Dendritic cell receptor

Abstract

The invention provides isolated human DEC-205, its extracellular domain and functionally equivalent fragments thereof. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding same and vectors which include such polynucleotides. Further provided are methods of recombinantly producing human DEC-205, an extracellular domain thereof or a functionally equivalent fragment, and ligands that bind to human DEC-205 or a fragment thereof. Also provided are constructs for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising such a ligand, human DEC-205 or an extracellular domain thereof coupled to a toxin or to an antigen capable of inducing a protective immune response in a patient.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A ligand that binds to human DEC-205 which has an approximate molecular weight of 198-205 kDa and which includes the following amino acid sequences:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                    (i) 
                   TVDCNDNQPGAICYYSGNETEKEVKPVDSVKCPSPVLNTPWIPF 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                     
                   QNCCYNFIITKNRHMATTQDEVQSTCEKLHPKSHILSIRDEKE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                   NNFVLEQLLYFNYMASWVMLGITYRNNSL; 
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                 
                   (ii) 
                   SQHRLFHLHSQKCLGLDITKSVNELRMFSCDSSAML; 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         or a functionally equivalent fragment thereof.  
       
     
     
         15 . A ligand that binds to an extracellular domain of human DEC-205 or fragment thereof as defined in  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . A ligand as claimed in  claim 14  which is an antibody, or antibody binding fragment.  
     
     
         17 . A construct for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising a ligand as claimed in  claim 14  coupled to an antigen capable of inducing protective immune response in a patient.  
     
     
         18 . A construct for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising a ligand as claimed in  claim 14  coupled to a toxin.  
     
     
         19 . A construct for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising human DEC-205 or an extracellular domain thereof as defined in  claim 14  coupled to an antigen capable of inducing a protective immune response in a patient.  
     
     
         20 . A construct for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising human DEC-205 or an extracellular domain thereof as defined in  claim 14  coupled to a toxin.  
     
     
         21 . A method of prophylaxis or therapy which comprises administering to a patient in need of the same human DEC-205 as defined in  claim 14 , an extracellular domain as claimed in as defined above, a ligand as defined above, or a construct as defined above.  
     
     
         22 . A process for isolating activated dendritic cells expressing human DEC-205 on the surface thereof comprising the step of contacting a sample containing said cells with a ligand as claimed in  claim 16 , and isolating those cells to which the ligand has bound.