Viral receptor protein

Abstract

The invention provides a human viral receptor protein (ACVRP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode ACVRP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of ACVRP

1 . A substantially purified viral receptor protein (ACVRP) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         2 . A substantially purified variant of ACVRP having at least 90% amino acid identity to the amino acid sequence of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence encoding the ACVRP of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide variant having at least 90% polynucleotide identity to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         5 . A composition comprising the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         6 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         7 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence which is complementary to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         8 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:2 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide variant having at least 90% polynucleotide identity to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence which is complementary to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         11 . An expression vector containing at least a fragment of the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         12 . A host cell containing the expression vector of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) culturing the host cell of  claim 12  under conditions suitable for the expression of the polypeptide; and    (b) recovering the polypeptide from the host cell culture.    
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the ACVRP of  claim 1  in conjunction with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A purified antibody which specifically binds to the ACVRP of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A purified agonist of the ACVRP of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A purified antagonist of the ACVRP of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for treating or preventing cancer, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the antagonist of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         19 . A method for treating or preventing inflammation, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the antagonist of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         20 . A method for treating or preventing a viral disorder, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the antagonist of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         21 . A method for detecting a polynucleotide encoding ACVRP in a biological sample containing nucleic acids, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) hybridizing the polynucleotide of  claim 7  to at least one of the nucleic acids of the biological sample, thereby forming a hybridization complex; and    (b) detecting the hybridization complex, wherein the presence of the hybridization complex correlates with the presence of a polynucleotide encoding ACVRP in the biological sample.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the nucleic acids of the biological sample are amplified by the polymerase chain reaction prior to the hybridizing step.