Cell volume-regulated human kinase h-sgk

Abstract

The present invention relates to the cloning and characterization of a human serine/threonine kinase (h-sgk: serum and glucocorticoid dependent kinase). The invention furthermore relates to reagents for diagnosing conditions associated with a change in cell volume and/or in “macromolecular crowding” in the body, such as, for example, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, diabetes. mellitus, renal failure, hypercatabolism, hepatic encephalopathy, inflammation and microbial or viral infections. The present invention additionally relates to pharmaceuticals comprising the h-sgk, nucleic acids which code for the h-sgk, or receptors, in particular antibodies, which specifically bind to the h-sgk.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A receptor which binds specifically to the human cell volume-regulated kinase h-sgk.  
     
     
         22 . The receptor according to  claim 21 , wherein the receptor is an antibody.  
     
     
         23 . The receptor according to  claim 21 , wherein the receptor is a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         24 . The receptor according to  claim 21 , wherein the receptor binds to at least one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   DPEFTEEPVPNSIGKSPDS; 
                   (1) 
                     
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   EAFLGFSYAPPTDSFL. 
                   (2) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         25 . A method for preparing antibodies for immunizing an animal, which comprises using at least one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   DPEFTEEPVPNSIGKSPDS; 
                   (1) 
                     
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   EAFLGFSYAPPTDSFL. 
                   (2) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         26 . A method of detecting in a sample a receptor which binds to the human cell volume-regulated kinase h-sgk comprising: 
 (a) contacting the kinase h-sgk with a sample suspected of containing said receptor under conditions sufficient to allow binding of the h-sgk to said receptor, and    (b) determining the extent of the binding.    
     
     
         27 . A method of detecting in a sample a human cell volume-regulated kinase h-sgk or a fragment thereof, comprising: 
 (a) contacting a receptor as claimed in  claim 21  with a sample suspected of containing the kinase h-sgk or a fragment thereof under conditions sufficient to allow binding of said receptor to the kinase h-sgk, and    (b) determining the extent of the binding.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the method is an immunochemical method.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the receptor is an antibody.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the receptor is a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the receptor binds to at least one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   DPEFTEEPVPNSIGKSPDS; 
                   (1) 
                     
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   EAFLGFSYAPPTDSFL. 
                   (2) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the receptor is an antibody which binds to at least one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   DPEFTEEPVPNSIGKSPDS; 
                   (1) 
                     
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   EAFLGFSYAPPTDSFL. 
                   (2) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         33 . A method of detecting cell swelling or cell shrinkage, comprising 
 (a) obtaining a body fluid or solid tissue sample,    (b) contacting said sample with a receptor as claimed in  claim 21 , under conditions sufficient to allow binding of said receptor to the kinase h-sgk, and    (c) determining the extent of the binding.    
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the receptor is an antibody.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the sample is obtained from a patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of hypernatremia, hyponatremia, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, hypercatabolism, hepatic encephalopathy, impaired regulation of hepatic metabolism, inflammation, and infection.