Natural killer cell enhancing factor C

Abstract

A human natural killer cell enhancing factor C and fragments thereof and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides and a procedure for producing such polypeptidees by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Further disclosed are antibodies directed against such polypeptides and fragments or portions thereof and methods for producing such antibodies and utilizing such antibodies for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptides and/or antibodies for preventing and/or treating viral infections, inflammation, neoplasia and damge from superoxide radicals. Diagnostic assays for identifying mutations in nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention and for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention for detecting diseases, for example, cancer, are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof that specifically binds to a protein whose sequence consists of amino acid residues +31 to +271 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         2 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  wherein said protein specifically bound by said antibody or portion thereof is glycosylated.  
     
     
         3 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         4 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         5 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         6 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         7 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         8 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  which is labeled.  
     
     
         9 . The antibody of  claim 8  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1  and a carrier.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is labeled.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         18 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         21 . A method of detecting NKEF C protein in a biological sample comprising: 
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1;  and    (b) detecting the NKEF C protein in the biological sample.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the antibody is a labeled antibody.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         29 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof produced by immunizing an animal with a protein whose sequence comprises amino acid residues +31 to +271 of SEQ ID NO:2; wherein said antibody or portion thereof specifically binds to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         30 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof that specifically binds to a protein selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein whose sequence consists of amino acid residues +1 to +271 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) a protein whose sequence consists of at least 30 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:2; and    (c) a protein whose sequence consists of at least 50 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         31 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 , that specifically binds protein (a).  
     
     
         32 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 , that specifically binds protein (b).  
     
     
         33 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 , that specifically binds protein (c).  
     
     
         34 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 , wherein said protein specifically bound by said isolated antibody or portion thereof is glycosylated.  
     
     
         35 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  which is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         36 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  which is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         37 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 , which is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         38 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  which is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         39 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  which is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         40 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  which is labeled.  
     
     
         41 . The antibody of  claim 40  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         42 . A composition comprising the isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30  and a carrier.  
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is labeled.  
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 48  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         50 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         51 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         52 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 35 .  
     
     
         53 . A method of assaying NKEF C protein in a biological sample comprising: 
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the isolated antibody or portion thereof of claim  30 ; and    (b) detecting NKEF C protein in the biological sample.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the isolated antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the antibody is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the antibody is a labeled antibody.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         61 . An antibody or portion thereof produced by immunizing an animal with a protein selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein whose sequence comprises amino acid residues +1 to +271 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) a protein whose sequence comprises 30 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:2; and    (c) a protein whose sequence comprises 50 contiguous amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:2;    wherein said antibody or portion thereof specifically binds to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         62 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 61  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (a).  
     
     
         63 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 61  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (b).  
     
     
         64 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 61  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (c).  
     
     
         65 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof that specifically binds to a protein whose sequence consists of the amino acid sequence of the mature form of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157.  
     
     
         66 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  wherein said protein specifically bound by said antibody or portion thereof is glycosylated.  
     
     
         67 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         68 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         69 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         70 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         71 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         72 . The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  which is labeled.  
     
     
         73 . The antibody of  claim 72  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         74 . A composition comprising the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65  and a carrier.  
     
     
         75 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         76 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         77 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         79 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is labeled.  
     
     
         80 . The composition of  claim 79  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         81 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody of  claim 65 .  
     
     
         82 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 65 .  
     
     
         83 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 67 .  
     
     
         84 . A method of detecting NKEF C protein in a biological sample comprising: 
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody or portion thereof of claim  65 ; and    (b) detecting the NKEF C protein in the biological sample.    
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the antibody is a labeled antibody.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 90  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         92 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof produced by immunizing an animal with a protein whose sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of the mature form of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157; wherein said antibody or portion thereof specifically binds to the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97103.  
     
     
         93 . An isolated antibody or portion thereof that specifically binds to a protein selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein whose sequence consists of the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157;    (b) a protein whose sequence consists of 30 contiguous amino acid residues of a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157; and    (c) a protein whose sequence consists of 50 contiguous amino acid residues of a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157.    
     
     
         94 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  that specifically binds protein (a).  
     
     
         95 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  that specifically binds protein (b).  
     
     
         96 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  that specifically binds protein (c).  
     
     
         97 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93 , wherein said protein specifically bound by said antibody or portion thereof is glycosylated.  
     
     
         98 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93 , which is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         99 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93 , which is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         100 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93 , which is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         101 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  which is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         102 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  which is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         103 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  which is labeled.  
     
     
         104 . The isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 103  wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;  
 (b) a radioisotope; and  
 (c) a fluorescent label.  
 
     
     
         105 . A composition comprising the isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93  and a carrier.  
     
     
         106 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         107 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         108 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         109 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         110 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         111 . The composition of  claim 105 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is labeled.  
     
     
         112 . The composition of  claim 111 , wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;    (b) a radioisotope; and    (c) a fluorescent label.    
     
     
         113 . An isolated cell that produces the isolated antibody or portion thereof of  claim 93 .  
     
     
         114 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 93 .  
     
     
         115 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody of  claim 98 .  
     
     
         116 . A method of assaying NKEF C protein in a biological sample comprising: 
 (a) contacting the biological sample from a test subject with the isolated antibody or portion thereof of claim  93 ; and    (b) detecting NKEF C protein in the biological sample.    
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a chimeric antibody.  
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is a Fab fragment.  
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the antibody or portion thereof is labeled.  
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 122 , wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an enzyme label;    (b) a radioisotope; and    (c) a fluorescent label.    
     
     
         124 . An antibody or portion thereof produced by immunizing an animal with a protein selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a protein whose sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157;    (b) a protein whose sequence comprises at least 30 contiguous amino acid residues of a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157; and    (c) a protein whose sequence comprises at least 50 contiguous amino acid residues of a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157;    wherein said antibody or portion thereof specifically binds to the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC® Deposit No. 97157.    
     
     
         125 . (New) The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 124  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (a).  
     
     
         126 . (New) The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 124  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (b).  
     
     
         127 . (New) The antibody or portion thereof of  claim 124  produced by immunizing an animal with protein (c).  
     
     
         128 . A method of treating a patient having need of a reduced level of NKEF C protein, comprising administering to said patient the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 128 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         130 . A method of treating a patient having need of a reduced level of NKEF C protein, comprising administering to said patient the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         131 . A method of treating a patient having need of a reduced level of NKEF C protein, comprising administering to said patient the antibody or portion thereof of  claim 65 .  
     
     
         132 . A method of treating a patient having need of a reduced level of NKEF C protein, comprising administering to said patient the antibody or portion thereof of claim  93 .