Novel hemopoietin receptor protein, nr12

Abstract

A novel hemopoietin receptor gene (NR12) was successfully isolated by extracting motifs conserved among the amino acid sequences of known hemopoietin receptors and by using the predicted sequence. The NR12 gene encodes two forms of proteins, a transmembrane type and a soluble type. The expression of the NR12 gene was detected in tissues containing hematopoietic cells. NR12 is a novel hemopoietin receptor molecule involved in the regulation of immune system and hematopoiesis in vivo. Thus, NR12 is useful in the search for novel hematopoietic factors that functionally bind to the NR12 receptor, and in the development of therapeutic drugs for diseases associated with immunity or hematopoiesis.

1 . A purified antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . A purified antibody or fragment thereof that binds specifically to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence from Gly at position 24 to Cys at position 337 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         5 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         8 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         9 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a human antibody. 
     
     
         10 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is a human antibody. 
     
     
         11 . A modified antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is bound to a molecule using chemical modification. 
     
     
         12 . A modified antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence from Gly at position 24 to Cys at position 337 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the antibody or fragment thereof is bound to a molecule using chemical modification. 
     
     
         13 . The antibody fragment of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain Fv. 
     
     
         14 . The antibody fragment of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody fragment is a single chain Fv. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an immune complex, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1 , and   (b) contacting the antibody or fragment thereof with a polypeptide that binds to the antibody.   
     
     
         16 . A method of forming an immune complex, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2 , and   (b) contacting the antibody or fragment thereof with a polypeptide that binds to the antibody.   
     
     
         17 . A method of forming an immune complex, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 5 , and   (b) contacting the antibody or fragment thereof with a polypeptide that binds to the antibody.   
     
     
         18 . A method of forming an immune complex, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 6 , and   (b) contacting the antibody or fragment thereof with a polypeptide that binds to the antibody.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 (c) detecting the immune complex.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 (c) detecting the immune complex.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 (c) detecting the immune complex.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 (c) detecting the immune complex.