T cell protein and nucleotides encoding the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to mouse and human J12 polynucleotides, polypeptide and anti J12 antibody molecules. The J12 is a cytokine that is preferentially expressed in Th2 cells. The polypeptides and/or antibodies described herein can be used in methods for detection and treatment of certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including asthma.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2.  
     
     
         2 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 1  operably linked to an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         3 . A cultured cell comprising the vector of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         4 . A method of producing a protein said method comprising culturing a cell of  claim 3  under conditions permitting expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 6.  
     
     
         6 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 5  operably linked to an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         7 . A cultured cell comprising the vector of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a protein said method comprising culturing a cell of  claim 7  under conditions permitting expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence that encodes a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 8.  
     
     
         10 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 9  operably linked to an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         11 . A cultured cell comprising the vector of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a protein said method comprising culturing a cell of  claim 11  under conditions permitting expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID No. 3 or SEQ ID No. 5.  
     
     
         14 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence comprising a sequence selected from SEQ ID No. 15-18.  
     
     
         15 . An antibody against a polypeptide selected from the list consisting of human J12 var1, human J12 var2 or human J12 var3.  
     
     
         16 . A purified polypeptide, the amino acid sequence of which comprises a sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID No. 6 or SEQ ID No. 8.  
     
     
         17 . A method of identifying a compound that inhibits the binding of J12 to its natural binding partner, the method comprising, 
 a) providing a J12 polypeptide comprising selected from SEQ ID No. 2, 6-8;    b) contacting the polypeptide with its natural binding partner and a test compound    c) determining whether binding of the binding partner to the polypeptide is decreases in the presence of the test compound, a decrease in said binding being an indication that the test compound inhibits the binding of J12 to its binding partner.