U.S. patent application number 17/152111 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-27 for therapeutic compositions for the treatment of dry eye disease.
The applicant listed for this patent is SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Sunil Chauhan, Reza Dana.
Application Number | 20210154263 17/152111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005387079 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210154263 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dana; Reza ; et al. |
May 27, 2021 |
THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY EYE DISEASE
Abstract
Described herein are materials and methods for treating dry eye
disease in a subject.
Inventors: |
Dana; Reza; (Cambridge,
MA) ; Chauhan; Sunil; (Somerville, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
Boston |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005387079 |
Appl. No.: |
17/152111 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15987694 |
May 23, 2018 |
10940179 |
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17152111 |
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14642107 |
Mar 9, 2015 |
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15987694 |
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13035695 |
Feb 25, 2011 |
9011861 |
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14642107 |
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61331278 |
May 4, 2010 |
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61329845 |
Apr 30, 2010 |
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61308091 |
Feb 25, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 31/506 20130101;
A61K 38/179 20130101; C07K 16/22 20130101; A61K 2039/505 20130101;
C07K 2317/76 20130101; A61K 45/06 20130101; A61K 31/502 20130101;
A61K 9/0048 20130101; A61K 31/44 20130101; A61K 38/13 20130101;
A61K 31/517 20130101; A61K 38/12 20130101; A61K 39/3955 20130101;
A61K 31/4439 20130101; A61K 31/444 20130101; A61K 31/404
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61K 38/13 20060101
A61K038/13; A61K 9/00 20060101 A61K009/00; A61K 38/12 20060101
A61K038/12; C07K 16/22 20060101 C07K016/22; A61K 38/17 20060101
A61K038/17; A61K 39/395 20060101 A61K039/395; A61K 45/06 20060101
A61K045/06; A61K 31/404 20060101 A61K031/404; A61K 31/44 20060101
A61K031/44; A61K 31/4439 20060101 A61K031/4439; A61K 31/444
20060101 A61K031/444; A61K 31/502 20060101 A61K031/502; A61K 31/506
20060101 A61K031/506; A61K 31/517 20060101 A61K031/517 |
Goverment Interests
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] This invention was made with Government support under Grant
Number EY012963, awarded by the National Institute of Health. The
Government has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
1. A method of treating dry eye disease (DED) in a human
comprising: administering a composition comprising at least one
anti-lymphangiogenic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier to the eye of the human, in an amount effective to treat
dry eye disease.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is an inhibitor of VEGF-C- or VEGF-D-mediated signal transduction
by VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the DED is an autoimmune DED or a
DED associated with Sjogren's syndrome.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the DED is DED due to excessively
fast tear evaporation (evaporative dry eyes) or inadequate tear
production.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dry eye disease is
attributable to one or more causes selected from: aging, contact
lens usage, medication usage,.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dry eye disease is a
complication of LASIK refractive surgery.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent is
purified or isolated.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is selected from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid molecule,
an aptamer, an antisense molecule, an RNAi molecule, a protein, a
peptide, a cyclic peptide, an antibody or antibody fragment, a
polysaccharide, or a small molecule.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is selected from the group consisting of a VEGFR-3 inhibitor, a
VEGF-D inhibitor and a VEGF-C inhibitor.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is selected from the group consisting of a VEGF-C antibody, a
VEGF-D antibody, a VEGF-R3 antibody, and a polypeptide comprising a
soluble VEGFR-3 fragment that binds VEGF-C or VEGF-D.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is a VEGF-C antibody.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy
chain variable region set forth in amino acids 1-118 of SEQ ID NO:
48.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein antibody comprises a heavy
chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the VEGF-C antibody is selected
from the group consisting of antibodies 69D09, 103, MM0006-2E65 and
193208.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is antibody that competitively inhibits the binding of antibody
69D09 to VEGF-C.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is a VEGF-D antibody.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the VEGF-D antibody is selected
from the group consisting of antibodies 2F8, 4A5(VD1), 4E10, 5F12,
4H4, 3C10 28AT743.288.48, MM0001-7E79, RM0007-8C35, 78902, 78939
and 90409.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is a soluble VEGFR-3 fragment that binds VEGF-C or VEGF-D.
19. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is a human or humanized antibody.
20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the
anti-lymphangiogenic agent is a VEGFR-2 inhibitor.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further
comprises a molecule that inhibits an activity of an inflammatory
cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-1, IL-7, IL23,
IL-6 and TNF-.alpha..
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises
administering an antibiotic to the human.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the antibiotic is selected from
the group consisting of amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin,
netilmicin, streptomycin, tobramycin, teicoplanin, vancomycin,
azithromycin, clarithromycin, dirithromycin, erythromycin,
roxithromycin, troleandomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, azlocillin,
carbenicillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin,
meziocillin, nafcillin, penicillin, piperacillin, ticarcillin,
bacitracin, colistin, polymyxin B, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin,
gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, moxifloxacin,
norfloxacin, oflaxacin, trovafloxacin, mafenide, sulfacetamide,
sulfamethizole, sulfasalazine, sulfisoxazole, trimethoprim,
cotrimoxazole, demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline,
oxytetracycline, or tetracycline.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the eye comprises a tissue or
gland in or around the eye selected from the group consisting of
ocular tissue, eyelids of the subject, ocular surface, meibomian
gland and or lacrimal gland of the human.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is administered
topically to the eye.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is in the form
of a solid, a paste, an ointment, a gel, a liquid, an aerosol, a
mist, a polymer, a film, an emulsion, or a suspension.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further
comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of
physiological acceptable salt, poloxamer analogs with carbopol,
carbopol/hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (RP MC), carbopol-methyl
cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hyaluronic acid,
cyclodextrin, and petroleum.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/987,694, filed May 23, 2018; which
is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/642,107,
filed Mar. 9, 2015, now abandoned; which is a divisional of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/035,695, filed Feb. 25, 2011, now
U.S. Pat. No. 9,011,861; which claims the benefit of priority under
.sctn.119 of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/308,091,
61/329,845, and 61/331,278, filed on Feb. 25, 2010, Apr.30, 2010,
and May 4, 2010, respectively. The disclosure of each of the
priority applications is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of
ophthalmology.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIALS SUBMITTED
ELECTRONICALLY
[0004] This application contains, as a separate part of the
disclosure, a Sequence Listing in computer readable form (Filename:
45367A3_Seqlisting.txt; Size:99,447 bytes; Created: Jan. 15, 2021),
which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a relatively common condition
characterized by inadequate tear film protection of the cornea. Dry
eye symptoms have traditionally been managed with eyelid hygiene,
topical antibiotics (erythromycin or bacitracin ointments), oral
tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline),
anti-inflammatory compounds (cyclosporine) and corticosteroids
which are often time consuming, frustrating, and frequently
ineffective or variably effective treatments.
[0006] Tens of millions of people (mostly women) are affected
worldwide by dry eye. 10 million people in US are affected with
severe dry eyes with more than 3.2 million women and 1.6 million
men above the age of 50 years being affected by dry eye in the US.
DED is a potentially disabling disease adversely impacting the
vision-related quality of life. It leads to ocular discomfort, a
degradation in visual performance (reading speed, contrast
sensitivity) and a loss of productivity. Current therapeutic
options are limited and costly. Topical cyclosporine-A
(Restasis.RTM.) is the only approved treatment for DED in US.
Despite the high incidence of DED, there is currently no
consistently effective treatment for this condition and it still
remains a therapeutic challenge. As such, there is a need for new
therapeutic modalities to treat DED.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention discloses a novel method for the
treatment of dry eye disease in humans comprising local application
of an anti-lymphangiogenic agent onto the ocular surface. The
present invention is based on novel evidence for the selective
growth of lymphatic vessels in DED cornea. Additionally,
significant increase in both caliber and extent of lymphatics in
DED corneas is accompanied by over expression of lymphangiogenic
receptor VEGFR-3, further correlating DED with
lymphangiogenesis.
[0008] An anti-lymphangiogenic agent of the invention is selected
from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid molecule, an aptamer,
an antisense molecule, an RNAi molecule, a protein, a peptide, a
cyclic peptide, an antibody or antibody fragment, a polysaccharide,
and a small molecule.
[0009] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
anti-lymphangiogenic agent is an inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
mediated signal transduction by VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3. Preferably, the
amount of the anti-lymphangiogenic agent employed is effective to
inhibit the binding of VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D ligand to VEGFR-3 or
the stimulatory effect of VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D on VEGFR-3.
[0010] In one aspect of the invention, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or
VEGF-D mediated signal transduction by VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3 is a
molecule such as but not restricted to an antibody, a small
molecule or a peptide that prevents binding of VEGF-C or VEGF-D to
the receptors VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, the inhibitor of VEGF-C
or VEGF-D mediated signal transduction is a VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3
soluble receptor. Soluble receptors of VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3 can be
administered directly. Alternatively, increase in the secretion of
VEGFR-2 or VEGFR-3 is accomplished by inserting the VEGFR-2 or
VEGFR-3 soluble receptors genes into the genome of corneal cells.
This could be epithelial cells, keratocytes, fibroblasts,
endothelial cells, or bone marrow-derived cells. Methods to
introduce genes into a genome of a cell are well-known in the art.
Genes are introduced in the genome of corneal cells using viral or
non-viral vectors. Viral vectors include for example adenoviruses,
retroviruses or lentiviruses. Non-viral vectors include, for
example, liposomes such as cationic lipids, nanoparticles,
lipoplexes and polyplexes (complexes of polymers with DNA).
[0012] In some embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent is a
VEGF-C antibody, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain
variable region set forth in amino acids 1-118 of SEQ ID NO: 34 or
a heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34.
In some embodiments, the VEGF-C antibody is selected from the group
consisting of antibodies 69D09, 103, MM0006-2E65 and 193208.
[0013] In alternative embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is antibody that competitively inhibits the binding of antibody
69D09 to VEGF-C.
[0014] In some embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent is a
VEGF-D antibody selected from the group consisting of antibodies
2F8, 4A5(VD1), 4E10, 5F12, 4H4, 3C10 28AT743.288.48, MM0001-7E79,
RM0007-8C35, 78902, 78939 and 90409.
[0015] In some embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent is a
human or humanized antibody.
[0016] In other embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent is a
soluble VEGFR-3 fragment that binds VEGF-C or VEGF-D.
[0017] In still other embodiments, the anti-lymphangiogenic agent
is a VEGFR-2 inhibitor.
[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the anti-lymphangiogenic
agent is administered in combination with an anti-inflammatory
agent such as, but not limited to, a composition inhibiting the
activity of an inflammatory cytokine selected from the group
comprising IL-1, IL-17, TNF-.alpha. and IL-6.
[0019] Exemplary functional blockers of IL-1 are described in
WO/2009/025763. Exemplary functional blockers of TNF-.alpha.
include, but are not limited to, recombinant and/or soluble
TNF-.alpha. receptors, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule
antagonists and/or inverse agonists. One or more
commercially-available TNF-.alpha. blocking agents are reformulated
for topical administration in this embodiment. Exemplary commercial
TNF-.alpha. blocking agents used for reformulation include, but are
not limited to, etanerept/Ernbrel, infliximab/Remicade, and
adalimumab/Humira.
[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the anti-lymphangiogenic
agent is administered in combination with an antiobiotic. Exemplary
antibiotic compositions used for combination-therapy with
antagonists of IL-mediated inflammation include but are not limited
to, amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, netilmicin,
streptomycin, tobramycin, teicoplanin, vancomycin, azithromycin,
clarithromycin, dirithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin,
troleandomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, azlocillin, carbenicillin,
cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, meziocillin, nafcillin,
penicillin, piperacillin, ticarcillin, bacitracin, colistin,
polymyxin B, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin,
lomefloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, oflaxacin, trovafloxacin,
mafenide, sulfacetamide, sulfamethizole, sulfasalazine,
sulfisoxazole, trimethoprim, cotrimoxazole, demeclocycline,
doxycycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline, or tetracycline.
[0021] The composition of the invention is locally applied to the
ocular tissue, alternatively the composition of the invention is
applied to the eyelids, the ocular surface, the meibomian glands or
the lacrimal glands.
[0022] The composition can be in the form of a solid, a paste, an
ointment, a gel, a liquid, an aerosol, a mist, a polymer, a film,
an emulsion, or a suspension.
[0023] Optionally, the composition further contains a compound
selected from the group consisting of a physiological acceptable
salt, poloxamer analogs with carbopol, carbopol/hydroxypropyl
methyl cellulose (HPMC), carbopol-methyl cellulose,
carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hyaluronic acid, cyclodextrin, and
petroleum.
[0024] Dry eye disease may be attributable to a number of factors,
and treatment of subjects who have developed dry eye disease due to
a variety of specific factors is contemplated. In some variations,
the DED to be treated is DED caused by any condition other than an
alloimmune response. Alloimmune responses may result, for example,
in some corneal transplant patients. More specifically, in some
variations, the DED to be treated is an autoimmune DED or a DED
associated with Sjogren's syndrome. In some variations, the DED is
due to excessively fast tear evaporation (evaporative dry eyes) or
inadequate tear production. In some variations, the dry eye disease
is attributable to one or more causes selected from: aging, contact
lens usage and medication usage. In some variations, the dry eye
disease is a complication of LASIK refractive surgery. In other
variations, the DED arises in a subject who has not had eye surgery
of any kind, e.g., treatment of subjects in whom the DED is caused
by LASIK surgery, corneal transplant surgery, or other ocular
surgeries.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1: Representative whole mount corneal
immunofluorescence micrographs showing lymphatics
(CD31.sup.lo/LYVE-1.sup.hi) in normal and dry eye (DE) at day 14
(20x magnification).
[0026] FIG. 2: Representative whole mount corneal
immunofluorescence micrographs showing lymphatics
(CD31.sup.lo/LYVE-1.sup.hi) in normal and dry eye (DE) at days 6,
10 and 14 (100.times. magnification).
[0027] FIGS. 3A-3B: Quantification of lymphatics in dry eye (DE)
corneas. Morphometric analysis of corneal lymphangiogenesis in
normal and DE days 6, 10 and 14 (100.times. magnification).
Morphometric evaluation showed significant increase in lymphatic
area (LA) in dry eye compared to normal corneas (FIG. 3A).
Significant increase in lymphatic caliber (LC) in dry eye compared
to normal corneas was noticed only at day 14 (FIG. 3B). Data from a
representative experiment of three performed is shown as
mean.+-.S.E.M and each group consists of four to five mice.
[0028] FIG. 4: Analysis of lymphangiogenic-specific growth factors.
Real-time PCR analysis showing transcript levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C
and VEGF-D in the dry eye corneas at different time points. A
significant increase in VEGF-D was seen at day 6 whereas VEGF-A and
VEGF-C increased significantly only by day 14. Data from a
representative experiment of three performed is shown as
mean.+-.S.E.M and each group consists of four to five mice.
[0029] FIG. 5: Analysis of lymphangiogenic-specific growth factor
receptors. Real-time PCR analysis showing transcript levels of
VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in the dry eye corneas at different time
points. Significant increase in VEGFR-3 was seen earliest at day 6
but VEGFR-2 increased significantly later in disease at day 14.
Data from a representative experiment of three performed is shown
as mean.+-.S.E.M and each group consists of four to five mice.
[0030] FIG. 6: Enuneration of corneal CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+
cells. A significant increase in the number of both CD11b.sup.+ and
double stained CD11.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ cells in the dry eye corneas
as compared to normal. Data from a representative experiment of
three performed is shown as mean.+-.S.E.M and each group consists
of four to five mice.
[0031] FIG. 7: Increased homing of mature MTIC-II+CD11b+ APC in the
draining LN of DED mice. Flow cytometric analysis of draining lymph
nodes showing significant increase in the frequencies of mature
MHC-II.sup.+ CD11b.sup.+ APC in DED mice compared with normal mice.
Data from a representative experiment of two performed is shown and
each group consists of three mice.
[0032] FIG. 8: Analysis of lymphangiogenic-specific growth factors
and their receptors. Real-time PCR analysis showing transcript
levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in the dry
eye corneas.
[0033] FIG. 9: Analysis of proinflammatory cytokines in
conjunctiva. Real-time PCR analysis showing expression of cytokines
IL-1.alpha., IL-1.beta., IL-6, IL-17. The levels of all four
cytokines in the conjunctiva showed significantly decreased
expression in anti-VEGF-C treated DED mice as compared to those of
untreated DED mice
[0034] FIG. 10: Analysis of inflammatory cytokines in draining
lymph nodes. Real-time PCR analysis for IL-17 (Th17 cells) and
IFN-.gamma. (Th1 cells). Draining lymph nodes of anti-VEGF-C
treated DED mice showed significantly decreased induction of T-cell
mediated autoimmune response compared untreated DED mice.
[0035] FIG. 11: Enumeration of CD11b.sup.+ cells in DED corneas.
Treatment with anti-VEGF-C antibodies significantly decreased
infiltration of CD11b.sup.+ cells (30%) in the DED corneas (day
14).
[0036] FIG. 12: Epifluorescent microscopic image of corneal
wholemounts immunostained with CD31 and LYVE-1.
[0037] FIG. 13: Quantification of number of infiltrating CD11b+
cells per mm2 of cornea.
[0038] FIG. 14: In vivo blockade of VEGF-C ameliorates clinical
signs of DED. Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score is used as
readout for the clinical signs of dry eye inflammation, in
anti-VEGF-C Ab-treated and untreated mice. CFS scores were
significantly decreased in the group treated with anti-VEGF-C
antibody at days 5, 9 and 13 vs the untreated group. Data shown as
mean.+-.S.E.M and each group consisted of 3-4 mice.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Dry Eye
[0039] Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), also called keratitis
sicca, sicca syndrome, xerophthalmia, dry eye syndrome (DES),or
simply dry eyes, is an eye disease caused by decreased tear
production or increased tear film evaporation commonly found in
humans and some animals. Typical symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis
are dryness, burning and a sandygritty eye irritation that gets
worse as the day goes on.
[0040] Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is characterized by inadequate
tear film protection of the cornea because of either inadequate
tear production or abnormal tear film constitution, which results
in excessively fast evaporation or premature destruction of the
tear film. The tear film is constituted by 3 layers: (1) a lipid
layer, produced by the Meibomian glands; (2) an aqueous layer,
produced by the main and accessory lacrimal glands; and (3) a
hydrophilic mucin layer, produced by the conjunctival goblet cells.
Any abnormality of 1 of the 3 layers produces an unstable tear film
and symptoms of keratitis sicca.
[0041] Sjogren's syndrome and autoimmune diseases associated with
Sjogren's syndrome are also conditions associated with aqueous tear
deficiency. Drugs such as isotretinoin, sedatives, diuretics,
tricyclic antidepressants, antihypertensives, oral contraceptives,
antihistamines, nasal decongestants, beta-blockers, phenothiazines,
atropine, and pain relieving opiates such as morphine can cause or
worsen this condition. Infiltration of the lacrimal glands by
sarcoidosis or tumors, or postradiation fibrosis of the lacrimal
glands can also cause this condition.
[0042] Keratoconjunctivitis sicca can also be caused by abnormal
tear composition resulting in rapid evaporation or premature
destruction of the tears. When caused by rapid evaporation, it is
termed evaporative dry eyes. In this, although the tear gland
produces a sufficient amount of tears, the rate of evaporation of
the tears is too rapid. There is a loss of water from the tears
that results in tears that are too "salty" or hypertonic. As a
result, the entire conjunctiva and cornea cannot be kept covered
with a complete layer of tears during certain activities or in
certain environments.
[0043] Aging is one of the most common causes of dry eyes. About
half of all people who wear contact lenses complain of dry eyes.
There are two potential connections between contact lens usage and
dry eye. Traditionally, it has been believed that soft contact
lenses, which float on the tear film that covers the cornea, absorb
the tears in the eyes. However, it is also now known that contact
lens usage damages corneal nerve sensitivity, which may lead to
decreased lacrimal gland tear production and dry eye. The effect of
contact lenses on corneal nerve sensitivity is well established for
hard contact lenses as well as soft and rigid gas permeable contact
lenses. The connection between this loss in nerve sensitivity and
tear production is the subject of current research. Dry eyes also
occur or get worse after LASIK and other refractive surgeries. The
corneal nerves stimulate tear secretion. Dry eyes caused by these
procedures usually resolves after several months. Persons who are
thinking about refractive surgery should consider this.
[0044] A variety of approaches can be taken to treat dry eyes.
These can be summarized as: avoidance of exacerbating factors, tear
stimulation and supplementation, increasing tear retention, eyelid
cleansing and treatment of eye inflammation. Application of
artificial tears every few hours can provide temporary relief.
Inflammation occurring in response to tears film hypertonicity can
be suppressed by mild topical steroids or with topical
immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine. Consumption of
dark-fleshed fish containing dietary omega-3 fatty acids is
associated with a decreased incidence of dry eyes syndrome in
women. Early experimental work on omega-3 has shown promising
results when used in a topical application (Rashid S et al (2008).
Arch Ophthalmol 126 (2): 219-225).
[0045] DED is increasingly recognized as an immune-mediated
disorder. Desiccating stress in DED initiates an immune-based
inflammation response that is sustained by the ongoing interplay
between the ocular surface and various pathogenic immune cells,
primarily the CD4+ cells in the conjunctiva and the CD11b+
monocytic cells in the corneal. Desiccating stress induces
secretion of inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-1, TNF-.alpha.
and IL-6 by ocular tissues, which facilitates the activation and
migration of resident antigen presenting cells (APCs) toward the
regional draining lymph nodes (LNs). In the LNs, these APCs
stimulate naive T-cells, leading to the expansion of IL-17
secreting Th17 cells and interferon (IFN)-.gamma.-secreting Th1
cells. Once these effectors are generated in the LNs, they migrate
to the ocular surface and secrete effector cytokines.
VEGF
[0046] VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) is a sub-family of
growth factors, specifically the platelet-derived growth factor
family of cystine-knot growth factors. They are important signaling
proteins involved in both vasculogenesis (the de novo formation of
the embryonic circulatory system) and angiogenesis (the growth of
blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature). Members of the
platelet-derived growth factor family include the Placenta growth
factor (PIGF), VEGF-A (also known as VEGF), VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D
and VEGF-E.
[0047] VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D exert their effects by variously
binding to and activating structurally related membrane receptor
tyrosine kinases; VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1 or Flt-I), VEGFR-2
(flk-1 or KDR), and VEGFR-3 (Flt-4). Members of the VEGF family may
also interact with the structurally distinct receptor neuropilin-1.
Binding of a VEGF to these receptors initiates a signaling cascade,
resulting in effects on gene expression and cell survival,
proliferation, and migration.
[0048] VEGF-A binds to VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and to VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1).
VEGFR-2 appears to mediate almost all of the known cellular
responses to VEGF-A. The function of VEGFR-1 is less well-defined,
although it is thought to modulate VEGFR-2 signaling. VEGF-A is
believed to play a central role in the development of new blood
vessels (angiogenesis) and the survival of immature blood vessels
(vascular maintenance).
[0049] VEGF-C and VEGF-D are ligands for VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 and
are involved in the mediation of lymphangiogenesis.
Lymphangiogenesis
[0050] Lymphangiogenesis refers to formation of lymphatic vessels,
particularly from pre-existing lymphatic vessels, but as used
herein, the term applies to formation of lymph vessels under any
condition. It also applies to the enlargement of lymphatic vessels,
commonly known as lymphatic hyperplasia. Lymphangiogenesis plays an
important physiological role in homeostasis, metabolism and
immunity. Lymphatic vessel formation has also been implicated in a
number of pathological conditions including neoplasm metastasis,
oedema, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and impaired wound
healing.
[0051] The normal human cornea is avascular, thus suppressing the
afferent lymphatic and efferent vascular arms or the immune cycle
Inflammation however negates this immune and angiogenic privileged
state of the cornea and giving the corneal and ocular surface the
potential to mount an immune response. Our results show that
corneal lymphatics play an important role in mediating the corneal
inflammation in dry eyes. Inhibition of corneal lymphangiogenesis
decreases ocular surface inflammation in a well characterized mouse
model of DED.
[0052] Lymphangiogenesis is regulated to a large extent by VEGF-C
and VEGF-D. Lymphangiogenesis appears to be regulated by signaling
mediated by VEGFR-3, particularly upon specifically binding its
ligands, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. VEGF-C and VEGF-D are two of six
members of a family of angiogenic regulators. Other members are
VEGF-A (also known as VEGF), VEGF-B, VEGF-E and placental growth
factor (P1GF).
[0053] During embryogenesis, lymphatic endothelial cell sprouting,
proliferation and survival is promoted by VEGF-C. Lymphatic vessels
fail to develop in mice in which VEGF-C is absent (Vegfc knockout
mice), and such mice develop severe edema. Indeed, absence of
VEGF-C is embryonic lethal. Lymphatic vessel hypoplasia and
lymphedema is exhibited in the skin of mice hemizygous for Vegfc
(i.e. mice possessing one functional allele).
[0054] Lymphangiogenesis is also partly regulated by VEGF-D,
similar to VEGF-C. However, lymphangiogenesis during embryonic
development is not dependent upon VEGF-D, as demonstrated by Vegfd
knockout mice. The lymphatic system in Vegfd knockout mice is
relatively normal and Vegfd knockout mice are viable and fertile.
The absolute abundance of lymphatic vessels in the lung is,
however, reduced by approximately 30% compared to wild-type
mice.
[0055] Lymphatic vessels express VEGFR-3, the receptor for VEGF-C
and VEGF-D, and both VEGF-C and VEGF-D signal predominantly through
VEGFR-3. It is also becoming apparent that lymphatic vessels
variously express VEGFR-2. VEGF-C and VEGF-D are synthesized as
prepro-polypeptides and are proteolytically processed by proprotein
convertases. In humans, mature proteolytically processed forms of
VEGF-C and VEGF-D bind to VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. In mice, mature
VEGF-D binding is restricted to VEGFR-3.
[0056] VEGF-C and VEGF-D exist as homodimers, and it has been
suggested that they may exist as VEGF-C-VEGF-D heterodimers. In
addition to lymphatic vessels, VEGFR-3 is also expressed on blood
vessel endothelial cells during development, thereby accounting for
the severe vasculogenic and angiogenic defects observed during
early embryogenesis in models comprising inactive VEGFR-3
signaling. The lymphatic system possesses almost exclusive
expression of VEGFR-3 in healthy tissues in adulthood, because
VEGFR-3 expression in blood vessels declines following birth and
during adolescence. Thus, only lymphangiogenesis is inhibited in
adults by inhibition of the VEGF-C-VEGF-D-VEGFR-3 signaling
axis.
[0057] Lymphatic vessels express neuropilin-2 (NRP-2), which can
bind VEGF-C or VEGF-D. In lymphangiogenesis, NRP-2 is thought to
act as a co-receptor to increase the binding affinity of VEGF-C or
VEGF-D to VEGFR-3. NRP-2 is required for lymphangiogenesis.
Proliferation of lymphatic vessel endothelial cells was reduced and
lymphatic vessels and capillaries failed to develop in Nrp2
knockout mice in which NRP-2 is absent. Similarly, NRP-1 is capable
of binding VEGF-C and VEGF-D.
[0058] Defective lymphatic capillaries are the underlying cause of
Milroy disease and other rare hereditary forms of lymphedema in
humans. Tyrosine kinase-inactivating point mutations of the VEGFR-3
gene have been identified as a major cause of Milroy disease, and
VEGF-C and VEGF-D therapy has shown promising efficacy in
preclinical animal models. However, previous work has only
demonstrated lymphatic capillary reconstitution, whereas effects on
the collecting lymphatic vessels that are more commonly damaged in
lymphedema have not been addressed.
[0059] Lymphatic vessel growth in adult tissues can be induced by
Angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1) through its binding to the tunica interna
endothelial cell kinase receptor 2 (TIE-2 or TEK). Lymphatic vessel
sprouting that was induced by ANG-1 was inhibited by an inhibitor
of VEGFR-3. Furthermore, VEGFR-3 was up-regulated by ANG-1 binding
to TIE-2. TIE-2 expressed on lymphatic vascular endothelial cells
may also be agonized by ANG-2 and ANG-3.
[0060] VEGF-C and VEGF-D may act as ligands for integrins.
Specifically, VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been shown to act as ligands
for integrin .alpha.9.beta.1. Cell adherence and cell migration
were promoted by each of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in cells expressing
integrin .quadrature.9.quadrature.1. The effect could be blocked by
an anti-integrin .alpha.9.beta.1 antibody or siRNA directed to
integrin .alpha.9.beta.1.
[0061] Thus, in lymphangiogenesis, VEGFR-3 appears to be central.
VEGFR-3 specifically binds and is activated by ligands VEGF-C and
VEGF-D. VEGF-C and VEGF-D are synthesized as prepro-polypeptides
and are activated by proteolytic processing by proprotein
convertases. VEGF-C and VEGF-D also bind specifically to NRP-2,
which is thought to be a co-receptor for VEGFR-3. Both
lymphangiogenesis and VEGFR-3 are up-regulated when ANG-1
specifically binds to TIE-2. It is thought that binding of VEGF-C
or VEGF-D to integrins, particularly integrin .alpha.9.beta.1, also
performs a role in lymphangiogenesis.
[0062] Lymphangiogenesis is mediated primarily by the interaction
of growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D on VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, and in
particular VEGFR-3. VEGF-A also contributes, albeit indirectly, to
lymphangiogenesis by recruiting VEGF-C and VEGF-D secreting
macrophages. Inhibition of VEGF-C and VEGF-D signaling pathways
would thus constitute a new approach to the treatment of DED. The
invention is however not restricted to the inhibition of VEGF-C and
VEGF-D signaling pathways and according to the present invention,
other anti-lymphangiogenic agents can be used to reduce the signs
and symptoms of DED.
Anti-Lymphangiogenic Agents
[0063] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate from the
foregoing that inhibition of lymphangiogenesis can occur at a
variety of biological points comprising any one or more of the
interactions described. For example, inhibition may occur by
targeting VEGF-D, VEGF-C or VEGFR-3.
[0064] An "anti-lymphangiogenic agent" is any substance that
partially or fully blocks, neutralizes, reduces, inhibits or
antagonizes a biological activity of a molecular component of
signaling mediated by VEGFR-3 or lymphangiogenesis. Alternatively,
an anti-lymphangiogenic agent is any substance that partially or
fully blocks, neutralizes, reduces, inhibits or antagonizes a
VEGF-C or VEGF-D biological activity. Thus, "inhibition" is the
corresponding state elicited by an inhibitor. A molecular component
of signaling mediated by VEGFR-3 or lymphangiogenesis includes
VEGFR-3, VEGFR-2, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, proprotein convertases,
neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), neuropilin-2 (NRP-2), angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1),
tunica interna endothelial cell kinase receptor (TIE-2) or integrin
.alpha.9.beta.1.
[0065] It is envisaged that practice of the invention extends to
any inhibitor known now or in the future.
[0066] Suitable classes of inhibitor molecules that target VEGF-C
or VEGF-D or signaling mediated by VEGFR-3, or lymphangiogenesis
include antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, peptide mimetics,
nucleic acid molecules, and small molecules. Such classes of
inhibitor molecules are suitable also for inhibiting binding of
ligands, for example VEGF-C or VEGF-D, to integrins, particularly
integrin .alpha.9.beta.1.
[0067] Suitable VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis antibody inhibitors include antagonist and
neutralizing antibodies or antibody fragments.
[0068] Polypeptide, peptide, or peptide mimetic VEGF-C or VEGF-D
inhibitors, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling inhibitors or
lymphangiogenesis inhibitors include fragments or amino acid
sequence variants of native polypeptide or peptide components of
VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis.
[0069] Nucleic acid molecule inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis include
antisense molecules, nucleic acids in triple-helix formation, small
interfering RNA (siRNA), and ribozymes.
[0070] Small molecule inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis include organic and
inorganic molecules.
[0071] Inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis according to the present invention
may exert their effects by interacting with any one or more of
VEGFR-3, VEGFR-2, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, proprotein convertases, NRP-1,
NRP-2, ANG-1, TIE-2 or integrins, particularly integrin
.alpha.9.beta.1, in their DNA, RNA or polypeptide forms.
[0072] Inhibition of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis according to the present invention
may occur via inhibition of ligand availability for receptor
binding, inhibition of receptor availability for ligand binding,
inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, or inhibition of
co-receptor interaction.
[0073] As used herein, "availability" refers to the potential or
actual amount of a molecule that performs some function in VEGF-C
or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis
and is present in a biological system. Availability may be relative
or absolute. For example, if all copies of a gene encoding a
polypeptide involved in lymphangiogenesis were rendered
non-functional by genetic mutation and no functioning polypeptide
was synthesized, then there would be no availability of the
polypeptide in an absolute sense. Alternatively, if the same gene
was present with one functioning copy and 50% of the polypeptide
was synthesized, there would be reduced or inhibited availability
in a relative sense. Similarly, other mechanisms may be envisaged
where availability is affected. Receptors may be transcribed or
translated to a lesser degree when compared with a control, or the
receptor may be targeted by an antibody that binds specifically to
the ligand binding site, thereby reducing or inhibiting receptor
availability for ligand binding. Analogously, if ligand synthesis
is targeted by an antisense inhibitor, or if an antibody inhibitor
or soluble receptor inhibitor specifically binds to the ligand,
then there will be reduction or inhibition of ligand availability
for receptor binding.
[0074] The term "specific binding" or "specifically binds" or
"specific for" refers to binding where a molecule binds to a
particular polypeptide or epitope on a particular polypeptide
without substantially binding to any other polypeptide or
polypeptide epitope. Such binding is measurably different from a
non-specific interaction. Specific binding can be measured, for
example, by determining binding of a molecule compared to binding
of a control molecule, which generally is a molecule of similar
structure that does not have binding activity. For example,
specific binding can be determined by competition with a control
molecule that is similar to the target, for example, an excess of
non-labeled target. In this case, specific binding is indicated if
the binding of the labeled target to a probe is competitively
inhibited by excess unlabeled target. As used herein, specific
binding is used in relation to the interaction between the
molecular components of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis. Specific binding is also used in
relation to the interaction between the molecular components of
VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis and agents that partially or fully block,
neutralize, reduce or antagonize a biological activity of a
molecule that facilitates VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis. Specific binding also applies to the interaction
between the molecular components of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity and
agents that partially or fully block, neutralize, reduce or
antagonize VEGF-C or VEGF-D biological activity.
[0075] In particular, specific binding refers to a molecule having
a Kd at least 2-fold less for the particular polypeptide or epitope
on a particular polypeptide than it does for a non-specific target.
Preferably, specific binding refers to a molecule having a Kd at
least 4-fold, 6-fold, 8-fold or 10-foldless for the particular
polypeptide or epitope on a particular polypeptide than it does for
a non-specific target. Alternatively, specific binding can be
expressed as a molecule having a Kd for the target of at least
about 10.sup.-4 M, alternatively at least about 10.sup.-5 M,
alternatively at least about 10.sup.-6 M, alternatively at least
about 10.sup.-7 M, alternatively at least about 10.sup.-8 M,
alternatively at least about 10.sup.-9 M, alternatively at least
about 10.sup.-10 M, alternatively at least about 10.sup.-11 M,
alternatively at least about 10.sup.-12 M, or less.
[0076] The person skilled in the art will appreciate that there
exist many mechanisms for inhibiting VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis. The principal aim
is to reduce receptor signaling. Some examples will be described
below, but such a list is not intended to be limiting.
Antibody Inhibitors
[0077] The term "antibody" is used in the broadest sense and
specifically covers, for example, polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal
antibodies (including antagonist and neutralizing antibodies),
antibody compositions with polyepitopic specificity, single chain
antibodies, and fragments of antibodies, provided that they exhibit
the desired biological or immunological activity.
[0078] An "antibody inhibitor" will specifically bind to a
particular polypeptide or epitope on a particular polypeptide
without substantially binding to any other polypeptide or
polypeptide epitope. Such binding will partially or fully block,
neutralize, reduce or antagonize VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity or a
biological activity of a molecule that facilitates VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis. Such target molecules include
VEGFR-3, VEGFR-2, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, for example.
[0079] An "isolated antibody" is one which has been identified and
separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural
environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are
materials which would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses
for the antibody, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other
proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. Generally, the antibody
will be purified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as
determined by the Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99%
by weight, (2) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15
residues of N terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a
spinning cup sequenator, or (3) to homogeneity by SDS PAGE under
reducing or non-reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or,
preferably, silver stain. An isolated antibody includes the
antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at least one
component of the antibody's natural environment will not be
present. Ordinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by
at least one purification step.
[0080] Where antibody fragments are used, the smallest inhibitory
fragment that specifically binds to the binding domain of the
target protein is preferred. [0081] Polyclonal Antibodies
[0082] Polyclonal antibodies are preferably raised in animals by
multiple subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections
of the relevant antigen and an adjuvant. It may be useful to
conjugate the relevant antigen (especially when synthetic peptides
are used) to a protein that is immunogenic in the species to be
immunized. For example, the antigen can be conjugated to keyhole
limpet hemocyanin (KLH), serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, or
soybean trypsin inhibitor, using a bifunctional or derivatizing
agent, e.g., maleimidobenzoyl sulfosuccinimide ester (conjugation
through cysteine residues), N-hydroxysuccinimide (through lysine
residues), glutaraldehyde, succinic anhydride, SOCl.sub.2, or
R.sup.1N.dbd.C.dbd.NR, where R and R.sup.1 are different alkyl
groups.
[0083] In one protocol for generating polyclonal antibodies,
animals are immunized against the antigen, immunogenic conjugate,
or derivative, by combining the antigen, conjugate or derivative
with 3 volumes of Freund's complete adjuvant and injecting the
solution intradermally at multiple sites. One month later, the
animals are boosted with 1/5 to 1/10 the original amount of peptide
or conjugate in Freund's complete adjuvant by subcutaneous
injection at multiple sites. Seven to 14 days later, the animals
are bled and the serum is assayed for antibody titer. Animals are
boosted until the titer plateaus. Conjugates also can be made in
recombinant cell culture as protein fusions. Also, aggregating
agents such as alum are suitably used to enhance the immune
response. [0084] Monoclonal Antibodies
[0085] The term "monoclonal antibody" as used herein refers to an
antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous
antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the
population are identical except for possible naturally occurring
mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal
antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single
antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to polyclonal antibody
preparations which include different antibodies directed against
different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is
directed against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition
to their specificity, the monoclonal antibodies are advantageous in
that they may be synthesized uncontaminated by other antibodies.
The modifier "monoclonal" is not to be construed as requiring
production of the antibody by any particular method.
[0086] Monoclonal antibodies may be made using the hybridoma method
in which a mouse or other appropriate host animal, such as a
hamster, is immunized to elicit lymphocytes that produce or are
capable of producing antibodies that will specifically bind to the
protein used for immunization. Alternatively, lymphocytes may be
immunized in vitro. After immunization, lymphocytes are isolated
and then fused with a myeloma cell line using a suitable fusing
agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell.
[0087] The hybridoma cells thus prepared are seeded and grown in a
suitable culture medium, which preferably contains one or more
substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused,
parental myeloma cells (also referred to as fusion partner).
[0088] Culture medium in which hybridoma cells are growing is
assayed for production of monoclonal antibodies directed against
the antigen. Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal
antibodies produced by hybridoma cells is determined by
immunoprecipitation or by an in vitro binding assay, such as
radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA).
[0089] Once hybridoma cells that produce antibodies of the desired
specificity, affinity, and/or activity are identified, the clones
may be subcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by
standard methods. In addition, the hybridoma cells may be grown in
vivo as ascites tumors in an animal e.g., by i.p. injection of the
cells into mice.
[0090] The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones are
suitably separated from the culture medium, ascites fluid, or serum
by conventional antibody purification procedures such as, for
example, affinity chromatography (e.g., using protein A or protein
G-Sepharose) or ion-exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite
chromatography, gel electrophoresis, or dialysis.
[0091] DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies is readily isolated
and sequenced using conventional procedures. The hybridoma cells
serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA may
be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfected into
host cells such as E. coli cells, simian COS cells, Chinese Hamster
Ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce
antibody protein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies
in the recombinant host cells.
[0092] Monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments can be isolated
from antibody phage libraries. High affinity (nM range) human
antibodies can be generated by chain shuffling, as well as
combinatorial infection and in vivo recombination as a strategy for
constructing very large phage libraries. Thus, these techniques are
viable alternatives to traditional monoclonal antibody hybridoma
techniques for isolation of monoclonal antibodies.
[0093] The DNA that encodes the antibody may be modified to produce
chimeric or fusion antibody polypeptides. The monoclonal antibodies
used herein include "chimeric" antibodies in which a portion of the
heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to
corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular
species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass,
while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous
to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another
species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well
as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the
desired biological activity. [0094] Human and Humanized
Antibodies
[0095] The anti-VEGF-C, anti-VEGF-D, anti-VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or anti-lymphangiogenesis antibodies used in the
invention may comprise humanized antibodies or human antibodies.
Generally, a "humanized antibody" is an antibody of non-human
origin that has been modified using recombinant DNA techniques to
circumvent the problem of a human's immune system reacting to an
antibody as a foreign antigen. The standard procedure of producing
monoclonal antibodies produces mouse antibodies. Although murine
antibodies are very similar to human ones, there are differences.
Consequently, the human immune system recognizes mouse antibodies
as foreign, rapidly removing them from circulation and causing
systemic inflammatory effects. "Humanized" forms of non-human
(e.g., rodent) antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain a
reduced percentage of sequence derived from the non-human antibody.
Various forms of humanized anti-VEGF-C, anti-VEGF-D,
anti-VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or anti-lymphangiogenesis
antibodies are contemplated. Humanized antibodies may be intact
antibodies, such as intact IgGi antibodies, antibody chains or
fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab', F(ab').sub.2, or other
antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies). Humanized antibodies
include human antibodies (recipient antibody) in which residues
from a complementary determining region (CDR) of the recipient are
replaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor
antibody) such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired
specificity, affinity and capacity. In some instances, Fv framework
residues of the human antibody are replaced by corresponding
non-human residues. Humanized antibodies may also comprise residues
which are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the
imported CDR or framework sequences. In general, the humanized
antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and
typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all
of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human antibody and
all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human
antibody consensus sequence. The humanized antibody optimally also
will comprise at least a portion of an antibody constant region
(Fc), typically that of a human antibody.
[0096] Various humanization strategies have been described in the
prior art and it is envisaged that practice of the invention
extends to the use of both known humanization strategies and any
new strategies to be developed in the future. Examples of known
humanization strategies include those described by Studnicka (U.S.
Pat. No. 5,869,619) and Padlan (1991, Molec. Immunol., 28,
489-498), Winter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539) and Jones et al (1986,
Nature, 321, 522-525), Queen et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,761) and
Foote (U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,557).
[0097] As an alternative to humanization, human antibodies can be
generated. For example, it is now possible to produce transgenic
animals (e.g., mice) that are capable, upon immunization, of
producing a full repertoire of human antibodies in the absence of
endogenous immunoglobulin production.
[0098] Alternatively, phage display technology can be used to
produce human antibodies and antibody fragments in vitro, from
immunoglobulin variable (V) domain gene repertoires from
unimmunized donors. Phage display can be performed in a variety of
formats. Several sources of V-gene segments can be used for phage
display. [0099] Antibody fragments
[0100] "Antibody fragments" comprise a portion of an antibody,
preferably the antigen binding or variable region of the intact
antibody. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab',
F(ab').sub.2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies;
single chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies
formed from antibody fragments. Antibody fragments of particular
interest are fragments that retain antigen-binding properties of
the whole antibody, and are useful as inhibitors for practicing the
invention.
[0101] Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical
antigen binding fragments, called "Fab" fragments, and a residual
"Fc" fragment, a designation reflecting the ability to crystallize
readily. Each Fab fragment is monovalent with respect to antigen
binding, i.e., it has a single antigen binding site. Pepsin
treatment of an antibody yields a single large F(ab').sub.2
fragment which roughly corresponds to two disulfide linked Fab
fragments having divalent antigen binding activity and is still
capable of cross linking antigen. Fab' fragments differ from Fab
fragments by having additional residues at the carboxy terminus of
the C.sub.H1 domain including one or more cysteines from the
antibody hinge region. Fab'-SH is the designation herein for Fab'
in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a
free thiol group. F(ab').sub.2 antibody fragments originally were
produced as pairs of Fab' fragments which have hinge cysteines
between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are
also known.
[0102] "Fv" is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a
complete antigen recognition binding site. This fragment consists
of a dimer of one heavy and one light chain variable region domain
in tight, non covalent association. From the folding of these two
domains emanate six hypervariable loops (3 loops each from the H
and L chain) that contribute the amino acid residues for antigen
binding and confer antigen binding specificity to the antibody.
However, even a single variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising
only three CDRs specific for an antigen) has the ability to
recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the
entire binding site.
[0103] "Single chain Fv" abbreviated as "scFv" are antibody
fragments that comprise the VH and VL antibody domains connected
into a single polypeptide chain. Preferably, the scFv polypeptide
further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL
domains which enables the scFv to form the desired structure for
antigen binding.
[0104] In certain circumstances there are advantages of using
antibody fragments, rather than whole antibodies. The smaller size
of the fragments allows for rapid clearance from the
circulation.
[0105] Various techniques have been developed for the production of
antibody fragments. Traditionally, these fragments were derived via
proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies. However, these
fragments can now be produced directly by recombinant host cells.
Fab, Fv and ScFv antibody fragments can all be expressed in and
secreted from E. coli, thus allowing the facile production of large
amounts of these fragments. Antibody fragments can be isolated from
the antibody phage libraries. Alternatively, Fab'-SH fragments can
be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form
F(ab')2 fragments. According to another approach, F(ab')2 fragments
can be isolated directly from recombinant host cell culture. Fab
and F(ab')2 fragment with increased in vivo half-life comprising a
salvage receptor binding epitope residues also may be used.
[0106] Other techniques for the production of antibody fragments
will be apparent to the skilled practitioner. The antibody of
choice is a single chain Fv fragment (scFv). Fv and scFv are the
only species with intact combining sites that are devoid of
constant regions; thus, they are suitable for reduced nonspecific
binding during in vivo use. The antibody fragment may also be a
"linear antibody", which may be monospecific or bispecific. The
inhibitor also maybe a polypeptide or protein comprising an
antibody or antibody fragment linked to another entity to form a
fusion protein. [0107] Bispecific Antibodies
[0108] Bispecific antibodies are antibodies that have binding
specificities for at least two different epitopes. Bispecific
antibodies can be prepared as full length antibodies or antibody
fragments (e.g., F(ab').sub.2 bispecific antibodies).
[0109] Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the
art. Traditional production of full length bispecific antibodies is
based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain-light
chain pairs, where the two chains have different specificities.
[0110] According to a different approach, antibody variable domains
with the desired binding specificity (antibody-antigen combining
sites) are fused to immunoglobulin constant domain sequences.
[0111] Bispecific antibodies include cross-linked or
"heteroconjugate" antibodies. Heteroconjugate antibodies are
composed of two covalently joined antibodies. It is contemplated
that the antibodies may be prepared in vitro using known methods in
synthetic protein chemistry, including those involving crosslinking
agents. For example, one of the antibodies in the heteroconjugate
can be coupled to avidin, the other to biotin. Heteroconjugate
antibodies may be made using any convenient cross-linking methods.
Suitable cross-linking agents and cross-linking techniques are well
known in the art.
[0112] Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from
antibody fragments have also been described in the literature. For
example, bispecific antibodies can be prepared using chemical
linkage.
[0113] Recent progress has facilitated the direct recovery of
Fab'-SH fragments from E. coli, which can be chemically coupled to
form bispecific antibodies. Various techniques for making and
isolating bispecific antibody fragments directly from recombinant
cell culture have also been described.
[0114] The term "diabodies" refers to small antibody fragments
prepared by constructing scFv fragments with short linkers (about 5
to 10 residues) between the VH and VL domains such that inter chain
but not intra chain pairing of the V domains is achieved, resulting
in a bivalent fragment, i.e., fragment having two antigen binding
sites. Bispecific diabodies are heterodimers of two "crossover"
scFv fragments in which the VH and VL domains of the two antibodies
are present on different polypeptide chains.
[0115] According to an alternative "diabody" technology for making
bispecific antibody fragments, the fragments comprise a VH
connected to a VL by a linker which is too short to allow pairing
between the two domains on the same chain. Accordingly, the VH and
VL domains of one fragment are forced to pair with the
complementary VL and VH domains of another fragment, thereby
forming two antigen-binding sites. Another strategy for making
bispecific antibody fragments by the use of single-chain Fv (scFv)
dimers has also been reported.
[0116] Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated for
use in the invention. For example, trispecific antibodies can be
prepared. [0117] Multivalent Antibodies
[0118] A multivalent antibody may be internalized (and/or
catabolized) faster than a bivalent antibody by a cell expressing
an antigen to which the antibodies bind. Antibodies that may be
used in the present invention can be multivalent antibodies (which
are other than of the IgM class) with three or more antigen binding
sites (e.g. tetravalent antibodies), which can be readily produced
by recombinant expression of nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide
chains of the antibody. The multivalent antibody can comprise a
dimerization domain and three or more antigen binding sites. A
preferred dimerization domain comprises an Fc region or a hinge
region. In this scenario, the antibody will comprise an Fc region
and three or more antigen binding sites amino-terminal to the Fc
region. A preferred multivalent antibody comprises three to about
eight, but preferably four, antigen binding sites. The multivalent
antibody comprises at least one polypeptide chain (and preferably
two polypeptide chains), wherein the polypeptide chain(s) comprise
two or more variable domains. For instance, the polypeptide
chain(s) may comprise VD1-(X.sub.1).sub.n-VD2-(X.sub.2).sub.n-Fc,
wherein VD1 is a first variable domain, VD2 is a second variable
domain, Fc is one polypeptide chain of an Fc region, X.sub.1 and
X.sub.2 represent an amino acid or polypeptide, and n is 0 or 1.
For instance, the polypeptide chain(s) may comprise:
V.sub.H-C.sub.H1-flexible linker-V.sub.H-C.sub.H1-Fc region chain;
or V.sub.H-C.sub.H1-V.sub.H-C.sub.H1-Fc region chain. A multivalent
antibody preferably further comprises at least two (and preferably
four) light chain variable domain polypeptides. A multivalent
antibody may, for instance, comprise from about two to about eight
light chain variable domain polypeptides. The light chain variable
domain polypeptides contemplated here comprise a light chain
variable domain and, optionally, further comprise a CL domain.
[0119] Peptide and Peptide Mimetic Inhibitors
[0120] In another embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is a peptide or
peptide mimetic. The peptide or peptide mimetic may reduce receptor
availability for native ligand binding.
[0121] As used herein, "peptide mimetic" and "peptidomimetic" are
used interchangeably.
[0122] A peptide inhibitor is a peptide that binds specifically to
a component of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis and inhibits or neutralizes the
function of that component in the process of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis. Peptide
inhibitors may be chemically synthesized using known peptide
synthesis methodology or may be prepared and purified using
recombinant technology. The preferred length of peptide inhibitors
of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis is from about 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 amino acid
residues to about 100 amino acid residues. It is contemplated that
longer peptides may prove useful. Peptide inhibitors may be
identified without undue experimentation using well known
techniques. In this regard, it is noted that techniques for
screening peptide libraries for peptides that are capable of
specifically binding to a polypeptide target are well known in the
art.
[0123] For any of the foregoing peptides, one preferred variation
involves peptides that have been modified to comprise an
intramolecular bond between two non-adjacent amino acid residues of
the primary sequence, thereby forming a cyclic peptide. For
example, in one variation, the peptide comprises a pair of cysteine
residues, such as amino-and carboxy-terminal cysteines, and the
intramolecular bond comprises a disulfide bond between the
cysteines. However, organic chemists and peptide chemists are
capable of synthesizing intramolecular bonds between a wide variety
of amino acids using conventional techniques. [0124] Nucleic Acid
Molecules [0125] Antisense Molecules
[0126] In yet another embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is an
antisense molecule that reduces transcription and/or translation of
a component of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis, thereby reducing VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis.
[0127] The antisense molecule comprises RNA or DNA prepared using
antisense technology, where, for example, an antisense RNA or DNA
molecule acts to block directly the translation of mRNA by
hybridizing to targeted mRNA and preventing protein translation.
Binding of antisense or sense oligonucleotides to target nucleic
acid sequences results in the formation of duplexes that block
transcription or translation of the target sequence by one of
several means, including enhanced degradation of the duplexes,
premature termination of transcription or translation, or by other
means. The antisense oligonucleotides thus may be used to reduce or
block expression of a component of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-ediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis, and thus VEGF-C or
VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis.
Such oligonucleotides can also be delivered to cells such that the
antisense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production
of components of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis.
[0128] Inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity or signaling
mediated by VEGFR-3, or lymphangiogenesis include antisense or
sense oligonucleotides comprising a single-stranded nucleic acid
sequence (either RNA or DNA) capable of binding to target mRNA
(sense) or DNA (antisense) sequences. Such a fragment generally
comprises about 10 to 40 nucleotides in length, preferably at least
about 14 nucleotides, preferably from about 14 to 30
nucleotides.
[0129] Antisense or sense oligonucleotides further comprise
oligonucleotides having modified sugar-phosphodiester backbones
that are resistant to endogenous nucleases, or are covalently
linked to other moieties that increases affinity of the
oligonucleotide for a target nucleic acid sequence, or
intercalating agents to modify binding specificities of the
antisense or sense oligonucleotide for the target nucleotide
sequence. [0130] Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)
[0131] In one embodiment, it is envisaged that siRNA will inhibit
VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis. "siRNA" or "RNAi" are double-stranded RNA
molecules, typically about 21 nucleotides in length, that are
homologous to a gene or polynucleotide that encodes the target gene
and interfere with the target gene's expression. [0132] Nucleic
Acid Molecules in Triple-Helix Formation
[0133] In another embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis comprises
nucleic acid molecules in triple-helix formation. Nucleic acid
molecules in triple-helix formation used to inhibit transcription
should be single-stranded and composed of deoxynucleotides. A DNA
oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the
gene involved in transcription. The base composition of these
oligonucleotides is designed such that it promotes triple-helix
formation via Hoogsteen base-pairing rules, which generally require
sizeable stretches of purines or pyrimidines on one strand of a
duplex. [0134] Ribozymes
[0135] In a related embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is a
ribozyme that reduces transcription of a component of VEGF-C or
VEGF-D activity or signaling mediated by VEGFR-3, or a
lymphangiogenic component.
[0136] A "ribozyme" is an enzymatic RNA molecule capable of
catalyzing the specific cleavage of RNA. Ribozymes act by
sequence-specific hybridization to the complementary target RNA,
followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Specific ribozyme cleavage
sites within a potential RNA target can be identified by known
techniques. [0137] Small Molecule Inhibitors
[0138] In a further embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is a
small molecule.
[0139] A "small molecule" is defined herein to have a molecular
weight below about 2000 daltons, and preferably below about 500
Daltons. Potential inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis include small
molecules that bind to the active site, the receptor binding site,
or growth factor or other relevant binding site of components of
VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity or VEGFR-3-mediated signaling, or
lymphangiogenesis, thereby blocking the normal biological activity
of VEGF-C or VEGF-D, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis. Examples of small molecules include, but are not
limited to, synthetic non-peptidyl organic or inorganic
compounds.
[0140] Small molecule inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis may be identified
without undue experimentation using known techniques and chemically
synthesized using known methodology. In this regard, it is noted
that techniques for screening organic molecule libraries for
molecules that are capable of binding to a polypeptide target are
known in the art.
Inhibition of Receptor Availability for Ligand Binding
[0141] Antibody Inhibitors
[0142] In one embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is an
antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the inhibitor of VEGF-C or
VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis is
an anti-VEGFR-3 antibody that reduces VEGFR-3 availability for
ligand binding.
[0143] Suitable antibodies for use in the methods of the invention
and means for their production are disclosed in WO2000/021560 and
WO1995/021868 and include a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody
that binds specifically to VEGFR-3 and blocks its signaling, a
fragment of such an antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized
antibody, and a bispecific antibody that binds specifically to
VEGFR-3 and blocks its signaling and also binds to another
antigen.
[0144] In a preferred embodiment, the antibody inhibitor is a
humanized antibody. In another embodiment, the antibody inhibitor
of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis comprises a Fab, Fab', or F(ab').sub.2 fragment,
or a single chain Fv (scFv) fragment.
[0145] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in
particular embodiments, the monoclonal antibody may comprise
antibody 9D9F9, disclosed in WO2000/021560 or 2E11D11 disclosed in
WO2003/006104. Alternatively monoclonal antibodies that
specifically bind to VEGFR-3 and may be used according to the
invention include antibodies MM0003-7G63, RM0003-5F63, C28G5, KLT9,
ZMD.251, mF4-31C1 and hF4-3C5. A particularly preferred monoclonal
antibody is hF4-3C5, a fully-humanized antagonist antibody to human
VEGFR-3.
[0146] In an alternative embodiment, the inhibitor may comprise a
bispecific antibody, particularly a diabody, that binds
specifically to and neutralizes each of VEGFR-3 and a second
target. One example of such a diabody is that derived from
antibodies hF4-3C5 and IMC-1121, which binds specifically to and
neutralizes each of VEGFR-3 and VEGFR-2.
[0147] An inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis according to the present invention
also includes in one embodiment an antibody, as described above,
that inhibits or neutralizes the receptor tyrosine kinase activity
of VEGFR-3. [0148] Peptide and Peptide Mimetic Inhibitors
[0149] The person skilled in the art will appreciate that
particular inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis that can be
employed in a particular embodiment of the present invention are
disclosed in WO2000/021560, WO2001/052875, and WO2002/057299, which
are incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the
inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling
or lymphangiogenesis comprises a peptide. Such a peptide to be used
as an inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis can be generated by random peptide
synthesis, by recombinant means from random oligonucleotides, or a
peptide may be selected from a phage display library, according to
the disclosure of WO2002/057299 and WO2000/021560 and methods
standard in the art. Such a peptide can be identified with the aid
of the VEGFR-3 extracellular domain.
[0150] In a particular embodiment, the peptide inhibitor of VEGF-C
or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis
comprises the amino acid sequence GYWX1.times.2.times.3W (SEQ ID
NO: 32), wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2, and X.sub.3 comprise amino acids
and wherein the peptide binds VEGFR-3, according to WO2002/057299.
In a related embodiment, the peptide inhibitor comprises the amino
acid sequence GYWX.sub.1X.sub.2X.sub.3WX.sub.4 (SEQ ID NO: 33),
wherein X.sub.4 comprises an amino acid. In another embodiment,
either of the preceding peptides may further comprise an amino- and
carboxy-terminus cysteine residue. In a particular embodiment, the
peptide comprises a cyclic peptide. In an alternative embodiment,
the peptide comprises a peptide dimer that binds to VEGFR-3, and in
a preferred form, the peptides comprising the dimer are the same,
according to WO2002/057299.
[0151] In one embodiment, the peptidomimetic inhibitor is a
monomeric monocyclic peptide inhibitor or dimeric bicyclic peptide
inhibitor. Preferably, such peptidomimetic inhibitors are based on
the peptide sequence of exposed loops of growth factor proteins,
for example, loops 1, 2, and 3 of VEGF-D. In a preferred
embodiment, the peptidomimetic inhibitor comprises any one of:
CASELGKSTNTFC (SEQ ID NO: 43); CNEESLIC (SEQ ID NO: 44); or
CISVPLTSVPC (SEQ ID NO: 45).
[0152] In one embodiment, the peptide mimetic inhibitor is prepared
by the methods disclosed in WO2001/052875 and WO2002/057299.
Peptides that may be used as inhibitors of VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis are disclosed in
WO2000/021560. Such peptides include a polypeptide comprising a
fragment or analog of a vertebrate VEGF-C polypeptide, wherein the
polypeptide and fragment or analog are capable of binding to
VEGFR-3, but do not activate signaling, and a polypeptide
comprising a fragment or analog of a vertebrate VEGF-C or VEGF-D
polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide and fragment or analog are
capable of binding to VEGFR-3, but do not activate signaling.
[0153] The person skilled in the art will appreciate that
inhibitors of VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or
lymphangiogenesis inhibitors according to WO2002/057299 include
peptides comprising the sequence Y.sub.1GYWLTIWGY.sub.2, (SEQ ID
NO: 54) wherein Y.sub.1, and Y.sub.2 are amino acids. In one
variation, the peptide is made cyclic by a bond between Y.sub.1 and
Y.sub.2. In a specific preferred embodiment, the peptide comprises
the sequence CGYWLTIWGC (SEQ ID NO: 42). Other peptide inhibitors
comprise any of the following amino acid sequences: SGYWWDTWF (SEQ
ID NO: 1), SCYWRDTWF(SEQ ID NO: 2), KVGWSSPDW (SEQ ID NO: 3),
FVGWTKVLG (SEQ ID NO: 4), YSSSMRWRH (SEQ ID NO: 5), RWRGNAYPG (SEQ
ID NO: 6), SAVFRGRWL (SEQ ID NO: 7), WFSASLRFR (SEQ ID NO: 8),
WQLGRNWI (SEQ ID NO: 9), VEVQITQE (SEQ ID NO: 10), AGKASSLW (SEQ ID
NO: 11), RALDSALA (SEQ ID NO: 12), YGFEAAW (SEQ ID NO: 13), YGFLWGM
(SEQ ID NO: 14), SRWRILG (SEQ ID NO: 15), HKWQKRQ (SEQ ID NO: 16),
MDPWGGW (SEQ ID NO: 17), RKVWDIR (SEQ ID NO: 18), VWDHGV (SEQ ID
NO: 19), CWQLGRNWIC (SEQ ID NO: 20), CVEVQITQEC (SEQ ID NO: 21),
CAGKASSLWC (SEQ ID NO: 22), CRALDSALAC (SEQ ID NO: 23), CYGFEAAWC
(SEQ ID NO: 24), CYGFLWGMC (SEQ ID NO: 25), CSRWRILGC (SEQ ID NO:
26), CHKWQKRQC (SEQ ID NO: 27), CMDPWGGWC (SEQ ID NO: 28),
CRKVWDIRC (SEQ ID NO: 29), CVWDHGVC (SEQ ID NO: 30), CGQMCTVWCSSGC
(SEQ ID NO: 31), or conservative substitutions-variants thereof.
Preferred peptides comprise these exact amino acid sequences, or
sequences in which only one or only two conserved substitutions
have been introduced. In another preferred variation, the peptides
comprise amino-and carboxy-terminal cysteines, which permit
formation of cyclic molecules and dimers and multimers. In yet
another variation, peptide inhibitors include the amino acid
sequence GYWX.sub.1X.sub.2X.sub.3W (SEQ ID NO: 32), wherein
X.sub.1, X.sub.2, and X.sub.3 comprise amino acids, the amino acid
sequence GYWX.sub.1X.sub.2X.sub.3WX.sub.4 (SEQ ID NO: 33), wherein
X.sub.4 comprises an amino acid. In still another variation, these
peptides further comprise amino-and carboxy-terminal cysteine
residues.
Nucleic Acid Inhibitors
[0154] In a preferred embodiment, the invention envisages use of a
VEGFR-3 antisense RNA, as disclosed in WO2000/021560, to inhibit
the translation of VEGFR-3-encoding mRNA to eliminate or
down-regulate levels of VEGFR-3. Similarly, siRNA or nucleic acids
in triple helix formation could be used to reduce VEGFR-3
availability for ligand binding.
Small Molecule Inhibitors
[0155] In a preferred embodiment, the small molecule is a small
molecule inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinase activity. In a more
preferred embodiment, the small molecule comprises PTK787/ZK22854,
AZP2171, ZK991, KRN633, MAZ51, sorafenib, sunitinib (SU11248),
axitinib (AG013736), vandetanib (ZD6474), or
3-(indole-3-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione.
Inhibition of Ligand Availability for Receptor Binding
[0156] Antibody Inhibitors
[0157] According to one embodiment, inhibition of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis can be
achieved using antibodies that specifically bind and neutralize
ligands for VEGFR-3, that is, VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D. Antibodies
similar to anti-VEGFR-3 antibodies described above are
contemplated. Suitable antibodies and their means for production
are disclosed in WO2000/021560. The person skilled in the art will
appreciate that antibodies that bind specifically to VEGF-D and may
be used according to the invention include monoclonal antibodies
2F8, 4A5 (also known as VD1), 4E10, 5F12, 4H4 and 3C10 disclosed in
WO2000/037025. A particularly preferred antibody is 4A5, and in
particular, a humanized version thereof. In another embodiment, the
chimeric or humanized antibody comprises SEQ ID NO: 46 and SEQ ID
NO: 47, or the antibody comprises any one of SEQ ID NOs: 48 to 50
and any one of SEQ ID NOs: 51 to 53, as disclosed in WO2005/087177.
Alternatively monoclonal antibodies that may be used according to
the invention include 28AT743.288.48, MM0007-7E79, RM0007-8C35,
78902, 78923, 78939, and 90409.
[0158] Similarly, monoclonal antibodies that bind VEGF-C may be
employed. The anti-VEGF-C antibodies will specifically bind to
human VEGF-C or a biologically active fragment thereof, e.g. the
mature fully-processed form. Such binding will partially or fully
block, neutralize, reduce or antagonize VEGF-C activity. Suitable
examples of such antibodies include antibodies 103, MM0006-2E65 and
193208. Further examples of such antibodies are found in US
7,208,582 and US 7,109,308.
[0159] One example of an anti-VEGF-C antibody is a monoclonal
antibody that competitively inhibits the binding to VEGF-C of
monoclonal anti-VEGF-C antibody 69D09 produced by hybridoma ATCC
PTA-4095 or having the heavy and light chain amino acid sequences
as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 Sequence of anti-VEGF-C antibody heavy chain SEQ ID
NO: 34 EVRLLESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFR PRAMAWVRQA PGKGLEWVSS 10 20
30 40 50 ISAQGASAYY ADSVKGRFTI SRDNSKNTLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCARDL 60
70 80 90 100 SVSGFGPWGR GTMVTVSSAS TKGPSVFPLA PSSKSTSGGT AALGCLVKDY
110 120 130 140 150 FPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL YSLSSVVTVP
SSSLGTQTYI 160 170 180 190 200 CNVNHKPSNT KVDKRVEPKS CDKTHTCPPC
PAPELLGGPS VFLFPPKPKD 210 220 230 240 250 TLMISRTPEV TCVVVDVSHE
DPEVKFNWYV DGVEVHNAKT KPREEQYNST 260 270 280 290 300 YRVVSVLTVL
HQDWLNGKEY KCKVSNKALP APIEKTISKA KGQPREPQVY 310 320 330 340 350
TLPPSREEMT KNQVSLTCLV KGFYPSDIAV EWESNGQPEN NYKTTPPVLD 360 370 380
390 400 SDGSFFLYSK LTVDKSRWQQ GNVFSCSVMH EALHNHYTQK SLSLSPGK 410
420 430 440 448 Sequence of anti-VEGF-C antibody light chain SEQ ID
NO: 35 SYELTQPPSS SGTPGQRVTI SCSGSSSNIG RHTVSWYQQV PGTAPKLLIY 10 20
30 40 50 SDDHRPSGVP DRFSASKSGT SASLTITGLQ SEDEADYYCA AWDDSLNGPW 60
70 80 90 100 VFGGGTKLTV LGQPKAAPSV TLFPPSSEEL QANKATLVCL ISDFYPGAVT
110 120 130 140 150 VAWKADSSPV KAGVETTTPS KQSNNKYAAS SYLSLTPEQW
KSHRSYSCQV 160 170 180 190 200 THEGSTVEKT VAPTECS 210 217
[0160] Another example of an anti-VEGF-C antibody is a monoclonal
antibody that binds to the same epitope as the monoclonal
anti-VEGF-C antibody 69D09 produced by hybridoma ATCC PTA-4095 or a
monoclonal antibody having the heavy and light chain amino acid
sequences shown above. In one embodiment, the anti-VEGF-C antibody
is a fully-human anti-VEGF-C monoclonal antibody, including but not
limited to 69D09 antibody or fragment thereof. The anti-VEGF-C
antibody may be a humanized antibody.
[0161] Preferably, the anti-VEGF-C antibody is a human antibody
produced by deposited hybridoma ATC PTA-4095 (also referred to
herein as "VGX-100") or having the heavy and light chain amino acid
sequences shown above.
[0162] Alternatively, antibodies may bind proprotein convertases,
enzymes responsible for processing VEGF-C and VEGF-D from their
prepro-forms to their activated forms, and reduce, inhibit or
neutralize such activity thereby limiting the amount of
proteolytically processed ligand available for binding to VEGFR-3.
Again, antibodies corresponding with anti-VEGFR-3 antibodies
described above are envisaged. Such antibodies are disclosed in
WO05/112971 and include neutralizing antibodies to inhibit the
biological action of proprotein convertases. [0163] Peptide
Inhibitors
[0164] Inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis as used in the present invention
include inhibitors of proprotein convertases. As noted, one class
of inhibitor of proprotein convertases comprises antibodies.
Another class of inhibitor of proprotein convertases includes
peptide inhibitors.
[0165] Peptide inhibitors of proprotein convertases are disclosed
in WO05/112971 and include prosegments of proprotein convertases,
inhibitory variants of anti-trypsin and peptidyl haloalkylketone
inhibitors.
[0166] Representative inhibitory prosegments of proprotein
convertases include the inhibitory prosegments of PC5A (also known
as PC6A), PC5B (also known as PC6B), PACE4, PC1 (also known as
PC3), PC2, PC4, PC7 and Furin. A representative inhibitory variant
of anti-trypsin is .alpha.-1 antitrypsin Portland, an engineered
variant of naturally occurring antitrypsin that inhibits multiple
proprotein convertases. Representative peptidyl halomethyl ketone
inhibitors include decanoyl-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone
(Dec-RVKR-CMK), decanoyl-Phe-Ala-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone
(Dec-FAKR-CMK), decanoyl-Arg-Glu-Ile-Arg-chloromethylketone
(Dec-REIR-CMK), and decanoyl-Arg-Glu-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone
(Dec-REKR-CMK). These inhibitors of proprotein convertases, such as
Dec-RVKR-CMK or the inhibitory prosegments of proprotein
convertases, can be used to block the activation of VEGF-C and
VEGF-D and thereby inhibit VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis induced by
partially processed or fully processed VEGF-C or VEGF-D. [0167]
Soluble Receptors
[0168] According to another embodiment, VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis can be inhibited
using soluble receptors that bind VEGFR-3 ligands. Soluble
receptors capable of binding VEGF-C and VEGF-D, thereby inhibiting
VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity or signaling via VEGFR-3, are disclosed
in WO2000/023565, WO2000/021560 and WO2002/060950. Such inhibitors
of VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis
inhibitors include soluble VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, NRP-1, and NRP-2.
[0169] Nucleic Acid Inhibitors
[0170] In another embodiment of the invention, antisense
oligonucleotides are used as inhibitors of proprotein convertases.
The antisense oligonucleotides preferably inhibit expression of
proprotein convertases by inhibiting transcription or translation
of proprotein convertases. In a further embodiment, the
antagonizing agent is small interfering RNAs (siRNA, also known as
RNAi, RNA interference nucleic acids). Also contemplated are
methods of inhibiting the target gene expression or target protein
function utilizing ribozymes and triplex-forming nucleic acid
molecules.
[0171] Similarly, in a related embodiment, antisense, siRNA and
ribozyme inhibitors directed to VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D are included
as inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity, VEGFR-3-mediated
signaling or lymphangiogenesis exerting their effects by reducing
transcription and/or translation of VEGF-C and VEGF-D. [0172]
Peptide and Peptide Mimetic Inhibitors
[0173] According to one embodiment, the inhibitor to be used in the
invention comprises a peptide that reduces the availability of
ligand to bind to VEGFR-3. Such a peptide can be generated by
random peptide synthesis, by recombinant means from random
oligonucleotides, or a peptide may be selected from a phage display
library by methods standard in the art. In a particular embodiment,
the peptide will be derived from VEGFR-3 or VEGFR-2 and will bind
specifically to VEGF-C or VEGF-D such that the ligand available for
binding to native VEGFR-3 is reduced. Such a peptide may be
identified with the aid of the VEGF-C or VEGF-D. [0174] Small
Molecule Inhibitors
[0175] In one embodiment, the small molecule inhibitor is a small
molecule inhibitor of a proprotein convertase. In a particular
embodiment, the proprotein convertase is furin and the small
molecule comprises B3 (CCG8294, naphthofluorescein disodium) or a
derivative of 2,5-dideoxystreptamine. [0176] Antibody Inhibitors
Affecting Ligand-Receptor Complex
[0177] In one embodiment, the invention includes use of bispecific
antibodies, as described above, as inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis,
specifically inhibiting ligand-receptor complexes.
[0178] Suitable antibodies and their means for production are
disclosed in WO2000/021560 and include a bispecific antibody that
binds specifically to an epitope or epitopes derived from a
VEGFR-3-(VEGFR-3 ligand) complex (receptor-ligand complex) and
blocks VEGFR-3 signaling.
Inhibition of Co-Receptor Interaction
[0179] Antibody Inhibitors Affecting Co-Receptors of VEGFR-3
[0180] In a further embodiment, inhibitors of VEGF-C or VEGF-D
activity, VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis include
antibodies, as described above, that bind specifically to and
reduce, inhibit or neutralize co-receptor binding to VEGFR-3. Such
antibodies may be directed to a co-receptor, a ligand-co-receptor
binary complex, a co-receptor-receptor binary complex, or a
ligand-co-receptor-receptor ternary complex. Co-receptors include
NRP-1 and NRP-2. The person skilled in the art will understand that
monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind NRP-1 or NRP-2 and may
be used according to the invention include antibodies 1B3, 3G6-2C5,
AD5-17F6, 446915, 446921, 130603, 130604, 96009, 3B8, 54, 257103,
257107, A-12, and C-9. Alternatively, a bispecific antibody which
specifically binds to NRP-2 receptor and a VEGF-C polypeptide, as
disclosed in WO2003/029814, may be used according to the invention.
[0181] Peptide Inhibitors Affecting Co-Receptors of VEGFR-3
[0182] In another embodiment, a peptide inhibitor comprising a
peptide dimer may target one or more receptors and/or co-receptors.
Co-receptors include NRP-1 and NRP-2. As disclosed in
WO2002/057299, in a particular embodiment, the peptide dimer
comprises one peptide that binds VEGFR-3 and a second peptide that
binds to any one of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, NRP-1, or NRP-2. [0183] Small
Molecule and Nucleic Acid Inhibitors Affecting Co-Receptors of
VEGFR-3
[0184] According to the present invention, it is also envisaged
that small molecules, antisense molecules, siRNA and ribozymes, as
described above, can be utilized as inhibitors of VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis by targeting
co-receptors that interact with VEGFR-3. Such co-receptors include
NRP-1 and NRP-2.
Inhibition of Downstream Signaling
[0185] Alternatively, an inhibitor of VEGF-C or VEGF-D activity,
VEGFR-3-mediated signaling or lymphangiogenesis according to any of
the foregoing descriptions may disrupt downstream intracellular
VEGFR-3 signaling, as disclosed in WO2000/021560.
Pharmaceutically Acceptable Carriers
[0186] Suitable ophthalmic carriers are known to those skilled in
the art and all such conventional carriers may be employed in the
present invention. Exemplary compounds incorporated to facilitate
and expedite transdermal delivery of topical compositions into
ocular or adnexal tissues include, but are not limited to, alcohol
(ethanol, propanol, and nonanol), fatty alcohol (lauryl alcohol),
fatty acid (valeric acid, caproic acid and capric acid), fatty acid
ester (isopropyl myristate and isopropyl n-hexanoate), alkyl ester
(ethyl acetate and butyl acetate), polyol (propylene glycol,
propanedione and hexanetriol), sulfoxide (dimethylsulfoxide and
decylmethylsulfoxide), amide (urea, dimethylacetamide and
pyrrolidone derivatives), surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate,
cetyltrimethylannmonium bromide, polaxamers, spans, tweens, bile
salts and lecithin), terpene (d-limonene, alphaterpeneol,
1,8-cineole and menthone), and alkanone (N-heptane and N-nonane).
Moreover, topically-administered compositions comprise surface
adhesion molecule modulating agents including, but not limited to,
a cadherin antagonist, a selectin antagonist, and an integrin
antagonist. Thus, a particular carrier may take the form of a
sterile, ophthalmic ointment, cream, gel, solution, or dispersion.
Also including as suitable ophthalmic carriers are slow release
polymers, e.g., "Ocusert" polymers, "Hydron" polymers, etc.
[0187] Stabilizers may also be used such as, for example, chelating
agents, e.g., EDTA. Antioxidants may also be used, e.g., sodium
bisulfite, sodium thiosulfite, 8-hydroxy quinoline or ascorbic
acid. Sterility typically will be maintained by conventional
ophthalmic preservatives, e.g., chiorbutanol, benzalkonium
chloride, cetylpyridium chloride, phenyl mercuric salts,
thimerosal, etc., for aqueous formulations, and used in amounts
which are nontoxic and which generally vary from about 0.001 to
about 0.1% by weight of the aqueous solution. Conventional
preservatives for ointments include methyl and propyl parabens.
Typical ointment bases include white petrolatum and mineral oil or
liquid petrolatum. However, preserved aqueous carriers are
preferred. Solutions may be manually delivered to the eye in
suitable dosage form, e.g., eye drops, or delivered by suitable
microdrop or spray apparatus typically affording a metered dose of
medicament. Examples of suitable ophthalmic carriers include
sterile, substantially isotonic, aqueous solutions containing minor
amounts, i.e., less than about 5% by weight
hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol,
carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcelullose, glycerine and EDTA.
The solutions are preferably maintained at substantially neutral pH
and isotonic with appropriate amounts of conventional buffers,
e.g., phosphate, borate, acetate, tris.
[0188] All publications and patents mentioned herein are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual
publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated
to be incorporated by reference. In case of conflict, the present
application, including any definitions herein, will control.
EXAMPLES
[0189] Materials and Methods
Experimental Dry Eye Murine Model
[0190] Eight to ten week-old female C57BLI6 mice (Charles River
Laboratory, Wilmington, Mass.) were used in accordance with the
standards in the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in
Ophthalmic and Vision Research. The research protocol was approved
by the Schepens Eye Research Institute Animal Care and Use
Committee. Dry eye was induced in murine eyes using a Controlled
Environment Chamber (CEC) which exposes the mice to high-flow
desiccated air. To achieve maximum ocular surface dryness, the
conditions in CEC were supplemented with topical application of 1%
atropine sulfate (Falcon Pharma, Fort Worth, Tex.) twice for the
first 48 hours and subcutaneous injections of 0.1 ml of 5 mg/ml of
scopolamine hydrobromide (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) three
times a day, for the entire duration of the experiment.
RNA Isolation and Molecular Analysis Using Real Time Polymerase
Chain Reaction
[0191] Five mice (10 eyes) were included in each group. Two corneas
were pooled together to equal as one sample and stored at -80'C in
Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.; catalog No.15596026) until
future use. Total RNA was isolated from these corneas using the
RNeasy microkit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.; catalog No. 74004).
Equal amounts of RNA were used to synthesize cDNA using
SuperScript.TM. III Reverse Trancriptase (Invitrogen, Carlsbad,
Calif.; catalog No.18080) according to the manufacturer's
recommendations. Real-Time PCR was performed using FAM-MGB dye
labeled predesigned primers (Applied Biosystem, Foster City,
Calif.) for GAPDH (assay ID.Mm999999 15_gl), VEGF-A
(Mm00437304_ml), VEGF-C (Mrn00437313_ml), VEGF-D (Mm00438965_ml),
VEGFR-2 (Mm00440099_ml), VEGFR-3 (Mm00433337_ml). 2.5 .mu.l of cDNA
was loaded in each well and assays were performed in duplicate. The
GAPDH gene was used as the endogenous reference for each reaction.
The results were normalized by the cycle threshold (CT) of GAPDH
and the relative mRNA level in the normal mice was used as the
normalized control.
Immunohistochemistry
[0192] The following primary antibodies were used for
immunohistochemical staining: rat anti-mouse CD11b-FITC for
monocytes/macrophages (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif., 1:100),
goat anti-mouse CD31 FITC as pan-endothelial marker (Santa Cruz
Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, Calif., 1: 100) and purified rabbit
anti-mouse LYVE-1 as lymphatic endothelial marker (Abeam, Mass.,
USA, 1:400). Respective isotypes were used as negative
controls.Rhodamine conjugated goat anti-rabbit (BD Pharmingen, San
Diego, Calif., 1:100) was the secondary antibody used.
[0193] Freshly excised corneas were washed in PBS, fixed in acetone
for 15 minutes and then double stained with CD31 and LYVE-1 as
described previously. To analyze infiltration of CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1
cells, corneas from three mice from each group were taken and cells
were counted in 5-6 areas in the periphery (0.5 .mu.m area from the
limbus) of each cornea in a masked fashion, using epifluorescence
microscope (model E800; Nikon, Melville, N.Y.) at 40.times.
magnification. The mean number of cells was obtained by averaging
the total number of cells in all the areas studied and the result
was expressed as the number of positive cells per mm.sup.2.
Morphometry of Lymphangiogenesis in the Cornea
[0194] Morphology of lymphatics was analyzed using an automated
image analysis program written with Matlab (The Mathworks, Inc.,
Natick, Mass.). Lymphatics were isolated from digitized images with
this program using standard computer vision techniques for image
segmentation, including background isolation and subtraction, edge
detection, and k-means clustering. This segmentation process
generated binary images in which lymphatic vessels are represented
by is and all other image content is represented by Os. The
resultant isolated lymphatic vessels were analyzed morphologically
using two metrices, Lymphatic Area (LA) and Lymphatic Caliber (LC).
LA represents the total surface area of the lymphatic vessels when
projected into the plane of the image. LC is a summary measure of
the diameters of the lymphatic vessels present. LC was measured
using a computational technique that generates the largest diameter
circle centered at each pixel inside a lymphatic vessel. The mean
value across all pixels within lymphatic vessels was taken as an
estimate of the mean LC for a given image.
Flow Cytometry
[0195] Draining LNs from DED (day 10) and normal mice were
collected. Single cell suspension of LN cells was stained with the
anti-CD11b-FITC and anti-lab (MHC-II)-PE. Stained LN cells were
then analyzed on an EPICS XL flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter). All
the antibodies with their matched isotype controls were purchased
from eBioscience.
Studies Involving Inhibition of Corneal Neo-Lymphangiogenesis Using
an Anti-VEGF-C Antibody (Example 5 Onwards)
[0196] Anti-VEGF-C antibodies (VGX-100; Vegenics Limited,
Australia) were administered intraperitonealy daily from day 1 to
day 10 to DED mice. Mice were assessed clinically using corneal
fluorescent staining. Tissues from cornea, conjunctiva and draining
lymph nodes were examined for cellular and molecular pathological
changes. In vivo blockade of VEGF-C suppresses
corneallymphangiogenesis and ameliorates clinical signs of DED.
Statistical Analysis
[0197] A two-tailed Student's t-test was performed and P-values
less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Results are
presented as the mean.+-.SEM of at least three experiments.
Example 1
Demonstration and Quantification of Lymphatics in Dry Eye
Corneas
[0198] To determine whether DED induces growth of lymphatics into
the cornea, and whether lymphatic growth is paralleled by growth of
blood vessels, corneal whole mounts were double stained for CD31
(pan-endothelial marker) and LYVE-1 (lymphatic vascular endothelial
marker) at days 0, 6, 10 and 14 and quantified for
lymphangiogenesis. Blood vessels were identified as
CD31.sup.hi/LYVE-1.sup.- and lymph vessels were identified as
CD31.sup.lo/LYVE-1.sup.hi. A significant increase in lymphatic area
LA is seen in DED mice (FIG. 1 b). Morphometric analysis revealed
small buds of lymphatic vessels arising from the limbal vascular
arcade at an early time point (day 6), which increased in caliber
(LC) and area (LA), and advanced towards the center of the cornea
with DED progression (FIGS. 1 and 2). A significant increase in LA
(FIG. 3a) was seen as early as day 6 (P<0.01) which continued
until day 14 (P<0.0001). However, LC (FIG. 3b) was significantly
increased from the normal only by day 14 (P<0.02). Remarkably,
these lymphatics were not accompanied by growth of blood vessels at
any given time point.
Example 2
Expression Levels of Different VEGF's and VEGFR's in Dry Eye
Corneas
[0199] The development of lymphatic vessels is regulated by factors
common to both hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-C and
VEGF-D are the classic lymphangiogenic factors and act by binding
to their receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, which are expressed on
lymphatic endothelial cells. To determine the molecular mechanisms
of lymphangiogenesis in DED, expression of different vascular
endothelial growth factors and their receptors were quantified at
indicated time points in the cornea using real time PCR. Amongst
the VEGF species (FIG. 4), lymphangiogenic specific VEGF-D was not
only the earliest to increase at day 6 (-2 folds; P<0.03) but
also showed the maximum increase in expression at day 14 (-3 folds;
P<0.03). Significant increased transcript expression of VEGF-A
and VEGF-C was seen only by day 14 (P<0.03 for both). Similarly
levels of lymphangiogenic specific VEGFR-3 were first to show a
significant increase at day 6 (-4 folds; P<0.01) and continued
to rise until day 14 (-8 folds; P<0.01). Though an overall trend
toward increased expression was noticed with VEGFR-2 (primarily
specific for blood vessel growth), significant increase (P<0.05)
was appreciated only by day 14 (FIG. 5).
Example 3
Enumeration of CD11b/LYVE-1 Positive Cells in Dry Eye Corneas
[0200] The normal cornea has a resident population of bone
marrow-derived CD11b.sup.+ monocyticmacrophage-lineage cells and
the development of DED increases the number of CD11b.sup.+ cells in
the cornea. The role of macrophages in inflammatory
lymphangiogenesis is well established. These CD11b.sup.+
macrophages may also express various lymphatic endothelial markers,
such as LYVE-1. To see what proportion of these CD11b.sup.+ cells
had lymphangiogenic potential, whole mount corneal tissues were
double stained with CD11b and LYVE-1 at day 14. There was a
significant increase in the number of both CD11b+ (P<0.02) and
CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ (P<0.0001) cells in dry eye as compared
to normal corneas (FIG. 6). In DED, about 25% of the CD11b+cells
were positive for LYVE-1 where as only 4% of the CD11b+cells were
positive for LYVE-1 in the normal corneas.
Example 4
Role of APC Homing
[0201] It was next investigated whether corneal lymphangiogenesis
in DED is associated with the increased homing of APC in the
draining LN. Using flow cytometry, the frequencies of mature APC
(MHC-II+CD11b+) in the draining LN of normal and DED mice were
analysed (FIG. 7). Data showed a significant increase in the
frequency of MHC-II+CD11b.sup.+ APC in the LN cells of DED mice
compared to those in the LN of normal mice (Range: 14.9-19.5% vs.
10- 13.5%, p<0.05).
Example 5
Effect of In Vivo Blockade of Pro-Lymphangiogenesic VEGF-C on Dry
Eye Disease
[0202] Dry eye was induced in murine eyes as described in the
materials and methods.
[0203] Real time PCR was performed to quantify expression of
different VEGF growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D) and their
receptors (VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3) in the cornea at days 6, 10 and 14
(FIG. 8) and to determine the levels of proinflammatory cytokines.
IL-1.alpha., IL-1(3, IL-6, IL-17 in the conjunctiva showed
significantly decreased expression in anti-VEGF-C treated DED mice
as compared to those of untreated DED mice (FIG. 9). Draining lymph
nodes of anti-VEGF-C treated DED mice showed significantly
decreased induction of T-cell mediated autoimmune response compared
untreated DED mice as determined by Real-time PCR analysis for
IL-17 (Th17 cells) and IFN-.gamma. (Th1 cells) (FIG. 10).
[0204] Enumeration of CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ monocytic cells was
done in the DED corneas at day 14 as described previously (FIGS.
11). Treatment with anti-VEGF-C antibodies significantly decreased
infiltration of CD11b.sup.+ cells (30%) in the DED corneas.
[0205] To determine whether DED induces growth of lymphatics into
the cornea, and whether lymphatic growth is paralleled by growth of
blood vessels, corneal whole mounts were double stained for CD31
(pan-endothelial marker) and LYVE-1 (lymphatic vascular endothelial
marker) at days 0, 6, 10 and 14 and quantified for
lymphangiogenesis as described previously. Lymphatics were seen
growing toward the center of DED corneas (FIG. 12). Morphometric
analysis showed significant increase in both lymphatic area
(P<0.0001) and lymphatic caliber (P<0.02) at day 14 of
disease (FIG. 13). These lymphatics were not accompanied by any new
blood vessels. Lymphangiogenic specific VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 were the
earliest to increase at day 6 followed by increase in VEGF-C,
VEGF-A and VEGFR-2. Increased recruitment of
CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ monocytic cells to the cornea was also
seen with disease.
[0206] These results demonstrate that low-grade inflammation
associated with dry eye is an inducer of lymphangiogenesis without
accompanied hemangiogenesis.
[0207] Clinical Relevance: Demonstration of selective lymphatic
growth into dry eye corneas
[0208] provides an important mechanistic link to adaptive (T
cell-meditated) immunity by delineating how corneal antigen
trafficking can occur to the lymphoid tissues.
[0209] Dry eye disease (DED) once thought to be solely due to
deficiency of tears, is increasingly being recognized as an
immune-mediated disorder) DED affects many millions of people with
a wide spectrum of seminal features ranging from mild ocular
discomfort to sight-threatening corneal complications such as
persistent epithelial defects and sterile stromal ulceration) In
the United States alone, more than 3.2 million women and 1.6
million men above the age of 50 years are affected by this
potentially disabling disease adversely impacting the
vision-related quality of life.
[0210] Clinically significant DED is associated with ocular surface
inflammation, although the precise immunopathogenesis is not known.
There is strong evidence regarding T cell involvement in the
pathogenesis of DED in both animal models and humans. Recently, we
illustrated T cell activation in the regional lymph nodes of dry
eye mice, coincident with acquisition of specific chemokine markers
which help in the homing of T cells to the inflamed ocular surface.
Further we demonstrated induction of autoimmunity in the draining
lymph nodes of dry eye mice due to impaired Treg function and
generation of pathogenic Th17 cells. These Th17 cells were found to
be resistant to Treg mediated suppression, leading to unrestrained
generation ofpathogenic T cells and sustained ocular surface
inflammation. Accordingly, much of the work to date has focused on
understanding immunological phenomena occurring in the lymphoid
compartment and the effector responses thereby generated, leaving
unanswered the question as to how naive T cells in the draining
lymph nodes get primed to the ocular surface antigen(s) that drive
immunity in DED.
[0211] The draining lymph nodes are critical sites for induction of
immunity and their role in generation of alloimmunity has been well
established in corneal transplantation. The enhanced survival rate
of corneal transplants in mice with excised cervical lymph nodes
implicates the importance of functional flow of antigen presenting
cells (APCs) from the ocular surface to the to the draining
lymphoid tissue as a necessary component of alloimmunity and graft
rejection. However, little is known about the pathway that allows
trafficking of corneal APCs to the draining lymph nodes where they
prime naive T cells to corneal antigens and generate autoimmune
responses in dry eye.
[0212] Emphasis is now being given to the importance of
pathological angiogenesis (hem- and lymphangiogenesis) in various
corneal diseases such as different forms of keratitis, chemical
burns, graft vs host disease etc., but to date there is no data
regarding corneal angiogenesis in DED. A plausible reason could be
that most of the above mentioned conditions except DED are
accompanied by in-growth of clinically visible blood vessels into
the cornea. Traditionally it has been thought that lymphatics and
blood vessels which serve as afferent and efferent arms of the
immune response respectively are always coexistent in pathological
states. The present work provides the first evidence for selective
lymphangiogenesis occurring in DED cornea using a murine model.
Herein, we attempt to determine the growth of lymphatic vessels
into the cornea with the progression ofDED, discuss the
pathophysiologic implications of corneal lymphangiogenesis in dry
eye and the potential of antilymphangiogenic therapy for
ameliorating DED. [0213] Discussion
[0214] Lymphangiogenesis in the postnatal period is primarily a
response to inflammation and is seen in various pathological states
as diverse as tumor metastasis, wound healing and transplantation.
Lymphatics play an important role in generating immuno-inflammatory
responses by directing the antigen bearing immunocytes (e.g.
dendritic cells) from the periphery to the draining lymph nodes
where T cells are primed and expanded. The normal human cornea is
avascular, thus suppressing the afferent lymphatic and efferent
vascular arms of the immune cycle Inflammation however negates this
"immune" and "angiogenic" privileged state of the cornea and gives
it the potential to mount an immune response.
[0215] Angiogenesis in the cornea is now extensively being studied
in various pathological models such as transplantation. Whereas
corneal blood vessels have long been thought to be an important
risk factor for immune rejection in corneal transplantation, it is
only recently after unveiling of new lymphatic specific markers,
that the significance of lymphangiogenesis in corneal alloimmunity
has been characterized. Despite recognizing the role of
inflammatory angiogenesis in the eye, little has hitherto been
studied regarding angiogenic mechanisms in DED. Desiccating stress
in DED initiates an immune-based inflammatory response that is
sustained by the ongoing interplay between the ocular surface and
various pathogenic immune cells, primarily the CD4.sup.+ T cells in
the conjunctiva and CD11b+ monocytic cells in the cornea.
Desiccating stress induces secretion of inflammatory cytokines,
especially interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6 by
ocular surface tissues, which facilitate the activation and
migration of resident APCs toward the regional draining LN. Our
data on frequencies of mature APC in the LN also suggest increased
trafficking of mature APC in the LN of DED mice (FIG. 7). In the
LN, these APCs stimulate naive T cells, leading to the expansion of
IL-17-secreting Th17 cells and interferon (IFN)-.gamma.-secreting
Th1 cells. Once these effectors are generated in the LN, they
migrate to the ocular surface and secrete effector cytokines.
Recent work has provided evidence for the induction of T cell
mediated autoimmune responses in the regional lymph nodes of DED
mice. But what has remained unanswered is how corneal APCs can
traffic to the draining lymphoid compartment in order to initiate
the immune cycle in DED.
[0216] Interestingly, to date there has been no published data on
this important facet of immunity in DED. The data presented herein
clearly demonstrates the development of lymphatic vessels in the
setting of the dry eye state. These lymphatic vessels increase both
in caliber and area while advancing toward the corneal center with
progression of dry eye. Remarkably, these lymphatic vessels are not
accompanied by growth of blood vessels. Various spatio-temporal
studies examining relation between new blood and lymphatic vessels
have led to the belief that a preexisting blood vascular bed is
necessary to guide lymphangiogenesis. The current study refutes the
general perception of wound healing models in skin where growth of
lymphatic vessels follows that of blood vessels by several days.
This is also in contrast to other robust models of corneal
inflammation where there is either parallel outgrowth of blood and
lymphatic vessels or the blood vessels are precedent over the
lymphatics. This provides the first evidence of selective `natural`
(non pharmacologically induced) lymphangiogeneis in a disease model
that is dissociated from hemangiogenesis.
[0217] Lymphangiogenesis is mediated primarily by the interaction
of growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D on VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. VEGF-A
also contributes, albeit indirectly, to lymphangiogenesis by
recruiting VEGF-C and VEGF-D secreting macrophages. In the present
study, dry eye induction led to the up-regulation of all the VEGF
growth factors and their receptors. Though the rise in levels of
VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGFR-2 occurred at later time points (day 14),
it is noteworthy, that VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 (which are both largely
specific to lymphangiogenesis) increased as early as day 6 of
disease. The functional relevance of the early rise of VEGF-D is
highlighted in a recent study where VEGF-D, via its action on
VEGFR-3, was shown to be a critical modifier of VEGF-C driven early
sprouting and migration of lymphatic endothelial cells. Macrophages
also seem to play a crucial role in lymphangiogenesis. Under normal
physiological conditions, all ocular tissues except the central
cornea are rich in bone marrow derived LYVE-1.sup.+ macrophages
which may serve as precursor cells for de novo formation of
lymphatics. In the present study, we noticed significantly
increased number of CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ cells in the
peripheral corneas after exposure to desiccating stress, suggesting
that either these cells infiltrate into or multiply from
pre-existing CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.+ cells in the cornea, and
contribute to lymphangiogenesis. Alternatively, there is a
possibility of upregulation of LYVE-1 in the previous
CD11b.sup.+/LYVE-1.sup.-cells.
[0218] In summary, presented herein is novel evidence for the
selective growth of lymphatic (but not blood) vessels in dry eye
disease providing new insights into the pathophysiology of the
disease. The findings suggest that these newly formed corneal
lymphatics may serve as potential conduits for migration of corneal
APCs to lymphoid tissues where they generate autoreactive Th17 and
Th1 cells in DED. This study not only provides a link between
ocular surface inflammation and the generation of T cell mediated
immunity in the lymphoid compartment, but also offers an example of
how lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis can be `naturally`
dissociated in a pathological state. The severing of the
`eye-lymphatic axis` in other immune-mediated conditions, such as
transplant rejection, has been shown to hold promise as a strategy
of suppressing alloimmunity without inhibiting needed innate host
defense mechanisms. Similarly, a strategy targeting
prolymphangiogenic factors such as VEGF-C or VEGF-D may prove
effective in ameliorating dry eye disease.
Example 7
Blockade of Prolymphangiogenic VEGF-C Suppresses Dry Eye
Disease
[0219] Effect of in vivo blockade of pro-lymphangiogenic VEGF-C on
Dry Eye Disease Rationale: Dry eye disease (DED) is an
immune-mediated disorder whose precise pathogenesis remains largely
unknown. While it has been clearly established that in DED
generation of pathogenic CD4.sup.+ T cells (Th1/Th17) primarily
occur in the draining lymph nodes, the mechanisms of trafficking of
corneal antigen presenting cells (APC) to lymphoid tissues where
they activate and expand pathogenic CD4.sup.+ T cell subsets, were
still not well understood prior to the invention described herein.
The present invention provides evidence for the selective growth of
lymphatic (but not blood) vessels in DED cornea. Data shows a
significant increase in both caliber and extent of lymphatics in
DED corneas which was also confirmed using real-time PCR by showing
a highly significant over-expression of lymphangiogenic receptor
VEGFR-3 (in contrast to a non-statistically significant increase in
hemangiogenic receptor VEGFR-2 expression). This study not only
provides a link between ocular surface inflammation and the
generation of T-cell mediated immunity in the lymphoid compartment,
but also offers an example of how lymphangiogenesis and
hemangiogenesis can be `naturally` dissociated in a pathological
state. Data suggests that these corneal lymphatics may serve as
conduits for migration of corneal APCs to lymphoid tissues where
they activate autoreactive T cells in DED.
[0220] Immunopathogenesis of DED: The pathogenesis is not fully
understood. Ocular surface inflammation sustained by ongoing
activation and infiltration of pathogenic immune cells. Strong
evidence of T cell involvement. Recent work draining lymphoid
tissue primary site for activation and generation of auto reactive
effector T cells in DED (Chauhan et al; Role ofcTh17 cells in the
immunopathogenesis of dry eye disease. Mucosal Immunol. 2009;
2(4):375-376.).
[0221] Expression levels of VEGF's and VEGFR's in DE corneas using
RT PCR has demonstrated an increased transcript expression of
VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-3. Thus, targeting pro-lymphangiogenic
VEGF-C/D has therapeutic implications in DED.
[0222] Corneal lymphatics play an important role in mediating the
corneal inflammation in dry eyes. Experiments: To validate this,
inhibition of corneal neolymphangiogenesis was performed in a well
characterized mouse model of DED described above. To see if
inhibition of corneal neolymphangiogenesis could decrease ocular
surface inflammation, anti-VEGF-C antibodies were administered i.p.
daily from day -1 to day 10 to DED mice and assessed clinically
using corneal fluorescein staining.
[0223] Methods (as described previously): Induction of Dry Eye
Disease. Experimental Dry Eye Murine Model. Assessment of Corneal
Surface: Corneal Fluorescein Staining. Immunohistochemistry:
Monocyte/macrophage marker--CD11b; Pan-endothelial marker--CD31;
Lymphatic endothelial marker--LYVE-1; Blood vessels:
CD31.sup.hi/LYVE-1; Lymph vessels: CD31.sup.lo/LYVE-1.sup.hi.
Morphometry of Lymphangiogenesis: Automated image analysis program
written using Mat lab. Lymphatic Area (LA)--total surface area of
the lymphatic vessels when projected into the plane of the image.
Lymphatic Caliber (LC)--measure of the diameters of the lymphatic
vessels.
[0224] Anti-VEGF-C antibody and treatment regimen. Experimental
design: Three groups: Normal, DE group treated with IP normal
Saline (Untreated) and DE group treated with anti-VEGF-C antibody
(VGX-100; a gift from Vegenics, Australia). Daily IP application of
anti-VEGF-C antibody/Normal saline from day -1 to day 13. Dose: 400
pg (20 mg/kg) in 100 pl of Normal Saline.
[0225] The results are presented in FIG. 14. Results: The data
clearly shows a significant decrease in disease severity in
anti-VEGF-C-treated group compared to the untreated group. In
conclusion, suppression of lymphatic growth with VEGF-C blockade
led to significant improvement in DED reflected by decrease in:
corneal epitheliopathy; corneal infiltration of CD11b.sup.+ cells;
expression of pro-lymphangiogenic growth factors and receptors
(VEGF-C, -D, R3) in DE corneas; and mRNA expression levels of
pro-inflammatory cytokines in the conjunctiva.
[0226] Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many
equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described
herein. While specific embodiments of the subject invention have
been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not
restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The
full scope of the invention should be determined by reference to
the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the
specification, along with such variations. Such equivalents are
intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
5419PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 1Ser Gly Tyr Trp Trp
Asp Thr Trp Phe1 529PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 2Ser
Cys Tyr Trp Arg Asp Thr Trp Phe1 539PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptide 3Lys Val Gly Trp Ser Ser Pro Asp Trp1 549PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 4Phe Val Gly Trp Thr Lys Val Leu Gly1
559PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 5Tyr Ser Ser Ser Met Arg
Trp Arg His1 569PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 6Arg Trp
Arg Gly Asn Ala Tyr Pro Gly1 579PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptide 7Ser Ala Val Phe Arg Gly Arg Trp Leu1 589PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 8Trp Phe Ser Ala Ser Leu Arg Phe Arg1
598PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 9Trp Gln Leu Gly Arg Asn
Trp Ile1 5108PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 10Val Glu Val
Gln Ile Thr Gln Glu1 5118PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide
11Ala Gly Lys Ala Ser Ser Leu Trp1 5128PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 12Arg Ala Leu Asp Ser Ala Leu Ala1
5137PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 13Tyr Gly Phe Glu Ala
Ala Trp1 5147PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 14Tyr Gly Phe
Leu Trp Gly Met1 5157PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 15Ser
Arg Trp Arg Ile Leu Gly1 5167PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptide 16His Lys Trp Gln Lys Arg Gln1 5177PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 17Met Asp Pro Trp Gly Gly Trp1
5187PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 18Arg Lys Val Trp Asp
Ile Arg1 5196PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 19Val Trp Asp
His Gly Val1 52010PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 20Cys Trp
Gln Leu Gly Arg Asn Trp Ile Cys1 5 102110PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 21Cys Val Glu Val Gln Ile Thr Gln Glu
Cys1 5 102210PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 22Cys Ala Gly
Lys Ala Ser Ser Leu Trp Cys1 5 102310PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 23Cys Arg Ala Leu Asp Ser Ala Leu Ala
Cys1 5 10249PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 24Cys Tyr Gly
Phe Glu Ala Ala Trp Cys1 5259PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptide 25Cys Tyr Gly Phe Leu Trp Gly Met Cys1 5269PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 26Cys Ser Arg Trp Arg Ile Leu Gly Cys1
5279PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 27Cys His Lys Trp Gln
Lys Arg Gln Cys1 5289PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 28Cys
Met Asp Pro Trp Gly Gly Trp Cys1 5299PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 29Cys Arg Lys Val Trp Asp Ile Arg Cys1
5308PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 30Cys Val Trp Asp His
Gly Val Cys1 53113PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 31Cys Gly
Gln Met Cys Thr Val Trp Cys Ser Ser Gly Cys1 5 10327PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptidemisc_feature(4)..(6)Xaa can be any
naturally occurring amino acid 32Gly Tyr Trp Xaa Xaa Xaa Trp1
5338PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptidemisc_feature(4)..(6)Xaa
can be any naturally occurring amino acidmisc_feature(8)..(8)Xaa
can be any naturally occurring amino acid 33Gly Tyr Trp Xaa Xaa Xaa
Trp Xaa1 534448PRTHomo sapiens 34Glu Val Arg Leu Leu Glu Ser Gly
Gly Gly Leu Val Gln Pro Gly Gly1 5 10 15Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala
Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Arg Pro Arg 20 25 30Ala Met Ala Trp Val Arg
Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val 35 40 45Ser Ser Ile Ser Ala
Gln Gly Ala Ser Ala Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val 50 55 60Lys Gly Arg Phe
Thr Ile Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr65 70 75 80Leu Gln
Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys 85 90 95Ala
Arg Asp Leu Ser Val Ser Gly Phe Gly Pro Trp Gly Arg Gly Thr 100 105
110Met Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro
115 120 125Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala
Leu Gly 130 135 140Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr
Val Ser Trp Asn145 150 155 160Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His
Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu
Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln
Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205Asn Thr Lys
Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220His
Thr Cys Pro Pro Cys Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Ser225 230
235 240Val Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Lys Pro Lys Asp Thr Leu Met Ile Ser
Arg 245 250 255Thr Pro Glu Val Thr Cys Val Val Val Asp Val Ser His
Glu Asp Pro 260 265 270Glu Val Lys Phe Asn Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val
Glu Val His Asn Ala 275 280 285Lys Thr Lys Pro Arg Glu Glu Gln Tyr
Asn Ser Thr Tyr Arg Val Val 290 295 300Ser Val Leu Thr Val Leu His
Gln Asp Trp Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Tyr305 310 315 320Lys Cys Lys Val
Ser Asn Lys Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Ile Glu Lys Thr 325 330 335Ile Ser
Lys Ala Lys Gly Gln Pro Arg Glu Pro Gln Val Tyr Thr Leu 340 345
350Pro Pro Ser Arg Glu Glu Met Thr Lys Asn Gln Val Ser Leu Thr Cys
355 360 365Leu Val Lys Gly Phe Tyr Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala Val Glu Trp
Glu Ser 370 375 380Asn Gly Gln Pro Glu Asn Asn Tyr Lys Thr Thr Pro
Pro Val Leu Asp385 390 395 400Ser Asp Gly Ser Phe Phe Leu Tyr Ser
Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Lys Ser 405 410 415Arg Trp Gln Gln Gly Asn Val
Phe Ser Cys Ser Val Met His Glu Ala 420 425 430Leu His Asn His Tyr
Thr Gln Lys Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly Lys 435 440 44535217PRTHomo
sapiens 35Ser Tyr Glu Leu Thr Gln Pro Pro Ser Ser Ser Gly Thr Pro
Gly Gln1 5 10 15Arg Val Thr Ile Ser Cys Ser Gly Ser Ser Ser Asn Ile
Gly Arg His 20 25 30Thr Val Ser Trp Tyr Gln Gln Val Pro Gly Thr Ala
Pro Lys Leu Leu 35 40 45Ile Tyr Ser Asp Asp His Arg Pro Ser Gly Val
Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser 50 55 60Ala Ser Lys Ser Gly Thr Ser Ala Ser Leu
Thr Ile Thr Gly Leu Gln65 70 75 80Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Asp Tyr Tyr
Cys Ala Ala Trp Asp Asp Ser Leu 85 90 95Asn Gly Pro Trp Val Phe Gly
Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Thr Val Leu Gly 100 105 110Gln Pro Lys Ala Ala
Pro Ser Val Thr Leu Phe Pro Pro Ser Ser Glu 115 120 125Glu Leu Gln
Ala Asn Lys Ala Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Ile Ser Asp Phe 130 135 140Tyr
Pro Gly Ala Val Thr Val Ala Trp Lys Ala Asp Ser Ser Pro Val145 150
155 160Lys Ala Gly Val Glu Thr Thr Thr Pro Ser Lys Gln Ser Asn Asn
Lys 165 170 175Tyr Ala Ala Ser Ser Tyr Leu Ser Leu Thr Pro Glu Gln
Trp Lys Ser 180 185 190His Arg Ser Tyr Ser Cys Gln Val Thr His Glu
Gly Ser Thr Val Glu 195 200 205Lys Thr Val Ala Pro Thr Glu Cys Ser
210 215362292DNAHomo sapiensCDS(1)..(2292) 36atg gag agc aag gtg
ctg ctg gcc gtc gcc ctg tgg ctc tgc gtg gag 48Met Glu Ser Lys Val
Leu Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Trp Leu Cys Val Glu1 5 10 15acc cgg gcc gcc
tct gtg ggt ttg cct agt gtt tct ctt gat ctg ccc 96Thr Arg Ala Ala
Ser Val Gly Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Leu Pro 20 25 30agg ctc agc
ata caa aaa gac ata ctt aca att aag gct aat aca act 144Arg Leu Ser
Ile Gln Lys Asp Ile Leu Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Thr Thr 35 40 45ctt caa
att act tgc agg gga cag agg gac ttg gac tgg ctt tgg ccc 192Leu Gln
Ile Thr Cys Arg Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu Asp Trp Leu Trp Pro 50 55 60aat
aat cag agt ggc agt gag caa agg gtg gag gtg act gag tgc agc 240Asn
Asn Gln Ser Gly Ser Glu Gln Arg Val Glu Val Thr Glu Cys Ser65 70 75
80gat ggc ctc ttc tgt aag aca ctc aca att cca aaa gtg atc gga aat
288Asp Gly Leu Phe Cys Lys Thr Leu Thr Ile Pro Lys Val Ile Gly Asn
85 90 95gac act gga gcc tac aag tgc ttc tac cgg gaa act gac ttg gcc
tcg 336Asp Thr Gly Ala Tyr Lys Cys Phe Tyr Arg Glu Thr Asp Leu Ala
Ser 100 105 110gtc att tat gtc tat gtt caa gat tac aga tct cca ttt
att gct tct 384Val Ile Tyr Val Tyr Val Gln Asp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Phe
Ile Ala Ser 115 120 125gtt agt gac caa cat gga gtc gtg tac att act
gag aac aaa aac aaa 432Val Ser Asp Gln His Gly Val Val Tyr Ile Thr
Glu Asn Lys Asn Lys 130 135 140act gtg gtg att cca tgt ctc ggg tcc
att tca aat ctc aac gtg tca 480Thr Val Val Ile Pro Cys Leu Gly Ser
Ile Ser Asn Leu Asn Val Ser145 150 155 160ctt tgt gca aga tac cca
gaa aag aga ttt gtt cct gat ggt aac aga 528Leu Cys Ala Arg Tyr Pro
Glu Lys Arg Phe Val Pro Asp Gly Asn Arg 165 170 175att tcc tgg gac
agc aag aag ggc ttt act att ccc agc tac atg atc 576Ile Ser Trp Asp
Ser Lys Lys Gly Phe Thr Ile Pro Ser Tyr Met Ile 180 185 190agc tat
gct ggc atg gtc ttc tgt gaa gca aaa att aat gat gaa agt 624Ser Tyr
Ala Gly Met Val Phe Cys Glu Ala Lys Ile Asn Asp Glu Ser 195 200
205tac cag tct att atg tac ata gtt gtc gtt gta ggg tat agg att tat
672Tyr Gln Ser Ile Met Tyr Ile Val Val Val Val Gly Tyr Arg Ile Tyr
210 215 220gat gtg gtt ctg agt ccg tct cat gga att gaa cta tct gtt
gga gaa 720Asp Val Val Leu Ser Pro Ser His Gly Ile Glu Leu Ser Val
Gly Glu225 230 235 240aag ctt gtc tta aat tgt aca gca aga act gaa
cta aat gtg ggg att 768Lys Leu Val Leu Asn Cys Thr Ala Arg Thr Glu
Leu Asn Val Gly Ile 245 250 255gac ttc aac tgg gaa tac cct tct tcg
aag cat cag cat aag aaa ctt 816Asp Phe Asn Trp Glu Tyr Pro Ser Ser
Lys His Gln His Lys Lys Leu 260 265 270gta aac cga gac cta aaa acc
cag tct ggg agt gag atg aag aaa ttt 864Val Asn Arg Asp Leu Lys Thr
Gln Ser Gly Ser Glu Met Lys Lys Phe 275 280 285ttg agc acc tta act
ata gat ggt gta acc cgg agt gac caa gga ttg 912Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr
Ile Asp Gly Val Thr Arg Ser Asp Gln Gly Leu 290 295 300tac acc tgt
gca gca tcc agt ggg ctg atg acc aag aag aac agc aca 960Tyr Thr Cys
Ala Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Met Thr Lys Lys Asn Ser Thr305 310 315
320ttt gtc agg gtc cat gaa aaa cct ttt gtt gct ttt gga agt ggc atg
1008Phe Val Arg Val His Glu Lys Pro Phe Val Ala Phe Gly Ser Gly Met
325 330 335gaa tct ctg gtg gaa gcc acg gtg ggg gag cgt gtc aga atc
cct gcg 1056Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Ala Thr Val Gly Glu Arg Val Arg Ile
Pro Ala 340 345 350aag tac ctt ggt tac cca ccc cca gaa ata aaa tgg
tat aaa aat gga 1104Lys Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Pro Pro Pro Glu Ile Lys Trp
Tyr Lys Asn Gly 355 360 365ata ccc ctt gag tcc aat cac aca att aaa
gcg ggg cat gta ctg acg 1152Ile Pro Leu Glu Ser Asn His Thr Ile Lys
Ala Gly His Val Leu Thr 370 375 380att atg gaa gtg agt gaa aga gac
aca gga aat tac act gtc atc ctt 1200Ile Met Glu Val Ser Glu Arg Asp
Thr Gly Asn Tyr Thr Val Ile Leu385 390 395 400acc aat ccc att tca
aag gag aag cag agc cat gtg gtc tct ctg gtt 1248Thr Asn Pro Ile Ser
Lys Glu Lys Gln Ser His Val Val Ser Leu Val 405 410 415gtg tat gtc
cca ccc cag att ggt gag aaa tct cta atc tct cct gtg 1296Val Tyr Val
Pro Pro Gln Ile Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu Ile Ser Pro Val 420 425 430gat
tcc tac cag tac ggc acc act caa acg ctg aca tgt acg gtc tat 1344Asp
Ser Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Thr Thr Gln Thr Leu Thr Cys Thr Val Tyr 435 440
445gcc att cct ccc ccg cat cac atc cac tgg tat tgg cag ttg gag gaa
1392Ala Ile Pro Pro Pro His His Ile His Trp Tyr Trp Gln Leu Glu Glu
450 455 460gag tgc gcc aac gag ccc agc caa gct gtc tca gtg aca aac
cca tac 1440Glu Cys Ala Asn Glu Pro Ser Gln Ala Val Ser Val Thr Asn
Pro Tyr465 470 475 480cct tgt gaa gaa tgg aga agt gtg gag gac ttc
cag gga gga aat aaa 1488Pro Cys Glu Glu Trp Arg Ser Val Glu Asp Phe
Gln Gly Gly Asn Lys 485 490 495att gaa gtt aat aaa aat caa ttt gct
cta att gaa gga aaa aac aaa 1536Ile Glu Val Asn Lys Asn Gln Phe Ala
Leu Ile Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys 500 505 510act gta agt acc ctt gtt atc
caa gcg gca aat gtg tca gct ttg tac 1584Thr Val Ser Thr Leu Val Ile
Gln Ala Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Leu Tyr 515 520 525aaa tgt gaa gcg gtc
aac aaa gtc ggg aga gga gag agg gtg atc tcc 1632Lys Cys Glu Ala Val
Asn Lys Val Gly Arg Gly Glu Arg Val Ile Ser 530 535 540ttc cac gtg
acc agg ggt cct gaa att act ttg caa cct gac atg cag 1680Phe His Val
Thr Arg Gly Pro Glu Ile Thr Leu Gln Pro Asp Met Gln545 550 555
560ccc act gag cag gag agc gtg tct ttg tgg tgc act gca gac aga tct
1728Pro Thr Glu Gln Glu Ser Val Ser Leu Trp Cys Thr Ala Asp Arg Ser
565 570 575acg ttt gag aac ctc aca tgg tac aag ctt ggc cca cag cct
ctg cca 1776Thr Phe Glu Asn Leu Thr Trp Tyr Lys Leu Gly Pro Gln Pro
Leu Pro 580 585 590atc cat gtg gga gag ttg ccc aca cct gtt tgc aag
aac ttg gat act 1824Ile His Val Gly Glu Leu Pro Thr Pro Val Cys Lys
Asn Leu Asp Thr 595 600 605ctt tgg aaa ttg aat gcc acc atg ttc tct
aat agc aca aat gac att 1872Leu Trp Lys Leu Asn Ala Thr Met Phe Ser
Asn Ser Thr Asn Asp Ile 610 615 620ttg atc atg gag ctt aag aat gca
tcc ttg cag gac caa gga gac tat 1920Leu Ile Met Glu Leu Lys Asn Ala
Ser Leu Gln Asp Gln Gly Asp Tyr625 630 635 640gtc tgc ctt gct caa
gac agg aag acc aag aaa aga cat tgc gtg gtc 1968Val Cys Leu Ala Gln
Asp Arg Lys Thr Lys Lys Arg His Cys Val Val 645 650 655agg cag ctc
aca gtc cta gag cgt gtg gca ccc acg atc aca gga aac 2016Arg Gln Leu
Thr Val Leu Glu Arg Val Ala Pro Thr Ile Thr Gly Asn 660 665 670ctg
gag aat cag acg aca agt att ggg gaa agc atc gaa gtc tca tgc 2064Leu
Glu Asn Gln Thr Thr Ser Ile Gly Glu Ser Ile Glu Val Ser Cys 675 680
685acg gca tct ggg aat ccc cct cca cag atc atg tgg ttt aaa gat aat
2112Thr Ala Ser Gly Asn Pro Pro Pro Gln Ile Met Trp Phe Lys Asp Asn
690 695 700gag acc ctt gta gaa gac tca ggc att gta ttg aag gat ggg
aac cgg 2160Glu Thr Leu Val Glu Asp Ser Gly Ile Val Leu Lys Asp Gly
Asn Arg705 710 715 720aac ctc act atc cgc aga gtg agg aag gag gac
gaa ggc ctc tac acc 2208Asn Leu Thr Ile Arg Arg Val Arg Lys Glu Asp
Glu Gly Leu Tyr Thr 725 730 735tgc cag gca tgc agt gtt ctt ggc tgt
gca aaa gtg gag gca ttt ttc 2256Cys Gln Ala Cys Ser Val Leu Gly Cys
Ala Lys Val Glu Ala Phe Phe 740 745 750ata ata gaa ggt gcc cag gaa
aag acg aac ttg gaa 2292Ile Ile Glu Gly Ala Gln Glu Lys Thr Asn Leu
Glu 755 76037764PRTHomo sapiens 37Met Glu Ser Lys Val Leu Leu Ala
Val Ala Leu Trp Leu Cys Val Glu1 5 10 15Thr Arg Ala Ala Ser Val Gly
Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Leu Pro 20 25 30Arg Leu Ser Ile Gln Lys
Asp Ile Leu Thr Ile Lys Ala Asn Thr Thr 35 40 45Leu Gln Ile Thr Cys
Arg Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu Asp Trp Leu Trp Pro 50 55 60Asn Asn Gln Ser
Gly Ser Glu Gln Arg Val Glu Val Thr Glu Cys Ser65 70 75 80Asp Gly
Leu Phe Cys Lys Thr Leu Thr Ile
Pro Lys Val Ile Gly Asn 85 90 95Asp Thr Gly Ala Tyr Lys Cys Phe Tyr
Arg Glu Thr Asp Leu Ala Ser 100 105 110Val Ile Tyr Val Tyr Val Gln
Asp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser 115 120 125Val Ser Asp Gln His
Gly Val Val Tyr Ile Thr Glu Asn Lys Asn Lys 130 135 140Thr Val Val
Ile Pro Cys Leu Gly Ser Ile Ser Asn Leu Asn Val Ser145 150 155
160Leu Cys Ala Arg Tyr Pro Glu Lys Arg Phe Val Pro Asp Gly Asn Arg
165 170 175Ile Ser Trp Asp Ser Lys Lys Gly Phe Thr Ile Pro Ser Tyr
Met Ile 180 185 190Ser Tyr Ala Gly Met Val Phe Cys Glu Ala Lys Ile
Asn Asp Glu Ser 195 200 205Tyr Gln Ser Ile Met Tyr Ile Val Val Val
Val Gly Tyr Arg Ile Tyr 210 215 220Asp Val Val Leu Ser Pro Ser His
Gly Ile Glu Leu Ser Val Gly Glu225 230 235 240Lys Leu Val Leu Asn
Cys Thr Ala Arg Thr Glu Leu Asn Val Gly Ile 245 250 255Asp Phe Asn
Trp Glu Tyr Pro Ser Ser Lys His Gln His Lys Lys Leu 260 265 270Val
Asn Arg Asp Leu Lys Thr Gln Ser Gly Ser Glu Met Lys Lys Phe 275 280
285Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Ile Asp Gly Val Thr Arg Ser Asp Gln Gly Leu
290 295 300Tyr Thr Cys Ala Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Met Thr Lys Lys Asn
Ser Thr305 310 315 320Phe Val Arg Val His Glu Lys Pro Phe Val Ala
Phe Gly Ser Gly Met 325 330 335Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Ala Thr Val Gly
Glu Arg Val Arg Ile Pro Ala 340 345 350Lys Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Pro Pro
Pro Glu Ile Lys Trp Tyr Lys Asn Gly 355 360 365Ile Pro Leu Glu Ser
Asn His Thr Ile Lys Ala Gly His Val Leu Thr 370 375 380Ile Met Glu
Val Ser Glu Arg Asp Thr Gly Asn Tyr Thr Val Ile Leu385 390 395
400Thr Asn Pro Ile Ser Lys Glu Lys Gln Ser His Val Val Ser Leu Val
405 410 415Val Tyr Val Pro Pro Gln Ile Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu Ile Ser
Pro Val 420 425 430Asp Ser Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Thr Thr Gln Thr Leu Thr
Cys Thr Val Tyr 435 440 445Ala Ile Pro Pro Pro His His Ile His Trp
Tyr Trp Gln Leu Glu Glu 450 455 460Glu Cys Ala Asn Glu Pro Ser Gln
Ala Val Ser Val Thr Asn Pro Tyr465 470 475 480Pro Cys Glu Glu Trp
Arg Ser Val Glu Asp Phe Gln Gly Gly Asn Lys 485 490 495Ile Glu Val
Asn Lys Asn Gln Phe Ala Leu Ile Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys 500 505 510Thr
Val Ser Thr Leu Val Ile Gln Ala Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Leu Tyr 515 520
525Lys Cys Glu Ala Val Asn Lys Val Gly Arg Gly Glu Arg Val Ile Ser
530 535 540Phe His Val Thr Arg Gly Pro Glu Ile Thr Leu Gln Pro Asp
Met Gln545 550 555 560Pro Thr Glu Gln Glu Ser Val Ser Leu Trp Cys
Thr Ala Asp Arg Ser 565 570 575Thr Phe Glu Asn Leu Thr Trp Tyr Lys
Leu Gly Pro Gln Pro Leu Pro 580 585 590Ile His Val Gly Glu Leu Pro
Thr Pro Val Cys Lys Asn Leu Asp Thr 595 600 605Leu Trp Lys Leu Asn
Ala Thr Met Phe Ser Asn Ser Thr Asn Asp Ile 610 615 620Leu Ile Met
Glu Leu Lys Asn Ala Ser Leu Gln Asp Gln Gly Asp Tyr625 630 635
640Val Cys Leu Ala Gln Asp Arg Lys Thr Lys Lys Arg His Cys Val Val
645 650 655Arg Gln Leu Thr Val Leu Glu Arg Val Ala Pro Thr Ile Thr
Gly Asn 660 665 670Leu Glu Asn Gln Thr Thr Ser Ile Gly Glu Ser Ile
Glu Val Ser Cys 675 680 685Thr Ala Ser Gly Asn Pro Pro Pro Gln Ile
Met Trp Phe Lys Asp Asn 690 695 700Glu Thr Leu Val Glu Asp Ser Gly
Ile Val Leu Lys Asp Gly Asn Arg705 710 715 720Asn Leu Thr Ile Arg
Arg Val Arg Lys Glu Asp Glu Gly Leu Tyr Thr 725 730 735Cys Gln Ala
Cys Ser Val Leu Gly Cys Ala Lys Val Glu Ala Phe Phe 740 745 750Ile
Ile Glu Gly Ala Gln Glu Lys Thr Asn Leu Glu 755 760384195DNAHomo
sapiensCDS(20)..(3913) 38ccacgcgcag cggccggag atg cag cgg ggc gcc
gcg ctg tgc ctg cga ctg 52 Met Gln Arg Gly Ala Ala Leu Cys Leu Arg
Leu 1 5 10tgg ctc tgc ctg gga ctc ctg gac ggc ctg gtg agt ggc tac
tcc atg 100Trp Leu Cys Leu Gly Leu Leu Asp Gly Leu Val Ser Gly Tyr
Ser Met 15 20 25acc ccc ccg acc ttg aac atc acg gag gag tca cac gtc
atc gac acc 148Thr Pro Pro Thr Leu Asn Ile Thr Glu Glu Ser His Val
Ile Asp Thr 30 35 40ggt gac agc ctg tcc atc tcc tgc agg gga cag cac
ccc ctc gag tgg 196Gly Asp Ser Leu Ser Ile Ser Cys Arg Gly Gln His
Pro Leu Glu Trp 45 50 55gct tgg cca gga gct cag gag gcg cca gcc acc
gga gac aag gac agc 244Ala Trp Pro Gly Ala Gln Glu Ala Pro Ala Thr
Gly Asp Lys Asp Ser60 65 70 75gag gac acg ggg gtg gtg cga gac tgc
gag ggc aca gac gcc agg ccc 292Glu Asp Thr Gly Val Val Arg Asp Cys
Glu Gly Thr Asp Ala Arg Pro 80 85 90tac tgc aag gtg ttg ctg ctg cac
gag gta cat gcc aac gac aca ggc 340Tyr Cys Lys Val Leu Leu Leu His
Glu Val His Ala Asn Asp Thr Gly 95 100 105agc tac gtc tgc tac tac
aag tac atc aag gca cgc atc gag ggc acc 388Ser Tyr Val Cys Tyr Tyr
Lys Tyr Ile Lys Ala Arg Ile Glu Gly Thr 110 115 120acg gcc gcc agc
tcc tac gtg ttc gtg aga gac ttt gag cag cca ttc 436Thr Ala Ala Ser
Ser Tyr Val Phe Val Arg Asp Phe Glu Gln Pro Phe 125 130 135atc aac
aag cct gac acg ctc ttg gtc aac agg aag gac gcc atg tgg 484Ile Asn
Lys Pro Asp Thr Leu Leu Val Asn Arg Lys Asp Ala Met Trp140 145 150
155gtg ccc tgt ctg gtg tcc atc ccc ggc ctc aat gtc acg ctg cgc tcg
532Val Pro Cys Leu Val Ser Ile Pro Gly Leu Asn Val Thr Leu Arg Ser
160 165 170caa agc tcg gtg ctg tgg cca gac ggg cag gag gtg gtg tgg
gat gac 580Gln Ser Ser Val Leu Trp Pro Asp Gly Gln Glu Val Val Trp
Asp Asp 175 180 185cgg cgg ggc atg ctc gtg tcc acg cca ctg ctg cac
gat gcc ctg tac 628Arg Arg Gly Met Leu Val Ser Thr Pro Leu Leu His
Asp Ala Leu Tyr 190 195 200ctg cag tgc gag acc acc tgg gga gac cag
gac ttc ctt tcc aac ccc 676Leu Gln Cys Glu Thr Thr Trp Gly Asp Gln
Asp Phe Leu Ser Asn Pro 205 210 215ttc ctg gtg cac atc aca ggc aac
gag ctc tat gac atc cag ctg ttg 724Phe Leu Val His Ile Thr Gly Asn
Glu Leu Tyr Asp Ile Gln Leu Leu220 225 230 235ccc agg aag tcg ctg
gag ctg ctg gta ggg gag aag ctg gtc ctg aac 772Pro Arg Lys Ser Leu
Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Glu Lys Leu Val Leu Asn 240 245 250tgc acc gtg
tgg gct gag ttt aac tca ggt gtc acc ttt gac tgg gac 820Cys Thr Val
Trp Ala Glu Phe Asn Ser Gly Val Thr Phe Asp Trp Asp 255 260 265tac
cca ggg aag cag gca gag cgg ggt aag tgg gtg ccc gag cga cgc 868Tyr
Pro Gly Lys Gln Ala Glu Arg Gly Lys Trp Val Pro Glu Arg Arg 270 275
280tcc cag cag acc cac aca gaa ctc tcc agc atc ctg acc atc cac aac
916Ser Gln Gln Thr His Thr Glu Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Ile His Asn
285 290 295gtc agc cag cac gac ctg ggc tcg tat gtg tgc aag gcc aac
aac ggc 964Val Ser Gln His Asp Leu Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Lys Ala Asn
Asn Gly300 305 310 315atc cag cga ttt cgg gag agc acc gag gtc att
gtg cat gaa aat ccc 1012Ile Gln Arg Phe Arg Glu Ser Thr Glu Val Ile
Val His Glu Asn Pro 320 325 330ttc atc agc gtc gag tgg ctc aaa gga
ccc atc ctg gag gcc acg gca 1060Phe Ile Ser Val Glu Trp Leu Lys Gly
Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala 335 340 345gga gac gag ctg gtg aag ctg
ccc gtg aag ctg gca gcg tac ccc ccg 1108Gly Asp Glu Leu Val Lys Leu
Pro Val Lys Leu Ala Ala Tyr Pro Pro 350 355 360ccc gag ttc cag tgg
tac aag gat gga aag gca ctg tcc ggg cgc cac 1156Pro Glu Phe Gln Trp
Tyr Lys Asp Gly Lys Ala Leu Ser Gly Arg His 365 370 375agt cca cat
gcc ctg gtg ctc aag gag gtg aca gag gcc agc aca ggc 1204Ser Pro His
Ala Leu Val Leu Lys Glu Val Thr Glu Ala Ser Thr Gly380 385 390
395acc tac acc ctc gcc ctg tgg aac tcc gct gct ggc ctg agg cgc aac
1252Thr Tyr Thr Leu Ala Leu Trp Asn Ser Ala Ala Gly Leu Arg Arg Asn
400 405 410atc agc ctg gag ctg gtg gtg aat gtg ccc ccc cag ata cat
gag aag 1300Ile Ser Leu Glu Leu Val Val Asn Val Pro Pro Gln Ile His
Glu Lys 415 420 425gag gcc tcc tcc ccc agc atc tac tcg cgt cac agc
cgc cag gcc ctc 1348Glu Ala Ser Ser Pro Ser Ile Tyr Ser Arg His Ser
Arg Gln Ala Leu 430 435 440acc tgc acg gcc tac ggg gtg ccc ctg cct
ctc agc atc cag tgg cac 1396Thr Cys Thr Ala Tyr Gly Val Pro Leu Pro
Leu Ser Ile Gln Trp His 445 450 455tgg cgg ccc tgg aca ccc tgc aag
atg ttt gcc cag cgt agt ctc cgg 1444Trp Arg Pro Trp Thr Pro Cys Lys
Met Phe Ala Gln Arg Ser Leu Arg460 465 470 475cgg cgg cag cag caa
gac ctc atg cca cag tgc cgt gac tgg agg gcg 1492Arg Arg Gln Gln Gln
Asp Leu Met Pro Gln Cys Arg Asp Trp Arg Ala 480 485 490gtg acc acg
cag gat gcc gtg aac ccc atc gag agc ctg gac acc tgg 1540Val Thr Thr
Gln Asp Ala Val Asn Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Asp Thr Trp 495 500 505acc
gag ttt gtg gag gga aag aat aag act gtg agc aag ctg gtg atc 1588Thr
Glu Phe Val Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys Thr Val Ser Lys Leu Val Ile 510 515
520cag aat gcc aac gtg tct gcc atg tac aag tgt gtg gtc tcc aac aag
1636Gln Asn Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Met Tyr Lys Cys Val Val Ser Asn Lys
525 530 535gtg ggc cag gat gag cgg ctc atc tac ttc tat gtg acc acc
atc ccc 1684Val Gly Gln Asp Glu Arg Leu Ile Tyr Phe Tyr Val Thr Thr
Ile Pro540 545 550 555gac ggc ttc acc atc gaa tcc aag cca tcc gag
gag cta cta gag ggc 1732Asp Gly Phe Thr Ile Glu Ser Lys Pro Ser Glu
Glu Leu Leu Glu Gly 560 565 570cag ccg gtg ctc ctg agc tgc caa gcc
gac agc tac aag tac gag cat 1780Gln Pro Val Leu Leu Ser Cys Gln Ala
Asp Ser Tyr Lys Tyr Glu His 575 580 585ctg cgc tgg tac cgc ctc aac
ctg tcc acg ctg cac gat gcg cac ggg 1828Leu Arg Trp Tyr Arg Leu Asn
Leu Ser Thr Leu His Asp Ala His Gly 590 595 600aac ccg ctt ctg ctc
gac tgc aag aac gtg cat ctg ttc gcc acc cct 1876Asn Pro Leu Leu Leu
Asp Cys Lys Asn Val His Leu Phe Ala Thr Pro 605 610 615ctg gcc gcc
agc ctg gag gag gtg gca cct ggg gcg cgc cac gcc acg 1924Leu Ala Ala
Ser Leu Glu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Arg His Ala Thr620 625 630
635ctc agc ctg agt atc ccc cgc gtc gcg ccc gag cac gag ggc cac tat
1972Leu Ser Leu Ser Ile Pro Arg Val Ala Pro Glu His Glu Gly His Tyr
640 645 650gtg tgc gaa gtg caa gac cgg cgc agc cat gac aag cac tgc
cac aag 2020Val Cys Glu Val Gln Asp Arg Arg Ser His Asp Lys His Cys
His Lys 655 660 665aag tac ctg tcg gtg cag gcc ctg gaa gcc cct cgg
ctc acg cag aac 2068Lys Tyr Leu Ser Val Gln Ala Leu Glu Ala Pro Arg
Leu Thr Gln Asn 670 675 680ttg acc gac ctc ctg gtg aac gtg agc gac
tcg ctg gag atg cag tgc 2116Leu Thr Asp Leu Leu Val Asn Val Ser Asp
Ser Leu Glu Met Gln Cys 685 690 695ttg gtg gcc gga gcg cac gcg ccc
agc atc gtg tgg tac aaa gac gag 2164Leu Val Ala Gly Ala His Ala Pro
Ser Ile Val Trp Tyr Lys Asp Glu700 705 710 715agg ctg ctg gag gaa
aag tct gga gtc gac ttg gcg gac tcc aac cag 2212Arg Leu Leu Glu Glu
Lys Ser Gly Val Asp Leu Ala Asp Ser Asn Gln 720 725 730aag ctg agc
atc cag cgc gtg cgc gag gag gat gcg gga cgc tat ctg 2260Lys Leu Ser
Ile Gln Arg Val Arg Glu Glu Asp Ala Gly Arg Tyr Leu 735 740 745tgc
agc gtg tgc aac gcc aag ggc tgc gtc aac tcc tcc gcc agc gtg 2308Cys
Ser Val Cys Asn Ala Lys Gly Cys Val Asn Ser Ser Ala Ser Val 750 755
760gcc gtg gaa ggc tcc gag gat aag ggc agc atg gag atc gtg atc ctt
2356Ala Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Asp Lys Gly Ser Met Glu Ile Val Ile Leu
765 770 775gtc ggt acc ggc gtc atc gct gtc ttc ttc tgg gtc ctc ctc
ctc ctc 2404Val Gly Thr Gly Val Ile Ala Val Phe Phe Trp Val Leu Leu
Leu Leu780 785 790 795atc ttc tgt aac atg agg agg ccg gcc cac gca
gac atc aag acg ggc 2452Ile Phe Cys Asn Met Arg Arg Pro Ala His Ala
Asp Ile Lys Thr Gly 800 805 810tac ctg tcc atc atc atg gac ccc ggg
gag gtg cct ctg gag gag caa 2500Tyr Leu Ser Ile Ile Met Asp Pro Gly
Glu Val Pro Leu Glu Glu Gln 815 820 825tgc gaa tac ctg tcc tac gat
gcc agc cag tgg gaa ttc ccc cga gag 2548Cys Glu Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Asp
Ala Ser Gln Trp Glu Phe Pro Arg Glu 830 835 840cgg ctg cac ctg ggg
aga gtg ctc ggc tac ggc gcc ttc ggg aag gtg 2596Arg Leu His Leu Gly
Arg Val Leu Gly Tyr Gly Ala Phe Gly Lys Val 845 850 855gtg gaa gcc
tcc gct ttc ggc atc cac aag ggc agc agc tgt gac acc 2644Val Glu Ala
Ser Ala Phe Gly Ile His Lys Gly Ser Ser Cys Asp Thr860 865 870
875gtg gcc gtg aaa atg ctg aaa gag ggc gcc acg gcc agc gag cac cgc
2692Val Ala Val Lys Met Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr Ala Ser Glu His Arg
880 885 890gcg ctg atg tcg gag ctc aag atc ctc att cac atc ggc aac
cac ctc 2740Ala Leu Met Ser Glu Leu Lys Ile Leu Ile His Ile Gly Asn
His Leu 895 900 905aac gtg gtc aac ctc ctc ggg gcg tgc acc aag ccg
cag ggc ccc ctc 2788Asn Val Val Asn Leu Leu Gly Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro
Gln Gly Pro Leu 910 915 920atg gtg atc gtg gag ttc tgc aag tac ggc
aac ctc tcc aac ttc ctg 2836Met Val Ile Val Glu Phe Cys Lys Tyr Gly
Asn Leu Ser Asn Phe Leu 925 930 935cgc gcc aag cgg gac gcc ttc agc
ccc tgc gcg gag aag tct ccc gag 2884Arg Ala Lys Arg Asp Ala Phe Ser
Pro Cys Ala Glu Lys Ser Pro Glu940 945 950 955cag cgc gga cgc ttc
cgc gcc atg gtg gag ctc gcc agg ctg gat cgg 2932Gln Arg Gly Arg Phe
Arg Ala Met Val Glu Leu Ala Arg Leu Asp Arg 960 965 970agg cgg ccg
ggg agc agc gac agg gtc ctc ttc gcg cgg ttc tcg aag 2980Arg Arg Pro
Gly Ser Ser Asp Arg Val Leu Phe Ala Arg Phe Ser Lys 975 980 985acc
gag ggc gga gcg agg cgg gct tct cca gac caa gaa gct gag gac 3028Thr
Glu Gly Gly Ala Arg Arg Ala Ser Pro Asp Gln Glu Ala Glu Asp 990 995
1000ctg tgg ctg agc ccg ctg acc atg gaa gat ctt gtc tgc tac agc
3073Leu Trp Leu Ser Pro Leu Thr Met Glu Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Ser
1005 1010 1015ttc cag gtg gcc aga ggg atg gag ttc ctg gct tcc cga
aag tgc 3118Phe Gln Val Ala Arg Gly Met Glu Phe Leu Ala Ser Arg Lys
Cys 1020 1025 1030atc cac aga gac ctg gct gct cgg aac att ctg ctg
tcg gaa agc 3163Ile His Arg Asp Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Ile Leu Leu Ser
Glu Ser 1035 1040 1045gac gtg gtg aag atc tgt gac ttt ggc ctt gcc
cgg gac atc tac 3208Asp Val Val Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg
Asp Ile Tyr 1050 1055 1060aaa gac cct gac tac gtc cgc aag ggc agt
gcc cgg ctg ccc ctg 3253Lys Asp Pro Asp Tyr Val Arg Lys Gly Ser Ala
Arg Leu Pro Leu 1065 1070 1075aag tgg atg gcc cct gaa agc atc ttc
gac aag gtg tac acc acg 3298Lys Trp Met Ala Pro Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp
Lys Val Tyr Thr Thr 1080 1085 1090cag agt gac gtg tgg tcc ttt ggg
gtg ctt ctc tgg gag atc ttc 3343Gln Ser Asp Val Trp Ser Phe Gly Val
Leu Leu Trp Glu Ile Phe 1095 1100
1105tct ctg ggg gcc tcc ccg tac cct ggg gtg cag atc aat gag gag
3388Ser Leu Gly Ala Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Val Gln Ile Asn Glu Glu
1110 1115 1120ttc tgc cag cgg ctg aga gac ggc aca agg atg agg gcc
ccg gag 3433Phe Cys Gln Arg Leu Arg Asp Gly Thr Arg Met Arg Ala Pro
Glu 1125 1130 1135ctg gcc act ccc gcc ata cgc cgc atc atg ctg aac
tgc tgg tcc 3478Leu Ala Thr Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Ile Met Leu Asn Cys
Trp Ser 1140 1145 1150gga gac ccc aag gcg aga cct gca ttc tcg gag
ctg gtg gag atc 3523Gly Asp Pro Lys Ala Arg Pro Ala Phe Ser Glu Leu
Val Glu Ile 1155 1160 1165ctg ggg gac ctg ctc cag ggc agg ggc ctg
caa gag gaa gag gag 3568Leu Gly Asp Leu Leu Gln Gly Arg Gly Leu Gln
Glu Glu Glu Glu 1170 1175 1180gtc tgc atg gcc ccg cgc agc tct cag
agc tca gaa gag ggc agc 3613Val Cys Met Ala Pro Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser
Ser Glu Glu Gly Ser 1185 1190 1195ttc tcg cag gtg tcc acc atg gcc
cta cac atc gcc cag gct gac 3658Phe Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Met Ala Leu
His Ile Ala Gln Ala Asp 1200 1205 1210gct gag gac agc ccg cca agc
ctg cag cgc cac agc ctg gcc gcc 3703Ala Glu Asp Ser Pro Pro Ser Leu
Gln Arg His Ser Leu Ala Ala 1215 1220 1225agg tat tac aac tgg gtg
tcc ttt ccc ggg tgc ctg gcc aga ggg 3748Arg Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Val Ser
Phe Pro Gly Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly 1230 1235 1240gct gag acc cgt ggt
tcc tcc agg atg aag aca ttt gag gaa ttc 3793Ala Glu Thr Arg Gly Ser
Ser Arg Met Lys Thr Phe Glu Glu Phe 1245 1250 1255ccc atg acc cca
acg acc tac aaa ggc tct gtg gac aac cag aca 3838Pro Met Thr Pro Thr
Thr Tyr Lys Gly Ser Val Asp Asn Gln Thr 1260 1265 1270gac agt ggg
atg gtg ctg gcc tcg gag gag ttt gag cag ata gag 3883Asp Ser Gly Met
Val Leu Ala Ser Glu Glu Phe Glu Gln Ile Glu 1275 1280 1285agc agg
cat aga caa gaa agc ggc ttc agg tagctgaagc agagagagag 3933Ser Arg
His Arg Gln Glu Ser Gly Phe Arg 1290 1295aaggcagcat acgtcagcat
tttcttctct gcacttataa gaaagatcaa agactttaag 3993actttcgcta
tttcttctac tgctatctac tacaaacttc aaagaggaac caggaggaca
4053agaggagcat gaaagtggac aaggagtgtg accactgaag caccacaggg
aaggggttag 4113gcctccggat gactgcgggc aggcctggat aatatccagc
ctcccacaag aagctggtgg 4173agcagagtgt tccctgactc ct
4195391298PRTHomo sapiens 39Met Gln Arg Gly Ala Ala Leu Cys Leu Arg
Leu Trp Leu Cys Leu Gly1 5 10 15Leu Leu Asp Gly Leu Val Ser Gly Tyr
Ser Met Thr Pro Pro Thr Leu 20 25 30Asn Ile Thr Glu Glu Ser His Val
Ile Asp Thr Gly Asp Ser Leu Ser 35 40 45Ile Ser Cys Arg Gly Gln His
Pro Leu Glu Trp Ala Trp Pro Gly Ala 50 55 60Gln Glu Ala Pro Ala Thr
Gly Asp Lys Asp Ser Glu Asp Thr Gly Val65 70 75 80Val Arg Asp Cys
Glu Gly Thr Asp Ala Arg Pro Tyr Cys Lys Val Leu 85 90 95Leu Leu His
Glu Val His Ala Asn Asp Thr Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Tyr 100 105 110Tyr
Lys Tyr Ile Lys Ala Arg Ile Glu Gly Thr Thr Ala Ala Ser Ser 115 120
125Tyr Val Phe Val Arg Asp Phe Glu Gln Pro Phe Ile Asn Lys Pro Asp
130 135 140Thr Leu Leu Val Asn Arg Lys Asp Ala Met Trp Val Pro Cys
Leu Val145 150 155 160Ser Ile Pro Gly Leu Asn Val Thr Leu Arg Ser
Gln Ser Ser Val Leu 165 170 175Trp Pro Asp Gly Gln Glu Val Val Trp
Asp Asp Arg Arg Gly Met Leu 180 185 190Val Ser Thr Pro Leu Leu His
Asp Ala Leu Tyr Leu Gln Cys Glu Thr 195 200 205Thr Trp Gly Asp Gln
Asp Phe Leu Ser Asn Pro Phe Leu Val His Ile 210 215 220Thr Gly Asn
Glu Leu Tyr Asp Ile Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg Lys Ser Leu225 230 235
240Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Glu Lys Leu Val Leu Asn Cys Thr Val Trp Ala
245 250 255Glu Phe Asn Ser Gly Val Thr Phe Asp Trp Asp Tyr Pro Gly
Lys Gln 260 265 270Ala Glu Arg Gly Lys Trp Val Pro Glu Arg Arg Ser
Gln Gln Thr His 275 280 285Thr Glu Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Ile His
Asn Val Ser Gln His Asp 290 295 300Leu Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Lys Ala
Asn Asn Gly Ile Gln Arg Phe Arg305 310 315 320Glu Ser Thr Glu Val
Ile Val His Glu Asn Pro Phe Ile Ser Val Glu 325 330 335Trp Leu Lys
Gly Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Gly Asp Glu Leu Val 340 345 350Lys
Leu Pro Val Lys Leu Ala Ala Tyr Pro Pro Pro Glu Phe Gln Trp 355 360
365Tyr Lys Asp Gly Lys Ala Leu Ser Gly Arg His Ser Pro His Ala Leu
370 375 380Val Leu Lys Glu Val Thr Glu Ala Ser Thr Gly Thr Tyr Thr
Leu Ala385 390 395 400Leu Trp Asn Ser Ala Ala Gly Leu Arg Arg Asn
Ile Ser Leu Glu Leu 405 410 415Val Val Asn Val Pro Pro Gln Ile His
Glu Lys Glu Ala Ser Ser Pro 420 425 430Ser Ile Tyr Ser Arg His Ser
Arg Gln Ala Leu Thr Cys Thr Ala Tyr 435 440 445Gly Val Pro Leu Pro
Leu Ser Ile Gln Trp His Trp Arg Pro Trp Thr 450 455 460Pro Cys Lys
Met Phe Ala Gln Arg Ser Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln Gln Gln465 470 475
480Asp Leu Met Pro Gln Cys Arg Asp Trp Arg Ala Val Thr Thr Gln Asp
485 490 495Ala Val Asn Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Asp Thr Trp Thr Glu Phe
Val Glu 500 505 510Gly Lys Asn Lys Thr Val Ser Lys Leu Val Ile Gln
Asn Ala Asn Val 515 520 525Ser Ala Met Tyr Lys Cys Val Val Ser Asn
Lys Val Gly Gln Asp Glu 530 535 540Arg Leu Ile Tyr Phe Tyr Val Thr
Thr Ile Pro Asp Gly Phe Thr Ile545 550 555 560Glu Ser Lys Pro Ser
Glu Glu Leu Leu Glu Gly Gln Pro Val Leu Leu 565 570 575Ser Cys Gln
Ala Asp Ser Tyr Lys Tyr Glu His Leu Arg Trp Tyr Arg 580 585 590Leu
Asn Leu Ser Thr Leu His Asp Ala His Gly Asn Pro Leu Leu Leu 595 600
605Asp Cys Lys Asn Val His Leu Phe Ala Thr Pro Leu Ala Ala Ser Leu
610 615 620Glu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Arg His Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu
Ser Ile625 630 635 640Pro Arg Val Ala Pro Glu His Glu Gly His Tyr
Val Cys Glu Val Gln 645 650 655Asp Arg Arg Ser His Asp Lys His Cys
His Lys Lys Tyr Leu Ser Val 660 665 670Gln Ala Leu Glu Ala Pro Arg
Leu Thr Gln Asn Leu Thr Asp Leu Leu 675 680 685Val Asn Val Ser Asp
Ser Leu Glu Met Gln Cys Leu Val Ala Gly Ala 690 695 700His Ala Pro
Ser Ile Val Trp Tyr Lys Asp Glu Arg Leu Leu Glu Glu705 710 715
720Lys Ser Gly Val Asp Leu Ala Asp Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Ser Ile Gln
725 730 735Arg Val Arg Glu Glu Asp Ala Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ser Val
Cys Asn 740 745 750Ala Lys Gly Cys Val Asn Ser Ser Ala Ser Val Ala
Val Glu Gly Ser 755 760 765Glu Asp Lys Gly Ser Met Glu Ile Val Ile
Leu Val Gly Thr Gly Val 770 775 780Ile Ala Val Phe Phe Trp Val Leu
Leu Leu Leu Ile Phe Cys Asn Met785 790 795 800Arg Arg Pro Ala His
Ala Asp Ile Lys Thr Gly Tyr Leu Ser Ile Ile 805 810 815Met Asp Pro
Gly Glu Val Pro Leu Glu Glu Gln Cys Glu Tyr Leu Ser 820 825 830Tyr
Asp Ala Ser Gln Trp Glu Phe Pro Arg Glu Arg Leu His Leu Gly 835 840
845Arg Val Leu Gly Tyr Gly Ala Phe Gly Lys Val Val Glu Ala Ser Ala
850 855 860Phe Gly Ile His Lys Gly Ser Ser Cys Asp Thr Val Ala Val
Lys Met865 870 875 880Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr Ala Ser Glu His Arg
Ala Leu Met Ser Glu 885 890 895Leu Lys Ile Leu Ile His Ile Gly Asn
His Leu Asn Val Val Asn Leu 900 905 910Leu Gly Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro
Gln Gly Pro Leu Met Val Ile Val Glu 915 920 925Phe Cys Lys Tyr Gly
Asn Leu Ser Asn Phe Leu Arg Ala Lys Arg Asp 930 935 940Ala Phe Ser
Pro Cys Ala Glu Lys Ser Pro Glu Gln Arg Gly Arg Phe945 950 955
960Arg Ala Met Val Glu Leu Ala Arg Leu Asp Arg Arg Arg Pro Gly Ser
965 970 975Ser Asp Arg Val Leu Phe Ala Arg Phe Ser Lys Thr Glu Gly
Gly Ala 980 985 990Arg Arg Ala Ser Pro Asp Gln Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu
Trp Leu Ser Pro 995 1000 1005Leu Thr Met Glu Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr
Ser Phe Gln Val Ala Arg 1010 1015 1020Gly Met Glu Phe Leu Ala Ser
Arg Lys Cys Ile His Arg Asp Leu 1025 1030 1035Ala Ala Arg Asn Ile
Leu Leu Ser Glu Ser Asp Val Val Lys Ile 1040 1045 1050Cys Asp Phe
Gly Leu Ala Arg Asp Ile Tyr Lys Asp Pro Asp Tyr 1055 1060 1065Val
Arg Lys Gly Ser Ala Arg Leu Pro Leu Lys Trp Met Ala Pro 1070 1075
1080Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp Lys Val Tyr Thr Thr Gln Ser Asp Val Trp
1085 1090 1095Ser Phe Gly Val Leu Leu Trp Glu Ile Phe Ser Leu Gly
Ala Ser 1100 1105 1110Pro Tyr Pro Gly Val Gln Ile Asn Glu Glu Phe
Cys Gln Arg Leu 1115 1120 1125Arg Asp Gly Thr Arg Met Arg Ala Pro
Glu Leu Ala Thr Pro Ala 1130 1135 1140Ile Arg Arg Ile Met Leu Asn
Cys Trp Ser Gly Asp Pro Lys Ala 1145 1150 1155Arg Pro Ala Phe Ser
Glu Leu Val Glu Ile Leu Gly Asp Leu Leu 1160 1165 1170Gln Gly Arg
Gly Leu Gln Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Cys Met Ala Pro 1175 1180 1185Arg
Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser Glu Glu Gly Ser Phe Ser Gln Val Ser 1190 1195
1200Thr Met Ala Leu His Ile Ala Gln Ala Asp Ala Glu Asp Ser Pro
1205 1210 1215Pro Ser Leu Gln Arg His Ser Leu Ala Ala Arg Tyr Tyr
Asn Trp 1220 1225 1230Val Ser Phe Pro Gly Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly Ala
Glu Thr Arg Gly 1235 1240 1245Ser Ser Arg Met Lys Thr Phe Glu Glu
Phe Pro Met Thr Pro Thr 1250 1255 1260Thr Tyr Lys Gly Ser Val Asp
Asn Gln Thr Asp Ser Gly Met Val 1265 1270 1275Leu Ala Ser Glu Glu
Phe Glu Gln Ile Glu Ser Arg His Arg Gln 1280 1285 1290Glu Ser Gly
Phe Arg 1295404795DNAHomo sapiensCDS(20)..(4111) 40ccacgcgcag
cggccggag atg cag cgg ggc gcc gcg ctg tgc ctg cga ctg 52 Met Gln
Arg Gly Ala Ala Leu Cys Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10tgg ctc tgc ctg gga ctc
ctg gac ggc ctg gtg agt ggc tac tcc atg 100Trp Leu Cys Leu Gly Leu
Leu Asp Gly Leu Val Ser Gly Tyr Ser Met 15 20 25acc ccc ccg acc ttg
aac atc acg gag gag tca cac gtc atc gac acc 148Thr Pro Pro Thr Leu
Asn Ile Thr Glu Glu Ser His Val Ile Asp Thr 30 35 40ggt gac agc ctg
tcc atc tcc tgc agg gga cag cac ccc ctc gag tgg 196Gly Asp Ser Leu
Ser Ile Ser Cys Arg Gly Gln His Pro Leu Glu Trp 45 50 55gct tgg cca
gga gct cag gag gcg cca gcc acc gga gac aag gac agc 244Ala Trp Pro
Gly Ala Gln Glu Ala Pro Ala Thr Gly Asp Lys Asp Ser60 65 70 75gag
gac acg ggg gtg gtg cga gac tgc gag ggc aca gac gcc agg ccc 292Glu
Asp Thr Gly Val Val Arg Asp Cys Glu Gly Thr Asp Ala Arg Pro 80 85
90tac tgc aag gtg ttg ctg ctg cac gag gta cat gcc aac gac aca ggc
340Tyr Cys Lys Val Leu Leu Leu His Glu Val His Ala Asn Asp Thr Gly
95 100 105agc tac gtc tgc tac tac aag tac atc aag gca cgc atc gag
ggc acc 388Ser Tyr Val Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Tyr Ile Lys Ala Arg Ile Glu
Gly Thr 110 115 120acg gcc gcc agc tcc tac gtg ttc gtg aga gac ttt
gag cag cca ttc 436Thr Ala Ala Ser Ser Tyr Val Phe Val Arg Asp Phe
Glu Gln Pro Phe 125 130 135atc aac aag cct gac acg ctc ttg gtc aac
agg aag gac gcc atg tgg 484Ile Asn Lys Pro Asp Thr Leu Leu Val Asn
Arg Lys Asp Ala Met Trp140 145 150 155gtg ccc tgt ctg gtg tcc atc
ccc ggc ctc aat gtc acg ctg cgc tcg 532Val Pro Cys Leu Val Ser Ile
Pro Gly Leu Asn Val Thr Leu Arg Ser 160 165 170caa agc tcg gtg ctg
tgg cca gac ggg cag gag gtg gtg tgg gat gac 580Gln Ser Ser Val Leu
Trp Pro Asp Gly Gln Glu Val Val Trp Asp Asp 175 180 185cgg cgg ggc
atg ctc gtg tcc acg cca ctg ctg cac gat gcc ctg tac 628Arg Arg Gly
Met Leu Val Ser Thr Pro Leu Leu His Asp Ala Leu Tyr 190 195 200ctg
cag tgc gag acc acc tgg gga gac cag gac ttc ctt tcc aac ccc 676Leu
Gln Cys Glu Thr Thr Trp Gly Asp Gln Asp Phe Leu Ser Asn Pro 205 210
215ttc ctg gtg cac atc aca ggc aac gag ctc tat gac atc cag ctg ttg
724Phe Leu Val His Ile Thr Gly Asn Glu Leu Tyr Asp Ile Gln Leu
Leu220 225 230 235ccc agg aag tcg ctg gag ctg ctg gta ggg gag aag
ctg gtc ctg aac 772Pro Arg Lys Ser Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Glu Lys
Leu Val Leu Asn 240 245 250tgc acc gtg tgg gct gag ttt aac tca ggt
gtc acc ttt gac tgg gac 820Cys Thr Val Trp Ala Glu Phe Asn Ser Gly
Val Thr Phe Asp Trp Asp 255 260 265tac cca ggg aag cag gca gag cgg
ggt aag tgg gtg ccc gag cga cgc 868Tyr Pro Gly Lys Gln Ala Glu Arg
Gly Lys Trp Val Pro Glu Arg Arg 270 275 280tcc cag cag acc cac aca
gaa ctc tcc agc atc ctg acc atc cac aac 916Ser Gln Gln Thr His Thr
Glu Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Ile His Asn 285 290 295gtc agc cag cac
gac ctg ggc tcg tat gtg tgc aag gcc aac aac ggc 964Val Ser Gln His
Asp Leu Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Lys Ala Asn Asn Gly300 305 310 315atc
cag cga ttt cgg gag agc acc gag gtc att gtg cat gaa aat ccc 1012Ile
Gln Arg Phe Arg Glu Ser Thr Glu Val Ile Val His Glu Asn Pro 320 325
330ttc atc agc gtc gag tgg ctc aaa gga ccc atc ctg gag gcc acg gca
1060Phe Ile Ser Val Glu Trp Leu Lys Gly Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala
335 340 345gga gac gag ctg gtg aag ctg ccc gtg aag ctg gca gcg tac
ccc ccg 1108Gly Asp Glu Leu Val Lys Leu Pro Val Lys Leu Ala Ala Tyr
Pro Pro 350 355 360ccc gag ttc cag tgg tac aag gat gga aag gca ctg
tcc ggg cgc cac 1156Pro Glu Phe Gln Trp Tyr Lys Asp Gly Lys Ala Leu
Ser Gly Arg His 365 370 375agt cca cat gcc ctg gtg ctc aag gag gtg
aca gag gcc agc aca ggc 1204Ser Pro His Ala Leu Val Leu Lys Glu Val
Thr Glu Ala Ser Thr Gly380 385 390 395acc tac acc ctc gcc ctg tgg
aac tcc gct gct ggc ctg agg cgc aac 1252Thr Tyr Thr Leu Ala Leu Trp
Asn Ser Ala Ala Gly Leu Arg Arg Asn 400 405 410atc agc ctg gag ctg
gtg gtg aat gtg ccc ccc cag ata cat gag aag 1300Ile Ser Leu Glu Leu
Val Val Asn Val Pro Pro Gln Ile His Glu Lys 415 420 425gag gcc tcc
tcc ccc agc atc tac tcg cgt cac agc cgc cag gcc ctc 1348Glu Ala Ser
Ser Pro Ser Ile Tyr Ser Arg His Ser Arg Gln Ala Leu 430 435 440acc
tgc acg gcc tac ggg gtg ccc ctg cct ctc agc atc cag tgg cac 1396Thr
Cys Thr Ala Tyr Gly Val Pro Leu Pro Leu Ser Ile Gln Trp His 445 450
455tgg cgg ccc tgg aca ccc tgc aag atg ttt gcc cag cgt agt ctc cgg
1444Trp Arg Pro Trp Thr Pro Cys Lys Met Phe Ala Gln Arg Ser Leu
Arg460 465 470 475cgg cgg cag cag caa gac ctc atg cca cag tgc cgt
gac tgg agg gcg 1492Arg Arg Gln Gln Gln Asp Leu Met Pro Gln Cys Arg
Asp Trp Arg Ala 480
485 490gtg acc acg cag gat gcc gtg aac ccc atc gag agc ctg gac acc
tgg 1540Val Thr Thr Gln Asp Ala Val Asn Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Asp Thr
Trp 495 500 505acc gag ttt gtg gag gga aag aat aag act gtg agc aag
ctg gtg atc 1588Thr Glu Phe Val Glu Gly Lys Asn Lys Thr Val Ser Lys
Leu Val Ile 510 515 520cag aat gcc aac gtg tct gcc atg tac aag tgt
gtg gtc tcc aac aag 1636Gln Asn Ala Asn Val Ser Ala Met Tyr Lys Cys
Val Val Ser Asn Lys 525 530 535gtg ggc cag gat gag cgg ctc atc tac
ttc tat gtg acc acc atc ccc 1684Val Gly Gln Asp Glu Arg Leu Ile Tyr
Phe Tyr Val Thr Thr Ile Pro540 545 550 555gac ggc ttc acc atc gaa
tcc aag cca tcc gag gag cta cta gag ggc 1732Asp Gly Phe Thr Ile Glu
Ser Lys Pro Ser Glu Glu Leu Leu Glu Gly 560 565 570cag ccg gtg ctc
ctg agc tgc caa gcc gac agc tac aag tac gag cat 1780Gln Pro Val Leu
Leu Ser Cys Gln Ala Asp Ser Tyr Lys Tyr Glu His 575 580 585ctg cgc
tgg tac cgc ctc aac ctg tcc acg ctg cac gat gcg cac ggg 1828Leu Arg
Trp Tyr Arg Leu Asn Leu Ser Thr Leu His Asp Ala His Gly 590 595
600aac ccg ctt ctg ctc gac tgc aag aac gtg cat ctg ttc gcc acc cct
1876Asn Pro Leu Leu Leu Asp Cys Lys Asn Val His Leu Phe Ala Thr Pro
605 610 615ctg gcc gcc agc ctg gag gag gtg gca cct ggg gcg cgc cac
gcc acg 1924Leu Ala Ala Ser Leu Glu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Arg His
Ala Thr620 625 630 635ctc agc ctg agt atc ccc cgc gtc gcg ccc gag
cac gag ggc cac tat 1972Leu Ser Leu Ser Ile Pro Arg Val Ala Pro Glu
His Glu Gly His Tyr 640 645 650gtg tgc gaa gtg caa gac cgg cgc agc
cat gac aag cac tgc cac aag 2020Val Cys Glu Val Gln Asp Arg Arg Ser
His Asp Lys His Cys His Lys 655 660 665aag tac ctg tcg gtg cag gcc
ctg gaa gcc cct cgg ctc acg cag aac 2068Lys Tyr Leu Ser Val Gln Ala
Leu Glu Ala Pro Arg Leu Thr Gln Asn 670 675 680ttg acc gac ctc ctg
gtg aac gtg agc gac tcg ctg gag atg cag tgc 2116Leu Thr Asp Leu Leu
Val Asn Val Ser Asp Ser Leu Glu Met Gln Cys 685 690 695ttg gtg gcc
gga gcg cac gcg ccc agc atc gtg tgg tac aaa gac gag 2164Leu Val Ala
Gly Ala His Ala Pro Ser Ile Val Trp Tyr Lys Asp Glu700 705 710
715agg ctg ctg gag gaa aag tct gga gtc gac ttg gcg gac tcc aac cag
2212Arg Leu Leu Glu Glu Lys Ser Gly Val Asp Leu Ala Asp Ser Asn Gln
720 725 730aag ctg agc atc cag cgc gtg cgc gag gag gat gcg gga cgc
tat ctg 2260Lys Leu Ser Ile Gln Arg Val Arg Glu Glu Asp Ala Gly Arg
Tyr Leu 735 740 745tgc agc gtg tgc aac gcc aag ggc tgc gtc aac tcc
tcc gcc agc gtg 2308Cys Ser Val Cys Asn Ala Lys Gly Cys Val Asn Ser
Ser Ala Ser Val 750 755 760gcc gtg gaa ggc tcc gag gat aag ggc agc
atg gag atc gtg atc ctt 2356Ala Val Glu Gly Ser Glu Asp Lys Gly Ser
Met Glu Ile Val Ile Leu 765 770 775gtc ggt acc ggc gtc atc gct gtc
ttc ttc tgg gtc ctc ctc ctc ctc 2404Val Gly Thr Gly Val Ile Ala Val
Phe Phe Trp Val Leu Leu Leu Leu780 785 790 795atc ttc tgt aac atg
agg agg ccg gcc cac gca gac atc aag acg ggc 2452Ile Phe Cys Asn Met
Arg Arg Pro Ala His Ala Asp Ile Lys Thr Gly 800 805 810tac ctg tcc
atc atc atg gac ccc ggg gag gtg cct ctg gag gag caa 2500Tyr Leu Ser
Ile Ile Met Asp Pro Gly Glu Val Pro Leu Glu Glu Gln 815 820 825tgc
gaa tac ctg tcc tac gat gcc agc cag tgg gaa ttc ccc cga gag 2548Cys
Glu Tyr Leu Ser Tyr Asp Ala Ser Gln Trp Glu Phe Pro Arg Glu 830 835
840cgg ctg cac ctg ggg aga gtg ctc ggc tac ggc gcc ttc ggg aag gtg
2596Arg Leu His Leu Gly Arg Val Leu Gly Tyr Gly Ala Phe Gly Lys Val
845 850 855gtg gaa gcc tcc gct ttc ggc atc cac aag ggc agc agc tgt
gac acc 2644Val Glu Ala Ser Ala Phe Gly Ile His Lys Gly Ser Ser Cys
Asp Thr860 865 870 875gtg gcc gtg aaa atg ctg aaa gag ggc gcc acg
gcc agc gag cac cgc 2692Val Ala Val Lys Met Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr
Ala Ser Glu His Arg 880 885 890gcg ctg atg tcg gag ctc aag atc ctc
att cac atc ggc aac cac ctc 2740Ala Leu Met Ser Glu Leu Lys Ile Leu
Ile His Ile Gly Asn His Leu 895 900 905aac gtg gtc aac ctc ctc ggg
gcg tgc acc aag ccg cag ggc ccc ctc 2788Asn Val Val Asn Leu Leu Gly
Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro Gln Gly Pro Leu 910 915 920atg gtg atc gtg gag
ttc tgc aag tac ggc aac ctc tcc aac ttc ctg 2836Met Val Ile Val Glu
Phe Cys Lys Tyr Gly Asn Leu Ser Asn Phe Leu 925 930 935cgc gcc aag
cgg gac gcc ttc agc ccc tgc gcg gag aag tct ccc gag 2884Arg Ala Lys
Arg Asp Ala Phe Ser Pro Cys Ala Glu Lys Ser Pro Glu940 945 950
955cag cgc gga cgc ttc cgc gcc atg gtg gag ctc gcc agg ctg gat cgg
2932Gln Arg Gly Arg Phe Arg Ala Met Val Glu Leu Ala Arg Leu Asp Arg
960 965 970agg cgg ccg ggg agc agc gac agg gtc ctc ttc gcg cgg ttc
tcg aag 2980Arg Arg Pro Gly Ser Ser Asp Arg Val Leu Phe Ala Arg Phe
Ser Lys 975 980 985acc gag ggc gga gcg agg cgg gct tct cca gac caa
gaa gct gag gac 3028Thr Glu Gly Gly Ala Arg Arg Ala Ser Pro Asp Gln
Glu Ala Glu Asp 990 995 1000ctg tgg ctg agc ccg ctg acc atg gaa gat
ctt gtc tgc tac agc 3073Leu Trp Leu Ser Pro Leu Thr Met Glu Asp Leu
Val Cys Tyr Ser 1005 1010 1015ttc cag gtg gcc aga ggg atg gag ttc
ctg gct tcc cga aag tgc 3118Phe Gln Val Ala Arg Gly Met Glu Phe Leu
Ala Ser Arg Lys Cys 1020 1025 1030atc cac aga gac ctg gct gct cgg
aac att ctg ctg tcg gaa agc 3163Ile His Arg Asp Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn
Ile Leu Leu Ser Glu Ser 1035 1040 1045gac gtg gtg aag atc tgt gac
ttt ggc ctt gcc cgg gac atc tac 3208Asp Val Val Lys Ile Cys Asp Phe
Gly Leu Ala Arg Asp Ile Tyr 1050 1055 1060aaa gac cct gac tac gtc
cgc aag ggc agt gcc cgg ctg ccc ctg 3253Lys Asp Pro Asp Tyr Val Arg
Lys Gly Ser Ala Arg Leu Pro Leu 1065 1070 1075aag tgg atg gcc cct
gaa agc atc ttc gac aag gtg tac acc acg 3298Lys Trp Met Ala Pro Glu
Ser Ile Phe Asp Lys Val Tyr Thr Thr 1080 1085 1090cag agt gac gtg
tgg tcc ttt ggg gtg ctt ctc tgg gag atc ttc 3343Gln Ser Asp Val Trp
Ser Phe Gly Val Leu Leu Trp Glu Ile Phe 1095 1100 1105tct ctg ggg
gcc tcc ccg tac cct ggg gtg cag atc aat gag gag 3388Ser Leu Gly Ala
Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Val Gln Ile Asn Glu Glu 1110 1115 1120ttc tgc
cag cgg ctg aga gac ggc aca agg atg agg gcc ccg gag 3433Phe Cys Gln
Arg Leu Arg Asp Gly Thr Arg Met Arg Ala Pro Glu 1125 1130 1135ctg
gcc act ccc gcc ata cgc cgc atc atg ctg aac tgc tgg tcc 3478Leu Ala
Thr Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Ile Met Leu Asn Cys Trp Ser 1140 1145
1150gga gac ccc aag gcg aga cct gca ttc tcg gag ctg gtg gag atc
3523Gly Asp Pro Lys Ala Arg Pro Ala Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Ile
1155 1160 1165ctg ggg gac ctg ctc cag ggc agg ggc ctg caa gag gaa
gag gag 3568Leu Gly Asp Leu Leu Gln Gly Arg Gly Leu Gln Glu Glu Glu
Glu 1170 1175 1180gtc tgc atg gcc ccg cgc agc tct cag agc tca gaa
gag ggc agc 3613Val Cys Met Ala Pro Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser Glu Glu
Gly Ser 1185 1190 1195ttc tcg cag gtg tcc acc atg gcc cta cac atc
gcc cag gct gac 3658Phe Ser Gln Val Ser Thr Met Ala Leu His Ile Ala
Gln Ala Asp 1200 1205 1210gct gag gac agc ccg cca agc ctg cag cgc
cac agc ctg gcc gcc 3703Ala Glu Asp Ser Pro Pro Ser Leu Gln Arg His
Ser Leu Ala Ala 1215 1220 1225agg tat tac aac tgg gtg tcc ttt ccc
ggg tgc ctg gcc aga ggg 3748Arg Tyr Tyr Asn Trp Val Ser Phe Pro Gly
Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly 1230 1235 1240gct gag acc cgt ggt tcc tcc agg
atg aag aca ttt gag gaa ttc 3793Ala Glu Thr Arg Gly Ser Ser Arg Met
Lys Thr Phe Glu Glu Phe 1245 1250 1255ccc atg acc cca acg acc tac
aaa ggc tct gtg gac aac cag aca 3838Pro Met Thr Pro Thr Thr Tyr Lys
Gly Ser Val Asp Asn Gln Thr 1260 1265 1270gac agt ggg atg gtg ctg
gcc tcg gag gag ttt gag cag ata gag 3883Asp Ser Gly Met Val Leu Ala
Ser Glu Glu Phe Glu Gln Ile Glu 1275 1280 1285agc agg cat aga caa
gaa agc ggc ttc agc tgt aaa gga cct ggc 3928Ser Arg His Arg Gln Glu
Ser Gly Phe Ser Cys Lys Gly Pro Gly 1290 1295 1300cag aat gtg gct
gtg acc agg gca cac cct gac tcc caa ggg agg 3973Gln Asn Val Ala Val
Thr Arg Ala His Pro Asp Ser Gln Gly Arg 1305 1310 1315cgg cgg cgg
cct gag cgg ggg gcc cga gga ggc cag gtg ttt tac 4018Arg Arg Arg Pro
Glu Arg Gly Ala Arg Gly Gly Gln Val Phe Tyr 1320 1325 1330aac agc
gag tat ggg gag ctg tcg gag cca agc gag gag gac cac 4063Asn Ser Glu
Tyr Gly Glu Leu Ser Glu Pro Ser Glu Glu Asp His 1335 1340 1345tgc
tcc ccg tct gcc cgc gtg act ttc ttc aca gac aac agc tac 4108Cys Ser
Pro Ser Ala Arg Val Thr Phe Phe Thr Asp Asn Ser Tyr 1350 1355
1360taa gcagcatcgg acaagacccc cagcacttgg gggttcaggc ccggcagggc
4161gggcagaggg ctggaggccc aggctgggaa ctcatctggt tgaactctgg
tggcacagga 4221gtgtcctctt ccctctctgc agacttccca gctaggaaga
gcaggactcc aggcccaagg 4281ctcccggaat tccgtcacca cgactggcca
gggcacgctc cagctgcccc ggcccctccc 4341cctgagattc agatgtcatt
tagttcagca tccgcaggtg ctggtcccgg ggccagcact 4401tccatgggaa
tgtctctttg gcgacctcct ttcatcacac tgggtggtgg cctggtccct
4461gttttcccac gaggaatctg tgggtctggg agtcacacag tgttggaggt
taaggcatac 4521gagagcagag gtctcccaaa cgccctttcc tcctcaggca
cacagctact ctccccacga 4581gggctggctg gcctcaccca cccctgcaca
gttgaaggga ggggctgtgt ttccatctca 4641aagaaggcat ttgcagggtc
ctcttctggg cctgaccaaa cagccaacta gcccctgggg 4701tggccaccag
tatgacagta ttatacgctg gcaacacaga ggcagcccgc acacctgcgc
4761ctgggtgttg agagccatcc tgcaagtctt tttc 4795411363PRTHomo sapiens
41Met Gln Arg Gly Ala Ala Leu Cys Leu Arg Leu Trp Leu Cys Leu Gly1
5 10 15Leu Leu Asp Gly Leu Val Ser Gly Tyr Ser Met Thr Pro Pro Thr
Leu 20 25 30Asn Ile Thr Glu Glu Ser His Val Ile Asp Thr Gly Asp Ser
Leu Ser 35 40 45Ile Ser Cys Arg Gly Gln His Pro Leu Glu Trp Ala Trp
Pro Gly Ala 50 55 60Gln Glu Ala Pro Ala Thr Gly Asp Lys Asp Ser Glu
Asp Thr Gly Val65 70 75 80Val Arg Asp Cys Glu Gly Thr Asp Ala Arg
Pro Tyr Cys Lys Val Leu 85 90 95Leu Leu His Glu Val His Ala Asn Asp
Thr Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Tyr 100 105 110Tyr Lys Tyr Ile Lys Ala Arg
Ile Glu Gly Thr Thr Ala Ala Ser Ser 115 120 125Tyr Val Phe Val Arg
Asp Phe Glu Gln Pro Phe Ile Asn Lys Pro Asp 130 135 140Thr Leu Leu
Val Asn Arg Lys Asp Ala Met Trp Val Pro Cys Leu Val145 150 155
160Ser Ile Pro Gly Leu Asn Val Thr Leu Arg Ser Gln Ser Ser Val Leu
165 170 175Trp Pro Asp Gly Gln Glu Val Val Trp Asp Asp Arg Arg Gly
Met Leu 180 185 190Val Ser Thr Pro Leu Leu His Asp Ala Leu Tyr Leu
Gln Cys Glu Thr 195 200 205Thr Trp Gly Asp Gln Asp Phe Leu Ser Asn
Pro Phe Leu Val His Ile 210 215 220Thr Gly Asn Glu Leu Tyr Asp Ile
Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg Lys Ser Leu225 230 235 240Glu Leu Leu Val Gly
Glu Lys Leu Val Leu Asn Cys Thr Val Trp Ala 245 250 255Glu Phe Asn
Ser Gly Val Thr Phe Asp Trp Asp Tyr Pro Gly Lys Gln 260 265 270Ala
Glu Arg Gly Lys Trp Val Pro Glu Arg Arg Ser Gln Gln Thr His 275 280
285Thr Glu Leu Ser Ser Ile Leu Thr Ile His Asn Val Ser Gln His Asp
290 295 300Leu Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Lys Ala Asn Asn Gly Ile Gln Arg
Phe Arg305 310 315 320Glu Ser Thr Glu Val Ile Val His Glu Asn Pro
Phe Ile Ser Val Glu 325 330 335Trp Leu Lys Gly Pro Ile Leu Glu Ala
Thr Ala Gly Asp Glu Leu Val 340 345 350Lys Leu Pro Val Lys Leu Ala
Ala Tyr Pro Pro Pro Glu Phe Gln Trp 355 360 365Tyr Lys Asp Gly Lys
Ala Leu Ser Gly Arg His Ser Pro His Ala Leu 370 375 380Val Leu Lys
Glu Val Thr Glu Ala Ser Thr Gly Thr Tyr Thr Leu Ala385 390 395
400Leu Trp Asn Ser Ala Ala Gly Leu Arg Arg Asn Ile Ser Leu Glu Leu
405 410 415Val Val Asn Val Pro Pro Gln Ile His Glu Lys Glu Ala Ser
Ser Pro 420 425 430Ser Ile Tyr Ser Arg His Ser Arg Gln Ala Leu Thr
Cys Thr Ala Tyr 435 440 445Gly Val Pro Leu Pro Leu Ser Ile Gln Trp
His Trp Arg Pro Trp Thr 450 455 460Pro Cys Lys Met Phe Ala Gln Arg
Ser Leu Arg Arg Arg Gln Gln Gln465 470 475 480Asp Leu Met Pro Gln
Cys Arg Asp Trp Arg Ala Val Thr Thr Gln Asp 485 490 495Ala Val Asn
Pro Ile Glu Ser Leu Asp Thr Trp Thr Glu Phe Val Glu 500 505 510Gly
Lys Asn Lys Thr Val Ser Lys Leu Val Ile Gln Asn Ala Asn Val 515 520
525Ser Ala Met Tyr Lys Cys Val Val Ser Asn Lys Val Gly Gln Asp Glu
530 535 540Arg Leu Ile Tyr Phe Tyr Val Thr Thr Ile Pro Asp Gly Phe
Thr Ile545 550 555 560Glu Ser Lys Pro Ser Glu Glu Leu Leu Glu Gly
Gln Pro Val Leu Leu 565 570 575Ser Cys Gln Ala Asp Ser Tyr Lys Tyr
Glu His Leu Arg Trp Tyr Arg 580 585 590Leu Asn Leu Ser Thr Leu His
Asp Ala His Gly Asn Pro Leu Leu Leu 595 600 605Asp Cys Lys Asn Val
His Leu Phe Ala Thr Pro Leu Ala Ala Ser Leu 610 615 620Glu Glu Val
Ala Pro Gly Ala Arg His Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Ile625 630 635
640Pro Arg Val Ala Pro Glu His Glu Gly His Tyr Val Cys Glu Val Gln
645 650 655Asp Arg Arg Ser His Asp Lys His Cys His Lys Lys Tyr Leu
Ser Val 660 665 670Gln Ala Leu Glu Ala Pro Arg Leu Thr Gln Asn Leu
Thr Asp Leu Leu 675 680 685Val Asn Val Ser Asp Ser Leu Glu Met Gln
Cys Leu Val Ala Gly Ala 690 695 700His Ala Pro Ser Ile Val Trp Tyr
Lys Asp Glu Arg Leu Leu Glu Glu705 710 715 720Lys Ser Gly Val Asp
Leu Ala Asp Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Ser Ile Gln 725 730 735Arg Val Arg
Glu Glu Asp Ala Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ser Val Cys Asn 740 745 750Ala
Lys Gly Cys Val Asn Ser Ser Ala Ser Val Ala Val Glu Gly Ser 755 760
765Glu Asp Lys Gly Ser Met Glu Ile Val Ile Leu Val Gly Thr Gly Val
770 775 780Ile Ala Val Phe Phe Trp Val Leu Leu Leu Leu Ile Phe Cys
Asn Met785 790 795 800Arg Arg Pro Ala His Ala Asp Ile Lys Thr Gly
Tyr Leu Ser Ile Ile 805 810 815Met Asp Pro Gly Glu Val Pro Leu Glu
Glu Gln Cys Glu Tyr Leu Ser 820 825 830Tyr Asp Ala Ser Gln Trp Glu
Phe Pro Arg Glu Arg Leu His Leu Gly 835 840 845Arg Val Leu Gly Tyr
Gly Ala Phe Gly Lys Val Val Glu Ala Ser Ala 850 855 860Phe Gly Ile
His Lys Gly Ser Ser Cys Asp Thr Val Ala Val Lys Met865 870 875
880Leu Lys Glu Gly Ala Thr Ala Ser Glu His Arg Ala Leu Met Ser Glu
885 890 895Leu Lys Ile Leu Ile His Ile Gly Asn His Leu Asn Val Val
Asn Leu 900 905 910Leu Gly Ala Cys Thr Lys Pro Gln Gly Pro Leu Met
Val Ile Val Glu 915
920 925Phe Cys Lys Tyr Gly Asn Leu Ser Asn Phe Leu Arg Ala Lys Arg
Asp 930 935 940Ala Phe Ser Pro Cys Ala Glu Lys Ser Pro Glu Gln Arg
Gly Arg Phe945 950 955 960Arg Ala Met Val Glu Leu Ala Arg Leu Asp
Arg Arg Arg Pro Gly Ser 965 970 975Ser Asp Arg Val Leu Phe Ala Arg
Phe Ser Lys Thr Glu Gly Gly Ala 980 985 990Arg Arg Ala Ser Pro Asp
Gln Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu Trp Leu Ser Pro 995 1000 1005Leu Thr Met
Glu Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Ser Phe Gln Val Ala Arg 1010 1015 1020Gly
Met Glu Phe Leu Ala Ser Arg Lys Cys Ile His Arg Asp Leu 1025 1030
1035Ala Ala Arg Asn Ile Leu Leu Ser Glu Ser Asp Val Val Lys Ile
1040 1045 1050Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Asp Ile Tyr Lys Asp Pro
Asp Tyr 1055 1060 1065Val Arg Lys Gly Ser Ala Arg Leu Pro Leu Lys
Trp Met Ala Pro 1070 1075 1080Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp Lys Val Tyr Thr
Thr Gln Ser Asp Val Trp 1085 1090 1095Ser Phe Gly Val Leu Leu Trp
Glu Ile Phe Ser Leu Gly Ala Ser 1100 1105 1110Pro Tyr Pro Gly Val
Gln Ile Asn Glu Glu Phe Cys Gln Arg Leu 1115 1120 1125Arg Asp Gly
Thr Arg Met Arg Ala Pro Glu Leu Ala Thr Pro Ala 1130 1135 1140Ile
Arg Arg Ile Met Leu Asn Cys Trp Ser Gly Asp Pro Lys Ala 1145 1150
1155Arg Pro Ala Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Ile Leu Gly Asp Leu Leu
1160 1165 1170Gln Gly Arg Gly Leu Gln Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Cys Met
Ala Pro 1175 1180 1185Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser Glu Glu Gly Ser Phe
Ser Gln Val Ser 1190 1195 1200Thr Met Ala Leu His Ile Ala Gln Ala
Asp Ala Glu Asp Ser Pro 1205 1210 1215Pro Ser Leu Gln Arg His Ser
Leu Ala Ala Arg Tyr Tyr Asn Trp 1220 1225 1230Val Ser Phe Pro Gly
Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly Ala Glu Thr Arg Gly 1235 1240 1245Ser Ser Arg
Met Lys Thr Phe Glu Glu Phe Pro Met Thr Pro Thr 1250 1255 1260Thr
Tyr Lys Gly Ser Val Asp Asn Gln Thr Asp Ser Gly Met Val 1265 1270
1275Leu Ala Ser Glu Glu Phe Glu Gln Ile Glu Ser Arg His Arg Gln
1280 1285 1290Glu Ser Gly Phe Ser Cys Lys Gly Pro Gly Gln Asn Val
Ala Val 1295 1300 1305Thr Arg Ala His Pro Asp Ser Gln Gly Arg Arg
Arg Arg Pro Glu 1310 1315 1320Arg Gly Ala Arg Gly Gly Gln Val Phe
Tyr Asn Ser Glu Tyr Gly 1325 1330 1335Glu Leu Ser Glu Pro Ser Glu
Glu Asp His Cys Ser Pro Ser Ala 1340 1345 1350Arg Val Thr Phe Phe
Thr Asp Asn Ser Tyr 1355 13604210PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptideDISULFID(1)..(10)Cyclic peptide 42Cys Gly Tyr Trp Leu Thr
Ile Trp Gly Cys1 5 104313PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptideDISULFID(1)..(13) 43Cys Ala Ser Glu Leu Gly Lys Ser Thr Asn
Thr Phe Cys1 5 10448PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptideDISULFID(1)..(8) 44Cys Asn Glu Glu Ser Leu Ile Cys1
54511PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptideDISULFID(1)..(11) 45Cys
Ile Ser Val Pro Leu Thr Ser Val Pro Cys1 5 1046132PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic peptide 46Met Lys Leu Pro Val Arg Leu Leu Val Leu
Met Phe Trp Ile Pro Ala1 5 10 15Ser Ser Ser Asp Phe Val Met Thr Gln
Thr Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val 20 25 30Ser Leu Gly Asp Gln Ala Ser Ile
Ser Cys Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu 35 40 45Val His Ser Asn Gly Asn Thr
Tyr Leu His Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro 50 55 60Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys Leu
Leu Ile Tyr Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser65 70 75 80Gly Val Pro Asp
Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr 85 90 95Leu Lys Ile
Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp Leu Gly Val Tyr Phe Cys 100 105 110Ser
Gln Ser Thr His Val Pro Arg Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu 115 120
125Glu Ile Lys Arg 13047137PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide
47Met Gly Trp Ser Gly Val Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Thr Gly1
5 10 15Val His Ser Glu Ile Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Asp Leu Val
Lys 20 25 30Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Lys Val Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Gly Tyr
Ser Phe 35 40 45Thr Gly Tyr Asn Met Tyr Trp Val Lys Gln Ser His Gly
Lys Ser Leu 50 55 60Glu Trp Ile Gly Tyr Ile Asp Pro Tyr Asn Gly Asp
Thr Thr Tyr Asn65 70 75 80Gln Lys Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr
Val Asp Lys Ser Ser Ser 85 90 95Thr Ala Phe Met His Leu Asn Ser Leu
Thr Ser Glu Asp Ser Ala Val 100 105 110Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Thr Ser
Tyr Tyr Gly Gly Met Asp Tyr Trp Gly 115 120 125Gln Gly Thr Ser Val
Thr Val Ser Ser 130 1354816PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide
48Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Ser Asn Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His1
5 10 15497PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 49Lys Val Ser Asn
Arg Phe Ser1 5509PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 50Ser Gln
Ser Thr His Val Pro Arg Thr1 55110PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptide 51Gly Tyr Ser Phe Thr Gly Tyr Asn Met Tyr1 5
105217PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 52Tyr Ile Asp Pro Tyr
Asn Gly Asp Thr Thr Tyr Asn Gln Lys Phe Lys1 5 10
15Gly539PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 53Thr Ser Tyr Tyr
Gly Gly Met Asp Tyr1 55410PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
peptideMISC_FEATURE(1)..(1)Xaa is any amino
acidMISC_FEATURE(1)..(11)May be bound to form cyclic
peptideMISC_FEATURE(11)..(11)Xaa is any amino acid 54Xaa Gly Tyr
Trp Leu Thr Ile Trp Gly Xaa1 5 10
* * * * *