Fhm, a novel member of the TNF ligand supergene family

• US 6,521,422 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amgen Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amgen Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Hailing, Wooden, Scott Kenneth, Boyle, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Eyler, Yvonne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andres, Janet L.
• Application Number:
  US09/632,287
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 435/69.1, 435/320.1, 435/325, 435/252.1, 435/2.1, 530/350, 536/23.5
• US Class Current: 435/69.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2217/05 Animals comprising random inserted nucleic acids (transgenic)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/02 for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/02 Immunomodulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/70575 NGF/TNF-superfamily, e.g. CD70, CD95L, CD153, CD154 NGF C07K14/48, TNF C07K14/525
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2799/021 for the expression of a heterologous nucleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

The present invention provides a purified polynucleotide encoding a novel polypeptide, designated Fhm, which belongs to the TNF gene superfamily; to purified Fhm polypeptide molecules; to antibodies that bind Fhm; to materials comprising such molecules; and to methods of using such molecules.

Claims

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO;

3;

(b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO;

4; and

(c) a nucleotide sequence fully complementary to the entire nucleotide sequence of any of (a) or (b).

2. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.

3. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 2.

4. The host cell of claim 3 that is a eukaryotic cell.

5. The host cell of claim 3 that is a prokaryotic cell.

6. A process of producing a Fhm polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of claim 3 under suitable conditions to express the polypeptide, and optionally isolating the polypeptide from the culture.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises promoter DNA other than the promoter DNA for the native Fhm polypeptide operatively linked to the DNA encoding the Fhm polypeptide.

8. A composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent.

9. A composition of claim 8 wherein said nucleic acid molecule is contained in a viral vector.

10. A viral vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.

11. A process for identifying candidate inhibitors of Fhm polypeptide activity or production comprising exposing a cell according to claims 3, 4, or 5 to the candidate inhibitors, and measuring Fhm polypeptide activity or production in said cell, comparing activity of Fhm in cells exposed to the candidate inhibitor with activity in cells not exposed to the candidate inhibitor.

12. A process for identifying candidate stimulators of Fhm polypeptide activity or production comprising exposing a cell according to claims 3, 4, or 5 to the candidate stimulators, and measuring Fhm polypeptide activity or production in said cell, comparing activity of Fhm in cells exposed to the candidate stimulator with activity in cells not exposed to the candidate stimulator.