B7 related protein-2 molecules and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides B7 Related Protein-2 (B7RP-2) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides selective binding agents, vectors, host cells, and methods for producing B7RP-2 polypeptides. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with B7RP-2 polypeptides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising 
 (a) the nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (c) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under at least moderately stringent conditions to the complement of the nucleotide sequence of either (a) or (b), wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6; or    (d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(c).    
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: 
 (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least about 70 percent identical to the polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding an allelic variant or splice variant of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5 or the nucleotide sequence of (a);    (c) a region of the nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5, or the nucleotide sequence of (a) or (b), encoding a polypeptide fragment of at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide fragment has an activity of the encoded polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, or is antigenic;    (d) a region of the nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5 or the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(c) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides;    (e) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under at least moderately stringent conditions to the complement of the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(d), wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6; or    (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(e).    
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: 
 (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 that has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one modification that is an amino acid substitution, amino acid insertion, amino acid deletion, C-terminal truncation, or N-terminal truncation, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (f) a nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(e) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides;    (g) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under at least moderately stringent conditions to the complement of the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(f), wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6; or    (h) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of any of (a)-(g).    
     
     
         4 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         5 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . The host cell of  claim 5  that is a eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         7 . The host cell of  claim 5  that is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         8 . A process of producing a B7RP-2 polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 5  under suitable conditions to express the polypeptide, and optionally isolating the polypeptide from the culture.  
     
     
         9 . A polypeptide produced by the process of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises promoter DNA other than the promoter DNA for the native B7RP-2 polypeptide operatively linked to the DNA encoding the B7RP-2 polypeptide.  
     
     
         11 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 2 , wherein the percent identity is determined using a computer program that is GAP, BLASTN, FASTA, BLASTA, BLASTX, BestFit, or the Smith-Waterman algorithm.  
     
     
         12 . A process for determining whether a compound inhibits B7RP-2 polypeptide activity or B7RP-2 polypeptide production comprising exposing a cell according to any of claims  5 ,  6 , or  7  to the compound and measuring B7RP-2 polypeptide activity or B7RP-2 polypeptide production in the cell.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         14 . An isolated polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) an amino acid sequence for an ortholog of any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (b) an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ II) NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (c) a fragment of the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 comprising at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the fragment has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, or is antigenic; or    (d) an amino acid sequence for an allelic variant or splice variant of the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, or the amino acid sequence of either (a) or (b).    
     
     
         15 . An isolated polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (b) the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (c) the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6;    (d) the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 that has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6; or    (e) the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6 with at least one modification that is an amino acid substitution, amino acid insertion, amino acid deletion, C-terminal truncation, or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6.    
     
     
         16 . An isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         17 . The isolated polypeptide according to  claim 14 , wherein the percent identity is determined using a computer program that is GAP, BLASTP, FASTA, BLASTA, BLASTX, BestFit, or the Smith-Waterman algorithm.  
     
     
         18 . A selective binding agent or fragment thereof that specifically binds the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 .  
     
     
         19 . The selective binding agent or fragment thereof of  claim 18  that specifically binds the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6, or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is an antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a humanized antibody.  
     
     
         22 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a human antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a polyclonal antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The selective binding agent  claim 18  that is a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a chimeric antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a CDR-grafted antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is an antiidiotypic antibody or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is a variable region fragment.  
     
     
         29 . The variable region fragment of  claim 28  that is a Fab or a Fab′ fragment.  
     
     
         30 . A selective binding agent or fragment thereof comprising at least one complementarity determining region with specificity for a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         31 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that is bound to a detectable label.  
     
     
         32 . The selective binding agent of  claim 18  that antagonizes B7RP-2 polypeptide biological activity.  
     
     
         33 . A method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a medical disease, condition, or disorder comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a selective binding agent according to  claim 18 .  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteomyelitis, hypercalcemia, osteopenia, or osteonecrosis.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is an autoimmune disease.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), or psoriasis.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is a chronic inflammatory disease.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the chronic inflammatory disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or diabetes mellitus.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is cancer.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is an infectious disease.  
     
     
         41 . A selective binding agent produced by immunizing an animal with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         42 . A hybridoma that produces a selective binding agent capable of binding a polypeptide according to any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         43 . A method of detecting or quantitating the amount of B7RP-2 polypeptide using the selective binding agent or fragment of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         44 . A kit for detecting or quantitating the amount of GPCR polypeptide in a biological sample, comprising the selective binding agent of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         45 . A composition comprising the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent.  
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent is a carrier, adjuvant, solubilizer, stabilizer, or anti-oxidant.  
     
     
         47 . A polypeptide comprising a derivative of the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 .  
     
     
         48 . The polypeptide of  claim 47  that is covalently modified with a water-soluble polymer.  
     
     
         49 . The polypeptide of  claim 48 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol, monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran, cellulose, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols, or polyvinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         50 . A composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3  and a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent.  
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 50 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is contained in a viral vector.  
     
     
         52 . A viral vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         53 . A fusion polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15  fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence.  
     
     
         54 . The fusion polypeptide of  claim 53 , wherein the heterologous amino acid sequence is an IgG constant domain or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         55 . A method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a medical disease, condition, or disorder comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 , or the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteomyelitis, hypercalcemia, osteopenia, or osteonecrosis.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is an autoimmune disease.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), or psoriasis.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is a chronic inflammatory disease.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the chronic inflammatory disease is inflammatory bowel disease, Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or diabetes mellitus.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is cancer.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the medical disease, condition, or disorder is an infectious disease.  
     
     
         63 . A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: 
 (a) determining the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 , or the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3  in a sample; and    (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide.    
     
     
         64 . A device, comprising: 
 (a) a membrane suitable for implantation; and    (b) cells encapsulated within the membrane, wherein the cells secrete a protein of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15 ; and    wherein the membrane is permeable to the protein and impermeable to materials detrimental to the cells.    
     
     
         65 . A method of identifying a compound that binds to a B7RP-2 polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) contacting the polypeptide of any of claims  13 ,  14 , or  15  with a compound; and    (b) determining the extent of binding of the B7RP-2 polypeptide to the compound.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising determining the activity of the polypeptide when bound to the compound.  
     
     
         67 . A method of modulating levels of a polypeptide in an animal comprising administering to the animal the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         68 . A transgenic non-human mammal comprising the nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         69 . A process for determining whether a compound inhibits B7RP-2 polypeptide activity or B7RP-2 polypeptide production comprising exposing a transgenic mammal according to  claim 68  to the compound, and measuring B7RP-2 polypeptide activity or B7RP-2 polypeptide production in the transgenic mammal.  
     
     
         70 . A nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3  attached to a solid support.  
     
     
         71 . An array of nucleic acid molecules comprising at least one nucleic acid molecule of any of claims  1 ,  2 , or  3 .  
     
     
         72 . An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution that is a valine at position 20; valine at position 29; valine at position 101; tyrosine at position 120; leucine at position 184; valine at position 260; valine or isoleucine at position 261; aspartic acid at position 291; or glutamic acid at position 306; wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         73 . An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32.