions for this purpose
alleviates the requirement for the presence of a natural ligand for
the zcytor11 receptor.
[0138] MPL-class I cytokine receptor fusions are made as per
Example 5 using the extracellular domain and transmembrane domains
of the MPL receptor and the intracellular signaling domain of the
desired class I cytokine receptor. The BaF3/MPL-zcytor11 bioassay
cell line co-transfected with an individual MPL-class I cytokine
receptor fusions as per Example 6 to form a
BaF3/MPL-zcytor11/MPL-class I cytokine receptor cell line. Receptor
complexes include but are not limited to zcytor11 receptor in
combination with an MPL-cytokine receptor fusion comprising one or
more of e.g., a CRF2-4, IL-9, IL-10 IL4 receptor component. Each
independent receptor complex cell line is then assayed in the
presence of TPO and proliferation measured using routine methods
(e.g., Alamar Blue assay). The BaF3/MPL-zcytor11 bioassay cell line
serves as a control for the background luciferase activity, and is
thus used as a baseline to compare signaling by the various
receptor complex combinations. In addition, a BaF3/MPL-class I
cytokine receptor cell line can be constructed to control for
MPL-class I cytokine receptor homodimerization effects for those
class I cytokine receptors known to signal upon homodimerization.
The TPO in the presence of the correct receptor complex, is
expected to increase proliferation of the
BaF3/MPL-zcytor11/MPL-class I cytokine receptor cell line
approximately 5 fold over background or greater in the presence of
TPO.
[0139] Similar proliferation assays use full-length zcytor11 (SEQ
ID NO:2) to screen for additional non-zcytor11 subunits that signal
heterodimeric and multimeric complexes. Cells expressing
full-length zcytor11 (SEQ ID NO:2) are transfected with a
non-zcytor11 subunit and assayed for proliferation in the presence
of IL-TIF ligand. Cells expressing the components of zcytor11
heterodimeric and multimeric receptors should proliferate in the
presence of IL-TIF.
Example 9
Reconstitution of Zcytor11 Receptor In Vitro
[0140] To identify components involved in the zcytor11-signaling
complex, receptor reconstitution studies are performed as follows.
BHK 570 cells (ATCC No. CRL-10314) transfected, using standard
methods described herein, with a luciferase reporter mammalian
expression vector plasmid serve as a bioassay cell line to measure
signal transduction response from a transfected zcytor11 receptor
complex to the luciferase reporter in the presence of IL-TIF. BHK
cells do not endogenously express the zcytor11 receptor. An
exemplary luciferase reporter mammalian expression vector is the
KZ134 plasmid which was constructed with complementary
oligonucleotides that contain STAT transcription factor binding
elements from 4 genes. A modified c-fos Sis inducible element
(m67SIE, or hSIE) (Sadowski, H. et al., Science 261:1739-1744,
1993), the p21 SIE1 from the p21 WAF1 gene (Chin, Y. et al.,
Science 272:719-722, 1996), the mammary gland response element of
the .beta.-casein gene (Schmitt-Ney, M. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol.
11:3745-3755, 1991), and a STAT inducible element of the Fcg RI
gene, (Seidel, H. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 92:3041-3045,
1995). These oligonucleotides contain Asp718-XhoI compatible ends
and were ligated, using standard methods, into a recipient firefly
luciferase reporter vector with a c-fos promoter (Poulsen, L. K. et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:6229-6232, 1998) digested with the same
enzymes and containing a neomycin selectable marker. The KZ134
plasmid is used to stably transfect BHK, or BaF3 cells, using
standard transfection and selection methods, to make a BHK/KZ134 or
BaF3/KZ134 cell line respectively.
[0141] The bioassay cell line is transfected with zcytor11 receptor
alone, or co-transfected with zcytor11 receptor along with one of a
variety of other known receptor subunits. Receptor complexes
include but are not limited to zcytor11 receptor only, various
combinations of zcytor11 receptor with one or more of the CRF2-4,
IL-9, IL-10 IL-4 receptor components, class II cytokine receptor
subunits, or the IL-2 receptor components (IL-2R.alpha.,
IL-2R.beta., IL-2R.gamma.), zcytor11 receptor with one or more of
the IL-4/IL-13 receptor family receptor components (IL-4R.alpha.,
IL-13R.alpha., IL-13R.alpha.'), as well as other Interleukin
receptors (e.g., IL-15 R.alpha., IL-7R.alpha., IL-9R.alpha., IL-21R
(zcytor11)). Each independent receptor complex cell line is then
assayed in the presence of cytokine-conditioned media or purified
cytokines and luciferase activity measured using routine methods.
The untransfected bioassay cell line serves as a control for the
background luciferase activity, and is thus used as a baseline to
compare signaling by the various receptor complex combinations. The
conditioned medium or cytokine that binds the zyctor10 receptor in
the presence of the correct receptor complex, is expected to give a
luciferase readout of approximately 5 fold over background or
greater.
[0142] As an alternative, a similar assay can be performed wherein
the Baf3/zcytor11-mpl and Baf3/zcytor11 cell lines are
co-transfected as described above and proliferation measured.
Example 10
Construct for Generating CEE-Tagged IL-TIF
[0143] Oligonucleotides were designed to generate a PCR fragment
containing the Kozak sequence and the coding region for IL-TIF,
without its stop codon. These oligonucleotides were designed with a
KpnI site at the 5' end and a BamHI site at the 3' end to
facilitate cloning into pHZ200-CEE, our standard vector for
mammalian expression of C-terminal Glu-Glu tagged (SEQ ID NO:4)
proteins. The pHZ200 vector contains an MT-1 promoter.
[0144] PCR reactions were carried out using Turbo Pfu polymerase
(Stratagene) to amplify a IL-TIF cDNA fragment. About 20 ng human
IL-TIF polynucleotide template (SEQ ID NO:7), and oligonucleotides
ZC28590 (SEQ ID NO:9) and ZC28580 (SEQ ID NO: 10) were used in the
PCR reaction. PCR reaction conditions were as follows: 95.degree.
C. for 5 minutes; 30 cycles of 95.degree. C. for 60 seconds,
55.degree. C. for 60 seconds, and 72.degree. C. for 60 seconds; and
72.degree. C. for 10 minutes; followed by a 4.degree. C. hold. PCR
products were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and purified
using a QiaQuick.TM. (Qiagen) gel extraction kit. The isolated,
approximately 600 bp, DNA fragment was digested with KpnI and BamHI
(Boerhinger-Mannheim), gel purified as above and ligated into
pHZ200-CEE that was previously digested with KpnI and BamHI.
[0145] About one microliter of the ligation reaction was
electroporated into DH10B ElectroMax.TM. competent cells (GIBCO
BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) according to manufacturer's direction and
plated onto LB plates containing 100 .mu.g/ml ampicillin, and
incubated overnight. Colonies were picked and screened by PCR using
oligonucleotides ZC28590 (SEQ ID NO:9) and ZC28580 (SEQ ID NO:10),
with PCR conditions as described above. Clones containing inserts
were then sequenced to confirm error-free IL-TIF inserts. Maxipreps
of the correct pHZ200-IL-TIF-CEE construct, as verified by sequence
analysis, were performed.
Example 11
Transfection and Expression of IL-TIF Polypeptides
[0146] BHK 570 cells (ATCC No. CRL-10314), were plated at about
1.2.times.10.sup.6 cells/well (6-well plate) in 800 .mu.l of serum
free (SF) DMEM media (DMEM, Gibco/BRL High Glucose) (Gibco BRL,
Gaithersburg, Md.). The cells were transfected with an expression
plasmid containing IL-TIF-CEE described above (Example 10), using
Lipofectin.TM. (Gibco BRL), in serum free (SF) DMEM according to
manufacturer's instructions.
[0147] The cells were incubated at 37.degree. C. for approximately
five hours, then transferred to separate 150 mm MAXI plates in a
final volume of 30 ml DMEM/5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Hyclone,
Logan, Utah). The plates were incubated at 37.degree. C., 5%
CO.sub.2, overnight and the DNA: Lipofectin.TM. mixture was
replaced with selection media (5% FBS/DMEM with 1 .mu.M
methotrexate (MTX)) the next day.
[0148] Approximately 10-12 days post-transfection, colonies were
mechanically picked to 12-well plates in one ml of 5% FCS/DMEM with
5 .mu.M MTX, then grown to confluence. Positive expressing clonal
colonies Conditioned media samples were then tested for expression
levels via SDS-PAGE and Western analysis. A high-expressing clone
was picked and expanded for ample generation of conditioned media
for purification of the IL-TIF-CEE expressed by the cells (Example
12).
Example 12
Purification of IL-TIF-CEE Polypeptide from BHK 570 Cells
[0149] Unless otherwise noted, all operations were carried out at
4.degree. C. The following procedure was used for purifying IL-TIF
polypeptide containing C-terminal GluGlu (EE) tags (SEQ ID NO:4).
Conditioned media from BHK cells expressing IL-TIF-CEE (Example 11)
was concentrated with an Amicon S10Y3 spiral cartridge on a ProFlux
A30. A Protease inhibitor solution was added to the concentrated
conditioned media to final concentrations of 2.5 mM
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, Sigma Chemical Co. St.
Louis, Mo.), 0.003 mM leupeptin (Boehringer-Mannheim, Indianapolis,
Ind.), 0.001 mM pepstatin (Boehringer-Mannheim) and 0.4 mM Pefabloc
(Boehringer-Mannheim). Samples were removed for analysis and the
bulk volume was frozen at -80.degree. C. until the purification was
started. Total target protein concentrations of the concentrated
conditioned media were determined via SDS-PAGE and Western blot
analysis with the anti-EE HRP conjugated antibody.
[0150] About 100 ml column of anti-EE G-Sepharose (prepared as
described below) was poured in a Waters AP-5, 5 cm.times.10 cm
glass column. The column was flow packed and equilibrated on a
BioCad Sprint (PerSeptive BioSystems, Framingham, Mass.) with
phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4. The concentrated
conditioned media was thawed, 0.2 micron sterile filtered, pH
adjusted to 7.4, then loaded on the column overnight with about 1
ml/minute flow rate. The column was washed with 10 column volumes
(CVs) of phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), then plug eluted
with 200 ml of PBS (pH 6.0) containing 0.5 mg/ml EE peptide
(Anaspec, San Jose, Calif.) at 5 ml/minute. The EE peptide used has
the sequence EYMPME (SEQ ID NO:4). The column was washed for 10 CVs
with PBS, then eluted with 5 CVs of 0.2M glycine, pH 3.0. The pH of
the glycine-eluted column was adjusted to 7.0 with 2 CVs of
5.times.PBS, then equilibrated in PBS (pH 7.4). Five ml fractions
were collected over the entire elution chromatography and
absorbance at 280 and 215 nM were monitored; the pass through and
wash pools were also saved and analyzed. The EE-polypeptide elution
peak fractions were analyzed for the target protein via SDS-PAGE
Silver staining and Western Blotting with the anti-EE HRP
conjugated antibody. The polypeptide elution fractions of interest
were pooled and concentrated from 60 ml to 5.0 ml using a 10,000
Dalton molecular weight cutoff membrane spin concentrator
(Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
[0151] To separate IL-TIF-CEE from other co-purifying proteins, the
concentrated polypeptide elution pooled fractions were subjected to
a POROS HQ-50 (strong anion exchange resin from PerSeptive
BioSystems, Framingham, Mass.) at pH 8.0. A 1.0.times.6.0 cm column
was poured and flow packed on a BioCad Sprint. The column was
counter ion charged then equibrated in 20 mM TRIS pH 8.0 (Tris
(Hydroxymethyl Aminomethane)). The sample was diluted 1:13 (to
reduce the ionic strength of PBS) then loaded on the Poros HQ
column at 5 ml/minute. The column was washed for 10 CVs with 20 mM
Tris pH 8.0 then eluted with a 40 CV gradient of 20 mM Tris/1 M
sodium chloride (NaCl) at 10 ml/minute. 1.5 ml fractions were
collected over the entire chromatography and absorbance at 280 and
215 nM were monitored. The elution peak fractions were analyzed via
SDS-PAGE Silver staining. Fractions of interest were pooled and
concentrated to 1.5-2 ml using a 10,000 Dalton molecular weight
cutoff membrane spin concentrator (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.)
according to the manufacturer's instructions.
[0152] To separate IL-TIF-CEE polypeptide from free EE peptide and
any contaminating co-purifying proteins, the pooled concentrated
fractions were subjected to size exclusion chromatography on a
1.5.times.90 cm Sephadex S200 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) column
equilibrated and loaded in PBS at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min using a
BioCad Sprint. 1.5 ml fractions were collected across the entire
chromatography and the absorbance at 280 and 215 nM were monitored.
The peak fractions were characterized via SDS-PAGE Silver staining,
and only the most pure fractions were pooled. This material
represented purified IL-TIF-CEE polypeptide.
[0153] This purified material was finally subjected to a 4 ml
ActiClean Etox (Sterogene) column to remove any remaining
endotoxins. The sample was passed over the PBS equilibrated gravity
column four times then the column was washed with a single 3 ml
volume of PBS, which was pooled with the "cleaned" sample. The
material was then 0.2 micron sterile filtered and stored at
-80.degree. C. until it was aliquoted.
[0154] On Western blotted, Coomassie Blue and Silver stained
SDS-PAGE gels, the IL-TIF-CEE polypeptide was one major band. The
protein concentration of the purified material was performed by BCA
analysis (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) and the protein was aliquoted,
and stored at -80.degree. C. according to standard procedures.
[0155] To prepare anti-EE Sepharose, a 100 ml bed volume of protein
G-Sepharose (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) was washed 3 times with
100 ml of PBS containing 0.02% sodium azide using a 500 ml Nalgene
0.45 micron filter unit. The gel was washed with 6.0 volumes of 200
mM triethanolamine, pH 8.2 (TEA, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), and an
equal volume of EE antibody solution containing 900 mg of antibody
was added. After an overnight incubation at 4.degree. C., unbound
antibody was removed by washing the resin with 5 volumes of 200 mM
TEA as described above. The resin was resuspended in 2 volumes of
TEA, transferred to a suitable container, and
dimethylpimilimidate-2HCl (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) dissolved in
TEA, was added to a final concentration of 36 mg/ml of protein
G-Sepharose gel. The gel was rocked at room temperature for 45 min
and the liquid was removed using the filter unit as described
above. Nonspecific sites on the gel were then blocked by incubating
for 10 min. at room temperature with 5 volumes of 20 mM
ethanolamine in 200 mM TEA. The gel was then washed with 5 volumes
of PBS containing 0.02% sodium azide and stored in this solution at
4.degree. C.
Example 13
In Vivo Affects of IL-TIF Polypeptide
[0156] Mice (female, C57B1, 8 weeks old; Charles River Labs,
Kingston, N.Y.) were divided into three groups. An adenovirus
expressing an IL-TIF polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:8) was previously made
using standard methods. On day 0, parental or IL-TIF adenovirus was
administered to the first (n=8) and second (n=8) groups,
respectively, via the tail vein, with each mouse receiving a dose
of .about.1.times.10.sup.11 particles in .about.0.1 ml volume. The
third group (n=8) received no treatment. On days 12, mice were
weighed and blood was drawn from the mice. Samples were analyzed
for complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry. Statistically
significant elevations in neutrophil and platelet counts were
detected in the blood samples from the IL-TIF adenovirus
administered group relative to the parental adenovirus treated
group. Also, lymphocyte and red blood cell counts were
significantly reduced from the IL-TIF adenovirus administered group
relative to the parental adenovirus treated group. In addition, the
IL-TIF adenovirus treated mice decreased in body weight, while
parental adenovirus treated mice gained weight. The SAA and
globulin level was increased and glucose level was decreased. The
adeno-zcyto18 mice displayed wasting syndrome. In summary, zcyto18
causes acute phase response (APR) that reflects the
pro-inflammatory activity of TNF-.alpha., IL-1, and gp130
cytokines.
[0157] The result suggested that IL-TIF is a pro-inflammatory
factor that is involved in the immune and inflammatory response in
vivo. The tissue distribution of IL-TIF receptor (zcytor11)
indicated that elevated expression of IL-TIF in circulation or
specific tissues can lead to certain acute/chronic inflammatory
diseases, such as pancreatitis, IBD (Chron's disease, colitis),
asthma, ESRD (end stage renal diseases), rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriasis, and autoimmune diseases (GVHD, lupus, sepsis).
[0158] The results suggested that IL-TIF affects hematopoiesis,
i.e., blood cell formation in vivo. As such, IL-TIF could have
biological activities effecting different blood stem cells, thus
resulting increase or decrease of certain differentiated blood
cells in a specific lineage. For instance, IL-TIF appears to reduce
lymphocytes, which is likely due to inhibition of the committed
progenitor cells that give rise to lymphoid cells. IL-TIF also
decreases red blood cells. This finding agrees with the inhibitory
effects of IL-TIF on the proliferation and/or growth of myeloid
stem cells (Example 13), supporting the notion that IL-TIF could
play a role in anemia, infection, inflammation, and/or immune
diseases by influencing blood cells involved in these process.
Antagonists against IL-TIF, such as antibodies or zcytor11 soluble
receptors of the present invention, could be used as therapeutic
reagents in these diseases.
[0159] Moreover, these experiments using IL-TIF adenovirus in mice
suggest that IL-TIF over-expression increases the level of
neutrophils and platelets in vivo. It is conceivable that there are
other factors (such as cytokines and modifier genes) involved in
the responses to IL-TIF in the whole animal system. Nevertheless,
these data strongly support the involvement of IL-TIF in
hematopoiesis. Thus, IL-TIF and its receptors are suitable
reagents/targets for the diagnosis and treatment in variety of
disorders, such as inflammation, immune disorders, infection,
anemia, hematopoietic and other cancers, and the like.
Example 14
Identification of Cells Expressing Zcytor11 Using In Situ
Hybridization
[0160] Specific human tissues were isolated and screened for
zcytor11 expression by in situ hybridization. Various human tissues
prepared, sectioned and subjected to in situ hybridization included
appendix, brain, cartilage, colon, intestine, kidney, liver, lung,
lymph node, lymphoma, ovary, pancreas, placenta, prostate, skin,
spleen, and thymus. The tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin
and blocked in paraffin using standard techniques. Tissues were
sectioned at 4 to 8 microns. Tissues were prepared using a standard
protocol ("Development of non-isotopic in situ hybridization" at
The Laboratory of Experimental Pathology (LEP), NIEHS, Research
Triangle Park, N.C.; web address
http://dir.niehs.nih.gov/dirlep/ish.html). Briefly, tissue sections
were deparaffinized with HistoClear (National Diagnostics, Atlanta,
Ga.) and then dehydrated with ethanol. Next they were digested with
Proteinase K (50 .mu.g/ml) (Boehringer Diagnostics, Indianapolis,
Ind.) at 37.degree. C. for 2 to 7 minutes. This step was followed
by acetylation and re-hydration of the tissues.
[0161] One in situ probe was designed against the human zcytor11
sequence (nucleotide 234-1105 in SEQ ID NO:1), and isolated from a
plasmid containing SEQ ID NO:1 using standard methods. T7 RNA
polymerase was used to generate an antisense probe. The probe was
labeled with digoxigenin (Boehringer) using an In Vitro
transcription System (Promega, Madison, Wis.) as per manufacturer's
instruction.
[0162] In situ hybridization was performed with a
digoxigenin-labeled zcytor11 probe (above). The probe was added to
the slides at a concentration of 1 to 5 pmol/ml for 12 to 16 hours
at 60.degree. C. Slides were subsequently washed in 2.times.SSC and
0.1.times.SSC at 55.degree. C. The signals were amplified using
tyramide signal amplification (TSA) (TSA, in situ indirect kit;
NEN) and visualized with Vector Red substrate kit (Vector Lab) as
per manufacturer's instructions. The slides were then
counter-stained with hematoxylin (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame,
Calif.).
[0163] Signals were observed in several tissues tested: The lymph
node that contains cells in the paracortex of nodules was strongly
positive. In lymphoma samples, there is little to no signal in the
samples tested. In spleen, positive signals were seen in scattered
mononuclear cells at the periphery of follicles were positive. In
thymus, positive signals were seen in scattered mononuclear cells
in both cortex and medulla was positive. In fetal liver, a strong
signal was observed in a mixed population of mononuclear cells in
sinusoid spaces. Some circulating mononuclear cells were also
positive. Hepatocytes were negative. In the inflamed appendix,
mononuclear cells in Peyer's patch and infiltration sites were
positive. In intestine, cells in laminar propria and Peyer's
patches were strongly positive. Ganglia nerve cells in the muscles
were positive. In normal lung, zcytor11 was expressed in alveolar
epithelium and mononuclear cells in interstitial tissue and
circulation. In the lung carcinoma tissue, a weak signal was
observed in carcinoma cells and mononuclear cells in peripheral of
carcinoma sites. In ovary carcinoma, epithelium cells were strongly
positive. Some interstitial cells, most likely the mononuclear
cells, were also positive. There was no signal observed in the
normal ovary. In kidney, podocytes and simple epithelial cells in
the parietal layer of Bowman's capsules in renal corpuscles were
positive. Cuboidal epithelial cells of distal convoluted tubules
were also positive. In both normal and pancreatitis pancreas
samples, acinar cells and some mononuclear cells in the mesentery
were positive. There may be also weak signal in a subset of cells
in islets of pancreas. In the early term (8 weeks) placenta, signal
was observed in trophoblasts. In skin, strong signal was observed
in the keratinocytes and mononuclear cells in the inflamed
infiltrates in the superficial dermis. In brain, majority of
neurons in temporal lobe were positive, however, the frontal lobe
appears to be negative. In articular cartilage, chondrocytes were
positive. Other tissues tested including normal ovary, skin
melanoma, prostate carcinoma and BPH were negative.
[0164] In summary, the in situ data was consistent with expression
data described above for the zcytor11. Zcytor11 expression was
observed predominately and consistently expressed by a mixed
population of mononuclear cells. A subset of epithelium was also
positive. These results confirmed the presence of zcytor11
expression in immune cells and point toward a role in inflammation,
autoimmune disease, or other immune function, for example, in
binding pro-inflammatory cytokines, including but not limited to
IL-TIF. Moreover, detection of zcytor11 expression can be used for
example as a marker for mononuclear cells in histologic
samples.
[0165] Zcytor11 is expressed in mononuclear cells, including normal
tissues (lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, pancreas, kidney, liver and
lung), and abnormal tissues (inflamed appendix, lung carcinoma,
ovary carcinoma, pancreatitis, inflamed skin, and prostate
carcinoma). It is notable that plasma cells in the lymph node,
intestine, and lung carcinoma are positive for zcytor11. Plasma
cells are immunologically activated lymphocytes responsible for
antibody synthesis. In addition, IL-TIF is expressed in activated T
cells, and the expression of zcytor11 is detected only in resting
(but not in activated) CD19+ cells (Example 13). Thus, zcytor11 can
be used as a marker for or as a target in isolating certain
lymphocytes, such as mononuclear leucocytes and limited type of
activated leucocytes, such as resting CD19+.
[0166] Furthermore, the presence of zcytor11 expression in immune
cells such as CD8+ T cell and CD19+ B cells showed that zcytor11
may be involved in the body's immune defensive reactions against
foreign invaders: such as microorganisms and cell debris, and could
play a role in immune responses during inflammation and cancer
formation. The activation of zcytor11 receptor may cause autoimmune
and inflammatory diseases such as GVHD, sepsis and lupus.
[0167] Moreover, as discussed herein, epithelium form several
tissues was positive for zcytor11 expression, such as skin, kidney,
gut, hepatocytes (endoderm-derived epithelia), lung alveolar
epithelium (endoderm-derived epithelia), and ovary carcinoma
epithelium (mesoderm-derived epithelium). The inflammatory response
in these tissues may cause acute/chronic inflammatory diseases,
such as psoriasis (skin), end-stage renal disease ESRD (kidney),
IBD (Chron's disease, colitis) (gut), and asthma/respiratory
allergy/chronic bronchitis (lung). The epithelium expression of
zcytor11 could be altered in inflammatory responses and/or
cancerous states in liver and lung. Thus, ligand for zcytor11, such
as IL-TIF, or a receptor-binding fragment thereof, could be used as
marker to monitor changes in these tissues as a result of
inflammation or cancer. Moreover, analysis of zcytor11 in situ
expression showed that normal ovary epithelium is negative for
zcytor11 expression, while it is strongly positive in ovary
carcinoma epithelium providing further evidence that IL-TIF
polypeptides, or a receptor-binding fragment thereof, can be used
as a diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target for the diagnosis
and treatment of ovarian cancers, and ovary carcinoma, as described
herein.
[0168] Zcytor11 was also detected in other tissues, such as acinar
cells in pancreas (normal and pancreatitis tissues), trophoblasts
in placenta (ectoderm-derived), chondrocytes in cartilage
(mesoderm-derived), and ganglia cells in intestine
(ectoderm-derived). As such, zcytor11 may be involved in
differentiation and/or normal functions of corresponding cells in
these organs. As such, potential utilities of zcytor11 include
maintenance of normal metabolism and pregnancy, bone
formation/homeostasis, and physiological function of intestine, and
the like. Moreover, the up-regulation of IL-TIF may potentially
cause the inflammatory response in those tissues that lead to
certain inflammatory diseases such as pancreatitis, rheumatoid
arthritis, IBD (colitis and Chron's disease).
Example 15
Human Zcytor11 Tissue Distribution in Tissue Panels Using Northern
Blot and PCR
A. Human Zcytor11 Tissue Distribution in Tissue Panels Using
PCR
[0169] A panel of cDNAs from human tissues was screened for
zcytor11 expression using PCR. The panel was made in-house and
contained 94 marathon cDNA and cDNA samples from various normal and
cancerous human tissues and cell lines are shown in Table 4 below.
Aside from the PCR reaction, the method used was as shown in
Example 12. The PCR reactions were set up using oligos ZC14,666
(SEQ ID NO: 11) and ZC14,742 (SEQ ID NO:12), Advantage 2 cDNA
polymerase mix (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), and Rediload dye
(Research Genetics, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.). The amplification was
carried out as follows: 1 cycle at 94.degree. C. for 2 minutes, 40
cycles of 94.degree. C. for 15 seconds, 51.degree. C. for 30
seconds and 72.degree. C. for 30 seconds, followed by 1 cycle at
72.degree. C. for 7 minutes. The correct predicted DNA fragment
size was observed in bladder, brain, cervix, colon, fetal brain,
fetal heart, fetal kidney, fetal liver, fetal lung, fetal skin,
heart, kidney, liver, lung, melanoma, ovary, pancreas, placenta,
prostate, rectum, salivary gland, small intestine, testis, thymus,
trachea, spinal cord, thyroid, lung tumor, ovarian tumor, rectal
tumor, and stomach tumor. Zcytor11 expression was not observed in
the other tissues and cell lines tested in this panel.
[0170] A commercial 1st strand cDNA panel (Human Blood Fractions
MTC Panel, Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) was also assayed as above.
The panel contained the following samples: mononuclear cells,
activated mononuclear cells, resting CD4+ cells, activated CD4+
cells, resting CD8+ cells, activated CD8+ cells, resting CD14+
cells, resting CD19+ cells and activated CD19+ cells. All samples
except activated CD8+ and Activated CD19+ showed expression of
zcytor11.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 4 Tissue #samples Tissue #samples adrenal
gland 1 bladder 1 bone marrow 3 brain 2 cervix 1 colon 1 fetal
brain 3 fetal heart 2 fetal kidney 1 fetal liver 2 fetal lung 1
fetal skin 1 heart 2 fetal muscle 1 kidney 2 liver 1 lung 1 lymph
node 1 mammary gland 1 melanoma 1 ovary 1 pancreas 1 pituitary 2
placenta 3 prostate 3 rectum 1 salivary gland 2 skeletal muscle 1
small intestine 1 spinal cord 2 spleen 1 uterus 1 stomach 1
adipocyte library 1 testis 5 islet 1 thymus 1 prostate SMC 1
thyroid 2 RPMI 1788 1 trachea 1 WI38 1 esophageal tumor 1 lung
tumor 1 liver tumor 1 ovarian tumor 1 rectal tumor 1 stomach tumor
1 uterine tumor 2 CD3+ library 1 HaCAT library 1 HPV library 1 HPVS
library 1 MG63 library 1 K562 1
B. Tissue Distribution of Zcytor11 in Human Cell Line and Tissue
Panels Using RT-PCR
[0171] A panel of RNAs from human cell lines was screened for
zcytor11 expression using RT-PCR. The panels were made in house and
contained 84 RNAs from various normal and cancerous human tissues
and cell lines as shown in Tables 5-8 below. The RNAs were made
from in house or purchased tissues and cell lines using the RNAeasy
Midi or Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The panel was set up
in a 96-well format with 100 ngs of RNA per sample. The RT-PCR
reactions were set up using oligos ZC14,666 (SEQ ID NO:11) and
ZC14,742 (SEQ ID NO: 12), Rediload dye and SUPERSCRIPT One Step
RT-PCR System (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). The
amplification was carried out as follows: one cycle at 50.degree.
for 30 minutes followed by 45 cycles of 94.degree., 15 seconds;
52.degree., 30 seconds; 72.degree., 30 seconds; then ended with a
final extension at 72.degree. for 7 minutes. 8 to 10 uls of the PCR
reaction product was subjected to standard Agarose gel
electrophoresis using a 4% agarose gel. The correct predicted cDNA
fragment size was observed in adrenal gland, bladder, breast,
bronchus, normal colon, colon cancer, duodenum, endometrium,
esophagus, gastic cancer, gastro-esophageal cancer, heart
ventricle, iluem, normal kidney, kidney cancer, liver, lung, lymph
node, pancreas, parotid, skin, small bowel, stomach, thyroid, and
uterus. Cell lines showing expression of zcytor11 were A431,
differentiated CaCO2, DLD-1, HBL-100, HCT-15, HepG2, HepG2+IL6,
HuH7, and NHEK #1-4. Zcytor11 expression was not observed in the
other tissues and cell lines tested in this panel. The expression
pattern of zcytor11 shows expression in specific tissues and
tissue-specific tumors. One of skill in the art would recognize
that the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and binding
partners of the present invention can be used as a diagnostic to
detect cancer, or cancer tissue in a biopsy, tissue, or histologic
sample, particularly in tissues where zcytor11 is expressed. Such
diagnostic uses for the molecules of the present invention are
known in the art and described herein.
[0172] In addition, because the expression pattern of zcytor11, one
of IL-TIF's receptors, shows expression in certain specific
tissues, binding partners including the natural ligand, IL-TIF, can
also be used as a diagnostic to detect specific tissues (normal or
abnormal), cancer, or cancer tissue in a biopsy, tissue, or
histologic sample, particularly in tissues where IL-TIF receptors
are expressed. IL-TIF can also be used to target other tissues
wherein its receptors, e.g., zcytor11 and CRF2-4, are expressed.
Moreover, such binding partners could be conjugated to
chemotherapeutic agents, toxic moieties and the like to target
therapy to the site of a tumor or diseased tissue. Such diagnostic
and targeted therapy uses are known in the art and described
herein.
[0173] The expression patterns of zcytor11 (above) indicated target
tissues and cell types for the action of IL-TIF, and hence IL-TIF
antagonists, such as the soluble zcytor11 receptors of the present
invention. The zcytor11 is generally expressed in three physiologic
systems: digestive system, female reproductive system, and immune
system. Moreover, the expression pattern of the receptor (zcytor11)
indicated that an IL-TIF antagonist the soluble zcytor11 receptors
of the present invention would have therapeutic application for
human disease in two areas: inflammation (e.g., IBD, Chron's
disease, pancreatitis) and cancer (e.g., ovary, colon). That is,
the polynucleotides, polypeptides and antibodies of the present
invention can be used to antagonize the inflammatory, and other
cytokine-induced effects of IL-TIF interaction with the cells
expressing the zcytor11 receptor.
[0174] Moreover, the expression of zcytor11 appeared to be
downregulated or absent in an ulcerative colitis tissue, HepG2
liver cell line induced by IL-6, activated CD8+ T-cells and CD19+
B-cells. These RT-PCR experiments demonstrate that CD19+ peripheral
blood cells, B lymphocytes, express receptors for IL-TIF, namely
zcytoR11. The soluble zcytor11 receptors of the present invention
would act as an antagonist to neutralize the effects of IL-TIF on B
cells. This would be beneficial in diseases where B cells are the
key players: Autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus
erythmatosus (SLE), myasthenia gravis, immune complex disease, and
B-cell cancers that are exacerbated by IL-TIF. Also autoimmune
diseases where B cells contribute to the disease pathology would be
targets for zcytor11 soluble receptor therapy: Multiple sclerosis,
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis are
examples. Soluble zcytor11 receptor therapy would be beneficial to
dampen or inhibit B cells producing IgE in atopic diseases
including asthma, allergy and atopic dermatitis where the
production of IgE contributes to the pathogenesis of disease.
[0175] B cell malignancies may exhibit a loss of regulation by
cytokines, such as IL-TIF. The administration of the soluble
zcytor11 receptors of the present invention following surgical
resection or chemotherapy may be useful to treat minimal residual
disease in patients with B cell malignancies. The loss of
regulation may lead to sustain or increased expression of zcytoR11.
Thus creating a target for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
targeting zcytoR11 comprising receptors, such as those described
herein.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 5 Tissue #samples Tissue #samples adrenal
gland 6 duodenum 1 bladder 3 endometrium 5 brain 2 cancerous
endometrium 1 brain meningioma 1 gastric cancer 1 breast 1
esophagus 7 cancerous breast 4 gastro-esophageal 1 normal breast
adjacent 5 heart aorta 1 to cancer heart left ventricle 4 bronchus
3 heart right ventricle 2 colon 15 heart ventricle 1 cancerous
colon 1 ileum 3 normal colon adjacent 1 kidney 15 to cancer
cancerous kidney 1 ulcerative colitis 1 colon
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 6 Tissue/Cell Line #samples Tissue/Cell Line
#samples 293 1 HBL-100 1 C32 1 Hs-294T 1 HaCat#1 1 Molt4 1 HaCat#2
1 RPMI 1 HaCat#3 1 U-937 1 HaCat#4 1 A-375 1 WI-38 1 HCT-15 1 WI-38
+ 2 um ionomycin #1 1 HT-29 1 WI-38 + 2 um ionomycin #2 1 MRC-5 1
WI-38 + 5 um ionomycin#1 1 RPT-1 1 WI-38 + 5 um ionomycin#2 1 RPT-2
1 Caco-2, 1 WM-115 1 Caco-2, differentiated 1 A-431 1 DLD-1 1
WERI-Rb-1 1 HRE 1 HEL-92.1.7 1 HRCE 1 HuH-7 1 MCF7 1 MV-4-11 1 PC-3
1 U-138 1 TF-1 1 CCRF-CEM 1 5637 1 Y-79 1 143B 1 A-549 1 ME-180 1
EL-4 1 prostate epithelia 1 HeLa 229 1 U-2 OS 1 HUT 78 1 T-47D 1
NCI-H69 1 Mg-63 1 SaOS2 1 Raji 1 USMC 1 U-373 MG 1 UASMC 2 A-172 1
AoSMC 1 CRL-1964 1 UtSMC 1 CRL-1964 + butryic acid 1 HepG2 1 HUVEC
1 HepG2- IL6 1 SK-Hep-1 1 NHEK#1 1 SK-Lu-1 1 NHEK#2 1 Sk-MEL-2 1
NHEK#3 1 K562 1 NHEK#4 1 BeWo 1 ARPE-19 1 FHS74.Int 1 G-361 1 HL-60
1 HISM 1 Malme 3M 1 3AsubE 1 FHC 1 INT407 1 HREC 1
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 7 Tissue #samples Tissue #samples liver 10
lung 13 lymph node 1 cancerous lung 2 lymphoma 4 normal lung
adjacent to 1 mammary adenoma 1 cancer mammary gland 3 muscle 3
melinorioma 1 neuroblastoma 1 osteogenic sarcoma 2 omentum 2
pancreas 4 ovary 6 skin 5 cancerous ovary 2 sarcoma 2 parotid 7
salivary gland 4
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 8 Tissue #samples Tissue #samples small bowel
10 uterus 11 spleen 3 uterine cancer 1 spleen lymphoma 1 thyroid 9
stomach 13 stomach cancer 1
C. Tissue Distribution of Zcytor11 in Human Origene.TM. Tissue and
Human Blood Fractions MTC Panels Using RT-PCR
[0176] A panel of RNAs from human tissues, Human Origene.TM. Tissue
and Human Blood Fractions MTC Panels (Origene Technologies,
Rockville, Md.; and Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) was screened for
zcytor11 expression using RT-PCR. The panels contained 24 RNAs from
various normal human tissues at increasing concentrations as shown
in Tables 9-10 below. The RT-PCR reactions were set up using oligos
ZC37693 (SEQ ID NO:31) and ZC37449 (SEQ ID NO:32), using the
Advantage PCR kit (Clontech). The amplification was carried out as
follows: one cycle at 94.degree. C. for 2 min.; 35 cycles of
94.degree. C. for 15 sec., 72.degree. C. for 1.5 min; then
72.degree. C. for 2 min.; followed by a 4.degree. C. hold. 8 to 10
.mu.l of the PCR reaction product was subjected to standard Agarose
gel electrophoresis using a 4% agarose gel.
[0177] Using the Origene Panel, as shown in Table 9, the correct
predicted cDNA fragment size (440 bp) was observed in all tissues
except spleen, muscle, placenta, PBL, bone marrow and fetal brain.
However, there was high expression specifically in small intestine,
colon, kidney, skin, lung, pancreas and liver. The weak expression
of zcytor11 was also observed in ovary, uterus, prostate, brain,
heart, testis, stomach, and thyroid. Zcytor11 expression was not
observed in the other tissues and cell lines tested in this panel.
The expression pattern of zcytor11 shows expression in specific
tissues. One of skill in the art would recognize that the
polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and binding partners of
the present invention can be used as a diagnostic to detect such
tissues, cancer, or cancer tissue in a biopsy, tissue, or
histologic sample, particularly in tissues where zcytor11 is
expressed. Such diagnostic uses for the molecules of the present
invention are known in the art and described herein.
[0178] Using the Human Blood Fractions MTC Panel, as shown in Table
10, the correct predicted cDNA fragment size (440 bp) was observed
in mononuclear cells, resting CD8+ cells, resting CD19+ cells and
placenta. Zcytor11 expression was not observed in the other tissues
and cell lines tested in this panel, including activated CD8+ and
CD19+ cells. The expression pattern of zcytor11 shows expression in
specific tissues. One of skill in the art would recognize that the
polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and binding partners of
the present invention can be used as a diagnostic to detect such
tissues, cancer, or cancer tissue in a biopsy, tissue, or
histologic sample, particularly in tissues where zcytor11 is
expressed. Such diagnostic uses for the molecules of the present
invention are known in the art and described herein.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 9 1 pg 10 pg 100 pg 1 ng Tissue cDNA cDNA cDNA
cDNA Brain X Heart X Kidney X X Spleen Liver X X Colon X X Lung X X
Small Intestine X X X Muscle Stomach X X Testis X X X Placenta X
Salivary Gland X Thyroid Gland X X Adrenal Gland X X Pancreas X X X
X Ovary X Uterus X Prostate X Skin X X PBL Bone Marrow Fetal Brain
Fetal Liver X X X
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 10 1 ng cDNA Expression Mononuclear cells X
Resting CD8+ cells X Resting CD4+ cells Resting CD 14+ cells
Resting CD19+ cells X Activated CD19+ cells Activated mononuclear
cells Activated CD4+ cells Activated CD8+ cells Human Placenta X No
template control Zcytor11 cDNA X
D. Tissue Distribution of Zcytor11 in Human Primary Immune Cell and
Immune Cell Lines Using RT-PCR
[0179] A panel of RNAs from primary human immune cell populations
and human immune cell lines was screened for zcytor11 expression
using RT-PCR. The panels were made in house and contained 24 RNAs
from various resting and activated cell populations and cell lines
as shown in Table 11 below. All primary immune cell populations
were isolated from the blood of several anonymous donors. Various
immune cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD19+, and CD56+) were then
isolated using Microbeads and the Magnetic Cell Separation System
from Miltenyi Biotec. RNA was prepared from the CD19+ and CD56+
populations in their resting state using an RNeasy Midiprep.TM. Kit
(Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as per manufacturer's instruction. The
CD4+, and CD8+ populations were activated using 200 ng/ml
plate-bound anti-CD3 antibody and 5 .mu.g/ml soluble anti-CD28
antibody and cells were collected for RNA isolation at 0, 4 and 16
hours. The CD19+ samples were isolated from human tonsil and
activated with 0.5 .mu.l/ml lonomycin and 10 ng/ml PMA. Cells were
then collected at 0, 4 hours and 24 hours and RNA isolated. Human
CD14+ monocytes were activated with either 0.1 .mu.g/ml LPS or 1.0
.mu.g/ml LPS for 20 hours. Resting and activated cells were then
collected and RNA isolated. In addition, RNA was isolated from
resting and activated (10.0 .mu.g/ml LPS) human monocyte cell lines
HL-60, THP-1 and U937. Also, resting Raji, Ramos, Daudi, and Jurkat
RNA's were tested.
[0180] The RT-PCR reactions used the Superscript One-Step RT-PCR
System with Platinum Taq. Each 25 .mu.l reaction consisted of the
following: 12.5 .mu.l of 2.times. Reaction Buffer, 0.5 .mu.l (20
pmol..mu.l) ZC14,666 (SEQ ID NO:11), 0.5 .mu.l (20 pmol/.mu.l)
ZC14,742 (SEQ ID NO:12), 0.4 .mu.l RT/Taq polymerase mix, 10 .mu.l
RNase-free water, 1.0 .mu.l template RNA (100 ng/.mu.l). (Life
Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). The amplification was carried out
as follows: one cycle at 50.degree. for 30 minutes followed by 35
cycles of 94.degree., 30 seconds; 52.degree., 30 seconds;
72.degree., 60 seconds; then ended with a final extension at
72.degree. for 7 minutes. 8 to 10 .mu.l of the PCR reaction product
was subjected to standard Agarose gel electrophoresis using a 2%
agarose gel. The correct predicted cDNA fragment size was observed
in resting CD19+ B cells and much less in the activated CD19+ B
cells, resting CD8+ T cells, CD56+ NK cells and activated CD14+
monocytes. Cell lines showing expression of zcytor11 were Jurkat,
activated THP-1 and activated HL-60. Zcytor11 expression was not
observed in the other tissues and cell lines tested in this panel.
These results demonstrate the expression of zcytor11 in several
immune cell populations and immune cell lines.
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 11 Tissue #samples Tissue #samples CD19+ from
resting PBMCs 1 CD14+ 0.1 .mu.g/ml 1 CD19+ resting from tonsil 1
LPS CD 19+ from tonsil -- 4 hr 1 CD14+ 1.0 .mu.g/ml 1 activation
LPS CD 19+ from tonsil - 16 hr 1 Raji 1 activation Ramos 1 CD4+
Resting 1 Daudi 1 CD4+ 4 hr Activation 1 Jurkat 1 CD4+ 16 hr
Activation 1 U937 1 CD8+ Resting 1 Activated U937 1 CD8+ 4 hr
Activation 1 THP-1 1 CD8+ 16 hr Activation 1 Activated THP-1 1
CD56+ Resting 1 HL-60 1 CD14+ Resting 1 Activated HL-60 1
Example 16
Construction of BaF3 Cells Expressing the CRF2-4 Receptor
(BaF3/CRF2-4 Cells) and BaF3 Cells Expressing the CRF2-4 Receptor
with the Zcytor11 Receptor (BaF3/CRF2-4/Zcytor11 Cells)
[0181] BaF3 cells expressing the full-length CFR2-4 receptor were
constructed, using 30 .mu.g of a CFR2-4 expression vector,
described below. The BaF3 cells expressing the CFR2-4 receptor were
designated as BaF3/CFR2-4. These cells were used as a control, and
were further transfected with full-length zcytor11 receptor (U.S.
Pat. No. 5,965,704) and used to construct a screen for IL-TIF
activity as described below.
A. Construction of BaF3 Cells Expressing the CRF2-4 Receptor
[0182] The full-length cDNA sequence of CRF2-4 (Genbank Accession
No. Z17227) was isolated from a Daudi cell line cDNA library, and
then cloned into an expression vector pZP7P.
[0183] BaF3, an interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent pre-lymphoid cell
line derived from murine bone marrow (Palacios and Steinmetz, Cell
41: 727-734, 1985; Mathey-Prevot et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:
4133-4135, 1986), was maintained in complete media (RPMI medium
(JRH Bioscience Inc., Lenexa, Kans.) supplemented with 10%
heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 ng/ml murine IL-3 (mIL-3) (R
& D, Minneapolis, Minn.), 2 mM L-glutaMax-1.TM. (Gibco BRL), 1
mM Sodium Pyruvate (Gibco BRL), and PSN antibiotics (GIBCO BRL)).
Prior to electroporation, CRF2-4/pZP7P was prepared and purified
using a Qiagen Maxi Prep kit (Qiagen) as per manufacturer's
instructions. For electroporation, BaF3 cells were washed once in
serum-free RPMI media and then resuspended in serum-free RPMI media
at a cell density of 10.sup.7 cells/ml. One ml of resuspended BaF3
cells was mixed with 30 .mu.g of the CRF2-4/pZP7P plasmid DNA and
transferred to separate disposable electroporation chambers (GIBCO
BRL). Following a 15-minute incubation at room temperature the
cells were given two serial shocks (800 IFad/300 V.; 1180 IFad/300
V.) delivered by an electroporation apparatus (CELL-PORATOR.TM.;
GIBCO BRL). After a 5-minute recovery time, the electroporated
cells were transferred to 50 ml of complete media and placed in an
incubator for 15-24 hours (37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2). The cells
were then spun down and resuspended in 50 ml of complete media
containing 2 .mu.g/ml puromycin in a T-162 flask to isolate the
puromycin-resistant pool. Pools of the transfected BaF3 cells,
hereinafter called BaF3/CRF2-4 cells, were assayed for signaling
capability as described below. Moreover these cells were further
transfected with zcytor11 receptor as described below.
B. Construction of BaF3 Cells Expressing CRF2-4 and Zcytor11
Receptors
[0184] BaF3/CRF2-4 cells expressing the full-length zcytor11
receptor were constructed as per Example 5A above, using 30 .mu.g
of the zcytor11 expression vector, described in Example 6 above.
Following recovery, transfectants were selected using 200 .mu.g/ml
zeocin and 2 .mu.g/ml puromycin. The BaF3/CRF2-4 cells expressing
the zcytor11 receptor were designated as BaF3/CRF2-4/zcytor11
cells. These cells were used to screen for IL-TIF activity as well
as zcytor16 antagonist activity described IN Example 17.
Example 17
Screening for CRF2-4Zcytor11-Fc Activity Using BaF3/CRF2-4-Zcytor11
Cells in an Alamar Blue Proliferation Assay
[0185] BaF3/CRF2-4/zcytor11 cells (Example 16) were spun down and
washed in PBS 2 times to ensure the removal of the mIL-3, and then
spun a third time and re-suspended in the complete media, (RPMI
1640, 10% FBS, 1% GlutaMAX, 1% Sodium Pyruvate) described in
Example 16 above, but without mIL-3 (hereinafter referred to as
"mIL-3 free media"). Cells were then counted in a hemocytometer.
Cells were plated in a 96-well format at 5000 cells per well in a
volume of 50 .mu.l per well using the mIL-3 free media.
[0186] IL-TIF protein was diluted to 200 pg/ml in mIL-3 free media
and also in CRF2-4/zcytor11-Fc conditioned media at a concentration
of approximately 0.4 ug/ml that was made from transfected BHK cells
(Example 7). The CRF2-4/zcytor11-Fc CM was diluted into the mIL-3
free/IL-TIF media by serial 1:2 dilutions down all 8 rows on the
96-well plate, leaving a volume of 50 ul in each well. This was
then added to the 50 ul of cells, for a final IL-TIF concentration
of 100 pg/ml in all wells, and final CRF2-4/zcytor11-Fc
concentrations of approximately 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.1
and 1.6 ng/ml, and a total assay volume of 100 .mu.l. The assay
plates were incubated at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2 for 4 days at
which time Alamar Blue (Accumed, Chicago, Ill.) was added at 20
.mu.l/well. Plates were again incubated at 37.degree. C., 5%
CO.sub.2 for 24 hours. Alamar Blue gives a fluourometric readout
based on number of live cells, and is thus a direct measurement of
cell proliferation in comparison to a negative control. Plates were
read on the Wallac Victor 2 1420 Multilabel Counter (Wallac, Turku,
Finland) at wavelengths 530 (Excitation) and 590 (Emmssion).
[0187] Results confirmed a dose-dependant inhibition by
CRF2-4/zcytor11-Fc of the proliferative effect of IL-TIF on
BaF3/CRF2-4/zcytor11 cells. IL-TIF alone stimulated the cells
30-fold over background. CRF2-4/zcytor11-Fc completely inhibited
that proliferation at concentrations of 25-200 ng/ml, partially
inhibited proliferation at 3.1-12.5 ng/ml, and inhibition was
barely detectable at 1.6 ng/ml. The same setup was done with
mIL-TIF, and generated similar results.
Example 18
Flow Cytometry Analysis of BaF3-Transfectants Expressing Zcytor11
Alone CRF2-4 Alone, Zcytor11/CRF4, or Zcytor11/pDIRS1
[0188] BaF3 cells transfected with zcytor11 alone, CRF2-4 alone,
zcytor11/CRF2-4, or zcytor11/pDIRS1 were generated with each
respective cytokine receptor, as described (Example 16). Briefly,
30 ug of zcytor11/pZP7Z were transfected into BaF3 cells using
electroporation, and the stable transfectants (BaF3/zcytor11) were
selected with 200 .mu.g/ml zeocin. Similarly BaF3 cells transfected
with CRF2-4/pZP7P (BaF3/CRF2-4) were selected with 2 .mu.g/ml
puromycin. Subsequently, 30 ug of CRF2-4/pZP7P were transfected
into BaF3/zcytor11 cells using electroporation, and the stable cell
line (BaF3/zcytor11/CRF2-4) was selected with 200 .mu.g/ml zeocin
and 2 .mu.g/ml puromycin. Similarly, 30 ug of pDIRS1/pZP7P were
transfected into BaF3/zcytor11 cells using electroporation, and the
stable cell line (BaF3/zcytor11/pDIRS1) was selected with 200
.mu.g/ml zeocin and 2 ug/ml puromycin. The BHK transfectants were
generated using the same expression vectors of either zcytor11,
CRF2-4, or pDIRS1 for BaF3 transfectants. DNA was transfected into
BHK cells using Lipofectamine.TM. (Gibco BRL, Gaitersburg, Md.) as
per manufacturer's instructions, the selection was started 48-hr
post-transfection following the same protocol for BaF3
selection.
[0189] The biotinylation of human IL-TIF-CEE (Example 12) protein
is done as follows: 1.6 ul 10% Tween20, 50 ul 1M boric acid
(pH8.5), and 42 ul of 0.9 mg/ml EZ-link Sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin
(Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) dissolved in DMSO were added into 100 ul
of 2.2 mg/ml IL-TIF-CEE. After 1 hr incubation at room temperature,
the reaction was quenched with 10 ul of 2M glycine for 10
minutes.
[0190] To test the binding properties of the IL-TIF ligand to
several potential receptor components, BaF3 and BHK cells were
transfected with expression plasmids including zcytoR11 alone,
CRF2-4 alone (Genbank Accession No. Z17227), zcytoR11 (SEQ ID NO:1)
and CRF2-4, or zcytoR11 and pDIRS1 (WIPO Publication WO99/46379,
Schering Corporation, 1999), as described above. Untransfected BaF3
and BHK cells were included as controls. Cells were resuspended in
FACS wash buffer (WB: PBS/1% BSA, supplemented with 3% human
Ultraserum (Gemini BioProducts, Calabasas, Calif.)) counted and
1.times.10.sup.6 of each type were aliquoted into 5 ml polystyrene
tubes. Cells were washed and pelleted, then incubated for 20 min on
ice with 100 .mu.l of WB only, or WB plus 10 .mu.g/ml or 1 .mu.g/ml
biotinylated zcyto10 protein. Cells were washed with 1.5 ml WB and
pelleted, then incubated in 100 .mu.l of 2.5 .mu.g/ml
phycoerthyrin-conjugated streptavidin (PE-SA, PharMingen, San
Diego, Calif.) for another 20 min on ice. Cells were washed as
before, resuspended in 0.4 ml of WB and analyzed on a FACScan using
CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson, Mountain View, Calif.).
[0191] The biotin-IL-TIF bound in a dose-dependent fashion to all 3
of the transfected BaF3 cell lines containing zcytor11 (i.e.
zcytor11 transfected alone, or in combination with CRF2-4 or
DIRS1), but not to the parental line or to the BaF3.times.CRF2-4
transfectant. The same results were obtained with the corresponding
BHK transfectants.
[0192] 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
3512831DNAHomo sapienCDS(34)...(1755) 1tagaggccaa gggagggctc
tgtgccagcc ccg atg agg acg ctg ctg acc atc 54 Met Arg Thr Leu Leu
Thr Ile 1 5ttg act gtg gga tcc ctg gct gct cac gcc cct gag gac ccc
tcg gat 102Leu Thr Val Gly Ser Leu Ala Ala His Ala Pro Glu Asp Pro
Ser Asp 10 15 20ctg ctc cag cac gtg aaa ttc cag tcc agc aac ttt gaa
aac atc ctg 150Leu Leu Gln His Val Lys Phe Gln Ser Ser Asn Phe Glu
Asn Ile Leu 25 30 35acg tgg gac agc ggg cca gag ggc acc cca gac acg
gtc tac agc atc 198Thr Trp Asp Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Thr Pro Asp Thr
Val Tyr Ser Ile 40 45 50 55gag tat aag acg tac gga gag agg gac tgg
gtg gca aag aag ggc tgt 246Glu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Gly Glu Arg Asp Trp
Val Ala Lys Lys Gly Cys 60 65 70cag cgg atc acc cgg aag tcc tgc aac
ctg acg gtg gag acg ggc aac 294Gln Arg Ile Thr Arg Lys Ser Cys Asn
Leu Thr Val Glu Thr Gly Asn 75 80 85ctc acg gag ctc tac tat gcc agg
gtc acc gct gtc agt gcg gga ggc 342Leu Thr Glu Leu Tyr Tyr Ala Arg
Val Thr Ala Val Ser Ala Gly Gly 90 95 100cgg tca gcc acc aag atg
act gac agg ttc agc tct ctg cag cac act 390Arg Ser Ala Thr Lys Met
Thr Asp Arg Phe Ser Ser Leu Gln His Thr 105 110 115acc ctc aag cca
cct gat gtg acc tgt atc tcc aaa gtg aga tcg att 438Thr Leu Lys Pro
Pro Asp Val Thr Cys Ile Ser Lys Val Arg Ser Ile120 125 130 135cag
atg att gtt cat cct acc ccc acg cca atc cgt gca ggc gat ggc 486Gln
Met Ile Val His Pro Thr Pro Thr Pro Ile Arg Ala Gly Asp Gly 140 145
150cac cgg cta acc ctg gaa gac atc ttc cat gac ctg ttc tac cac tta
534His Arg Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp Ile Phe His Asp Leu Phe Tyr His Leu
155 160 165gag ctc cag gtc aac cgc acc tac caa atg cac ctt gga ggg
aag cag 582Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Arg Thr Tyr Gln Met His Leu Gly Gly
Lys Gln 170 175 180aga gaa tat gag ttc ttc ggc ctg acc cct gac aca
gag ttc ctt ggc 630Arg Glu Tyr Glu Phe Phe Gly Leu Thr Pro Asp Thr
Glu Phe Leu Gly 185 190 195acc atc atg att tgc gtt ccc acc tgg gcc
aag gag agt gcc ccc tac 678Thr Ile Met Ile Cys Val Pro Thr Trp Ala
Lys Glu Ser Ala Pro Tyr200 205 210 215atg tgc cga gtg aag aca ctg
cca gac cgg aca tgg acc tac tcc ttc 726Met Cys Arg Val Lys Thr Leu
Pro Asp Arg Thr Trp Thr Tyr Ser Phe 220 225 230tcc gga gcc ttc ctg
ttc tcc atg ggc ttc ctc gtc gca gta ctc tgc 774Ser Gly Ala Phe Leu
Phe Ser Met Gly Phe Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys 235 240 245tac ctg agc
tac aga tat gtc acc aag ccg cct gca cct ccc aac tcc 822Tyr Leu Ser
Tyr Arg Tyr Val Thr Lys Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Asn Ser 250 255 260ctg
aac gtc cag cga gtc ctg act ttc cag ccg ctg cgc ttc atc cag 870Leu
Asn Val Gln Arg Val Leu Thr Phe Gln Pro Leu Arg Phe Ile Gln 265 270
275gag cac gtc ctg atc cct gtc ttt gac ctc agc ggc ccc agc agt ctg
918Glu His Val Leu Ile Pro Val Phe Asp Leu Ser Gly Pro Ser Ser
Leu280 285 290 295gcc cag cct gtc cag tac tcc cag atc agg gtg tct
gga ccc agg gag 966Ala Gln Pro Val Gln Tyr Ser Gln Ile Arg Val Ser
Gly Pro Arg Glu 300 305 310ccc gca gga gct cca cag cgg cat agc ctg
tcc gag atc acc tac tta 1014Pro Ala Gly Ala Pro Gln Arg His Ser Leu
Ser Glu Ile Thr Tyr Leu 315 320 325ggg cag cca gac atc tcc atc ctc
cag ccc tcc aac gtg cca cct ccc 1062Gly Gln Pro Asp Ile Ser Ile Leu
Gln Pro Ser Asn Val Pro Pro Pro 330 335 340cag atc ctc tcc cca ctg
tcc tat gcc cca aac gct gcc cct gag gtc 1110Gln Ile Leu Ser Pro Leu
Ser Tyr Ala Pro Asn Ala Ala Pro Glu Val 345 350 355ggg ccc cca tcc
tat gca cct cag gtg acc ccc gaa gct caa ttc cca 1158Gly Pro Pro Ser
Tyr Ala Pro Gln Val Thr Pro Glu Ala Gln Phe Pro360 365 370 375ttc
tac gcc cca cag gcc atc tct aag gtc cag cct tcc tcc tat gcc 1206Phe
Tyr Ala Pro Gln Ala Ile Ser Lys Val Gln Pro Ser Ser Tyr Ala 380 385
390cct caa gcc act ccg gac agc tgg cct ccc tcc tat ggg gta tgc atg
1254Pro Gln Ala Thr Pro Asp Ser Trp Pro Pro Ser Tyr Gly Val Cys Met
395 400 405gaa ggt tct ggc aaa gac tcc ccc act ggg aca ctt tct agt
cct aaa 1302Glu Gly Ser Gly Lys Asp Ser Pro Thr Gly Thr Leu Ser Ser
Pro Lys 410 415 420cac ctt agg cct aaa ggt cag ctt cag aaa gag cca
cca gct gga agc 1350His Leu Arg Pro Lys Gly Gln Leu Gln Lys Glu Pro
Pro Ala Gly Ser 425 430 435tgc atg tta ggt ggc ctt tct ctg cag gag
gtg acc tcc ttg gct atg 1398Cys Met Leu Gly Gly Leu Ser Leu Gln Glu
Val Thr Ser Leu Ala Met440 445 450 455gag gaa tcc caa gaa gca aaa
tca ttg cac cag ccc ctg ggg att tgc 1446Glu Glu Ser Gln Glu Ala Lys
Ser Leu His Gln Pro Leu Gly Ile Cys 460 465 470aca gac aga aca tct
gac cca aat gtg cta cac agt ggg gag gaa ggg 1494Thr Asp Arg Thr Ser
Asp Pro Asn Val Leu His Ser Gly Glu Glu Gly 475 480 485aca cca cag
tac cta aag ggc cag ctc ccc ctc ctc tcc tca gtc cag 1542Thr Pro Gln
Tyr Leu Lys Gly Gln Leu Pro Leu Leu Ser Ser Val Gln 490 495 500atc
gag ggc cac ccc atg tcc ctc cct ttg caa cct cct tcc ggt cca 1590Ile
Glu Gly His Pro Met Ser Leu Pro Leu Gln Pro Pro Ser Gly Pro 505 510
515tgt tcc ccc tcg gac caa ggt cca agt ccc tgg ggc ctg ctg gag tcc
1638Cys Ser Pro Ser Asp Gln Gly Pro Ser Pro Trp Gly Leu Leu Glu
Ser520 525 530 535ctt gtg tgt ccc aag gat gaa gcc aag agc cca gcc
cct gag acc tca 1686Leu Val Cys Pro Lys Asp Glu Ala Lys Ser Pro Ala
Pro Glu Thr Ser 540 545 550gac ctg gag cag ccc aca gaa ctg gat tct
ctt ttc aga ggc ctg gcc 1734Asp Leu Glu Gln Pro Thr Glu Leu Asp Ser
Leu Phe Arg Gly Leu Ala 555 560 565ctg act gtg cag tgg gag tcc
tgaggggaat gggaaaggct tggtgcttcc 1785Leu Thr Val Gln Trp Glu Ser
570tccctgtccc tacccagtgt cacatccttg gctgtcaatc ccatgcctgc
ccatgccaca 1845cactctgcga tctggcctca gacgggtgcc cttgagagaa
gcagagggag tggcatgcag 1905ggcccctgcc atgggtgcgc tcctcaccgg
aacaaagcag catgataagg actgcagcgg 1965gggagctctg gggagcagct
tgtgtagaca agcgcgtgct cgctgagccc tgcaaggcag 2025aaatgacagt
gcaaggagga aatgcaggga aactcccgag gtccagagcc ccacctccta
2085acaccatgga ttcaaagtgc tcagggaatt tgcctctcct tgccccattc
ctggccagtt 2145tcacaatcta gctcgacaga gcatgaggcc cctgcctctt
ctgtcattgt tcaaaggtgg 2205gaagagagcc tggaaaagaa ccaggcctgg
aaaagaacca gaaggaggct gggcagaacc 2265agaacaacct gcacttctgc
caaggccagg gccagcagga cggcaggact ctagggaggg 2325gtgtggcctg
cagctcattc ccagccaggg caactgcctg acgttgcacg atttcagctt
2385cattcctctg atagaacaaa gcgaaatgca ggtccaccag ggagggagac
acacaagcct 2445tttctgcagg caggagtttc agaccctatc ctgagaatgg
ggtttgaaag gaaggtgagg 2505gctgtggccc ctggacgggt acaataacac
actgtactga tgtcacaact ttgcaagctc 2565tgccttgggt tcagcccatc
tgggctcaaa ttccagcctc accactcaca agctgtgtga 2625cttcaaacaa
atgaaatcag tgcccagaac ctcggtttcc tcatctgtaa tgtggggatc
2685ataacaccta cctcatggag ttgtggtgaa gatgaaatga agtcatgtct
ttaaagtgct 2745taatagtgcc tggtacatgg gcagtgccca ataaacggta
gctatttaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2805aaaaaaaaaa atagcggccg cctcga
28312574PRTHomo sapien 2Met Arg Thr Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Thr Val Gly
Ser Leu Ala Ala His 1 5 10 15Ala Pro Glu Asp Pro Ser Asp Leu Leu
Gln His Val Lys Phe Gln Ser 20 25 30Ser Asn Phe Glu Asn Ile Leu Thr
Trp Asp Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Thr 35 40 45Pro Asp Thr Val Tyr Ser Ile
Glu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Gly Glu Arg Asp 50 55 60Trp Val Ala Lys Lys Gly
Cys Gln Arg Ile Thr Arg Lys Ser Cys Asn65 70 75 80Leu Thr Val Glu
Thr Gly Asn Leu Thr Glu Leu Tyr Tyr Ala Arg Val 85 90 95Thr Ala Val
Ser Ala Gly Gly Arg Ser Ala Thr Lys Met Thr Asp Arg 100 105 110Phe
Ser Ser Leu Gln His Thr Thr Leu Lys Pro Pro Asp Val Thr Cys 115 120
125Ile Ser Lys Val Arg Ser Ile Gln Met Ile Val His Pro Thr Pro Thr
130 135 140Pro Ile Arg Ala Gly Asp Gly His Arg Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp
Ile Phe145 150 155 160His Asp Leu Phe Tyr His Leu Glu Leu Gln Val
Asn Arg Thr Tyr Gln 165 170 175Met His Leu Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Glu
Tyr Glu Phe Phe Gly Leu Thr 180 185 190Pro Asp Thr Glu Phe Leu Gly
Thr Ile Met Ile Cys Val Pro Thr Trp 195 200 205Ala Lys Glu Ser Ala
Pro Tyr Met Cys Arg Val Lys Thr Leu Pro Asp 210 215 220Arg Thr Trp
Thr Tyr Ser Phe Ser Gly Ala Phe Leu Phe Ser Met Gly225 230 235
240Phe Leu Val Ala Val Leu Cys Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Arg Tyr Val Thr Lys
245 250 255Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Asn Ser Leu Asn Val Gln Arg Val Leu
Thr Phe 260 265 270Gln Pro Leu Arg Phe Ile Gln Glu His Val Leu Ile
Pro Val Phe Asp 275 280 285Leu Ser Gly Pro Ser Ser Leu Ala Gln Pro
Val Gln Tyr Ser Gln Ile 290 295 300Arg Val Ser Gly Pro Arg Glu Pro
Ala Gly Ala Pro Gln Arg His Ser305 310 315 320Leu Ser Glu Ile Thr
Tyr Leu Gly Gln Pro Asp Ile Ser Ile Leu Gln 325 330 335Pro Ser Asn
Val Pro Pro Pro Gln Ile Leu Ser Pro Leu Ser Tyr Ala 340 345 350Pro
Asn Ala Ala Pro Glu Val Gly Pro Pro Ser Tyr Ala Pro Gln Val 355 360
365Thr Pro Glu Ala Gln Phe Pro Phe Tyr Ala Pro Gln Ala Ile Ser Lys
370 375 380Val Gln Pro Ser Ser Tyr Ala Pro Gln Ala Thr Pro Asp Ser
Trp Pro385 390 395 400Pro Ser Tyr Gly Val Cys Met Glu Gly Ser Gly
Lys Asp Ser Pro Thr 405 410 415Gly Thr Leu Ser Ser Pro Lys His Leu
Arg Pro Lys Gly Gln Leu Gln 420 425 430Lys Glu Pro Pro Ala Gly Ser
Cys Met Leu Gly Gly Leu Ser Leu Gln 435 440 445Glu Val Thr Ser Leu
Ala Met Glu Glu Ser Gln Glu Ala Lys Ser Leu 450 455 460His Gln Pro
Leu Gly Ile Cys Thr Asp Arg Thr Ser Asp Pro Asn Val465 470 475
480Leu His Ser Gly Glu Glu Gly Thr Pro Gln Tyr Leu Lys Gly Gln Leu
485 490 495Pro Leu Leu Ser Ser Val Gln Ile Glu Gly His Pro Met Ser
Leu Pro 500 505 510Leu Gln Pro Pro Ser Gly Pro Cys Ser Pro Ser Asp
Gln Gly Pro Ser 515 520 525Pro Trp Gly Leu Leu Glu Ser Leu Val Cys
Pro Lys Asp Glu Ala Lys 530 535 540Ser Pro Ala Pro Glu Thr Ser Asp
Leu Glu Gln Pro Thr Glu Leu Asp545 550 555 560Ser Leu Phe Arg Gly
Leu Ala Leu Thr Val Gln Trp Glu Ser 565 5703211PRTHomo sapiens 3Pro
Glu Asp Pro Ser Asp Leu Leu Gln His Val Lys Phe Gln Ser Ser 1 5 10
15Asn Phe Glu Asn Ile Leu Thr Trp Asp Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Thr Pro
20 25 30Asp Thr Val Tyr Ser Ile Glu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Gly Glu Arg Asp
Trp 35 40 45Val Ala Lys Lys Gly Cys Gln Arg Ile Thr Arg Lys Ser Cys
Asn Leu 50 55 60Thr Val Glu Thr Gly Asn Leu Thr Glu Leu Tyr Tyr Ala
Arg Val Thr65 70 75 80Ala Val Ser Ala Gly Gly Arg Ser Ala Thr Lys
Met Thr Asp Arg Phe 85 90 95Ser Ser Leu Gln His Thr Thr Leu Lys Pro
Pro Asp Val Thr Cys Ile 100 105 110Ser Lys Val Arg Ser Ile Gln Met
Ile Val His Pro Thr Pro Thr Pro 115 120 125Ile Arg Ala Gly Asp Gly
His Arg Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp Ile Phe His 130 135 140Asp Leu Phe Tyr
His Leu Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Arg Thr Tyr Gln Met145 150 155 160His
Leu Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Glu Tyr Glu Phe Phe Gly Leu Thr Pro 165 170
175Asp Thr Glu Phe Leu Gly Thr Ile Met Ile Cys Val Pro Thr Trp Ala
180 185 190Lys Glu Ser Ala Pro Tyr Met Cys Arg Val Lys Thr Leu Pro
Asp Arg 195 200 205Thr Trp Thr 21046PRTArtificial SequenceGlu-Glu
peptide tag 4Glu Tyr Met Pro Met Glu 1 558PRTArtificial
SequenceFlag-tag peptide 5Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys 1
56699DNAHomo sapiens 6gagcccagat cttcagacaa aactcacaca tgcccaccgt
gcccagcacc tgaagccgag 60ggggcaccgt cagtcttcct cttcccccca aaacccaagg
acaccctcat gatctcccgg 120acccctgagg tcacatgcgt ggtggtggac
gtgagccacg aagaccctga ggtcaagttc 180aactggtacg tggacggcgt
ggaggtgcat aatgccaaga caaagccgcg ggaggagcag 240tacaacagca
cgtaccgtgt ggtcagcgtc ctcaccgtcc tgcaccagga ctggctgaat
300ggcaaggagt acaagtgcaa ggtctccaac aaagccctcc catcctccat
cgagaaaacc 360atctccaaag ccaaagggca gccccgagaa ccacaggtgt
acaccctgcc cccatcccgg 420gatgagctga ccaagaacca ggtcagcctg
acctgcctgg tcaaaggctt ctatcccagc 480gacatcgccg tggagtggga
gagcaatggg cagccggaga acaactacaa gaccacgcct 540cccgtgctgg
actccgacgg ctccttcttc ctctacagca agctcaccgt ggacaagagc
600aggtggcagc aggggaacgt cttctcatgc tccgtgatgc atgaggctct
gcacaaccac 660tacacgcaga agagcctctc cctgtctccg ggtaaataa
69971116DNAhomo sapiensCDS(21)...(557) 7tcgagttaga attgtctgca atg
gcc gcc ctg cag aaa tct gtg agc tct ttc 53 Met Ala Ala Leu Gln Lys
Ser Val Ser Ser Phe 1 5 10ctt atg ggg acc ctg gcc acc agc tgc ctc
ctt ctc ttg gcc ctc ttg 101Leu Met Gly Thr Leu Ala Thr Ser Cys Leu
Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu 15 20 25gta cag gga gga gca gct gcg ccc atc
agc tcc cac tgc agg ctt gac 149Val Gln Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Pro Ile
Ser Ser His Cys Arg Leu Asp 30 35 40aag tcc aac ttc cag cag ccc tat
atc acc aac cgc acc ttc atg ctg 197Lys Ser Asn Phe Gln Gln Pro Tyr
Ile Thr Asn Arg Thr Phe Met Leu 45 50 55gct aag gag gct agc ttg gct
gat aac aac aca gac gtt cgt ctc att 245Ala Lys Glu Ala Ser Leu Ala
Asp Asn Asn Thr Asp Val Arg Leu Ile 60 65 70 75ggg gag aaa ctg ttc
cac gga gtc agt atg agt gag cgc tgc tat ctg 293Gly Glu Lys Leu Phe
His Gly Val Ser Met Ser Glu Arg Cys Tyr Leu 80 85 90atg aag cag gtg
ctg aac ttc acc ctt gaa gaa gtg ctg ttc cct caa 341Met Lys Gln Val
Leu Asn Phe Thr Leu Glu Glu Val Leu Phe Pro Gln 95 100 105tct gat
agg ttc cag cct tat atg cag gag gtg gtg ccc ttc ctg gcc 389Ser Asp
Arg Phe Gln Pro Tyr Met Gln Glu Val Val Pro Phe Leu Ala 110 115
120agg ctc agc aac agg cta agc aca tgt cat att gaa ggt gat gac ctg
437Arg Leu Ser Asn Arg Leu Ser Thr Cys His Ile Glu Gly Asp Asp Leu
125 130 135cat atc cag agg aat gtg caa aag ctg aag gac aca gtg aaa
aag ctt 485His Ile Gln Arg Asn Val Gln Lys Leu Lys Asp Thr Val Lys
Lys Leu140 145 150 155gga gag agt gga gag atc aaa gca att gga gaa
ctg gat ttg ctg ttt 533Gly Glu Ser Gly Glu Ile Lys Ala Ile Gly Glu
Leu Asp Leu Leu Phe 160 165 170atg tct ctg aga aat gcc tgc att
tgaccagagc aaagctgaaa aatgaataac 587Met Ser Leu Arg Asn Ala Cys Ile
175taaccccctt tccctgctag aaataacaat tagatgcccc aaagcgattt
tttttaacca 647aaaggaagat gggaagccaa actccatcat gatgggtgga
ttccaaatga acccctgcgt 707tagttacaaa ggaaaccaat gccacttttg
tttataagac cagaaggtag actttctaag 767catagatatt tattgataac
atttcattgt aactggtgtt ctatacacag aaaacaattt 827attttttaaa
taattgtctt tttccataaa aaagattact ttccattcct ttaggggaaa
887aaacccctaa atagcttcat gtttccataa tcagtacttt atatttataa
atgtatttat 947tattattata agactgcatt ttatttatat cattttatta
atatggattt atttatagaa 1007acatcattcg atattgctac ttgagtgtaa
ggctaatatt gatatttatg acaataatta 1067tagagctata acatgtttat
ttgacctcaa taaacacttg gatatccta 11168179PRThomo sapiens 8Met Ala
Ala Leu Gln Lys Ser Val Ser Ser Phe Leu Met Gly Thr Leu 1 5 10
15Ala Thr Ser Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu Val Gln Gly Gly
Ala 20 25 30Ala Ala Pro Ile Ser Ser His Cys Arg Leu Asp Lys Ser Asn
Phe Gln 35 40 45Gln Pro Tyr Ile Thr Asn Arg Thr Phe Met Leu Ala Lys
Glu Ala Ser 50 55 60Leu Ala Asp Asn Asn Thr Asp Val Arg Leu Ile Gly
Glu Lys Leu Phe65 70 75 80His Gly Val Ser Met Ser Glu Arg Cys Tyr
Leu Met Lys Gln Val Leu 85 90 95Asn Phe Thr Leu Glu Glu Val Leu Phe
Pro Gln Ser Asp Arg Phe Gln 100 105 110Pro Tyr Met Gln Glu Val Val
Pro Phe Leu Ala Arg Leu Ser Asn Arg 115 120 125Leu Ser Thr Cys His
Ile Glu Gly Asp Asp Leu His Ile Gln Arg Asn 130 135 140Val Gln Lys
Leu Lys Asp Thr Val Lys Lys Leu Gly Glu Ser Gly Glu145 150 155
160Ile Lys Ala Ile Gly Glu Leu Asp Leu Leu Phe Met Ser Leu Arg Asn
165 170 175Ala Cys Ile936DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
prime ZC28590 9ttgggtacct ctgcaatggc cgccctgcag aaatct
361033DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide prime ZC28580
10ttgggatcca atgcaggcat ttctcagaga cat 331118DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide prime ZC14666 11agccaccaag atgactga
181222DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide prime ZC14742
12tgcatttggt aggtgcggtt ga 22136PRTArtificial SequenceHis tag 13His
His His His His His 1 51463DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
primer ZC29239 14gaggccggat ccggttcggg ttcgggttcg gagcccagat
catcagacaa aactcacaca 60tgc 631565DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC29232 15cgactgactc gagtcagtga
tggtgatggt gatggccacc tgatccttta cccggagaca 60gggag
651637DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC39319
16atcggaattc gcagaagcca tggcgtggag ccttggg 371728DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC39325 17cagtggatcc ggaggggacc
gtttcgtc 2818660DNAHomo sapiensCDS(1)...(660) 18atg gcg tgg agt ctt
ggg agc tgg ctg ggt ggc tgc ctg ctg gtg tca 48Met Ala Trp Ser Leu
Gly Ser Trp Leu Gly Gly Cys Leu Leu Val Ser 1 5 10 15gca ttg gga
atg gta cca cct ccc gaa aat gtc aga atg aat tct gtt 96Ala Leu Gly
Met Val Pro Pro Pro Glu Asn Val Arg Met Asn Ser Val 20 25 30aat ttc
aag aac att cta cag tgg gag tca cct gct ttt gcc aaa ggg 144Asn Phe
Lys Asn Ile Leu Gln Trp Glu Ser Pro Ala Phe Ala Lys Gly 35 40 45aac
ctg act ttc aca gct cag tac cta agt tat agg ata ttc caa gat 192Asn
Leu Thr Phe Thr Ala Gln Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Arg Ile Phe Gln Asp 50 55
60aaa tgc atg aat act acc ttg acg gaa tgt gat ttc tca agt ctt tcc
240Lys Cys Met Asn Thr Thr Leu Thr Glu Cys Asp Phe Ser Ser Leu Ser
65 70 75 80aag tat ggt gac cac acc ttg aga gtc agg gct gaa ttt gca
gat gag 288Lys Tyr Gly Asp His Thr Leu Arg Val Arg Ala Glu Phe Ala
Asp Glu 85 90 95cat tca gac tgg gta aac atc acc ttc tgt cct gtg gat
gac acc att 336His Ser Asp Trp Val Asn Ile Thr Phe Cys Pro Val Asp
Asp Thr Ile 100 105 110att gga ccc cct gga atg caa gta gaa gta ctt
gat gat tct tta cat 384Ile Gly Pro Pro Gly Met Gln Val Glu Val Leu
Asp Asp Ser Leu His 115 120 125atg cgt ttc tta gcc cct aaa att gag
aat gaa tac gaa act tgg act 432Met Arg Phe Leu Ala Pro Lys Ile Glu
Asn Glu Tyr Glu Thr Trp Thr 130 135 140atg aag aat gtg tat aac tca
tgg act tat aat gtg caa tac tgg aaa 480Met Lys Asn Val Tyr Asn Ser
Trp Thr Tyr Asn Val Gln Tyr Trp Lys145 150 155 160aac ggt act gat
gaa aag ttt caa att act ccc cag tat gac ttt gag 528Asn Gly Thr Asp
Glu Lys Phe Gln Ile Thr Pro Gln Tyr Asp Phe Glu 165 170 175gtc ctc
aga aac ctg gag cca tgg aca act tat tgt gtt caa gtt cga 576Val Leu
Arg Asn Leu Glu Pro Trp Thr Thr Tyr Cys Val Gln Val Arg 180 185
190ggg ttt ctt cct gat cgg aac aaa gct ggg gaa tgg agt gag cct gtc
624Gly Phe Leu Pro Asp Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly Glu Trp Ser Glu Pro Val
195 200 205tgt gag caa aca acc cat gac gaa acg gtc ccc tcc 660Cys
Glu Gln Thr Thr His Asp Glu Thr Val Pro Ser 210 215 22019220PRTHomo
sapiens 19Met Ala Trp Ser Leu Gly Ser Trp Leu Gly Gly Cys Leu Leu
Val Ser 1 5 10 15Ala Leu Gly Met Val Pro Pro Pro Glu Asn Val Arg
Met Asn Ser Val 20 25 30Asn Phe Lys Asn Ile Leu Gln Trp Glu Ser Pro
Ala Phe Ala Lys Gly 35 40 45Asn Leu Thr Phe Thr Ala Gln Tyr Leu Ser
Tyr Arg Ile Phe Gln Asp 50 55 60Lys Cys Met Asn Thr Thr Leu Thr Glu
Cys Asp Phe Ser Ser Leu Ser65 70 75 80Lys Tyr Gly Asp His Thr Leu
Arg Val Arg Ala Glu Phe Ala Asp Glu 85 90 95His Ser Asp Trp Val Asn
Ile Thr Phe Cys Pro Val Asp Asp Thr Ile 100 105 110Ile Gly Pro Pro
Gly Met Gln Val Glu Val Leu Asp Asp Ser Leu His 115 120 125Met Arg
Phe Leu Ala Pro Lys Ile Glu Asn Glu Tyr Glu Thr Trp Thr 130 135
140Met Lys Asn Val Tyr Asn Ser Trp Thr Tyr Asn Val Gln Tyr Trp
Lys145 150 155 160Asn Gly Thr Asp Glu Lys Phe Gln Ile Thr Pro Gln
Tyr Asp Phe Glu 165 170 175Val Leu Arg Asn Leu Glu Pro Trp Thr Thr
Tyr Cys Val Gln Val Arg 180 185 190Gly Phe Leu Pro Asp Arg Asn Lys
Ala Gly Glu Trp Ser Glu Pro Val 195 200 205Cys Glu Gln Thr Thr His
Asp Glu Thr Val Pro Ser 210 215 2202018DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC38931 20acaaagccgc gggaggag
182182DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC39042
21ctgactcgag tcagtgatgg tgatggtgat ggccacctga tccggaacca cgcggaacca
60gtttacccgg agacagggag ag 82221428DNAArtificial
SequenceCDS(1)...(1428)CRF2-4 extracellular cytokine binding domain
fusedto IgGg1 with a 6-HIS tag 22atg gcg tgg agt ctt ggg agc tgg
ctg ggt ggc tgc ctg ctg gtg tca 48Met Ala Trp Ser Leu Gly Ser Trp
Leu Gly Gly Cys Leu Leu Val Ser 1 5 10 15gca ttg gga atg gta cca
cct ccc gaa aat gtc aga atg aat tct gtt 96Ala Leu Gly Met Val Pro
Pro Pro Glu Asn Val Arg Met Asn Ser Val 20 25 30aat ttc aag aac att
cta cag tgg gag tca cct gct ttt gcc aaa ggg 144Asn Phe Lys Asn Ile
Leu Gln Trp Glu Ser Pro Ala Phe Ala Lys Gly 35 40 45aac ctg act ttc
aca gct cag tac cta agt tat agg ata ttc caa gat 192Asn Leu Thr Phe
Thr Ala Gln Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Arg Ile Phe Gln Asp 50 55 60aaa tgc atg
aat act acc ttg acg gaa tgt gat ttc tca agt ctt tcc 240Lys Cys Met
Asn Thr Thr Leu Thr Glu Cys Asp Phe Ser Ser Leu Ser 65 70 75 80aag
tat ggt gac cac acc ttg aga gtc agg gct gaa ttt gca gat gag 288Lys
Tyr Gly Asp His Thr Leu Arg Val Arg Ala Glu Phe Ala Asp Glu 85 90
95cat tca gac tgg gta aac atc acc ttc tgt cct gtg gat gac acc att
336His Ser Asp Trp Val Asn Ile Thr Phe Cys Pro Val Asp Asp Thr Ile
100 105 110att gga ccc cct gga atg caa gta gaa gta ctt gat gat tct
tta cat 384Ile Gly Pro Pro Gly Met Gln Val Glu Val Leu Asp Asp Ser
Leu His 115 120 125atg cgt ttc tta gcc cct aaa att gag aat gaa tac
gaa act tgg act 432Met Arg Phe Leu Ala Pro Lys Ile Glu Asn Glu Tyr
Glu Thr Trp Thr 130 135 140atg aag aat gtg tat aac tca tgg act tat
aat gtg caa tac tgg aaa 480Met Lys Asn Val Tyr Asn Ser Trp Thr Tyr
Asn Val Gln Tyr Trp Lys145 150 155 160aac ggt act gat gaa aag ttt
caa att act ccc cag tat gac ttt gag 528Asn Gly Thr Asp Glu Lys Phe
Gln Ile Thr Pro Gln Tyr Asp Phe Glu 165 170 175gtc ctc aga aac ctg
gag cca tgg aca act tat tgt gtt caa gtt cga 576Val Leu Arg Asn Leu
Glu Pro Trp Thr Thr Tyr Cys Val Gln Val Arg 180 185 190ggg ttt ctt
cct gat cgg aac aaa gct ggg gaa tgg agt gag cct gtc 624Gly Phe Leu
Pro Asp Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly Glu Trp Ser Glu Pro Val 195 200 205tgt
gag caa aca acc cat gac gaa acg gtc ccc tcc gga tcc ggt tcg 672Cys
Glu Gln Thr Thr His Asp Glu Thr Val Pro Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser 210 215
220ggt tcg ggt tcg gag ccc aga tca tca gac aaa act cac aca tgc cca
720Gly Ser Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg Ser Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys
Pro225 230 235 240ccg tgc cca gca cct gaa gcc gag ggg gca ccg tca
gtc ttc ctc ttc 768Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser
Val Phe Leu Phe 245 250 255ccc cca aaa ccc aag gac acc ctc atg atc
tcc cgg acc cct gag gtc 816Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met Ile
Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Val 260 265 270aca tgc gtg gtg gtg gac gtg agc
cac gaa gac cct gag gtc aag ttc 864Thr Cys Val Val Val Asp Val Ser
His Glu Asp Pro Glu Val Lys Phe 275 280 285aac tgg tac gtg gac ggc
gtg gag gtg cat aat gcc aag aca aag ccg 912Asn Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly
Val Glu Val His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro 290 295 300cgg gag gag cag
tac aac agc acg tac cgt gtg gtc agc gtc ctc acc 960Arg Glu Glu Gln
Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Val Val Ser Val Leu Thr305 310 315 320gtc
ctg cac cag gac tgg ctg aat ggc aag gag tac aag tgc aag gtc 1008Val
Leu His Gln Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Val 325 330
335tcc aac aaa gcc ctc cca tcc tcc atc gag aaa acc atc tcc aaa gcc
1056Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Ile Glu Lys Thr Ile Ser Lys Ala
340 345 350aaa ggg cag ccc cga gaa cca cag gtg tac acc ctg ccc cca
tcc cgg 1104Lys Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro Gln Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro
Ser Arg 355 360 365gat gag ctg acc aag aac cag gtc agc ctg acc tgc
ctg gtc aaa ggc 1152Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Cys
Leu Val Lys Gly 370 375 380ttc tat ccc agc gac atc gcc gtg gag tgg
gag agc aat ggg cag ccg 1200Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala Val Glu Trp
Glu Ser Asn Gly Gln Pro385 390 395 400gag aac aac tac aag acc acg
cct ccc gtg ctg gac tcc gac ggc tcc 1248Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr
Pro Pro Val Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser 405 410 415ttc ttc ctc tac agc
aag ctc acc gtg gac aag agc agg tgg cag cag 1296Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser
Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp Gln Gln 420 425 430ggg aac gtc
ttc tca tgc tcc gtg atg cat gag gct ctg cac aac cac 1344Gly Asn Val
Phe Ser Cys Ser Val Met His Glu Ala Leu His Asn His 435 440 445tac
acg cag aag agc ctc tcc ctg tct ccg ggt aaa ctg gtt ccg cgt 1392Tyr
Thr Gln Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly Lys Leu Val Pro Arg 450 455
460ggt tcc gga tca ggt ggc cat cac cat cac cat cac 1428Gly Ser Gly
Ser Gly Gly His His His His His His465 470 47523476PRTHomo sapiens
23Met Ala Trp Ser Leu Gly Ser Trp Leu Gly Gly Cys Leu Leu Val Ser 1
5 10 15Ala Leu Gly Met Val Pro Pro Pro Glu Asn Val Arg Met Asn Ser
Val 20 25 30Asn Phe Lys Asn Ile Leu Gln Trp Glu Ser Pro Ala Phe Ala
Lys Gly 35 40 45Asn Leu Thr Phe Thr Ala Gln Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Arg Ile
Phe Gln Asp 50 55 60Lys Cys Met Asn Thr Thr Leu Thr Glu Cys Asp Phe
Ser Ser Leu Ser65 70 75 80Lys Tyr Gly Asp His Thr Leu Arg Val Arg
Ala Glu Phe Ala Asp Glu 85 90 95His Ser Asp Trp Val Asn Ile Thr Phe
Cys Pro Val Asp Asp Thr Ile 100 105 110Ile Gly Pro Pro Gly Met Gln
Val Glu Val Leu Asp Asp Ser Leu His 115 120 125Met Arg Phe Leu Ala
Pro Lys Ile Glu Asn Glu Tyr Glu Thr Trp Thr 130 135 140Met Lys Asn
Val Tyr Asn Ser Trp Thr Tyr Asn Val Gln Tyr Trp Lys145 150 155
160Asn Gly Thr Asp Glu Lys Phe Gln Ile Thr Pro Gln Tyr Asp Phe Glu
165 170 175Val Leu Arg Asn Leu Glu Pro Trp Thr Thr Tyr Cys Val Gln
Val Arg 180 185 190Gly Phe Leu Pro Asp Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly Glu Trp
Ser Glu Pro Val 195 200 205Cys Glu Gln Thr Thr His Asp Glu Thr Val
Pro Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser 210 215 220Gly Ser Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg Ser
Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro225 230 235 240Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro
Glu Ala Glu Gly Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Phe 245 250 255Pro Pro Lys
Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met Ile Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Val 260 265 270Thr
Cys Val Val Val Asp Val Ser His Glu Asp Pro Glu Val Lys Phe 275 280
285Asn Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val Glu Val His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro
290 295 300Arg Glu Glu Gln Tyr Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Val Val Ser Val
Leu Thr305 310 315 320Val Leu His Gln Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu
Tyr Lys Cys Lys Val 325 330 335Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Ile
Glu Lys Thr Ile Ser Lys Ala 340 345 350Lys Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro
Gln Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg 355 360 365Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys
Asn Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Cys Leu Val Lys Gly 370 375 380Phe Tyr Pro
Ser Asp Ile Ala Val Glu Trp Glu Ser Asn Gly Gln Pro385 390 395
400Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro Pro Val Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser
405 410 415Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp
Gln Gln 420 425 430Gly Asn Val Phe Ser Cys Ser Val Met His Glu Ala
Leu His Asn His 435 440 445Tyr Thr Gln Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro
Gly Lys Leu Val Pro Arg 450 455 460Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Gly His His
His His His His465 470 4752463DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
primer ZC29328 24tcagagggat ccggttcggg ttcgggttcg gagcccagat
catcagacaa aactcacaca 60tgc 632565DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC29231 25cgactgactc gagctactcc
ataggcatat actcgccacc tgatccttta cccggagaca 60gggag
652670DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC39335
26atcggaattc gcagaagcca tgaggacgct gctgaccatc ttgactgtgg ggtccctggc
60tgctcacgcc 702726DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer
ZC28981 27tttgggctcc ctgagctctg gtggaa 262880DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC39043 28ctgactcgag ctactccata
ggcatatact cgccacctga tccggaacca cgcggaacca 60gtttacccgg agacagggag
80291452DNAArtificial Sequencehzcytor11 extracellular cytokine
binding domain fused to IgGg1 with a Glu-Glu tag 29atg agg acg ctg
ctg acc atc ttg act gtg gga tcc ctg gct gct cac 48Met Arg Thr Leu
Leu Thr Ile Leu Thr Val Gly Ser Leu Ala Ala His 1 5 10 15gcc cct
gag gac ccc tcg gat ctg ctc cag cac gtg aaa ttc cag tcc 96Ala Pro
Glu Asp Pro Ser Asp Leu Leu Gln His Val Lys Phe Gln Ser 20 25 30agc
aac ttt gaa aac atc ctg acg tgg gac agc ggg cca gag ggc acc 144Ser
Asn Phe Glu Asn Ile Leu Thr Trp Asp Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Thr 35 40
45cca gac acg gtc tac agc atc gag tat aag acg tac gga gag agg
gac 192Pro Asp Thr Val Tyr Ser Ile Glu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Gly Glu Arg
Asp 50 55 60tgg gtg gca aag aag ggc tgt cag cgg atc acc cgg aag tcc
tgc aac 240Trp Val Ala Lys Lys Gly Cys Gln Arg Ile Thr Arg Lys Ser
Cys Asn 65 70 75 80ctg acg gtg gag acg ggc aac ctc acg gag ctc tac
tat gcc agg gtc 288Leu Thr Val Glu Thr Gly Asn Leu Thr Glu Leu Tyr
Tyr Ala Arg Val 85 90 95acc gct gtc agt gcg gga ggc cgg tca gcc acc
aag atg act gac agg 336Thr Ala Val Ser Ala Gly Gly Arg Ser Ala Thr
Lys Met Thr Asp Arg 100 105 110ttc agc tct ctg cag cac act acc ctc
aag cca cct gat gtg acc tgt 384Phe Ser Ser Leu Gln His Thr Thr Leu
Lys Pro Pro Asp Val Thr Cys 115 120 125atc tcc aaa gtg aga tcg att
cag atg att gtt cat cct acc ccc acg 432Ile Ser Lys Val Arg Ser Ile
Gln Met Ile Val His Pro Thr Pro Thr 130 135 140cca atc cgt gca ggc
gat ggc cac cgg cta acc ctg gaa gac atc ttc 480Pro Ile Arg Ala Gly
Asp Gly His Arg Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp Ile Phe145 150 155 160cat gac
ctg ttc tac cac tta gag ctc cag gtc aac cgc acc tac caa 528His Asp
Leu Phe Tyr His Leu Glu Leu Gln Val Asn Arg Thr Tyr Gln 165 170
175atg cac ctt gga ggg aag cag aga gaa tat gag ttc ttc ggc ctg acc
576Met His Leu Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Glu Tyr Glu Phe Phe Gly Leu Thr
180 185 190cct gac aca gag ttc ctt ggc acc atc atg att tgc gtt ccc
acc tgg 624Pro Asp Thr Glu Phe Leu Gly Thr Ile Met Ile Cys Val Pro
Thr Trp 195 200 205gcc aag gag agt gcc ccc tac atg tgc cga gtg aag
aca ctg cca gac 672Ala Lys Glu Ser Ala Pro Tyr Met Cys Arg Val Lys
Thr Leu Pro Asp 210 215 220cgg aca tgg acc gga tcc ggt tcg ggt tcg
ggt tcg gag ccc aga tca 720Arg Thr Trp Thr Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser
Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg Ser225 230 235 240tca gac aaa act cac aca tgc
cca ccg tgc cca gca cct gaa gcc gag 768Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys
Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Glu 245 250 255ggg gca ccg tca gtc
ttc ctc ttc ccc cca aaa ccc aag gac acc ctc 816Gly Ala Pro Ser Val
Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu 260 265 270atg atc tcc
cgg acc cct gag gtc aca tgc gtg gtg gtg gac gtg agc 864Met Ile Ser
Arg Thr Pro Glu Val Thr Cys Val Val Val Asp Val Ser 275 280 285cac
gaa gac cct gag gtc aag ttc aac tgg tac gtg gac ggc gtg gag 912His
Glu Asp Pro Glu Val Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val Glu 290 295
300gtg cat aat gcc aag aca aag ccg cgg gag gag cag tac aac agc acg
960Val His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gln Tyr Asn Ser
Thr305 310 315 320tac cgt gtg gtc agc gtc ctc acc gtc ctg cac cag
gac tgg ctg aat 1008Tyr Arg Val Val Ser Val Leu Thr Val Leu His Gln
Asp Trp Leu Asn 325 330 335ggc aag gag tac aag tgc aag gtc tcc aac
aaa gcc ctc cca tcc tcc 1056Gly Lys Glu Tyr Lys Cys Lys Val Ser Asn
Lys Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser 340 345 350atc gag aaa acc atc tcc aaa gcc
aaa ggg cag ccc cga gaa cca cag 1104Ile Glu Lys Thr Ile Ser Lys Ala
Lys Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro Gln 355 360 365gtg tac acc ctg ccc cca
tcc cgg gat gag ctg acc aag aac cag gtc 1152Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro
Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gln Val 370 375 380agc ctg acc tgc
ctg gtc aaa ggc ttc tat ccc agc gac atc gcc gtg 1200Ser Leu Thr Cys
Leu Val Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala Val385 390 395 400gag
tgg gag agc aat ggg cag ccg gag aac aac tac aag acc acg cct 1248Glu
Trp Glu Ser Asn Gly Gln Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro 405 410
415ccc gtg ctg gac tcc gac ggc tcc ttc ttc ctc tac agc aag ctc acc
1296Pro Val Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr
420 425 430gtg gac aag agc agg tgg cag cag ggg aac gtc ttc tca tgc
tcc gtg 1344Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp Gln Gln Gly Asn Val Phe Ser Cys
Ser Val 435 440 445atg cat gag gct ctg cac aac cac tac acg cag aag
agc ctc tcc ctg 1392Met His Glu Ala Leu His Asn His Tyr Thr Gln Lys
Ser Leu Ser Leu 450 455 460tct ccg ggt aaa ctg gtt ccg cgt ggt tcc
gga tca ggt ggc gag tat 1440Ser Pro Gly Lys Leu Val Pro Arg Gly Ser
Gly Ser Gly Gly Glu Tyr465 470 475 480atg cct atg gag 1452Met Pro
Met Glu30484PRTArtificial Sequencepeptide encoded by the hzcytor11
extracellular cytokine binding domain fused to IgGg1 with a Glu-Glu
tag of SEQ ID NO 29 30Met Arg Thr Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Thr Val Gly
Ser Leu Ala Ala His 1 5 10 15Ala Pro Glu Asp Pro Ser Asp Leu Leu
Gln His Val Lys Phe Gln Ser 20 25 30Ser Asn Phe Glu Asn Ile Leu Thr
Trp Asp Ser Gly Pro Glu Gly Thr 35 40 45Pro Asp Thr Val Tyr Ser Ile
Glu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Gly Glu Arg Asp 50 55 60Trp Val Ala Lys Lys Gly
Cys Gln Arg Ile Thr Arg Lys Ser Cys Asn65 70 75 80Leu Thr Val Glu
Thr Gly Asn Leu Thr Glu Leu Tyr Tyr Ala Arg Val 85 90 95Thr Ala Val
Ser Ala Gly Gly Arg Ser Ala Thr Lys Met Thr Asp Arg 100 105 110Phe
Ser Ser Leu Gln His Thr Thr Leu Lys Pro Pro Asp Val Thr Cys 115 120
125Ile Ser Lys Val Arg Ser Ile Gln Met Ile Val His Pro Thr Pro Thr
130 135 140Pro Ile Arg Ala Gly Asp Gly His Arg Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp
Ile Phe145 150 155 160His Asp Leu Phe Tyr His Leu Glu Leu Gln Val
Asn Arg Thr Tyr Gln 165 170 175Met His Leu Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Glu
Tyr Glu Phe Phe Gly Leu Thr 180 185 190Pro Asp Thr Glu Phe Leu Gly
Thr Ile Met Ile Cys Val Pro Thr Trp 195 200 205Ala Lys Glu Ser Ala
Pro Tyr Met Cys Arg Val Lys Thr Leu Pro Asp 210 215 220Arg Thr Trp
Thr Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg Ser225 230 235
240Ser Asp Lys Thr His Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Glu
245 250 255Gly Ala Pro Ser Val Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp
Thr Leu 260 265 270Met Ile Ser Arg Thr Pro Glu Val Thr Cys Val Val
Val Asp Val Ser 275 280 285His Glu Asp Pro Glu Val Lys Phe Asn Trp
Tyr Val Asp Gly Val Glu 290 295 300Val His Asn Ala Lys Thr Lys Pro
Arg Glu Glu Gln Tyr Asn Ser Thr305 310 315 320Tyr Arg Val Val Ser
Val Leu Thr Val Leu His Gln Asp Trp Leu Asn 325 330 335Gly Lys Glu
Tyr Lys Cys Lys Val Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser 340 345 350Ile
Glu Lys Thr Ile Ser Lys Ala Lys Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro Gln 355 360
365Val Tyr Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Arg Asp Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Gln Val
370 375 380Ser Leu Thr Cys Leu Val Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp Ile
Ala Val385 390 395 400Glu Trp Glu Ser Asn Gly Gln Pro Glu Asn Asn
Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro 405 410 415Pro Val Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe
Phe Leu Tyr Ser Lys Leu Thr 420 425 430Val Asp Lys Ser Arg Trp Gln
Gln Gly Asn Val Phe Ser Cys Ser Val 435 440 445Met His Glu Ala Leu
His Asn His Tyr Thr Gln Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu 450 455 460Ser Pro Gly
Lys Leu Val Pro Arg Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Gly Glu Tyr465 470 475
480Met Pro Met Glu3122DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide primer
ZC37693 31ccccagacac ggtctacagc at 223223DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide primer ZC37449 32gggtcaggcc gaagaactca tat
2333199PRTHomo sapiens 33Met Val Pro Pro Pro Glu Asn Val Arg Met
Asn Ser Val Asn Phe Lys 1 5 10 15Asn Ile Leu Gln Trp Glu Ser Pro
Ala Phe Ala Lys Gly Asn Leu Thr 20 25 30Phe Thr Ala Gln Tyr Leu Ser
Tyr Arg Ile Phe Gln Asp Lys Cys Met 35 40 45Asn Thr Thr Leu Thr Glu
Cys Asp Phe Ser Ser Leu Ser Lys Tyr Gly 50 55 60Asp His Thr Leu Arg
Val Arg Ala Glu Phe Ala Asp Glu His Ser Asp65 70 75 80Trp Val Asn
Ile Thr Phe Cys Pro Val Asp Asp Thr Ile Ile Gly Pro 85 90 95Pro Gly
Met Gln Val Glu Val Leu Ala Asp Ser Leu His Met Arg Phe 100 105
110Leu Ala Pro Lys Ile Glu Asn Glu Tyr Glu Thr Trp Thr Met Lys Asn
115 120 125Val Tyr Asn Ser Trp Thr Tyr Asn Val Gln Tyr Trp Lys Asn
Gly Thr 130 135 140Asp Glu Lys Phe Gln Ile Thr Pro Gln Tyr Asp Phe
Glu Val Leu Arg145 150 155 160Asn Leu Glu Pro Trp Thr Thr Tyr Cys
Val Gln Val Arg Gly Phe Leu 165 170 175Pro Asp Arg Asn Lys Ala Gly
Glu Trp Ser Glu Pro Val Cys Glu Gln 180 185 190Thr Thr His Asp Glu
Thr Val 19534211PRTHomo sapiens 34Ser Asp Ala His Gly Thr Glu Leu
Pro Ser Pro Pro Ser Val Trp Phe 1 5 10 15Glu Ala Glu Phe Phe His
His Ile Leu His Trp Thr Pro Ile Pro Asn 20 25 30Gln Ser Glu Ser Thr
Cys Tyr Glu Val Ala Leu Leu Arg Tyr Gly Ile 35 40 45Glu Ser Trp Asn
Ser Ile Ser Asn Cys Ser Gln Thr Leu Ser Tyr Asp 50 55 60Leu Thr Ala
Val Thr Leu Asp Leu Tyr His Ser Asn Gly Tyr Arg Ala65 70 75 80Arg
Val Arg Ala Val Asp Gly Ser Arg His Ser Asn Trp Thr Val Thr 85 90
95Asn Thr Arg Phe Ser Val Asp Glu Val Thr Leu Thr Val Gly Ser Val
100 105 110Asn Leu Glu Ile His Asn Gly Phe Ile Leu Gly Lys Ile Gln
Leu Pro 115 120 125Arg Pro Lys Met Ala Pro Ala Asn Asp Thr Tyr Glu
Ser Ile Phe Ser 130 135 140His Phe Arg Glu Tyr Glu Ile Ala Ile Arg
Lys Val Pro Gly Asn Phe145 150 155 160Thr Phe Thr His Lys Lys Val
Lys His Glu Asn Phe Ser Leu Leu Thr 165 170 175Ser Gly Glu Val Gly
Glu Phe Cys Val Gln Val Lys Pro Ser Val Ala 180 185 190Ser Arg Ser
Asn Lys Gly Met Trp Ser Lys Glu Glu Cys Ile Ser Leu 195 200 205Thr
Arg Gln 21035201PRTHomo sapiens 35Asp Glu Val Ala Ile Leu Pro Ala
Pro Gln Asn Leu Ser Val Leu Ser 1 5 10 15Thr Asn Met Lys His Leu
Leu Met Trp Ser Pro Val Ile Ala Pro Gly 20 25 30Glu Thr Val Tyr Tyr
Ser Val Glu Tyr Gln Gly Glu Tyr Glu Ser Leu 35 40 45Tyr Thr Ser His
Ile Trp Ile Pro Ser Ser Trp Cys Ser Leu Thr Glu 50 55 60Gly Pro Glu
Cys Asp Val Thr Asp Asp Ile Thr Ala Thr Val Pro Tyr65 70 75 80Asn
Leu Arg Val Arg Ala Thr Leu Gly Ser Gln Thr Ser Ala Trp Ser 85 90
95Ile Leu Lys His Pro Phe Asn Arg Asn Ser Thr Ile Leu Thr Arg Pro
100 105 110Gly Met Glu Ile Thr Lys Asp Gly Phe His Leu Val Ile Glu
Leu Glu 115 120 125Asp Leu Gly Pro Gln Phe Glu Phe Leu Val Ala Tyr
Trp Arg Arg Glu 130 135 140Pro Gly Ala Glu Glu His Val Lys Met Val
Arg Ser Gly Gly Ile Pro145 150 155 160Val His Leu Glu Thr Met Glu
Pro Gly Ala Ala Tyr Cys Val Lys Ala 165 170 175Gln Thr Phe Val Lys
Ala Ile Gly Arg Tyr Ser Ala Phe Ser Gln Thr 180 185 190Glu Cys Val
Glu Val Gln Gly Glu Ala 195 200
* * * * *
References