Cytokine protein family

Abstract

The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zcyto20, zcyto21, zcyto22, zycto24, and zcyto25 proteins which are most closely related to interferon-α at the amino acid sequence level. The receptor for this protein family is a class II cytokine receptor. The present invention includes methods of reducing viral infections and increasing monocyte counts. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zcyto20 polypeptides, and methods of producing the polynucleotides and polypeptides.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 22-205 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide binds a receptor as shown in SEQ ID NOs:24, 27 or 29 as a monomeric or homodimeric receptor or a receptor as shown in SEQ ID NOs:24, 27 or 29 in combination with SEQ ID NO:41 as a heterodimeric receptor.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 1-205 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 22-205 of SEQ ID NO:7.  
     
     
         5 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide binds a receptor as shown in SEQ ID NOs:24, 27 or 29 as a monomeric or homodimeric receptor or a receptor as shown in SEQ ID NOs:24, 27 or 29 in combination with SEQ ID NO:41 as a heterodimeric receptor.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acid residues 1-205 of SEQ ID NO:7.