Methods of treatment with an antibody that suppresses growth differentiation factor-14 activity

Abstract

Growth differentiation factor-14 (GDF-14) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed are diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the GDF-14 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences.

1 . A method of treating an immunologic disorder associated with expression of GDF-14 in a subject, comprising contacting cells expressing GDF-14 with a reagent that suppresses or enhances GDF-14 expression.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunologic disorder is associated with abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enhancement of GDF-14 suppresses proliferation of B cells and T cells, thereby reducing inflammation in the subject.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is a GDF-14 antisense sequence.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the GDF-14 antisense sequence is introduced into the cell using a recombinant expression vector.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is an anti-GDF-14 antibody or an antigen binding fragment of the antibody, which selectively binds a GDF-14 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antigen binding fragment of the antibody comprises an Fab fragment, an FAb′ fragment, an (Fab′)2 fragment or an Fv fragment.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating cancer in a subject, comprising contacting cells expressing GDF-14 with a reagent that suppresses or enhances GDF-14 expression.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cancer includes gonadal and adrenal tumors.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cancer is colon cancer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein the reagent is a GDF-14 antisense sequence.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the GDF-14 antisense sequence is introduced into the cell using a recombinant expression vector.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reagent is an anti-GDF-14 antibody, or antigen binding fragment of the antibody, which selectively binds a GDF-14 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         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.