Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Antigen – epitope – or other immunospecific immunoeffector – Hormone or other secreted growth regulatory factor,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2003-03-25
Caputa, Anthony C. (Department: 1642)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Antigen, epitope, or other immunospecific immunoeffector
Hormone or other secreted growth regulatory factor,...
C424S184100, C435S004000, C436S064000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06537554
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to nucleic acids and polypeptides and more particularly to nucleic acids encoding polypeptides related to previously described angiogenesis-modulating polypeptides, and to the polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Under normal physiological conditions, humans or animals undergo angiogenesis, i.e., generation of new blood vessels into a tissue or organ, only in restricted situations. During angiogenesis, endothelial cells react to stimulation with finely tuned signaling responses. The “endothelium” is a thin layer of flat epithelial cells that lines serous cavities, lymph vessels, and blood vessels. In normal physiological states such as embryonic growth and wound healing, neovascularization is controlled by a balance of stimulatory and inhibitory angiogenic factors. These controls may fail and result in formation of an extensive capillary network during the development of many diseases including ischemic heart disease, ischemic peripheral vascular disease, tumor growth and metastasis, reproduction, embryogenesis, wound healing, bone repair, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy and other diseases.
Both controlled and uncontrolled angiogenesis are thought to proceed in a similar manner. Endothelial cells and pericytes, surrounded by a basement membrane, form capillary blood vessels. Angiogenesis begins with the erosion of the basement membrane by enzymes released by endothelial cells and leukocytes. The endothelial cells, which line the lumen of blood vessels, then protrude through the basement membrane. Angiogenic stimulants induce the endothelial cells to migrate through the eroded basement membrane. The migrating cells form a “sprout” off the parent blood vessel, where the endothelial cells undergo mitosis and proliferate. The endothelial sprouts merge with each other to form capillary loops, creating the new blood vessel.
Persistent, unregulated angiogenesis occurs in a multiplicity of disease states, tumor metastasis and abnormal growth by endothelial cells and supports the pathological damage seen in these conditions. The diverse pathological disease states in which unregulated angiogenesis is present have been grouped together as angiogenic dependent or angiogenic associated diseases.
The balance of positive or negative angiogenesis regulators control the fate of vascular wall cells. They remain either in a state of vascular homeostasis, or they proceed to neovascularization, e.g., tumor growth and the switch to an angiogenic tumor phenotype correlates with increased secretion of angiogenic molecules such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and others. On the other hand, tumors also acquire a more angiogenic phenotype because inhibitors of angiogenesis are down-regulated during tumorigenesis (e.g. thrombospondin)(Dameron et al., 1994, Science 265:1582-1584).
Angiogenic and antiangiogenic (or angiostatic) molecules control the formation of new vessels via different mechanisms. Antiangiogenic molecules, or angiogenesis inhibitors (e.g. angiostatin, angiopoeitin-1 (Ang11), rat microvascular endothelial differentiation gene (MEDG), somatostatin, thrombospondin, platelet factor 4) can repress angiogenesis, and therefore, maintain vascular homeostasis (see, e.g. for review Bicknell, 1994, Ann. Oncol. 5 (suppl) 4:45-50).
Angiogenic molecules are capable of inducing the formation of new vessels and include, for example, but not for limitation, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), angiopoeitin 2 (Ang-2), erythroipoietin, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and others (for review, see e.g. Folkman & Shing, 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:10931-10934). FGF elicit its effects mainly via direct action on relevant endothelial cells via its endothelial receptor (e.g. Folkman & Shing, 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:10931-10934). FGF lacks a signal sequence for secretion.
Angiogenesis has been implicated in ischemic heart and ischemic vascular disease. In myocardial infarction new vessels penetrate the necrotic area and the surrounding schemic tissue. Neovascularizations, together with inflammatory cells, remove cellular debris and play a role in tissue repair and remodeling that results in myocardial scar formation. FGF-induced mycoardial infarction and neovascularization (e.g. Yanagisawa-Miwa et al., 1992, Science 257:1401-1403; Harada et al., 1994, J. Clin. Invest. 94:623-630) show that angiogenesis contributes to the preservation of ischemic tissue and myocardial pump function in myocardial necrosis. This suggests a therapeutic use of angiogenic factors in clinical situations. Additional studies with FGF (Pu et al., 1993, Circulation 88:208-215) and VEGF (Takeshita et al., 1994, J. Clin. Invest 93:662-670) in peripheral ischemic vascular disease protected ischemic limbs. Similar to myocardial infarction, brain infarcts (strokes) are associated with angiogenesis (Chen et al., 1994, Stroke 25-1651-1657).
Likewise, angiogenesis has been implicated in various cancers. Angiogenesis is an essential component of the metastatic pathway (see, e.g. Zetter, 1998, Ann. Rev. Med. 49:407-427). These blood vessels provide the principal pathway by which tumor cells exit the primary tumor site and enter the circulation. Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by the production of angiogenic stimulators including members of the FGF and VEGF families (see, e.g. Fernig & Gallaher, 1994, Prog. Growth Factor Res. 5:353-377). Tumors may also activate angiogenic inhibitors such as angiostatin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,725, herein incorporated by reference) and endostatin that can modulate angiogenesis both at the primary site and at downstream sites of metastasis. The potential use of these and other natural and synthetic angiogenic inhibitors as anticancer drugs is currently under intense investigation (see, e.g. Zetter, 1998, Ann. Rev. Med. 49:407-427). Such agents may have reduced toxicity and be less likely to generate drug resistance than conventional cytotoxic drugs. Clinical trials are now underway to develop optimum treatment strategies for antiangiogenic agents.
Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is an angiogenic factor that signals through the endothelial cell-specific Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase. Like VEGF, Ang- I is essential for normal endothelial developmental processes in the mouse (Davis et al., 1996, Cell 87:). Furthermore, Ang-1 induces the formation of capillary sprouts (Koblizek et al., 1998, Curr. Biol. 8:529-532). The protein is expressed only on endothelial cells and early hemopoietic cells (e.g., see Sure et al., 1996, Cell 87:1171-1180).
Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is a naturally occurring antagonist for Ang1 and Tie2 and can disrupt blood vessel formation in the mouse embryos (see, eg. Maisonpierre et al., 1997, Science 277:55-). Ang-2 is expressed only at sites of vascular remodeling.
In animal models some angiogenesis-dependent diseases can be controlled via induction or inhibition of new vessel formation. Treatment of diseases by modulation of angiogenesis are currently tested in clinical trials. Thus the manipulation of new vessel formation in angiogenesis-dependent conditions such as wound healing, inflammatory diseases, ischemic heart and peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction, diabetic retinopathy, and cancer is likely to create new therapeutic options.
Thus, angiogenesis is believed to play a significant role in the metastasis of a cancer and in the ischemic heart and ischemic vascular disease. If this angiogenic activity could be repressed or eliminated, then the tumor, although present, would not grow. In the disease state, prevention of angiogenesis could avert the damage caused by the invasion of the new microvascular system. If this angiogenic activity could be stimulated or induced, ischemic tissues in the heart and brain and mycocardial necrosis could be prevented. In the disease state, stimulation or induction of angiogenesis could avert the damage. Therapies directed at control of the angiogenic processes could lead to the ab
Jeffers Michael
Shimkets Richard A.
Biswas Naomi S.
Caputa Anthony C.
Curagen Corporation
Elrifi Ivor R.
Mintz Levin
LandOfFree
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