Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving antigen-antibody binding – specific binding protein...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-30
2001-04-10
Draper, Garnette D. (Department: 1647)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving antigen-antibody binding, specific binding protein...
C435S007200, C435S007800, C435S069100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214559
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mammalian cytokine receptor proteins with affinity for IL-13 (including without limitation human and murine receptor proteins), fragments thereof and recombinant polynucleotides and cells useful for expressing such proteins.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of regulatory molecules, known as cytokines, have been identified including interleukin-13 (IL-13). Various protein forms of IL-13 and DNA encoding various forms of IL-13 activity are described in McKenzie et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:3735 (1993); Minty et al., Nature 362:248 (1993); and Aversa et al., WO94/04680. Thus, the term “IL-13” includes proteins having the sequence and/or biological activity described in these documents, whether produced by recombinant genetic engineering techniques; purified from cell sources producing the factor naturally or upon induction with other factors; or synthesized by chemical techniques; or a combination of the foregoing.
IL-13 is a cytokine that has been implicated in production of several biological activities including: induction of IgG4 and IgE switching, including in human immature B cells (Punnonen et al., J. Immunol. 152:1094 (1994)); induction of germ line IgE heavy chain (&egr;) transcription and CD23 expression in normal human B cells (Punnonen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:3730 (1993)); and induction of B cell proliferation in the presence of CD40L or anti-CD40 mAb (Cocks et al., Int. Immunol. 5:657 (1993)). Although many activities of IL-13 are similar to those of IL-4, in contrast to IL-4, IL-13 does not have growth promoting effects on activated T cells or T cell clones (Zurawski et al., EMBO J. 12:2663 (1993)).
Like most cytokines, IL-13 exhibits certain biological activities by interacting with an IL-13 receptor (“IL-13R”) on the surface of target cells. IL-13R and the IL-4 receptor (“IL-4R”) sharing a common component, which is required for receptor activation; however, IL-13 does not bind to cells transfected with the 130 kD IL-4R (Zurawski et al., supra). Thus, the IL-13R must contain at least one other ligand binding chain. Cytokine receptors are commonly composed or two or three chains. The cloning of one ligand binding chain for IL-13 has been recently reported (Hilton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93:497-501).
It would be desirable to identify and clone the sequence for any other IL-13 binding chain of IL-13R so that IL-13R proteins can be produced for various reasons, including production of therapeutics and screening for inhibitors of IL-13 binding to the receptor and receptor signaling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, polynucleotides encoding the IL-13 binding chains of the interleukin-13 receptor are disclosed, including without limitation those from the murine and human receptors. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 256 to nucleotide 1404;
(b) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 103 to nucleotide 1242;
(c) a nucleotide sequence varying from the sequence of the nucleotide sequence specified in (a) or (b) as a result of degeneracy of the genetic code;
(d) a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to the nucleotide specified in (a) or (b);
(e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a species homologue of the sequence specified in (a) or (b); and
(f) an allelic variant of the nucleotide sequence specified in (a) or (b). Preferably, the nucleotide sequence encodes a protein having a biological activity of the human IL-13 receptor. The nucleotide sequence may be operably linked to an expression control sequence. In preferred embodiments, the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 256 to nucleotide 1404; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 319 to nucleotide 1257; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 1324 to nucleotide 1404; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 103 to nucleotide 1242; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 178 to nucleotide 1125; or the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 1189 to nucleotide 1242.
The invention also provides isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide or protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
(b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 22 to 334;
(c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 357 to 383;
(d) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
(e) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acids 26 to 341;
(f) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acids 363 to 380; and
(g) fragments of (a)-(f) having a biological activity of the IL-13 receptor binding chain. Other preferred embodiments encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 1 to 331 and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 26 to 331.
Host cells, preferably mammalian cells, transformed with the polynucleotides are also provided.
In other embodiments, the invention provides a process for producing a IL-13bc protein. The process comprises:
(a) growing a culture of the host cell of the present invention in a suitable culture medium; and
(b) purifying the human IL-13bc protein from the culture.
Proteins produced according to these methods are also provided.
The present invention also provides for an isolated IL-13bc protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
(b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 22 to 334;
(c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 357 to 383;
(d) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;
(e) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acids 26 to 341;
(f) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 from amino acids 363 to 380; and
(g) fragments of (a)-(f) having a biological activity of the IL-13 receptor binding chain
Preferably-the protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; the sequence from amino acid 22 to 334 of SEQ ID NO:2; the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4; or the sequence from amino acid 26 to 341 of SEQ ID NO:4. In other preferred embodiments, the specified amino acid sequence is part of a fusion protein (with an additional amino acid sequence not derived from IL-13bc). Preferred fusion proteins comprise an antibody fragment, such as an Fc fragment. Particularly preferred embodiments comprise the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 1 to 331 and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acids 26 to 331.
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a protein of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also provided.
The present invention further provides for compositions comprising an antibody which specifically reacts with a protein of the present invention.
Methods of identifying an inhibitor of IL-13 binding to the IL13bc or IL-13 receptor are also provided. These methods comprise:
(a) combining an IL-13bc protein or a fragment thereof with IL-13 or a fragment thereof, said combination forming a first binding mixture;
(b) measuring the amount of binding between the protein and the IL-13 or fragment in the first binding mixture;
(c) combining a compound with the protein and the IL-13 or fragment to form a second binding mixture;
(d) measuring the amount of binding in the second binding mixture; and
(e) comparing the amount of binding in the first binding mixture with the amount of binding in the second binding mixture; wherein the compound is capable of inhibiting IL-13 binding to the IL-13bc protein or IL-13 receptor when a decrease in the amount of binding of the second binding mixture occurs. Inhibitors of IL-13R identified by these methods and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also provided.
Methods of inhibiting binding
Collins Mary
Donaldson Debra
Fitz Lori
Neben Tamlyn
Whitters Matthew
Draper Garnette D.
Genetics Institute Inc.
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