Growth differentiation factor-3

Abstract

Growth Differentiation factor-3 (GDF-3) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the GDF-3 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences.

1 . A method of treating obesity associated with expression of GDF-3 in a subject, comprising contacting cells expressing GDF-3 with a reagent that suppresses or enhances GDF-3 expression.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunologic disorder is associated with abnormal proliferation of adipocytes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the abnormal proliferation of adipocytes is associated with diabetes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enhancement of GDF-3 suppresses proliferation of B cells and T cells, thereby inhibiting adipocyte differentiation in the subject.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is a GDF-3 antisense sequence.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the GDF-3 antisense sequence is introduced into the cell using a recombinant expression vector.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is an anti-GDF-3 antibody or an antigen binding fragment of the antibody, which selectively binds a GDF-3 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NOS: 6 or 29.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antigen binding fragment of the antibody comprises an Fab fragment, an FAb′ fragment, an (Fab′) 2  fragment or an Fv fragment.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating diabetes associated with expression of GDF-3 in a subject, comprising contacting cells expressing GDF-3 with a reagent that suppresses of enhances GDF-3 expression.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the diabetes is associated with abnormal proliferation of adipocytes.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reagent is a GDF-3 antisense sequence.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the GDF-3 antisense sequence is introduced into the cell using a recombinant expression vector.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reagent is an anti-GDF-3 antibody, or antigen binding fragment of the antibody, which selectively binds a GDF-3 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NOS: 6 or 29.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antigen binding fragment of the antibody comprises an Fab fragment, an FAb′ fragment, an (Fab′)2 fragment or an Fv fragment.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.