Osteoprotegerin

Details Osteoprotegerin Osteoprotegerin

1995-12-22

2003-09-02

Kemmerer, Elizabeth (Department: 1647)

Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology

Micro-organism, tissue cell culture or enzyme using process...

Recombinant dna technique included in method of making a...

C435S325000, C435S252300, C435S252330, C435S320100, C436S504000, C530S350000, C536S023100, C536S023400, C536S023500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06613544

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to polypeptides involved in the regulation of bone metabolism. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel polypeptide, termed osteoprotegerin, which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. The polypeptide is used to treat bone diseases characterized by increased bone loss such as osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Polypeptide growth factors and cytokines are secreted factors which signal a wide variety of changes in cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism, by specifically binding to discrete, surface bound receptors. As a class of proteins, receptors vary in their structure and mode of signal transduction. They are characterized by having an extracellular domain that is involved in ligand binding, and cytoplasmic domain which transmits an appropriate intracellular signal. Receptor expression patterns ultimately determine which cells will respond to a given ligand, while the structure of a given receptor dictates the cellular response induced by ligand binding. Receptors have been shown to transmit intracellular signals via their cytoplasmic domains by activating protein tyrosine, or protein serine/threonine phosphorylation (e.g., platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) or transforming growth factor-&bgr; receptor-I (TGF&bgr;R-I), by stimulating G-protein activation (e.g., &bgr;-adrenergic Receptor), and by modulating associations with cytoplasmic signal transducing proteins (e.g., TNFR-1 and Fas/APO) (Heldin, Cell 80, 213-223 (1995)).
The tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily is a group of type I transmembrane proteins which share a conserved cysteine-rich motif which is repeated three to six times in the extracellular domain (Smith, et al. Cell 76, 953-962 (1994)). Collectively, these repeat units form the ligand binding domains of these receptors (Chen et al., Chemistry 270, 2874-2878 (1995)). The ligands for these receptors are a structurally related group of proteins homologous to TNF&agr;. (Goeddel et al. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quart. Biol. 51, 597-609 (1986); Nagata et al. Science 267, 1449-1456 (1995)). TNF&agr; binds to distinct, but closely related receptors, TNFR-1 and TNFR-2. TNF&agr; produces a variety of biological responses in receptor bearing cells, including, proliferation, differentiation, and cytotoxicity and apoptosis (Beutler et al. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 57, 505-518 (1988)).
TNF&agr; is believed to mediate acute and chronic inflammatory responses (Beutler et al. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 57, 505-508 (1988)). Systemic delivery of TNF&agr; induces toxic shock and widespread tissue necrosis. Because of this, TNF&agr; may be responsible for the severe morbidity and mortality associated with a variety of infectious diseases, including sepsis. Mutations in FasL, the ligand for the TNFR-related receptor Fas/APO (Suda et al. Cell 75, 1169-1178 (1993)), is associated with autoimmunity (Fisher et al. Cell 81, 935-946 (1995)), while overproduction of FasL may be implicated in drug-induced hepatitis. Thus, ligands to the various TNFR-related proteins often mediate the serious effects of many disease states, which suggests that agents that neutralize the activity of these ligands would have therapeutic value. Soluble TNFR-1 receptors, and antibodies that bind TNF&agr;, have been tested for their ability to neutralize systemic TNF&agr; (Loetscher et al. Cancer Cells 3(6), 221-226 (1991)). A naturally occuring form of a secreted TNFR-1 mRNA was recently cloned, and its product tested for its ability to neutralize TNF&agr; activity in vitro and in vivo (Kohno et al. PNAS USA 87, 8331-8335 (1990)). The ability of this protein to neutralize TNF&agr; suggests that soluble TNF&agr; receptors function to bind and clear TNF thereby blocking the cytotoxic effects on TNFR-bearing cells.
An object of the invention to identify new members of the TNFR super family. It is anticipated that new family members, may be transmembrane proteins or soluble forms thereof comprising extracellular domains and lacking transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. We have identified a new member of the TNFR superfamily which encodes a secreted protein that is closely related to TNFR-2. By analogy to soluble TNFR-1, the TNFR-2 related protein may negatively regulate the activity of its ligand, and thus may be useful in the treatment of certain human diseases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A novel member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily has been identified from a fetal rat intestinal cDNA library. A full-length cDNA clone was obtained and sequenced. Expression of the rat cDNA in a transgenic mouse revealed a marked increase in bones density, particularly in long bones, pelvic bone and vertebrae. The polypeptide encoded by the cDNA is termed osteoprotegerin and plays a role in promoting bone accumulation.
The invention provides for nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide having at least one of the biological activities of osteoprotegerin. Nucleic acids which hybridize to nucleic acids encoding mouse, rat or human Osteoprotegerin as shown in
FIGS. 2B
,
9
A and
9
B are also provided. Preferably, osteoprotegerin is mammalian osteoprotegerin and more preferably is human osteoprotegerin. Recombinant vectors and host cells expressing osteoprotegerin are also encompassed as are methods of producing recombinant osteoprotegerin. Antibodies or fragments thereof which specifically bind the polypeptide are also disclosed.
Methods of treating bone diseases are also provided by the invention. The polypeptides are useful for preventing bone resorption and may be used to treat any condition resulting in bone loss such as osteoporosis, hypercalcemia, Paget's disease of bone, and bone loss due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteomyelitis, and the like. Bone diseases may also be treated with anti-sense or gene therapy using nucleic acids of the invention. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising osteoprotegerin nucleic acids and polypeptides are also encompassed.


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