U.S. patent application number 14/167489 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for tribonectins.
This patent application is currently assigned to RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL. The applicant listed for this patent is Gregory D. Jay. Invention is credited to Gregory D. Jay.
Application Number | 20140179611 14/167489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23152784 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140179611 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jay; Gregory D. |
June 26, 2014 |
TRIBONECTINS
Abstract
The invention features a tribonectin and a method of
tribosupplementation carried out by administering tribonectins
directly to an injured or arthritic joint.
Inventors: |
Jay; Gregory D.; (Norfolk,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jay; Gregory D. |
Norfolk |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
Providence
RI
|
Family ID: |
23152784 |
Appl. No.: |
14/167489 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13470831 |
May 14, 2012 |
8680057 |
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14167489 |
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12703036 |
Feb 9, 2010 |
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13470831 |
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12608462 |
Oct 29, 2009 |
8026346 |
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12703036 |
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10858595 |
Jun 1, 2004 |
7618941 |
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12608462 |
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09298970 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
6743774 |
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10858595 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/16.7 ;
530/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 17/02 20180101;
C07K 14/475 20130101; A61K 38/1709 20130101; A61K 38/00 20130101;
A61P 43/00 20180101; C07K 14/47 20130101; A61K 48/00 20130101; A61P
9/00 20180101; A61P 19/02 20180101; A61P 19/10 20180101; A61P 41/00
20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/16.7 ;
530/395 |
International
Class: |
C07K 14/47 20060101
C07K014/47 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 1999 |
AU |
200044852 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
CA |
2367750 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
EP |
00926303.9 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
JP |
2000-614279 |
Claims
1. A tribonectin comprising a polypeptide the amino acid sequence
of which comprises at least one but less than 76 subunits, wherein
(a) each subunit comprises at least 7 amino acids; and (b) the
amino acid sequence of said subunit is at least 50% identical to
SEQ ID NO:3, wherein a non-identical amino acid is a conservative
amino acid substitution.
2. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence of
said subunit is SEQ ID NO:3.
3. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectiri further
comprises one or more repeats of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NO:4.
4. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectin is
characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between
bearing surfaces.
5. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectin is
characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between
bearing surfaces in vitro.
6. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectin is
characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between
bearing surfaces in vivo.
7. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectin does not
substantially increase the viscosity of a solution to which it is
added.
8. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said tribonectin comprises
an O-linked oligosaccharide.
9. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said oligosaccharide is an
N-acetylgalactosamine-galactose.
10. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein at least 10% of said
tribonectin is glycosylated.
11. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein at least 40% of said
tribonectin is glycosylated.
12. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein the molecular weight of
said tribonectin is in the range of 200-280 kDa.
13. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises
a fragment of megakaryocyte stimulating factor.
14. The triboriectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises
an amino acid sequence that is at least 50% identical to the
sequence of residues 200-1140, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1.
15. The tribonectin of claim 14, wherein said polypeptide comprises
the amino acid sequence of residues 200-1140, inclusive, of SEQ ID
N0:1.
16. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises
an amino acid sequence that is at least 50% identical to the
sequence of residues 200-1167, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1.
17. The tribonectin of claim 16, wherein said polypeptide comprises
the amino acid sequence of residues 200-1167, inclusive, of SEQ ID
NO:1.
18. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises
an amino acid sequence that is at least 50% identical to the
sequence of residues 200-1212, inclusive, of SEQ ID NQ:1.
19. The tribonectin of claim 18, wherein said polypeptide comprises
the amino acid sequence of residues 200-1212, inclusive, of SEQ ID
NO:1.
20. The tribonectjn of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises
an amino acid sequence that is at least 50% identical to the
sequence of residues 200-1263, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1.
21. The tribonectin of claim 20, wherein said polypeptide comprises
the amino acid sequence of residues 200-1263, inclusive, of SEQ ID
NO:1.
22. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide lacks the
amino acid sequence of residues 1-24, inclusive, of SEQ ID
NO:1.
23. The tribonectin of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide lacks the
amino acid sequence of residues 67-104, inclusive of SEQ ID
NO:1.
24. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a tribonectin.
25. The nucleic acid of claim 24, wherein said nucleic acid
comprises the sequence of nucleotides 631-3453, inclusive, of SEQ
ID NO:2.
26. A method of lubricating a mammalian joint, comprising
contacting said joint with the tribonectin of claim 1.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein said joint is an articulating
joint of a human.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein said joint is an articulating
joint of a dog.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein said joint is an articulating
joint of a horse.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein said tribonectin is
administered intra-articularly.
31. A method of lubricating a mammalian joint, comprising
contacting said joint with the nucleic acid of claim 24.
32. A biocompatible composition comprising a tribonectin, wherein
said composition is in a form suitable for the inhibition of tissue
adhesion formation.
33. The composition of claim 32, wherein said tribonectin is in the
form of a membrane, foam, gel, or fiber.
34. A method inhibiting adhesion formation between a first surface
and a second surface in a mammal, said method comprising placing a
tribonectin between said first and second surfaces in an amount
sufficient to prevent adhesion of said surfaces in said mammal.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein said first surface and said
second surface are both injured tissues of said mammal.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein said first or said second
surface is an artificial device.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein said artificial device is an
orthopedic implant.
38. The method of claim 34, wherein said tribonectin is in the form
of a membrane, foam, gel, or fiber.
39. The method of claim 34, wherein said injury is due to a
surgical incision.
40. The method of claim 34, wherein said injury is due to
trauma.
41. A method for diagnosing an osteoarthritis or a predisposition
thereto in a mammal, comprising measuring the amount of a fragment
of megakaryocyte stimulating factor in a biological sample derived
from said mammal, wherein an increase in said amount compared to a
control indicates that said mammal suffers from osteoarthritis or
is predisposed to developing osteoarthritis.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein said biological sample is
synovial fluid, blood, serum, or urine.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein said MSF fragment comprises the
amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
44. The method of claim 41, wherein said MSF fragment comprises the
amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.
45. The method of claim 41, wherein said MSF fragment comprises the
amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to lubrication of mammalian
joints.
[0002] Osteoarthritis (OA) is the one of the most common form of
joint disease. Factors which contribute to the development of OA
include a family history of OA, previous damage to the joint
through injury or surgery, and age of the joint, i.e., "wear and
tear" of the articulating surfaces of the joint. OA is very common
in older age groups, but can affect children as well.
[0003] Current treatment is directed to relieving pain and other
symptoms of OA, e.g., by administering analgesics and
anti-inflammatory drugs. Other therapeutic approaches include
viscosupplementation by administering hyaluronic acid and
derivatives thereof to joint tissue to increase the viscosity of
synovial fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention features a novel treatment for osteoarthritis
and other degenerative joint diseases by tribosupplementation.
Tribosupplementation is carried out by administering lubricating
polypeptides directly to the injured or arthritic joint. Unlike
viscosupplementation, tribosupplementation does not substantially
increase the viscosity of the solution, e.g, synovial fluid, to
which it is added. The viscosity of a solution to which a
tribonectin is added increases no more than 10%, preferably no more
than 5%, more preferably no more than 2%, more preferably no more
than 1%. Most preferably, the viscosity of the solution to which a
tribonectin is added is unaltered or decreases.
[0005] Accordingly, the invention provides a tribonectin. A
tribonectin is an artificial boundary lubricant which contains at
least one repeat of an amino acid sequence which is at least 50%
identical to KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3). A tribonectin is formulated for
administration to a mammalian joint. Preferably, the tribonectin is
a recombinant or chemically-synthesized lubricating polypeptide.
For example, a tribonectin includes a substantially pure
polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which includes at least one
but less than 76 subunits. Each subunit contains at least 7 amino
acids (and typically, 10 or fewer amino acids). The amino acid
sequence of each subunit is at least 50% identical to SEQ NO:3, and
a non-identical amino acid in the reference sequence is a
conservative amino acid substitution. For example, one or both of
the threonine residues are substituted with a serine residue.
Preferably, the amino acid sequence of the subunit is identical to
SEQ ID NO:3. The tribonectin may also contain one or more repeats
of the amino acid sequence XXTTX (SEQ ID NO:4). Polypeptides or
other compounds described herein are said to be "substantially
pure" when they are within preparations that are at least 60% by
weight (dry weight) the compound of interest. Preferably, the
preparation is at least 75%, more preferably at least 90%, and most
preferably at least 99%, by weight the compound of interest. Purity
can be measured by any appropriate standard method, for example, by
column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or HPLC
analysis.
[0006] Where a particular polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule is
said to have a specific percent identity to a reference polypeptide
or nucleic acid molecule of a defined length, the percent identity
is relative to the reference polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule.
Thus, a peptide that is 50% identical to a reference polypeptide
that is 100 amino acids long can be a 50 amino acid polypeptide
that is completely identical to a 50 amino acid long portion of the
reference polypeptide. It can also be a 100 amino acid long.
polypeptide which is 50% identical to the reference polypeptide
over its entire length.
[0007] A polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule which is
"substantially identical" to a given reference polypeptide or
nucleic acid molecule is a polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule
having a sequence that has at least 85%, preferably 90%, and more
preferably 95%, 98%, 99% or more identity to the sequence of the
given reference polypeptide sequence or nucleic acid molecule.
"Identity" has an art-recognized meaning and is calculated using
well known published techniques, e.g., Computational Molecular
Biology, 1988, Lesk A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York;
Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, 1993, Smith, D. W.,
ed., Academic Press, New York; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data,
Part I, 1994, Griffin, A. M. and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana
Press, New Jersey; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, 1987,
Heinje, G., Academic Press, New York; and Sequence Analysis Primer,
1991, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., Stockton Press, New
York). While there exist a number of methods to measure identity
between two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences, the term
"identity" is well known to skilled artisans and has a definite
meaning with respect to a given specified method. Sequence identity
described herein is measured using the Sequence Analysis Software
Package of the Genetics Computer Group (GCS), University of
Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, 1710 University Avenue, Madison,
Wis. 53705), with the default parameters as specified therein.
[0008] A tribonectin is characterized as reducing the coefficient
of friction (g) between bearing surfaces. For example, reduction of
friction is measured in vitro by detecting a reduction in friction
in a friction apparatus using latex:glass bearings. Reduction of
friction is also measured in viva, e.g., by measuring reduction of
patient pain. Tribonectins of the invention are lubricating
compositions. Polypeptides that have at least 50% (but less than
100%) amino acid sequence identity to a reference sequence are
tested for lubricating function by measuring a reduction in the
.mu. between bearing surfaces.
[0009] A tribonectin includes an O-linked oligosaccharide, e.g., an
N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose in the form
.beta.(1-3)Gal-GalNAC. For example, KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3) and
XXTTTX (SEQ ID NO:4) repeat domains are glycosylated by
.beta.(1-3)Gal-GalNAC (which may at times be capped with NeuAc in
the form of .beta.(1-3)Gal-GalNAC-NeuAc. The term "glycosylated"
with respect to a polypeptide means that a carbohydrate moiety is
present at one or more sites of the polypeptide molecule. For
example, at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, more preferably at
least 30%, and most preferably at least 40% of the tribonectin is
glycosylated. Up to 50% or more of the tribonectin can be
glycosylated. Percent glycosylation is determined by weight.
[0010] A tribonectin polypeptide can contain a substantially pure
fragment of megakaryocyte stimulating factor (MSF). For example,
the molecular weight of a substantially pure tribonectin having an
amino acid sequence of a naturally-occurring tribonectin is in the
range of 220-280 kDa. Preferably, the apparent molecular weight of
a tribonectin is less than 2.30 kDa, more preferably less than 250
kDa, and most preferably less than 280 kDa. A protein or
polypeptide fragment is defined as a polypeptide which has an amino
acid sequence that is identical to part, but not all, of the amino
acid sequence of a naturally-occurring protein or polypeptide from
which it is derived, e.g., MSF. The tribonectin may contain a
polypeptide, the amino acid sequence of which is at least 50%
identical to the sequence of residues 200-1140, inclusive, of SEQ
ID NO:1, e.g., it contains the amino acid sequence of residues
200-1140, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1. In another example, the
polypeptide contains an amino acid sequence that is at least 50%
identical to the sequence of residues 200-1167, inclusive, of SEQ
ID NO:1, e.g., one having the amino acid sequence identical to
residues 200-1167, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1. The polypeptide
contains an amino acid sequence that is at least 50% identical to
the sequence of residues 200-1212, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1, e.g.,
the amino acid sequence of residues 200-1212, inclusive, of SEQ ID
NO:1, or the polypeptide contains an amino acid sequence that is at
least 50% identical to the sequence of residues 200-1263,
inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1, e.g., an amino acid sequence identical
to residues 200-1263, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1. Preferably, the
sequence of the polypeptide lacks the amino acid sequence of
residues 1-24, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:1 and/or the amino acid
sequence of residues 67-104, inclusive of SEQ ID NO:1.
[0011] The invention also features an isolated nucleic acid
molecule encoding a tribonectin. For example, the nucleic acid
includes a sequence that is at least 50% identical to nucleotides
631-3453, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:2. Preferably, the nucleic acid
encodes a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of residues
200-1140 of SEQ ID NO:1. For example, the nucleic acid has a
nucleotide sequence identical to that of nucleotides 631-3453,
inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:2, or a degenerate variant thereof. An
isolated nucleic acid molecule is a nucleic acid molecule that is
separated from the 5' and 3' coding sequences or non-coding
sequences with which it is immediately contiguous in the naturally
occurring genome of an organism. Isolated nucleic acid molecules
include nucleic acid molecules which are not naturally occurring,
e.g., nucleic acid molecules created by recombinant DNA techniques.
For example, the nucleic acid of the invention includes nucleotides
631-3453, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO:2, but not nucleotides which are
immediately contiguous to those sequences in the
naturally-occurring genomic sequence or naturally-occurring
cDNA.
[0012] Also within the invention is a method of lubricating a
mammalian joint by contacting the joint with a tribonectin. The
mammal is preferably a human, horse, dog, ox, donkey, mouse, rat,
guinea pig, cow, sheep, pig, rabbit, monkey, or cat, and the joint
is an articulating joint such as a knee, elbow, shoulder, hip, or
any other weight-bearing joint. Tribonectins are administered
intra-articularly. Therapeutic joint lubrication is also carried
out by gene therapy, e.g., by contacting the joint or synovial
fluid with a nucleic acid encoding a tribonectin. For example,
nucleic acids are administered to a synovial cavity by
intra-articular injection.
[0013] In addition to functioning as a boundary lubricant in a
mammalian joint, a tribonectin is used as a boundary lubricant
between soft mammalian tissues such as skin or internal organs or
between a mammalian tissue and a medical-device such as a
prosthetic implant. Accordingly, the invention encompasses a
biocompatible composition containing a tribonectin in a form
suitable for the inhibition of tissue adhesion formation. For
example, the tribonectin is in the form of a film, membrane, foam,
gel, or fiber. The term "film," as used herein, means a substance
formed by compressing a foam or gel to a thin membrane, e.g., by
casting into a flat mold and air drying to a thin membrane, or by
compressing a gel or fibers, or by allowing or causing a gel or
fibers to dehydrate. The term "foam," as used herein, means a
substance with a porous structure formed, e.g., by introduction of
as air into a tribonectin solution, suspension, gels, or fiber. The
term "bioabsorbable," as used herein, refers to the ability of a
tissue-compatible material to degrade in the body after
implantation, into nontoxic products which are eliminated from the
body or metabolized. A "biocompatible" substance, as the term is
used herein, is one that has no medically unacceptable toxic or
injurious effects on biological function. Tribonectin compositions
for the prevention of adhesions are also formulated as compositions
suitable for extrusion, e.g., to form a mold upon which tissue can
grow without adhering.
[0014] A method inhibiting adhesion formation between a first
surface and a second surface in a mammal is carried out by placing
a tribonectin between the first and second surfaces in an amount
sufficient to prevent adhesion of the surfaces in the mammal. For
example, one or both of the surfaces is a mammalian tissue, and a
tribonectin placed between them prevents formation of adhesions
during the healing process. Alternatively the first or the second
surface (or both) is an artificial device such as an orthopedic
implant. Tissues to be treated include those injured by surgical
incision or trauma.
[0015] Also within the invention is a method for diagnosing
osteoarthritis or a predisposition thereto by obtaining a
biological sample from a mammal and measuring the amount of an MSF
fragment in the biological sample. An increase in the amount
compared to a control, e.g, a predetermined value associated with a
negative diagnosis or a biological sample from a mammal known to be
free of osteoarthritis, indicates that the mammal suffers from
osteoarthritis or is predisposed to developing osteoarthritis. Any
biological sample is suitable for testing in the diagnostic method;
typically, the biological sample is synovial fluid, blood, serum,
or urine. Preferably, the MSF fragment contains the amino acid
sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. Alternatively, the MSF fragment contains
the amino acid sequence of EPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:5; a product of
trypsin cleavage of a tribonectin) or the amino acid sequence of
PTTKEP (SEQ ID NO:6; a product of elastase cleavage of a
tribonectin).
[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments thereof, and from the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] A human lubricating polypeptide was purified from synovial
fluid and found to contain amino acids encoded by exons 2 and 4-12
of the MSF gene (but not exons 1 or 3). The gene encoding
naturally-occurring full length MSF contains 12 exons, and the
naturally-occurring MSF gene product contains 1404 amino acids with
multiple polypeptide sequence homologies to vitronectin including
hemopexin-like and somatomedin-like regions. Centrally-located exon
6 contains 940 residues. Exon 6 encodes a O-glycosylated mucin
domain. A polypeptide encoded by nucleotides 631-3453 of SEQ ID
NO:2 provides boundary lubrication of articular cartilage.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 MSF amino acid sequence
MAWKTLPIYLLLLLSVFVIQQVSSQDLSSCAGRCGEGYSRDATCNCDYNCQHYMECCPDF
KRVCTAELSCKGRCFESFERGRECDCDAQCKKYDKCCPDYESFCAEVHNPTSPPSSKKAP
PPSGASQTIKSTTKRSPKPPNKKKTKKVIESEEITEEHSVSENQESSSSSSSSSSSSTIW
KIKSSKNSAANRELQKKLKVKDNKKNRTKKKPTPKPPVVDEAGSGLDNGDFKVTTPDTST
TQHNKVSTSPKITTAKPINPRPSLPPNSDTSKETSLTVNKETTVETKETTTTNKQTSTDG
KEKTTSAKETQSIEKTSAKDLAPTSKVLAKPTPKAETTTKGPALTTPKEPTPTTPKEPAS
TTPKEPTPTTIKSAPTTPKEPAPTTTKSAPTTPKEPAPTTTKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTTKEP
APTTTKSAPTTPKEPAPTTPKKPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKEPTPTTPKEPAPTTKEPAPTTPK
EPAPTAPKKPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTTKEPSPTTPKEPAPTTTKSAPTTTKEPAPT
TTKSAPTTPKEPSPTTTKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKKPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTTKKP
APTAPKEPAPTTPKETAPTTPKKLTPTTPEKLAPTTPEKPAPTTPEELAPTTPEEPTPTT
PEEPAPTTPKAAAPNTPKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKETAPTTPKGTAPTTLKEP
APTTPKKPAPKELAPTTTKEPTSTTSDKPAPTTPKGTAPTTPKEPAPTTPKEPAPTTPKG
TAPTTLKEPAPTTPKKPAPKELAPTTTKGPTSTTSDKPAPTTPKETAPTTPKEPAPTTPK
KPAPTTPETPPPTTSEVSTPTTTKEPTTIHKSPDESTPELSAEPTPKALENSPKEPGVPT
TKTPAATKPEMTTTAKDKTTERDLRTTPETTTAAPKMTKETATTTEKTTESKITATTTQV
TSTTTQDTTPFKITTLKTTTLAPKVTTTKKTITTTEIMNKPEETAKPKDRATNSKATTPK
PQKPTKAPKKPTSTKKPKTMPRVRKPKTTPTPRKMTSTMPELNPTSRIAEAMLQTTTRPN
QTPNSKLVEVNPKSEDAGGAEGETPHMLLRPHVFMPEVTPDMDYLPRVPNQGIIINPMLS
DETNICNGKPVDGLTTLRNGTLVAFRGHYFWMLSPFSPPSPARRITEVWGIPSPIDTVFT
RCNCEGKTFFFKDSQYWRFTNDIKDAGYPKPIFKGFGGLTGQIVAALSTAKYKNWPESVY
FFKRGGSIQQYIYKQEPVQKCPGRRPALNYPVYGEMTQVRRRRFERAIGPSQTHTIRIQY
SPARLAYQDKGVLHNEVKVSILWRGLPNVVTSAISLPNIRKPDGYDYYAFSKDQYYNIDV
PSRTARAITTRSGQTLSKVWYNCP (SEQ ID NO: 1)
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 MSF cDNA 1 gcggccgcga ctattcggta cctgaaaaca
acgatggcat ggaaaacact tcccatttac 61 ctgttgttgc tgctgtctgt
tttcgtgatt cagcaagttt catctcaaga tttatcaagc 121 tgtgcaggga
gatgtgggga agggtattct agagatgcca cctgcaactg tgattataac 181
tgtcaacact acatggagtg ctgccctgat ttcaagagag tctgcactgc ggagctttcc
241 tgtaaaggcc gctgctttga gtccttcgag agagggaggg agtgtgactg
cgacgcccaa 301 tgtaagaagt atgacaagtg ctgtcccgat tatgagagtt
tctgtgcaga agtgcataat 361 cccacatcac caccatcttc aaagaaagca
cctccacctt caggagcatc tcaaaccatc 421 aaatcaacaa ccaaacgttc
acccaaacca ccaaacaaga agaagactaa gaaagttata 481 gaatcagagg
aaataacaga agaacattct gtttctgaaa atcaagagtc ctcctcctcc 541
tcctcctctt cctcttcttc ttcaacaatt tggaaaatca agtcttccaa aaattcagct
EXON 6 601 gctaatagag aattacagaa gaaactcaaa gtaaaagata acaagaagaa
cagaactaaa 661 aagaaaccta cccccaaacc accagttgta gatgaagctg
gaagtggatt ggacaatggt 721 gacttcaagg tcacaactcc tgacacgtct
accacccaac acaataaagt cagcacatct 781 cccaagatca caacagcaaa
accaataaat cccagaccca gtcttccacc taattctgat 841 acatctaaag
agacgtcttt gacagtgaat aaagagacaa cagttgaaac taaagaaact 901
actacaacaa ataaacagac ttcaactgat ggaaaagaga agactacttc cgctaaagag
961 acacaaagta tagagaaaac atctgctaaa gatttagcac ccacatctaa
agtgctggct 1021 aaacctacac ccaaagctga aactacaacc aaaggccctg
ctctcaccac tcccaaggag 1081 cccacgccca ccactcccaa ggagcctgca
tctaccacac ccaaagagcc cacacctacc 1141 accatcaagt ctgcacccac
cacccccaag gagcctgcac ccaccaccac caagtctgca 1201 cccaccactc
ccaaggagcc tgcacccacc accaccaagg agcctgcacc caccactccc 1261
aaggagcctg cacccaccac caccaaggag cctgcaccca ccaccaccaa gtctgcaccc
1321 accactccca aggagcctgc acccaccacc cccaagaagc ctgccccaac
tacccccaag 1181 gagcctgcac ccaccactcc caaggagcct acacccacca
ctcccaagga gcctgcaccc 1441 accaccaagg agcctgcacc caccactccc
aaagagcctg cacccactgc ccccaagaag 1501 cctgccccaa ctacccccaa
ggagcctgca cccaccactc ccaaggagcc tgcacccacc 1561 accaccaagg
agccttcacc caccactccc aaggagcctg cacccaccac caccaagtct 1621
gcacccacca ctaccaagga gcctgcaccc accactacca agtctgcacc caccactccc
1681 aaggagcctt cacccaccac caccaaggag cctgcaccca ccactcccaa
ggagcctgca 1741 cccaccaccc ccaagaagcc tgccccaact acccccaagg
agcctgcacc caccactccc 1801 aaggaacctg cacccaccac caccaagaag
cctgcaccca ccgctcccaa agagcctgcc 1861 ccaactaccc ccaaggagac
tgcacccacc acccccaaga agctcacgcc caccaccccc 1921 gagaagctcg
cacccaccac ccctgagaag cccgcaccca ccacccctga ggagctcgca 1981
cccaccaccc ctgaggagcc cacacccacc acccctgagg agcctgctcc caccactccc
2041 aaggcagcgg ctcccaacac ccctaaggag cctgctccaa ctacccctaa
ggagcctgct 2101 ccaactaccc ctaaggagcc tgctccaact acccctaagg
agactgctcc aactacccct 2161 aaagggactg ctccaactac cctcaaggaa
cctgcaccca ctactcccaa gaagcctgcc 2221 cccaaggagc ttgcacccac
caccaccaag gagcccacat ccaccacctc tgacaagccc 2281 actccaacta
cccctaaggg gactgctcca actaccccta aggagcctgc tccaactacc 2341
cctaaggagc ctgctccaac tacccctaag gggactgctc caactaccct caaaggacct
2401 gcacccacta ctcccaagaa gcctgccccc aaggagcttg cacccaccac
caccaagggg 2461 cccacatcca ccacctctga caagcctgct ccaactacac
ctaaggagac tgctccaact 2521 acccccaagg agcctgcacc cactaccccc
aagaagcctg ctccaactac tcctgagaca 2581 ccttctccaa ccacttcaga
ggtctctact ccaactacca ccaaggagcc taccactatc 2641 cacaaaagcc
ctgatgaatc aactcctgag ctttctgcag aacccacacc aaaagctctt 2701
gaaaacagtc ccaaggaacc tggtgtacct acaactaaga ctcctgcagc gactaaacct
2761 gaaatgacta caacagctaa agacaagaca acagaaagag acttacgtac
tacacctgaa 2821 actacaactg ctgcacctaa gatgacaaaa gagacagcaa
ctacaacaga aaaaactacc 2881 gaatccaaaa taacagctac aaccacacaa
gtaacatcta ccacaactca agataccaca 2941 ccattcaaaa ttactactct
taaaacaact actcttgcac ccaaagtaac tacaacaaaa 3001 aagacaatta
ctaccactga gattatgaac aaacctgaag aaacagctaa accaaaagac 3061
agagctacta attctaaagc gacaactcct aaacctcaaa agccaaccaa agcacccaaa
3121 aaacccactt ctaccaaaaa gccaaaaaca atgcctagag tgagaaaacc
aaagacgaca 3181 ccaactcccc gcaagatgac atcaacaatg ccagaattga
accctacctc aagaatagca 3241 caagccatgc tccaaaccac caccagacct
aaccaaactc caaactccaa actagttgaa 3301 gtaaatccaa agagtgaaga
tgcaggtggt gctgaaggag aaacacctca tatgcttctc 3361 aggccccatg
tgttcatgcc tgaagttact cccgacatgg attacttacc gagagtaccc 3421
aatcaaggca ttatcatcaa tcccatgctt tccgatgaga ccaatatatg caatggtaag
3481 ccagtagatg gactgactac tttgcgcaat gggacattag ttgcattccg
aggtcattat 3541 ttctggatgc taagtccatt cagtccacca tctccagctc
gcagaattac tgaagtttgg 3601 ggtattcctt cccccattga tactgttttt
actaggtgca actgtgaagg aaaaactttc 3661 ttctttaagg attctcagta
ctggcgtttt accaatgata taaaagatgc agggtacccc 3721 aaaccaattt
tcaaaggatt tggaggacta actggacaaa tagtggcagc gctttcaaca 3781
gctaaatata agaactggcc tgaatctgtg tattttttca agagaggtgg cagcattcag
3841 cagtatattt ataaacagga acctgtacag aagtgccctg gaagaaggcc
tgctctaaat 3901 tatccagtgt atggagaaat gacacaggtt aggagacgtc
gctttgaacg tgctatagga 3961 ccttctcaaa cacacaccat cagaattcaa
tattcacctg ccagactggc ttatcaagac 4021 aaaggtgtcc ttcataatga
agttaaagtg agtatactgt ggagaggact tccaaatgtg 4081 gttacctcag
ctatatcact gcccaacatc agaaaacctg acggctatga ttactatgcc 4141
ttttctaaag atcaatacta taacattgat gtgcctagta gaacagcaag agcaattact
4201 actcgttctg ggcagacctt atccaaagtc tggtacaact gtccttagac
tgatgagcaa 4261 aggaggagtc aactaatgaa gaaatgaata ataaattttg
acactgaaaa acattttatt 4321 aataaagaat attgacatga gtataccagt
ttatatataa aaatgttttt aaacttgaca 4381 atcattacac taaaacagat
ttgataatct tattcacagt tgttattgtt tacagaccat 4441 ttaattaata
tttcctctgt ttattcctcc tctccctccc attgcatggc tcacacctgt 4501
aaaagaaaaa agaatcaaat tgaatatatc ttttaagaat tcaaaactag tgtattcact
4561 taccctagtt cattataaaa aatatctagg cattgtggat ataaaactgt
tgggtattct 4621 acaacttcaa tggaaattat tacaagcaga ttaatccctc
tttttgtgac acaagtacaa 4681 tctaaaagtt atattggaaa acatggaaat
attaaaattt tacactttta ctagctaaaa 4741 cataatcaca aagctttatc
gtgttgtata aaaaaattaa caatataatg gcaataggta 4801 gagatacaac
aaatgaatat aacactataa cacttcatat tttccaaatc ttaatttgga 4861
tttaaggaag aaatcaataa atataaaata taagcacata tttattatat atctaaggta
4921 tacaaatctg tctacatgaa gtttacagat tggtaaatat cacctgctca
acatgtaact 4981 atttaataaa actttggaac attaaaaaaa taaattggag
gcttaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 5041 a (SEQ ID NO: 2)
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 MSF Exon Boundaries Amino acid sequence
Nucleotide sequence in Exon in SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 2 1 1-24,
inclusive 34-105, inclusive 2 25-66, inclusive 106-231, inclusive 3
67-104, inclusive 232-345, inclusive 4 105-155, inclusive 346-498,
inclusive 5 156-199, inclusive 499-630, inclusive 6 200-1140,
inclusive 631-3453, inclusive 7 1141-1167, inclusive 3454-3534,
inclusive 8 1168-1212, inclusive 3535-3670, inclusive 9 1213-1263,
inclusive 3671-3822, inclusive 10 1264-1331, inclusive 3823-4026,
inclusive 11 1332-1371, inclusive 4027-4146, inclusive 12
1372-1404, inclusive 4147-4245, inclusive
[0018] The boundary lubricant isolated from synovial fluid is an
alternatively-spliced variant of MSF. This alternatively-spliced
variant was found to be the composition present in synovial fluid
that confers lubricating capabilities to the articular joint. The
boundary lubricant isolated from human synovial fluid contains
amino acids encoded by exons 2, and 4-12 of the MSF gene, i.e., the
alternative splice variant lacks amino acids encoded by exons 1 and
3 of the MSF gene. A recombinant or chemically-produced polypeptide
containing at least exon 6 (but not exons 1 or 3) of MSF is useful
to prevent and/or treat osteoarthritic disease. A recombinant or
chemically-produced lubricating polypeptide containing at least one
repeat of the amino acid sequence KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3) either
identically or with conservative substitution is also administered
to lubricate mammalian joints.
Production and Purification of Recombinant Lubricating
Polypeptides
[0019] To produce recombinant polypeptides, DNA containing exon 6
of MSF (nucleotides 631-3453 of SEQ ID NO:2) in an appropriate
expression vector is transfected into a cell. The DNA can also
contain some or all of exon 7 (nucleotides 354-3534 of SEQ ID
NO:2), exon 8 (nucleotides 3535-3670 of SEQ ID NO:2), or exon 9
(nucleotides 3671-3822 of SEQ ID NO:2) of the MSF gene. Primers for
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to generate DNA which spans
various exons of MSF are shown below.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 PCR Primers MSF exons Forward Primer Reverse
Primer exon 2 5' AGATTTATCAAGCTGT 5' TTTACAGGAAAGC GCAGGGAG3'
TCCGCAGTG3' (SEQ ID NO: 7) (SEQ ID NO: 8) exon 6 5'TCAAGGTCACAACTCC
5' CTCTCGGTAAGTA TGACACG3' ATCCATGTCGG3' (SEQ ID NO: 9) (SEQ ID NO:
10) exons 5' TTGTTGCTGCTGTCTG 5' TGGATAAGGTCTG 2-12 TTTTCG3'
CCCAGAACGAG3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) (SEQ ID NO: 12) exons 5'
TCAAGGTCACAACTCC 5' GATGGTGTGTGTT 6-12 TGACACG3' TGAGAAGGTCC3' (SEQ
ID NO: 13) (SEQ ID NO: 14)
Methods of designing forward and reverse primers used to make DNAs
which encode tribonectin polypeptides of varying lengths and which
incorporate various exons of the MSF gene, e.g., to make
polypeptide encoded by exons 2, 4-12; exons 6-9; and exons 2, 4-9,
are well known in the art of molecular, biology. Standard methods
for transfecting cells with isolated nucleic acid are well known to
those skilled in the art of molecular biology. For example,
prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells in culture are transfected with the
DNA of the invention operatively linked to expression control
sequences appropriate for high-level expression in the cell. Such
cells are useful for producing large amounts of the lubricating
polypeptide, which are purified using standard methods. The
lubricating polypeptides are used therapeutically for treatment or
prevention of arthritic diseases. The polypeptides are also used to
raise antibodies against a naturally-occurring or
recombinantly-produced lubricating glycoproteins or
glycopeptides.
[0020] For example, the recombinant gene product is expressed as a
fusion protein and purified using a commercially available
expression and purification system, e.g., the pFLAG expression
system (IBI). The expression systems that may be used for purposes
of the invention include, but are not limited to, microorganisms
such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli and B. subtilis) transformed with
recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA
expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules described
herein. For production of glycosylated polypeptides, eukaryotic
expression systems are used. Yeast (for example, Saccharomyces and
Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors
containing the recombinant nucleic acid encoding a tribonectin
polypeptide are used. Insect cell systems infected with recombinant
virus expression vectors (for example, baculovirus) containing the
nucleic acid molecules encoding a tribonectin and mammalian cell
systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, VERO, HeLa, MDCK, WI38, and NIH
3T3 cells) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing
promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., the
metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the
adenovirus late promoter and the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter) are
also useful, In addition to clinical applications, recombinant
polypeptides are injected into a rabbit or rodent to produce
antibodies as described below.
[0021] The synovial fluid of an inflamed or injured joint contains
proteolytic enzymes that degrade lubricating proteins or
polypeptides. For example, infiltrating immune cells such as
neutrophils secrete trypsin and/or elastase. Even a minor injury to
an articulating joint or an inflammatory state can result in
cellular infiltration and proteolytic enzyme secretion resulting in
traumatic synovitis. Synovitis for a period of a few days or weeks
can result in the loss of the cytoprotective layer of a joint,
which in turn leads to the loss of cartilage. Non-lubricated
cartilaginous bearings may experience premature wear which may
initiate osteoarthritis. Individuals who clinically present with a
traumatic effusion (e.g., "water on the knee") are predisposed to
developing osteoarthritis; the elaboration of proteolytic enzymes
degrades and depletes naturally-occurring lubricating compositions
in the synovial fluid. Depletion of natural lubricating
compositions occurs in other inflammatory joint diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis. Replacing or supplementing the synovial fluid
of such injured joints with the lubricating compositions of the
invention prevents the development of osteoarthritis in the long
term (e.g., years, even decades later) and immediately lubricates
the joint to minimize short term damage.
[0022] Analogs, homologs, or mimetics of lubricating peptides which
are less susceptible to degradation in vivo are used to lubricate
mammalian joints. Analogs can differ from the naturally-occurring
peptides by amino acid sequence, or by modifications which do not
affect the sequence, or both. Modifications (which do not normally
alter primary sequence); include in vivo or in vitro chemical
derivitization of polypeptides, e.g., acetylation or carboxylation.
Also included are modifications of glycosylation, e.g., those made
by modifying the glycosylation patterns of a polypeptide during its
synthesis and processing or in further processing steps, e.g., by
exposing the polypeptide to enzymes which affect glycosylation,
e.g., mammalian glycosylating or deglycosylating enzymes.
[0023] Where proteolytic degradation of the peptides following
injection into the subject is a problem, replacement of a
particularly sensitive peptide bond with a noncleavable peptide
mimetic bond renders the resulting peptide more stable, and thus
more useful as a therapeutic. To render the therapeutic peptides
less susceptible to cleavage by peptidases such as trypsin or
elastase, the peptide bonds of a peptide may be replaced with an
alternative type of covalent bond (a "peptide mimetic"). Trypsin,
elastase, and other enzymes may be elaborated by infiltrating
immune cells during joint inflammation. Trypsin cleaves a
polypeptide bond on the carboxy-side of lysine and arginine;
elastase cleaves on the carboxy-side of alanine, glycine. Thrombin,
a serine protease which is present in hemorrhagic joints, cleaves a
peptide bond on the carboxy-side of arginine. Collagenases are a
family of enzymes produced by fibroblasts and chondrocytes when
synovial metabolism is altered (e.g., during injury). These enzymes
cut on the carboxy-side of glycine and proline. One or more
peptidase-susceptible peptide bonds, e.g, those which appear in the
KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3) repeat sequence, are altered (e.g., replaced
with a non-peptide bond) to make the site less susceptible to
cleavage, thus increasing the clinical half-life of the therapeutic
formulation.
[0024] Such mimetics, and methods of incorporating them into
polypeptides, are well known in the art. Similarly, the replacement
of an L-amino acid residue with a D-amino acid is a standard way of
rendering the polypeptide less sensitive to proteolysis. Also
useful are amino-terminal blocking groups such as
t-butyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, theyl, succinyl, methoxysuccinyl,
suberyl, adipyl, azelayl, dansyl, benzyloxycarbonyl,
fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, methoxyazelayl, methoxyadipyl,
methoxysuberyl, and 2,4-dinitrophenyl.
[0025] Clinical formulations of tribonectins may also contain
peptidase inhibitors such as N-methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val
chloromethylketone (an inhibitor of elastase). Other clinically
acceptable protease inhibitors (e.g., as described in Berling et
al., 1998, Int. J. Pancreatology 24:9-17) such as leupeptin,
aprotinin, .alpha.1-antitrypsin, .alpha.2-macroglobulin,
.alpha.1-protease inhibitor, antichymotrypsin (ACHY), secretory
leukocyte protease inhibitor (PSTI) are also co-administered with a
tribonectin to reduce proteolytic cleavage and increase clinical
half life. A cocktail of two or more protease inhibitors can also
be coadministered.
[0026] Compositions of tribonectin polypeptides or nucleic acids
encoding the polypeptides are formulated in standard
physiologically-compatible excipients known in the art., e.g.,
phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Other formulations and methods for
making such formulations are well known and can be found in, e.g.,
"Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences". Tribonectins are also
formulated with non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid preparations or
viscosupplementation compositions, such as cross-linked hyaluronic
acid preparations. When a tribonectin is added to a viscosupplement
formulation, the interaction of the tribonectin with hyaluronic
acid reduces the viscosity of the viscosupplement.
[0027] Methods of making a glycopeptide and determining %
glycosylation are known in the art, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,767,254. The presence of N-acetylgalactosamine is indicative
of the presence of O-linked oligosaccharides (or Ser/Thr-linked
oligosaccharides) in which GalNAc is commonly found in O-glycosidic
alpha-linkage directly to amino acid. The presence of O-linked
oligosaccharide is also detected by binding to Jacalin-Sepharose,
an immobilized plant lectin that binds to the core disaccharide
sequence Gal .beta. (1-3)GalNAc linked to Ser/Thr in glycoproteins,
or peanut agglutinin, which binds to .beta.(1-3)Gal-GalNAC.
O-linked oligosaccharides are distinguished from N-linked
oligosacharides using standard methods. For example,
oligosaccharides in O-glycosidic linkage, but not in N-glycosidic
linkage, are susceptible to release from peptide by treatment with
mild base in the presence of sodium borohydride (50 mM NaOH, 1M
NaOH, 16 hr at 45.degree. C.) to cause a beta-elimination
reaction.
Veterinary Applications
[0028] Canine osteoarthritis is a prevalent clinical disorder that
is treated using the methods described herein. Osteoarthritis
afflicts an estimated one in five adult dogs; an estimated 8
million dogs suffer from this degenerative, potentially
debilitating disease. Yet, many owners do not recognize the signs
of chronic canine pain. While any dog can develop osteoarthritis,
those most at risk are large breeds, geriatric dogs, very active
dogs (such as working or sporting animals), and those with
inherited joint abnormalities such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
[0029] Equine degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis is
a cause of lameness and impaired performance in horses. As with
humans and other mammals, degenerative joint diseases which affect
horses are progressive disorders of synovial joints characterized
by articular cartilage degeneration and joint effusion. Acute or
chronic trauma, overuse, developmental disease, joint instability
and old age leads to synovitis, impaired chondrocyte metabolism,
and the formation of fissures in the joint cartilage. Destructive
enzymes such as trypsin, elastase, stromelysin and hyaluronidase
are released into the joint where they degrade synovial fluid and
cartilage components, resulting in decreased synovial fluid
viscosity, poor lubrication, depressed cartilage metabolism and
enhanced wear resulting in pain and cartilage erosion. Current
therapeutic approaches include medications for pain relief and
anti-inflammatory drugs. The compositions and methods described
herein are useful to replenish the lubricating capabilities of the
affected joint.
Administration of Therapeutic Polypeptides
[0030] Standard methods for delivery of peptides are used. Such
methods are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For
intra-articular administration, tribonectin is delivered to the
synovial cavity at a concentration in the range of 20-500 .mu.g/ml
in a volume of approximately 0.1-2 ml per injection. For example,
l'ml of a tribonectin at a concentration of 250 .mu.g/ml is
injected into a knee joint using a fine (e.g., 14-22 gauge,
preferably 18-22 gauge) needle. The compositions of the invention
are also useful for parenteral administration, such as intravenous,
subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal.
[0031] For prevention of surgical adhesions, the tribonectins
described herein are administered in the form of gel, foam, fiber
or fabric. A tribonectin formulated in such a manner is placed over
and between damaged or exposed tissue interfaces in order to
prevent adhesion formation between apposing surfaces. To be
effective, the gel or film must remain in place and prevent tissue
contact for a long enough time so that when the gel finally
disperses and the tissues do come into contact, they will no longer
have a tendency to adhere. Tribonectins formulated for inhibition
or prevention of adhesion formation (e.g, in the form of a
membrane, fabric, foam, or gel) are evaluated for prevention of
post-surgical adhesions in a rat cecal abrasion model (Goldberg et
al., In Gynecologic Surgery and Adhesion Prevention. Willey-Liss,
pp. 191-204, 1993). Compositions, are placed around surgically
abraded rat ceca, and compared to non-treated controls (animals
whose ceca were abraded but did not receive any treatment). A
reduction in the amount of adhesion formation in the rat model in
the presence of the tribonectin formulation compared to the amount
in the absence of the formulation indicates that the formulation is
clinically effective to reduce tissue adhesion formation.
[0032] Tribonectins are also used to coat artificial limbs and
joints prior to implantation into a mammal. For example, such
devices are dipped or bathed in a solution of a tribonectin, e.g,
as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,709,020 or 5,702,456.
[0033] Lubricating polypeptides are at least about 10 amino acids
(containing at least one KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3)) or XXTTTX (SEQ ID
NO:4) repeat), usually about 20 contiguous amino acids, preferably
at least 40 contiguous amino acids, more preferably at least 50
contiguous amino acids, and most preferably at least about 60 to 80
contiguous amino acids in length. For example, the polypeptide is
approximately 500 amino acids in length and contains 76 repeats of
KEPAPTT (SEQ ID NO:3). The polypeptide is less than 1404 residues
in length, e.g., it has the amino acid sequence of
naturally-occurring MSF (SEQ ID NO:1) but lacks at least 5, 10, 15,
20, or 24 amino acids at the N-terminus of naturally-occurring MSF.
Such peptides are generated by methods known to those skilled in
the art, including proteolytic cleavage of a recombinant MSF
protein, de novo synthesis, or genetic engineering, e.g., cloning
and expression of at least exon 6, 7, 8, and/or 9 of the MSF
gene.
[0034] Tribonectin polypeptides are also biochemically purified.
The enzyme chymotrypsin cleaves at sites which bracket amino acids
encoded by exon 6 of the MSF gene. Thus, a polypeptide containing
amino acids encoded by exon 6 of the MSF gene (but not any other
MSF exons) is prepared from a naturally-occurring or recombinantly
produced MSF gene product by enzymatic digestion with chymotrypsin.
The polypeptide is then subjected to standard biochemical
purification methods to yield a substantially pure polypeptide
suitable for therapeutic administration, evaluation of lubricating
activity, or antibody production.
[0035] Therapeutic compositions are administered in a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (e.g., physiological saline).
Carriers are selected on the basis of mode and route of
administration and standard pharmaceutical practice. A
therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic composition
(e.g., lubricating polypeptide) is an amount which is capable of
producing a medically desirable result, e.g., boundary lubrication
of a mammalian joint, in a treated animal. A medically desirable
result is a reduction in pain (measured, e.g., using a visual
analog pain scale described in Peyron et al., 1993, J. Rheumatol.
20 (suppl. 39):10-15) or increased ability to move the joint
(measured, e.g., using pedometry as described in Belcher et al.,
1997, J. Orthop.-Trauma 11:106-109). Another method to measure
lubricity of synovial fluid after treatment is to reaspirate a.
small volume of synovial fluid from the affected joint and test the
lubricating properties in vitro using a friction apparatus as
described herein.
[0036] As is well known in the medical arts, dosage for any one
animal depends on many factors, including the animal's size, body
surface area, age, the particular compound to be administered, sex,
time and route of administration, general health, and other drugs
being administered concurrently. Administration is generally local
to an injured or inflamed joint. Alternatively, the polypeptides
are administered via a timed-release implant placed in close
proximity to a joint for slow release at the site of an injured or
inflamed joint.
Gene Therapy
[0037] Gene therapy is carried out by administering to a mammal a
nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic lubricating polypeptide, e.g.,
DNA encoding one or more repeats or the amino acid sequence KEPAPTT
(SEQ ID NO:3) or DNA encoding a lubricating fragment of MSF, by
standard vectors and/or gene delivery systems. Suitable gene
delivery systems include liposomes, receptor-mediated delivery
systems, naked DNA, and viral vectors such as herpes viruses,
retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses.
[0038] In addition to a gene delivery system as described above,
the therapeutic composition may include a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier, e.g., a biologically compatible vehicle such as
physiological saline, suitable for administration to an animal. A
therapeutically effective amount of a nucleic acid or polypeptide
composition is an amount which is capable of producing a medically
desirable result in a treated animal, e.g., a reduction in pain
associated with joint movement, an increase in lubricating function
of synovial fluid.
[0039] Parenteral administration, such as intravenous,
subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal delivery routes,
may be used to deliver the compound. Preferably, therapeutic
compositions such as nucleic acids or polypeptides are delivered
intra-articularly. Dosage for any one patient depends upon many
factors, including the patient's size, body surface area, age, the
particular compound to be administered, sex, time and route of
administration, general health, and other drugs (e.g.,
anti-inflammatory drugs, viscotherapeutic drugs) being administered
concurrently. A preferred dosage for administration of nucleic
acids is from approximately 10.sup.6 to 10.sup.22 copies of the
nucleic acid molecule.
[0040] DNA is be introduced into target cells of the patient by
standard vectors, e.g., a vector which contains DNA encoding a
tribonectin operably linked to a promoter sequence. Suitable gene
delivery systems may include liposomes, receptor-mediated delivery
systems, naked DNA, and viral vectors such as herpes viruses,
retroviruses, and adenoviruses, among others.
[0041] DNA may be administered locally using an adenovirus or
adeno-associate virus delivery system using standard methods. For
example, methods of delivering DNA intra-articularly to synovial
fluid and methods of delivering DNA to cells from synovial fluid
(e.g, synovial fibroblasts or chondrocytes) are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,858,355. The only cis-acting sequences required for
replication and packaging of recombinant adeno-associated virus own
vector are the AAV terminal repeats. Up to 4 kb of DNA is inserted
between the terminal repeats without effecting viral replication or
packaging. To package a recombinant AAV vector, a plasmid
containing the terminal repeats and DNA encoding a therapeutic
polypeptide is co-transfected into cells with a plasmid that
expresses. AAV rep and capsid proteins. The transfected cells are
then infected with adeno-associated virus, and recombinant AAV
virus containing the desired sequences is isolated from cells
approximately 48-72 hours after transfection. Recombinant virus is
then administered for gene therapy applications using known
methods.
[0042] Electroporation is another method of introducing DNA into
target cells, e.g., synovial fibroblasts or chondrocytes, ex vivo.
Cells to be electroporated are placed into Hepes buffer saline
(HBS) at a concentration of about 10.sup.7 cells per ml. The DNA to
be electroporated is added at a concentration of approximately 5-20
.mu.g/ml of HBS. The mixture is placed into an electroporation
device and an electric field is applied according to standard
protocols, e.g., in a range of between about 250 and 300 volts.
Following introduction of DNA into synovial cells ex vivo, the
genetically modified autologous synovial cells are transplanted
back into the donor by intra-articular injection. Approximately 10'
cells are injected intra-articularly into joints in a volume of
approximately 1 ml.
[0043] Synovial cells into which DNA is introduced are obtained
using routine methods, e.g., through an arthroscope. The
arthroscope is a small, hollow rod inserted into the knee via a
small puncture wound which allows access to a surgical instrument
to recover synovial cells arthroscopically. In some cases, the
synovial cells in arthroscopically excised tissue are aseptically
recovered by enzymatic digestion of the connective tissue matrix.
For example, the synovium is cut into pieces of approximately 1 mm
diameter and digested sequentially with trypsin (0.2% w/v in Gey's
Balanced Salt Solution) for 30 minutes at 37.degree. C., and
collagenase (0.2% w/v in Gey's Balanced Salt Solution) for 2 hours
at 37.degree. C. A suspension of genetically-modified cells is
injected into a recipient mammalian joint. Intra-articular
injections of this type are routine and carried out in the doctor's
office without additional surgical intervention. Repeat injections
are carried out as needed.
[0044] Alternatively, the DNA (naked or packaged in a virus) is
formulated in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier and injected
intra-articularly. Gene therapy is also administered as a
prophylactic measure to prevent the development of osteoarthritis
in those individuals determined to be highly susceptible of
developing this disease, e.g., those who have suffered an acute
joint injury. Direct intra-articular injection of a DNA encoding a
therapeutic polypeptide into a joint results in transfection of the
recipient synovial cells to allow expression of DNA.
[0045] Drugs which stimulate an endogenous tribonectin promoter,
e.g., TGF.beta., may also be administered as described above to
increase the level of synovial expression.
Production of Antibodies Specific for Synovial Lubricating
Polypeptides
[0046] Antibodies specific for lubricating polypeptides are
obtained by techniques well known in the art. Such antibodies can
be polyclonal or monoclonal. Polyclonal antibodies can be obtained,
for example, by the methods described in Ghose et al., Methods in
Enzymology, Vol. 93, 326-327, 1983. For example, a lubricating
polypeptide encoded by nucleotides 632-3453 of SEQ ID NO:2 is used
as an immunogen to stimulate the production of polyclonal
antibodies in the antisera of a rabbit. Similar methods can be used
to raise antisera in animals such as goats, sheep, and rodents.
[0047] Monoclonal antibodies are obtained by the well known process
described by Milstein and Kohler in Nature, 256:495-497, 1975, or
as modified by Gerhard, Monoclonal Antibodies, Plenum Press, 1980,
pages 370-371. Hybridomas are screened to identify those producing
antibodies that are highly specific for a synovial lubricating
polypeptide. Preferably, the antibody has an affinity of at least
about 10.sup.8 liters/mole and more preferably, an affinity of at
least about 10.sup.9 liters/mole. Monoclonal or polyclonal
antibodies provide a means of rapidly purifying large quantities of
recombinant lubricating polypeptides.
[0048] In addition to antibodies which are directed to the peptide
core of a tribonectin, an antibody directed to a sugar portion or
to a glycopeptide complex of a tribonectin is desirable. To
generate an antibody to the peptide core, a peptide spanning amino
acids 200-350 of SEQ ID NO:1 is used. Shorter peptides, e.g. 8-15
amino acids in length, which are identical to an 8-15 amino acid
portion of amino acids 200-350 of SEQ ID NO:1 are also used to
generate such antibodies. Other peptides to be used as immunogens
for antibodies specific for the peptide core of a tribonectin
include those which are in the region of amino acids 24-66 of SEQ
ID NO:1, amino acids 105-155 of SEQ ID NO:1, or amino acids 156-199
of SEQ ID NO:1. To generate antibodies which bind to a glycosylated
tribonectin polypeptide (but not a deglycosylated or
nonglycosylated form), the immunogen is preferably a glycopeptide,
the amino acid sequence of which spans a highly glycosylated
portion of a tribonectin, e.g, a peptide with an amino acid
sequence of residues 200-1140 of SEQ ID NO:1. Shorter
glycopeptides, e.g., 8-15 amino acids in length, within the same
highly glycosylated region are also used as immunogens. Methods of
generating antibodies to highly glycosylated biomolecules are known
in the art, e.g., as described by Schneerson et al., 1980, J. Exp.
Med. 152:361-376.
Methods of Diagnosis
[0049] Osteoarthritis is a disease that develops slowly and is
difficult to diagnose until its late stages when joint pain often
compels an individual to seek medical treatment. Early diagnosis of
osteoarthritis or a predisposition to develop the disease allows
early intervention to prevent or reduce the development of advanced
osteoarthritis. The invention provides methods of early detection
of this disease or a predisposition to develop it by testing bodily
fluids such as serum or urine for the presence of fragments of
naturally-occurring tribonectins or the presence of fragments of
MSF. Detection and quantitation of such peptides in biological
fluids is well known in the art. For example, a standard sandwich
ELISA assay is carried out using two different antibodies (e.g., a
first antibody which binds to an oligosaccharide portion of the
glycopeptide and a second antibody which binds to the peptide core
of the glycopeptide) to a naturally-occurring tribonectin.
Alternatively, standard protein sequencing by liquid chromatography
and mass spectroscopy, as is described below, is used to detect MSF
fragments in biological samples. A control value is a predetermined
value associated with a negative diagnosis; alternatively, a
control sample is a biological sample from a mammal known to be
free of osteoarthritis. An increase in the amount compared to a
control value or sample indicates that the mammal suffers from
osteoarthritis or is predisposed to developing osteoarthritis.
Characterization of a Tribonectin from Human Synovial Fluid
[0050] Aliquots of synovial fluid from patients undergoing
diagnostic arthroscopy and total knee replacement were collected
and assayed in the friction apparatus. In both cases, the synovial
fluid was aspirated prior to initiation of any surgical procedure
and immediately centrifuged at 10,000.times.g at 4.degree. C. for 2
hrs to remove cellular debris. Samples which were contaminated with
blood were discarded. Aliquots with normal lubricating ability were
pooled and stored at -20.degree. C.
Purification and Isolation of a Tribonectin
[0051] Human synovial fluid (200 ml) was filtered through 0.22
.mu.m sterile filter units (Nalgene) at 4.degree. C. over two days.
Retentate was scraped off filter membranes and resuspended with 50
mM NaAc buffer, pH 5.5, to the original synovial fluid volume
containing proteolytic inhibitors: 1 mM phenylmethyl sulfonyl
fluoride (PMSF), 1 mM parachloromercuricbenzoic acid (PCMB), and 10
mM ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA). Digestion of hyaluronic
acid was carried out at 37.degree. C. by streptomyces hyaluronidase
at 1 U/ml of resuspended synovial fluid. The digest was loaded on a
DEAE column (Whatman International, Maidstone, UK) settled volume
of 300 ml, equilibrated with NaAc buffer, 50 mM and washed with 1.5
L of the same buffer. The material with lubricating activity was
eluted off of the DEAE matrix with 1M NaCl. A 1 L wash was
collected and concentrated via a 500 ml Amicon flow cell with an
XM-100 membrane (mw cutoff 100 kDa). The concentrated sample was
dialyzed against 25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, containing 0.15 M
NaCl and 0.5 mM CaCl.sub.2.
[0052] The DEAE-bound concentrate was loaded onto a peanut
agglutinin (PNA)-agarose affinity column with a settled bed volume
of 25 ml, equilibrated at room temperature with 25 mM phosphate and
0.15 NaCl buffer, pH 7.4. Unbound protein was eluted with the same
buffer until absorbance at 230 and 280 nm decreased to background.
Material with lubricating activity was maximally eluted in the
presence of a step-wise gradient of .alpha.-lactose at a
concentration of 0.07 M in 25 mM Tris and 0.15 M NaCl at pH 7.4.
This material was loaded onto an Actigel ALD agarose (Sterogene
Bioseparations, Arcadia, Calif.) coupled via amine groups to a
murine monoclonal antibody against human fibronectin (Zymed
Laboratories Inc., San Francisco, Calif.) to remove fibronectin as
a contaminant. Eluted material was assayed for purity on SDS-PAGE
(5-15% acrylamide) stained with Coomassie blue and by HPLC.
[0053] Protein electrophoresis standards were from GibcoBRL (Grand
Island, N.Y.), and DNA ladder standard was from FMC Bioproducts
(Rockland, Me.).
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography
[0054] A .mu.Bondpak C18 3.9.times.150 mm column (Waters, Milford,
Mass.) was eluted in reverse phase with 45% (v/v) methanol (Sigma)
and 5% (v/v) acetonitrile (Aldrich) HPLC grade at 1 ml/min at
35.degree. C. The eluate was assayed by a photo diode array
detector PDA 996 (Waters), and material in peak fractions were
analyzed by purity plots calculated using Millenium 32 software
(Waters).
Friction Apparatus
[0055] A standard friction apparatus (e.g., an apparatus described
by Jay et al., 1992, Conn. Tiss. Res. 28:71-88 or Jay et al., 1998,
J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 40:414-418). Natural latex was oscillated
against a ring of polished glass with a constant contact area of
1.59 cm.sup.2. The bearing system was axially loaded within a
gimbals system free to rotate around two perpendicular horizontal
axes. Latex and glass as bearing materials were chosen because they
offer a flat surface with small asperity heights on the order of
0.05 mm. Latex, like cartilage, is compliant. Within the gimbals
system, these surfaces possess near perfect co-planarity.
Accordingly, fluid wedges were not generated and only a thin layer
of boundary fluid was present. The entraining velocity (i.e.,
sliding speed) was 0.37 mm/sec with a constant contact pressure of
0.35.times.10.sup.6 N/m.sup.2.
[0056] The friction apparatus recorded displacements of the gimbals
system around the vertical loading axis through a linear
displacement voltage transducer, the output voltage of which was
directly proportional to the magnitude of the frictional torque.
The peak to peak amplitude of this signal was related to .mu. by a
previous calibration with known frictional torque.
[0057] Test surfaces were cleaned extensively before use. A
3.8.times.3.8 cm piece of latex strapped onto the stainless steel
stud was washed under running distilled deionized water (DDW) for 2
min. It was then placed in a shallow bath of 0.9% NaCl
physiological saline (PS). The glass slide was scrubbed with a 1%
(v/v) 7.times. detergent (Flow Laboratories, McLean, Va.) solution
in DDW for 10 min and then allowed to soak in the same solution at
100.degree. C. A 5 min. scrubbing was also performed with the hot
7.times. solution followed by rinsing for 2-4 min. under running
DDW.
[0058] The .mu. was measured at 35.degree. C. and was preceded by a
baseline measurement of the .mu. with PS. Lubrication was
manifested by a reduction of .mu. relative to the .mu. of PS.
Negative delta .mu. values indicate lubrication, whereas positive
values indicate friction. Addition of 200 .mu.l of PS and later 200
.mu.l of test lubricant was followed by bringing the bearing
surfaces close enough so that the solution wet both surfaces. After
5 min for equilibration, the latex-coated bearing was brought to
rest on the glass as it was oscillating. Peak to peak voltages were
automatically recorded after 1, 3 and 5 mins. At this point, the
surfaces were separated for 2 min. and then brought back together
for. another 5 min session. The 3 and 5 min. .mu. values of the
last two 5 min. sessions typically stabilized and were
recorded.
[0059] Human serum fibronectin was purchased from Sigma Chemical
(F0895, St. Louis, Mo.) and dialyzed against PS before use in the
friction apparatus.
[0060] Boundary lubricants exert their effect by changing the
physico-chemical characteristics of a surface. Bearing surfaces
must generate a mutual repulsion in order to be lubricated in the
boundary mode. Typical room temperature examples of boundary
lubricants are graphite, teflon and molybdenum sulphide. Such
compositions reduce friction between bearing surfaces, and
therefore, are used as positive controls in assay to measure the
lubricating properties of tribonectins. Tribonectins are boundary
lubricants that can have an amphipathic character by coating
non-biologic hydrophobic surfaces such as latex. The
oligosaccharide component of a tribonectin networks with the
surrounding aqueous environment. When the ultimate and penultimate
sugars are removed from a naturally-occurring tribonectin purified
from synovial fluid, the lubricating ability is eliminated.
[0061] The latex:glass arthrotripsometer offers an expedient way to
test purified biological lubricating factors repetitively with
reproducibility. Natural latex and polished glass represent bearing
surfaces with little if any variation in physico-chemical
characteristic from test to test. By contrast, resected cartilage
apposed to either polished glass or cartilage itself will
experience deformation that cannot be accurately controlled. The
.mu. observed in a cartilage-cartilage bearing lubricated by
synovial fluid was between 0.005 and 0.024. The values of .mu. in
the latex:glass system were appreciably higher and typically 0.04
or less. Differences in .mu. between the bearing materials are
attributed to the 80% (w/w) water content of cartilage.
Protein Sequencing by Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
(LCMS)
[0062] Standard LCMS was carried out on tryptic digests of the
purified lubricating material described above. Excised bands from 2
mm thick 5-20% gradient SDS-PAGE gels (Bio-rad Laboratories,
Hercules, Calif.) containing the lubricating material was analyzed.
The material was deglycosylated by NaNase III and O-glycosidase DS
(Glyko, Novato, Calif.). Deglycosylation was carried out with the
above enzymes at activities of 0.17 U/ml and 0.10 U/ml,
respectively, for. 18 hrs in the presence of 0.5 mg/ml of a
tribonectin purified from synovial fluid. In all cases, the gel
slices were cut through the middle of the band and were 16 mm.sup.3
in size. All contact surfaces were carefully cleaned with 50% (v/v)
acetonitrile. Sequence data was entered into the BLAST GENBANX.RTM.
search algorithm and matches identified.
Isolation and Culture of Human Synovial Fibroblasts
[0063] Human synovium with a normal appearance was obtained from a
30 year old white male undergoing arthroscopy. Within 1 hr after
surgery, the synovial tissue explant was washed three times with
Dulbecco's calcium- and magnesium-free phosphate-buffered saline
(GIBCO). Pieces 2 mm.sup.3 in size were placed in Dulbecco's
modification of Eagle's medium (GIBCO), supplemented with 100 U of
penicillin and 100 .mu.g of streptomycin per ml (GIBCO), containing
4 mg/ml of Clostridiopeptidase A (Worthington Biochemical CLS,
125-200 U/mg) sterilized through a 0.22 .mu.m filter (Nalge). The
tissue fragments were further divided with scissors in a 100 mm
plastic petri dish (Falcon) and incubated for 4 hrs in 20 ml of
medium at 37.degree. C. in a moist atmosphere of 5% carbon dioxide
and 95% air.
[0064] The digest was well mixed many times by aspiration into and
expulsion from a Pasteur pipette. An equal volume of 0.05% trypsin
and 0.02% EDTA in modified Puck's Saline A (GISCO) were added and
incubation continued for a further hour under the same conditions.
The suspension was centrifuged 10 min at 400.times.g at 23.degree.
C. and washed three times each with 40 ml of calcium- and
magnesium-free phosphate-buffered saline. The pellet was suspended
in modified Eagle's medium (20 ml) supplemented with 10% fetal
bovine serum (Flow Laboratories), 100 U of penicillin, and 100 mg
of streptomycin per ml. Two milliliters of this final mixture were
plated per 60 mm plastic petri dish (Falcon). Synovial fibroblasts
were grown to confluence and cells harvested. Human skin
fibroblasts (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Designation
CCD-1099SK; ATCC, Mannassas, Va.) which served as a control were
also grown and harvested using the above procedure.
RNA Extraction and RT-PCR Analyses
[0065] RNA from synovial and skin fibroblasts was purified by
RNeasy mini-columns and reagents (Qiagen, Crawley, Ltd., UK).
Contaminating genomic DNA was removed by DNAshredder and DNase
(RNase free) (Qiagen). First strand cDNA was synthesized by reverse
transcription and PCR amplification using the following
oligonucleotide primers. MSF-exon 6 forward primer
5'-CCAAACCACCAGTTGTAGATGAAGC-3' (SEQ ID NO:15) and MSF-exon 6
reverse primer 5'-GCGGAAGTAGTCTTCTCTTTTCCATCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO:16).
These primers correspond to nucleotide position numbers 674-698 and
953-926, respectively, of the human MSF gene (SEQ ID NO:2;
GENBANK.RTM. accession number U70136). Thermal cycling conditions
were 42.degree. C. for 12 mins., 95.degree. C. for 10 mins.,
followed by 43 cycles between 94.degree. C..times.20 secs and
55-65.degree. C..times.30-90 secs. A final extension for 7 mins was
at 72.degree. C. (Perkin Elmer Biosystems).
Alternative Splice Variant of MSF is a Tribonectin
[0066] A lubricating polypeptide was purified from human synovial
fluid using standard biochemical methods followed by affinity
chromatography with peanut agglutinin. The final fraction, which
solely possessed lubricating ability, contained a product with an
apparent molecular weight of 280 kDa. Components with a molecular
weight in excess of 280 kDa were not observed. LCMS performed on
tryptic fragments from the 280 kDa excised band indicated the
presence of two different proteins that matched in the BLAST search
algorithm to fibronectin precursor and MSF (GenBank Accession No.
U70136). Sequences of MSF were identified from both native and
deglycosylated lubricating polypeptides. Accordingly, the
purification scheme was terminated with an anti-fibronectin column
resulting in the elimination of fibronectin as an impurity (as
assayed by C18 analytical HPLC and purity plot analysis). In
addition, lower molecular weight bands at 70 and 160 kDa on
SDS-PAGE were absent from the purified tribonectin preparation
eluting from the anti-fibronectin column. The purified tribonectin
assayed in the friction apparatus was found to display boundary
lubricating activity similar to that of whole synovial fluid (Table
5). By contrast, purified serum fibronectin raised friction
indicating that synovial fluid lubricating ability was mediated by
the purified tribonectin.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Friction coefficients for 4 tribonectin
purified from human synovial fluId and fibronectin (Mean .+-. SD; N
= 3) LUBRICANT* .mu. .mu. (PS**) .DELTA..mu. Tribonectin 0.047 .+-.
0.131 .+-. .007 -0.084 .+-. .004 .006 HSF.dagger. 0.040 .+-. 0.135
.+-. .009 -0.095 .+-. .011 .005 Fibronectin 0.181 0.136 +0.045 .+-.
.005
[0067] Tested at a concentration of 250 .mu.g/ml in PS.
[0068] Physiological saline.
[0069] Post-Mortem Human Synovial Fluid
[0070] Furthermore, LCMS of tryptic fragments identified portions
of exons 6 through 9 of MSF, inclusively. Purified tribonectin
reacted to peanut agglutinin indicating the presence of
.beta.(1-3)Gal-GalNAC oligosaccharides by virtue of its
purification. An increase in electrophoretic mobility was observed
after digestion with NaNase III and O-glycosidase DS, indicating
that the purified tribonectin is highly glycosylated via O-linked
oligosaccharides. The apparent molecular weight of deglycosylated
tribonectin purified from synovial fluid was 120 kDa.
[0071] RT-PCR analysis was completed using primers specific for
nucleotide sequences encoding the N-terminal end of exon 6 of MSF.
RT-PCR's using human synovial fibroblast RNA generated a 280 bp
product, the predicted distance between the designed primers.
Similar experiments without reverse transcriptase did not generate
this product indicating that the RNA was free of genomic DNA.
Purified RNA from skin fibroblasts did not produce any product
using the same primers.
[0072] MSF was first isolated from human monocytes; a 25 kDa
fragment of MSF was found to stimulate the development of
megakaryocytes. MSF precursor protein is 1404 residues in size and
constructed from 12 exons. Exon 6 appears to encodes a centrally
located mucin that is 940 residues in length. Exon 6 has homology
to vitronectin, exons 2 and 3 appear homologous to somatomedin
B-like regions, and exons 8,9 are similar to hemopexin-like regions
in vitronectin. Hemopexin is a serum hems scavenging protein that
interacts with hyaluronate.
[0073] A tribonectin purified from synovial fluid and an articular
cartilage superficial zone protein (SZP) purified from articular
cartilage share sequence identity with MSF but differ in their
apparent molecular weights and amino acid sequences.
[0074] Other embodiments are within the following claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
1611404PRTHomo sapiens 1Met Ala Trp Lys Thr Leu Pro Ile Tyr Leu Leu
Leu Leu Leu Ser Val 1 5 10 15 Phe Val Ile Gln Gln Val Ser Ser Gln
Asp Leu Ser Ser Cys Ala Gly 20 25 30 Arg Cys Gly Glu Gly Tyr Ser
Arg Asp Ala Thr Cys Asn Cys Asp Tyr 35 40 45 Asn Cys Gln His Tyr
Met Glu Cys Cys Pro Asp Phe Lys Arg Val Cys 50 55 60 Thr Ala Glu
Leu Ser Cys Lys Gly Arg Cys Phe Glu Ser Phe Glu Arg 65 70 75 80 Gly
Arg Glu Cys Asp Cys Asp Ala Gln Cys Lys Lys Tyr Asp Lys Cys 85 90
95 Cys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Ser Phe Cys Ala Glu Val His Asn Pro Thr Ser
100 105 110 Pro Pro Ser Ser Lys Lys Ala Pro Pro Pro Ser Gly Ala Ser
Gln Thr 115 120 125 Ile Lys Ser Thr Thr Lys Arg Ser Pro Lys Pro Pro
Asn Lys Lys Lys 130 135 140 Thr Lys Lys Val Ile Glu Ser Glu Glu Ile
Thr Glu Glu His Ser Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Glu Asn Gln Glu Ser Ser
Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser 165 170 175 Ser Thr Ile Trp Lys
Ile Lys Ser Ser Lys Asn Ser Ala Ala Asn Arg 180 185 190 Glu Leu Gln
Lys Lys Leu Lys Val Lys Asp Asn Lys Lys Asn Arg Thr 195 200 205 Lys
Lys Lys Pro Thr Pro Lys Pro Pro Val Val Asp Glu Ala Gly Ser 210 215
220 Gly Leu Asp Asn Gly Asp Phe Lys Val Thr Thr Pro Asp Thr Ser Thr
225 230 235 240 Thr Gln His Asn Lys Val Ser Thr Ser Pro Lys Ile Thr
Thr Ala Lys 245 250 255 Pro Ile Asn Pro Arg Pro Ser Leu Pro Pro Asn
Ser Asp Thr Ser Lys 260 265 270 Glu Thr Ser Leu Thr Val Asn Lys Glu
Thr Thr Val Glu Thr Lys Glu 275 280 285 Thr Thr Thr Thr Asn Lys Gln
Thr Ser Thr Asp Gly Lys Glu Lys Thr 290 295 300 Thr Ser Ala Lys Glu
Thr Gln Ser Ile Glu Lys Thr Ser Ala Lys Asp 305 310 315 320 Leu Ala
Pro Thr Ser Lys Val Leu Ala Lys Pro Thr Pro Lys Ala Glu 325 330 335
Thr Thr Thr Lys Gly Pro Ala Leu Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Thr Pro 340
345 350 Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Ser Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Thr
Pro 355 360 365 Thr Thr Ile Lys Ser Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro
Ala Pro Thr 370 375 380 Thr Thr Lys Ser Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu
Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr 385 390 395 400 Thr Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr
Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr 405 410 415 Thr Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro
Thr Thr Thr Lys Ser Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro 420 425 430 Lys Glu Pro Ala
Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro 435 440 445 Lys Glu
Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Thr Pro Thr Thr Pro 450 455 460
Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys 465
470 475 480 Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Ala Pro Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr
Pro Lys 485 490 495 Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro
Thr Thr Thr Lys 500 505 510 Glu Pro Ser Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro
Ala Pro Thr Thr Thr Lys 515 520 525 Ser Ala Pro Thr Thr Thr Lys Glu
Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Thr Lys Ser 530 535 540 Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys
Glu Pro Ser Pro Thr Thr Thr Lys Glu Pro 545 550 555 560 Ala Pro Thr
Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Lys Pro 565 570 575 Ala
Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro 580 585
590 Ala Pro Thr Thr Thr Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Thr Ala Pro Lys Glu Pro
595 600 605 Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Thr Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys
Lys Leu 610 615 620 Thr Pro Thr Thr Pro Glu Lys Leu Ala Pro Thr Thr
Pro Glu Lys Pro 625 630 635 640 Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Glu Glu Leu Ala
Pro Thr Thr Pro Glu Glu Pro 645 650 655 Thr Pro Thr Thr Pro Glu Glu
Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Ala Ala 660 665 670 Ala Pro Asn Thr Pro
Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro 675 680 685 Ala Pro Thr
Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Thr 690 695 700 Ala
Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Gly Thr Ala Pro Thr Thr Leu Lys Glu Pro 705 710
715 720 Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Lys Glu Leu Ala Pro
Thr 725 730 735 Thr Thr Lys Glu Pro Thr Ser Thr Thr Ser Asp Lys Pro
Ala Pro Thr 740 745 750 Thr Pro Lys Gly Thr Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys
Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr 755 760 765 Thr Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr
Pro Lys Gly Thr Ala Pro Thr 770 775 780 Thr Leu Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro
Thr Thr Pro Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Lys 785 790 795 800 Glu Leu Ala Pro
Thr Thr Thr Lys Gly Pro Thr Ser Thr Thr Ser Asp 805 810 815 Lys Pro
Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Glu Thr Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys 820 825 830
Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Lys Lys Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr Pro Glu 835
840 845 Thr Pro Pro Pro Thr Thr Ser Glu Val Ser Thr Pro Thr Thr Thr
Lys 850 855 860 Glu Pro Thr Thr Ile His Lys Ser Pro Asp Glu Ser Thr
Pro Glu Leu 865 870 875 880 Ser Ala Glu Pro Thr Pro Lys Ala Leu Glu
Asn Ser Pro Lys Glu Pro 885 890 895 Gly Val Pro Thr Thr Lys Thr Pro
Ala Ala Thr Lys Pro Glu Met Thr 900 905 910 Thr Thr Ala Lys Asp Lys
Thr Thr Glu Arg Asp Leu Arg Thr Thr Pro 915 920 925 Glu Thr Thr Thr
Ala Ala Pro Lys Met Thr Lys Glu Thr Ala Thr Thr 930 935 940 Thr Glu
Lys Thr Thr Glu Ser Lys Ile Thr Ala Thr Thr Thr Gln Val 945 950 955
960 Thr Ser Thr Thr Thr Gln Asp Thr Thr Pro Phe Lys Ile Thr Thr Leu
965 970 975 Lys Thr Thr Thr Leu Ala Pro Lys Val Thr Thr Thr Lys Lys
Thr Ile 980 985 990 Thr Thr Thr Glu Ile Met Asn Lys Pro Glu Glu Thr
Ala Lys Pro Lys 995 1000 1005 Asp Arg Ala Thr Asn Ser Lys Ala Thr
Thr Pro Lys Pro Gln Lys 1010 1015 1020 Pro Thr Lys Ala Pro Lys Lys
Pro Thr Ser Thr Lys Lys Pro Lys 1025 1030 1035 Thr Met Pro Arg Val
Arg Lys Pro Lys Thr Thr Pro Thr Pro Arg 1040 1045 1050 Lys Met Thr
Ser Thr Met Pro Glu Leu Asn Pro Thr Ser Arg Ile 1055 1060 1065 Ala
Glu Ala Met Leu Gln Thr Thr Thr Arg Pro Asn Gln Thr Pro 1070 1075
1080 Asn Ser Lys Leu Val Glu Val Asn Pro Lys Ser Glu Asp Ala Gly
1085 1090 1095 Gly Ala Glu Gly Glu Thr Pro His Met Leu Leu Arg Pro
His Val 1100 1105 1110 Phe Met Pro Glu Val Thr Pro Asp Met Asp Tyr
Leu Pro Arg Val 1115 1120 1125 Pro Asn Gln Gly Ile Ile Ile Asn Pro
Met Leu Ser Asp Glu Thr 1130 1135 1140 Asn Ile Cys Asn Gly Lys Pro
Val Asp Gly Leu Thr Thr Leu Arg 1145 1150 1155 Asn Gly Thr Leu Val
Ala Phe Arg Gly His Tyr Phe Trp Met Leu 1160 1165 1170 Ser Pro Phe
Ser Pro Pro Ser Pro Ala Arg Arg Ile Thr Glu Val 1175 1180 1185 Trp
Gly Ile Pro Ser Pro Ile Asp Thr Val Phe Thr Arg Cys Asn 1190 1195
1200 Cys Glu Gly Lys Thr Phe Phe Phe Lys Asp Ser Gln Tyr Trp Arg
1205 1210 1215 Phe Thr Asn Asp Ile Lys Asp Ala Gly Tyr Pro Lys Pro
Ile Phe 1220 1225 1230 Lys Gly Phe Gly Gly Leu Thr Gly Gln Ile Val
Ala Ala Leu Ser 1235 1240 1245 Thr Ala Lys Tyr Lys Asn Trp Pro Glu
Ser Val Tyr Phe Phe Lys 1250 1255 1260 Arg Gly Gly Ser Ile Gln Gln
Tyr Ile Tyr Lys Gln Glu Pro Val 1265 1270 1275 Gln Lys Cys Pro Gly
Arg Arg Pro Ala Leu Asn Tyr Pro Val Tyr 1280 1285 1290 Gly Glu Met
Thr Gln Val Arg Arg Arg Arg Phe Glu Arg Ala Ile 1295 1300 1305 Gly
Pro Ser Gln Thr His Thr Ile Arg Ile Gln Tyr Ser Pro Ala 1310 1315
1320 Arg Leu Ala Tyr Gln Asp Lys Gly Val Leu His Asn Glu Val Lys
1325 1330 1335 Val Ser Ile Leu Trp Arg Gly Leu Pro Asn Val Val Thr
Ser Ala 1340 1345 1350 Ile Ser Leu Pro Asn Ile Arg Lys Pro Asp Gly
Tyr Asp Tyr Tyr 1355 1360 1365 Ala Phe Ser Lys Asp Gln Tyr Tyr Asn
Ile Asp Val Pro Ser Arg 1370 1375 1380 Thr Ala Arg Ala Ile Thr Thr
Arg Ser Gly Gln Thr Leu Ser Lys 1385 1390 1395 Val Trp Tyr Asn Cys
Pro 1400 25041DNAHomo sapiens 2gcggccgcga ctattcggta cctgaaaaca
acgatggcat ggaaaacact tcccatttac 60ctgttgttgc tgctgtctgt tttcgtgatt
cagcaagttt catctcaaga tttatcaagc 120tgtgcaggga gatgtgggga
agggtattct agagatgcca cctgcaactg tgattataac 180tgtcaacact
acatggagtg ctgccctgat ttcaagagag tctgcactgc ggagctttcc
240tgtaaaggcc gctgctttga gtccttcgag agagggaggg agtgtgactg
cgacgcccaa 300tgtaagaagt atgacaagtg ctgtcccgat tatgagagtt
tctgtgcaga agtgcataat 360cccacatcac caccatcttc aaagaaagca
cctccacctt caggagcatc tcaaaccatc 420aaatcaacaa ccaaacgttc
acccaaacca ccaaacaaga agaagactaa gaaagttata 480gaatcagagg
aaataacaga agaacattct gtttctgaaa atcaagagtc ctcctcctcc
540tcctcctctt cctcttcttc ttcaacaatt tggaaaatca agtcttccaa
aaattcagct 600gctaatagag aattacagaa gaaactcaaa gtaaaagata
acaagaagaa cagaactaaa 660aagaaaccta cccccaaacc accagttgta
gatgaagctg gaagtggatt ggacaatggt 720gacttcaagg tcacaactcc
tgacacgtct accacccaac acaataaagt cagcacatct 780cccaagatca
caacagcaaa accaataaat cccagaccca gtcttccacc taattctgat
840acatctaaag agacgtcttt gacagtgaat aaagagacaa cagttgaaac
taaagaaact 900actacaacaa ataaacagac ttcaactgat ggaaaagaga
agactacttc cgctaaagag 960acacaaagta tagagaaaac atctgctaaa
gatttagcac ccacatctaa agtgctggct 1020aaacctacac ccaaagctga
aactacaacc aaaggccctg ctctcaccac tcccaaggag 1080cccacgccca
ccactcccaa ggagcctgca tctaccacac ccaaagagcc cacacctacc
1140accatcaagt ctgcacccac cacccccaag gagcctgcac ccaccaccac
caagtctgca 1200cccaccactc ccaaggagcc tgcacccacc accaccaagg
agcctgcacc caccactccc 1260aaggagcctg cacccaccac caccaaggag
cctgcaccca ccaccaccaa gtctgcaccc 1320accactccca aggagcctgc
acccaccacc cccaagaagc ctgccccaac tacccccaag 1380gagcctgcac
ccaccactcc caaggagcct acacccacca ctcccaagga gcctgcaccc
1440accaccaagg agcctgcacc caccactccc aaagagcctg cacccactgc
ccccaagaag 1500cctgccccaa ctacccccaa ggagcctgca cccaccactc
ccaaggagcc tgcacccacc 1560accaccaagg agccttcacc caccactccc
aaggagcctg cacccaccac caccaagtct 1620gcacccacca ctaccaagga
gcctgcaccc accactacca agtctgcacc caccactccc 1680aaggagcctt
cacccaccac caccaaggag cctgcaccca ccactcccaa ggagcctgca
1740cccaccaccc ccaagaagcc tgccccaact acccccaagg agcctgcacc
caccactccc 1800aaggaacctg cacccaccac caccaagaag cctgcaccca
ccgctcccaa agagcctgcc 1860ccaactaccc ccaaggagac tgcacccacc
acccccaaga agctcacgcc caccaccccc 1920gagaagctcg cacccaccac
ccctgagaag cccgcaccca ccacccctga ggagctcgca 1980cccaccaccc
ctgaggagcc cacacccacc acccctgagg agcctgctcc caccactccc
2040aaggcagcgg ctcccaacac ccctaaggag cctgctccaa ctacccctaa
ggagcctgct 2100ccaactaccc ctaaggagcc tgctccaact acccctaagg
agactgctcc aactacccct 2160aaagggactg ctccaactac cctcaaggaa
cctgcaccca ctactcccaa gaagcctgcc 2220cccaaggagc ttgcacccac
caccaccaag gagcccacat ccaccacctc tgacaagccc 2280gctccaacta
cccctaaggg gactgctcca actaccccta aggagcctgc tccaactacc
2340cctaaggagc ctgctccaac tacccctaag gggactgctc caactaccct
caaggaacct 2400gcacccacta ctcccaagaa gcctgccccc aaggagcttg
cacccaccac caccaagggg 2460cccacatcca ccacctctga caagcctgct
ccaactacac ctaaggagac tgctccaact 2520acccccaagg agcctgcacc
cactaccccc aagaagcctg ctccaactac tcctgagaca 2580cctcctccaa
ccacttcaga ggtctctact ccaactacca ccaaggagcc taccactatc
2640cacaaaagcc ctgatgaatc aactcctgag ctttctgcag aacccacacc
aaaagctctt 2700gaaaacagtc ccaaggaacc tggtgtacct acaactaaga
ctcctgcagc gactaaacct 2760gaaatgacta caacagctaa agacaagaca
acagaaagag acttacgtac tacacctgaa 2820actacaactg ctgcacctaa
gatgacaaaa gagacagcaa ctacaacaga aaaaactacc 2880gaatccaaaa
taacagctac aaccacacaa gtaacatcta ccacaactca agataccaca
2940ccattcaaaa ttactactct taaaacaact actcttgcac ccaaagtaac
tacaacaaaa 3000aagacaatta ctaccactga gattatgaac aaacctgaag
aaacagctaa accaaaagac 3060agagctacta attctaaagc gacaactcct
aaacctcaaa agccaaccaa agcacccaaa 3120aaacccactt ctaccaaaaa
gccaaaaaca atgcctagag tgagaaaacc aaagacgaca 3180ccaactcccc
gcaagatgac atcaacaatg ccagaattga accctacctc aagaatagca
3240gaagccatgc tccaaaccac caccagacct aaccaaactc caaactccaa
actagttgaa 3300gtaaatccaa agagtgaaga tgcaggtggt gctgaaggag
aaacacctca tatgcttctc 3360aggccccatg tgttcatgcc tgaagttact
cccgacatgg attacttacc gagagtaccc 3420aatcaaggca ttatcatcaa
tcccatgctt tccgatgaga ccaatatatg caatggtaag 3480ccagtagatg
gactgactac tttgcgcaat gggacattag ttgcattccg aggtcattat
3540ttctggatgc taagtccatt cagtccacca tctccagctc gcagaattac
tgaagtttgg 3600ggtattcctt cccccattga tactgttttt actaggtgca
actgtgaagg aaaaactttc 3660ttctttaagg attctcagta ctggcgtttt
accaatgata taaaagatgc agggtacccc 3720aaaccaattt tcaaaggatt
tggaggacta actggacaaa tagtggcagc gctttcaaca 3780gctaaatata
agaactggcc tgaatctgtg tattttttca agagaggtgg cagcattcag
3840cagtatattt ataaacagga acctgtacag aagtgccctg gaagaaggcc
tgctctaaat 3900tatccagtgt atggagaaat gacacaggtt aggagacgtc
gctttgaacg tgctatagga 3960ccttctcaaa cacacaccat cagaattcaa
tattcacctg ccagactggc ttatcaagac 4020aaaggtgtcc ttcataatga
agttaaagtg agtatactgt ggagaggact tccaaatgtg 4080gttacctcag
ctatatcact gcccaacatc agaaaacctg acggctatga ttactatgcc
4140ttttctaaag atcaatacta taacattgat gtgcctagta gaacagcaag
agcaattact 4200actcgttctg ggcagacctt atccaaagtc tggtacaact
gtccttagac tgatgagcaa 4260aggaggagtc aactaatgaa gaaatgaata
ataaattttg acactgaaaa acattttatt 4320aataaagaat attgacatga
gtataccagt ttatatataa aaatgttttt aaacttgaca 4380atcattacac
taaaacagat ttgataatct tattcacagt tgttattgtt tacagaccat
4440ttaattaata tttcctctgt ttattcctcc tctccctccc attgcatggc
tcacacctgt 4500aaaagaaaaa agaatcaaat tgaatatatc ttttaagaat
tcaaaactag tgtattcact 4560taccctagtt cattataaaa aatatctagg
cattgtggat ataaaactgt tgggtattct 4620acaacttcaa tggaaattat
tacaagcaga ttaatccctc tttttgtgac acaagtacaa 4680tctaaaagtt
atattggaaa acatggaaat attaaaattt tacactttta ctagctaaaa
4740cataatcaca aagctttatc gtgttgtata aaaaaattaa caatataatg
gcaataggta 4800gagatacaac aaatgaatat aacactataa cacttcatat
tttccaaatc ttaatttgga 4860tttaaggaag aaatcaataa atataaaata
taagcacata tttattatat atctaaggta 4920tacaaatctg tctacatgaa
gtttacagat tggtaaatat cacctgctca acatgtaatt 4980atttaataaa
actttggaac attaaaaaaa taaattggag gcttaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 5040a
504137PRTHomo Sapiens 3Lys Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr 1 5 46PRTHomo
Sapiensmisc_feature(1)..(2)Xaa = any amino acid 4Xaa Xaa Thr Thr
Thr Xaa 1 5 56PRTHomo Sapiens 5Glu Pro Ala Pro Thr Thr 1 5
66PRTHomo Sapiens 6Pro Thr Thr Lys Glu Pro 1 5 724DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic Construct 7agatttatca agctgtgcag ggag
24822DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic Construct 8tttacaggaa
agctccgcag tg 22923DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic Construct
9tcaaggtcac aactcctgac acg 231024DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
Construct
10ctctcggtaa gtaatccatg tcgg 241122DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
Construct 11ttgttgctgc tgtctgtttt cg 221224DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic Construct 12tggataaggt ctgcccagaa cgag
241323DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic Construct 13tcaaggtcac
aactcctgac acg 231424DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic Construct
14gatggtgtgt gtttgagaag gtcc 241525DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
Construct 15ccaaaccacc agttgtagat gaagc 251628DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic Construct 16gcggaagtag tcttctcttt tccatcag 28
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