Chemistry: natural resins or derivatives; peptides or proteins; – Proteins – i.e. – more than 100 amino acid residues – Hormones – e.g. – prolactin – thymosin – growth factors – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2004-05-25
Caputa, Anthony C. (Department: 1642)
Chemistry: natural resins or derivatives; peptides or proteins;
Proteins, i.e., more than 100 amino acid residues
Hormones, e.g., prolactin, thymosin, growth factors, etc.
C530S350000, C530S402000, C530S403000, C514S002600, C514S012200, C514S021800, C424S184100, C424S185100, C424S193100, C424S198100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06740739
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the identification, isolation, and recombinant production of a novel cytokine, designated herein as “Apo-2 ligand”, and to methods of using such compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Control of cell numbers in mammals is believed to be determined, in part, by a balance between cell proliferation and cell death. One form of cell death, sometimes referred to as necrotic cell death, is typically characterized as a pathologic form of cell death resulting from some trauma or cellular injury. In contrast, there is another, “physiologic” form of cell death which usually proceeds in an orderly or controlled manner. This orderly or controlled form of cell death is often referred to as “apoptosis” [see, eg., Barr et al.,
Bio/Technology
, 12:487-493 (1994)]. Apoptotic cell death naturally occurs in many physiological processes, including embryonic development and clonal selection in the immune system [Itoh et al.,
Cell
, 66:233-243 (1991)]. Decreased levels of apoptotic cell death, however, have been associated with a variety of pathological conditions, including cancer, lupus, and herpes virus infection [Thompson,
Science
267:1456-1462 (1995)].
Apoptotic cell death is typically accompanied by one or more characteristic morphological and biochemical changes in cells, such as condensation of cytoplasm, loss of plasma membrane microvilli, segmentation of the nucleus, degradation of chromosomal DNA or loss of mitochondrial function. A variety of extrinsic and intrinsic signals are believed to trigger or induce such morphological and biochemical cellular changes [Raff,
Nature
, 356:397-400 (1992); Steller,
Science
, 267:1445-1449 (1995); Sachs et al.,
Blood
, 82:15 (1993)]. For instance, they can be triggered by hormonal stimuli, such as glucocorticoid hormones for immature thymocytes, as well as withdrawal of certain growth factors [Watanabe-Fukunaga et al.,
Nature
, 356:314-317 (1992)]. Also, some identified oncogenes such as myc, rel, and E1A, and tumor suppressors, like p53, have been reported to have a role in inducing apoptosis. Certain chemotherapy drugs and some forms of radiation have likewise been observed to have apoptosis-inducing activity [Thompson, supra].
Various molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (“TNF-&agr;”), tumor necrosis factor-&bgr; (“TNF-&bgr;” or “lymphotoxin”), CD30 ligand, CD27 ligand, CD40 ligand, OX-40 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, and Apo-1 ligand (also referred to as Fas ligand or CD95 ligand) have been identified as members of the tumor necrosis factor (“TNF”) family of cytokines [See, e.g., Gruss and Dower,
Blood
, 85:3378-3404 (1995)]. Among these molecules, TNF-&agr;, TNF-&bgr;, CD30 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, and Apo-1 ligand have been reported to be involved tumor cells [Schmid et al.,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci
. 83:1881 (1986); Dealtry et al.,
Eur. J. Immunol
., 17:689 (98)]. Zheng et al. have reported that TNF-&agr; is involved in post-stimulation apoptosis of CD8-positive T cells [Zeng et al.,
Nature
, 377:348-351 (1995)]. Other investigators have reported that CD30 ligand may be involved in deletion of self-reactive T cells in the thymus [Amakawa et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Symposium on Programmed Cell Death, Abstr. No. 10, (1995)].
Mutations in the mouse Fas/Apo-1 receptor or ligand genes (called lpr and gld, respectively) have been associated with some autoimmune disorders, indicating that Apo-1 ligand may play a role in regulating the clonal deletion of self-reactive lymphocytes in the periphery [Krammer et al.,
Curr. Op. Immunol
., 6:279-289 (1994); Nagata et al.,
Science
, 267:1449-1456 (1995)]. Apo-1 ligand is also reported to induce post-stimulation apoptosis in CD4-positive T lymphocytes and in B lymphocytes, and may be involved in the elimination of activated lymphocytes when their function is no longer needed [Krammer et al., supra; Nagata et al., supra]. Agonist mouse monoclonal antibodies specifically binding to the Apo-1 receptor have been reported to exhibit cell killing activity that is comparable to or similar to that of TNF-&agr; [Yonehara et al.,
J. Exp. Med
., 169:1747-1756 (1989)].
Induction of various cellular responses mediated by such TNF family cytokines is believed to be initiated by their binding to specific cell receptors. Two distinct TNF receptors of approximately 55-kDa (TNF-R1) and 75-kDa (TNF-R2) have been identified [Hohmann et al.,
J. Biol. Chem
., 264:14927-14934 (1989); Brockhaus et al.,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci
., 87:3127-3131 (1990); EP 417,563, published Mar. 20, 1991] and human and mouse cDNAs corresponding to both receptor types have been isolated and characterized [Loetscher et al.,
Cell
, 61:351 (1990); Schall et al.,
Cell
, 61:361 (1990); Smith et al.,
Science
, 248:1019-1023 (1990); Lewis et al.,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci
., 88:2830-2834 (1991); Goodwin et al.,
Mol. Cell. Biol
., 11:3020-3026 (1991)].
Itoh et al. disclose that the Apo-1 receptor can signal an apoptotic cell death similar to that signaled by the 55-kDa TNF-R1 [Itoh et al., supra ]. Expression of the Apo-1 antigen has also been reported to be down-regulated along with that of TNF-R1 when cells are treated with either TNF-&agr; or anti-Apo-1 mouse monoclonal antibody [Krammer et al., supra; Nagata et al., supra]. Accordingly, some investigators have hypothesized that cell lines that co-express both Apo-1 and TNF-R1 receptors may mediate cell killing through common signaling pathways [Id.].
The TNF family ligands identified to date, with the exception of lymphotoxin-&agr;, are type II transmembrane proteins, whose C-terminus is extracellular. In contrast, the receptors in the TNF receptor (TNFR) family identified to date are type 1 transmembrane proteins. In both the TNF ligand and receptor families, however, homology identified between family members has been found mainly in the extracellular domain (“ECD”). Several of the TNF family cytokines, including TNF-&agr;, Apo-1 ligand and CD40 ligand, are cleaved proteolytically at the cell surface; the resulting protein in each case typically forms a homotrimeric molecule that functions as a soluble cytokine. TNF receptor family proteins are also usually cleaved proteolytically to release soluble receptor ECDs that can function as inhibitors of the cognate cytokines. For a review of the TNF family of cytokines and their receptors, see Gruss and Dower, supra.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicants have identified cDNA clones that encode a novel cytokine, designated “Apo-2 ligand.” It is presently believed that Apo-2 ligand is a member of the TNF cytokine family; Apo-2 ligand is related in amino acid sequence to some known TNF-related proteins, including the Apo-1 ligand. Applicants found, however, that the Apo-2 ligand is not inhibited appreciably by known soluble Apo-1 or TNF receptors, such as the Fas/Apo-1, TNF-R1, or TNF-R2 receptors.
In one embodiment,the invention provides isolated Apo-2 ligand. In particular, the invention provides isolated Apo-2 ligand which includes an amino acid sequence comprising residues 114-281 of FIG.
1
A. In another embodiment, the Apo-2 ligand includes an amino acid sequence comprising residues 92-281 of FIG.
1
A. In a further embodiment, the Apo-2 ligand includes an amino acid sequence comprising residues 91-281 of FIG.
1
A. In still another embodiment, the Apo-2 ligand includes an amino acid sequence comprising residues 41-281 or 15-281 of FIG.
1
A. In a further embodiment, the Apo-2 ligand includes an amino acid sequence shown as residues 1-281 of
FIG. 1A
(SEQ ID NO: 1).
The isolated Apo-2 ligand of the invention also includes substitutional variants of the above referenced sequences. In particular, in one embodiment,there are provided substitutional variants of the Apo-2 ligand comprising amino acids 91-281 of
FIG. 1A
in which at least one of the amino acids at positions 203, 218 or 269 are su
Ashkenazi Avi J.
Kelley Robert F.
O'Connell Mark P.
Pitti Robert M.
Schwall Ralph A.
Caputa Anthony C.
Genentech Inc.
Holleran Anne L.
Marschang Diane L.
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