Antibodies to natural killer stimulatory factor

Abstract

This application relates to antibodies reactive with a novel homogenous human cytokine, Natural Killer Stimulator Factor (NKSF), having the ability to induce the production of gamia interferon in vitro in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and a pharmaceutical preparation containing such antibodies.

1 - 31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . Isolated DNA sequences encoding natural killer cell stimulatory factor protein exhibiting natural killer cell stimulatory protein activity, wherein said DNA sequences comprise: 
 a) a mutated nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising amino acids 23 to 328 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1, wherein said amino acids have a substitution and/or deletion mutation in a glycosylation site chosen from asn-X-thr or asn-X-ser, wherein X is any amino acid, and    b) nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising amino acids 57 to 253 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 2.    
     
     
         33 . The mutated nucleic acid of claim  31 , wherein the mutation in the glycosylation site results in partial glycosylation at that site.  
     
     
         34 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 32 , wherein the mutation in the glycosylation site results in no glycosylation at that site.  
     
     
         35 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 32 , wherein the X in the glycosylation site is deleted.  
     
     
         36 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 32 , wherein the asn in the glycosylation site is deleted or substituted with another amino acid.  
     
     
         37 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 32 , wherein the thr or ser in the glycosylation site is deleted or substituted with another amino acid, wherein when the glycosylation site contains a thr it is not mutated to a ser and when the glycosylation site contains a ser it is not mutated to a thr.  
     
     
         38 . Isolated DNA sequences encoding natural killer cell stimulatory factor protein exhibiting natural killer cell stimulatory protein activity, wherein said DNA sequences comprise: 
 a) a nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising the amino acids 23 to 328 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1, and    b) a mutated nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising amino acids 57 to 253 of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 2, wherein said amino acids have a substitution and/or deletion mutation in a glycosylation site chosen from asn-X-thr or asn-X-ser, wherein X is any amino acid.    
     
     
         39 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the mutation in the glycosylation site results in partial glycosylation at that site.  
     
     
         40 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the mutation in the glycosylation site results in no glycosylation at that site.  
     
     
         41 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the X in the glycosylation site is deleted.  
     
     
         42 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the asn in the glycosylation site is deleted or substituted with another amino acid.  
     
     
         43 . The mutated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the thr or ser in the glycosylation site is deleted or substituted with another amino acid, wherein when the glycosylation site contains a thr it is not mutated to a ser and when the glycosylation site contains a ser it is not mutated to a thr.  
     
     
         44 . Isolated DNA sequences encoding natural killer cell stimulatory factor protein exhibiting natural killer cell stimulatory protein activity, wherein said nucleic acids comprise: 
 a) a mutated nucleic acid sequence comprising nucleotides 99 to 1016 of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 1 wherein said nucleic acid sequence has a substitution and/or deletion mutation in a sequence encoding a glycosylation site chosen from asn-X-thr or asn-X-ser, wherein X is any amino acid, and    b) a mutated nucleic acid sequence comprising nucleotides 269 to 859 of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 2, wherein said nucleic acid sequence has a substitution and/or deletion mutation in a sequence encoding a glycosylation site chosen from asn-X-thr or asn-X-ser, wherein X is any amino acid.    
     
     
         45 . The nucleic acid sequences of  claim 32 , wherein said nucleic acid sequences are in operative association of an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         46 . The nucleic acid sequences of  claim 39 , wherein said nucleic acid sequences are in operative association of an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         47 . The nucleic acid sequences of  claim 44 , wherein said nucleic acid sequences are in operative association of an expression control sequence.  
     
     
         48 . A cell comprising the nucleic acid sequences of  claim 45 .  
     
     
         49 . A cell comprising the nucleic acid sequences of  claim 46 .  
     
     
         50 . A cell comprising the nucleic acid sequences of  claim 47 .  
     
     
         51 . A process for producing natural killer cell stimulatory protein, comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing the host cell of  claim 48;  and    b) isolating said protein.    
     
     
         52 . A process for producing natural killer cell stimulatory protein, comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing the host cell of  claim 49;  and    b) isolating said protein.    
     
     
         53 . A process for producing natural killer cell stimulatory protein, comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing the host cell of  claim 50;  and    b) isolating said protein.    
     
     
         54 . An isolated DNA sequence that hybridizes to a nucleic acid of  claim 32  under stringent conditions chosen from: 
 a) 4×SSC at 65° C., followed by washing in 0.1×SSC at 65° C. for one hour; and    b) 50% formamide in 4×SSC at 42° C.    
     
     
         55 . An isolated DNA sequence that hybridizes to a nucleic acid of  claim 44  under stringent conditions chosen from: 
 a) 4×SSC at 65° C., followed by washing in 0.1×SSC at 65° C. for one hour; and    b) 50% formamide in 4×SSC at 42° C.