Compositions and methods for the treatment of immune related diseases

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions containing a novel protein and methods of using those compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of immune related diseases.

1 . An isolated polypeptide having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to:
 (a) an amino acid sequence of the polypeptide shown in  FIG. 2  (SEQ ID NO:2);   (b) an amino acid sequence of the polypeptide shown in  FIG. 2  (SEQ ID NO:2); lacking its associated signal peptide;   (c) an amino acid sequence of an extracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in  FIG. 2  (SEQ ID NO:2); with its associated signal peptide; or   (d) an amino acid sequence of an extracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in  FIG. 2  (SEQ ID NO:2); lacking its associated signal peptide.   
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence encoded by the full-length coding sequence of the DNA deposited under the ATCC accession number PTA-1731. 
     
     
         3 . A chimeric molecule comprising a polypeptide according to  claim 1  fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 3 , wherein said heterologous amino acid sequence is an epitope tag sequence or an Fc region of an immunoglobulin. 
     
     
         5 . A composition of matter comprising (a) a polypeptide of  claim 1 , (b) an agonist of said polypeptide, (c) an antagonist of said polypeptide, or (d) an antibody that binds to said polypeptide, in combination with a carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of matter of  claim 5 , wherein said carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of matter of  claim 5  comprising a therapeutically effective amount of (a), (b), (c) or (d). 
     
     
         8 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a container;   a label on said container; and   a composition of matter comprising (a) a polypeptide of  claim 1 , (b) an agonist of said polypeptide, (c) an antagonist of said polypeptide, or (d) an antibody that binds to said polypeptide, contained within said container, wherein label on said container indicates that said composition of matter can be used for treating an immune related disease.