Antibodies that bind the cytokine designated LERK-5

• US 6,596,852 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immunex Corporation (Amgen Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Immunex Corporation (Amgen Inc.)
• Inventors: Reddy, Pranhitha, Cerretti, Douglas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kunz, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gucker, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US09/978,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 435/331, 424/139.1, 424/141.1, 530/387.1, 530/387.9, 530/388.1, 530/389.1
• US Class Current: 530/387.9
• 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: C07K 14/52 Cytokines; Lymphokines; Interferons
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/24 against cytokines, lymphokines or interferons
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2317/34 Identification of a linear epitope shorter than 20 amino acid residues or of a conformational epitope defined by amino acid residues
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide

Abstract

LERK-5 polypeptides are disclosed, along with DNA sequences, vectors and transformed host cells useful in producing LERK-5. The LERK-5 polypeptides bind to elk and to hek, which are members of the eph/elk family of receptor tyrosine kinases.

Claims

1. A purified antibody that is immunoreactive with a LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, wherein the LERK-5 polypeptide is encoded by the LERK-5 cDNA in the recombinant vector deposited as ATCC 75815.

2. An antibody according to claim 1, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

3. A purified antibody that is specific for a LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, wherein said LERK-5 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1-308 of SEQ ID NO:

2 and 1-199 of SEQ ID NO;

2.

4. An antibody according to claim 3, wherein said antibody is polyclonal.

5. A purified antibody that is specific for a LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, wherein said polypeptide is capable of binding elk or hek, wherein said LERIK-5 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical (using the GAP computer program, version 6.0, with the preferred default parameters) to the sequence of residues 1-199 of SEQ ID NO:

2.

6. An antibody according to claim 5, wherein said antibody is polyclonal.

7. A purified antibody that is specific for a LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, wherein said polypeptide is capable of binding elk or hek, wherein said LERK-5 polypeptide comprises an extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic domain, and wherein said LERK-5 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical (using the GAP computer program, version 6.0, with the preferred default parameters) to the sequence of residues 1-308 of SEQ ID NO:

2.

8. An antibody according to claim 7, wherein said antibody is polyclonal.

9. A method for producing a monoclonal antibody specific for a LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, said method comprising the steps of:

a) immunizing an animal with a LERK-5 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the protein of SEQ ID NO;

2 and an immunogenic fragment of the protein of SEQ ID NO;

2;

b) harvesting spleen cells from the immunized animal;

c) fusing said spleen cells to a myeloma cell line, thereby generating hybridoma cells;

d) identifying a hybridoma cell line that produces monoclonal antibodies specific for the LERK-5 polypeptide; and

e) purifying monoclonal antibodies produced by said hybridoma cell line.

10. A method according to claim 9, comprising immunizing the animal with the protein of SEQ ID NO:

2.

11. A method according to claim 9, comprising immunizing the animal with an immunogenic fragment comprising the extracellular domain of the protein of SEQ ID NO:

2.

12. A monoclonal antibody produced by a method according to claim 9.

13. A method of producing a hybridoma cell line, said method comprising the steps of:

a) immunizing an animal with a LERK-5 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the protein of SEQ ID NO;

2 and an immunogenic fragment of the protein of SEQ ID NO;

2;

b) harvesting spleen cells from said animal;

c) fusing said spleen cells to a myeloma cell line, thereby generating hybridoma cells; and

d) identifying a hybridoma cell line that produces monoclonal antibodies specific for the LERK-5 polypeptide, with the proviso that said antibodies do not specifically bind to elk-L tele7.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising immunizing the animal with the protein of SEQ ID NO:

2.

15. A method according to claim 13, comprising immunizing the animal with an immunogenic fragment comprising the extracellular domain of the protein of SEQ ID NO:

2.

16. A method for producing an antibody, with the proviso that said antibody does not specifically bind to elk-L tele7, comprising immunizing an animal with a LERK-5 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the protein of SEQ ID NO:

2 and an immunogenic fragment of the protein of SEQ ID NO;

2;

whereby antibodies directed against the LERK-5 polypeptide are generated in said animal.