Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Gene, SPPR

Abstract

A novel sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor gene, herein termed sppr, and its splice variants. Sppr is up-regulated in LGL and is useful, for example, in the diagnosis and treatment of certain lymphoproliferative, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.

1 . A composition of matter comprising:
 (a) an isolated sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (sppr) gene having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; or   (b) an isolated nucleic acid comprising a sequence of more than 100 base pairs that is, or is complementary to, at least 100 bases of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, OR SEQ ID NO:13; or   (c) a genetic construct comprising a sequence of more than 100 base pairs that is, or is complementary to, at least 100 bases of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, OR SEQ ID NO:13; or   (d) an isolated nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes to a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; or   (e) a purified protein that is sppr or a fragment or derivative thereof; or   (f) a purified protein having greater that 85% homology to the amino acid sequence of   SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO: 12, or SEQ ID NO: 14, or a fragment or an analog of any of the foregoing; or   (g) an expression vector containing the gene of (a); or   (h) an expression vector containing the gene of (b); or   (i) a host cell that is transformed with the vector of (g); or   (j) an antisense nucleic acid molecule complementary to a ribonucleic acid molecule that is the mRNA of a sequence of more than 100 base pairs that is, or is complementary to, at least 100 bases of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, OR SEQ ID NO: 13; or   (k) a monoclonal antibody to the protein of (e) or (f).   
     
     
         2 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises the isolated nucleic acid of (b), and wherein said nucleic acid is ribonucleic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of matter of  claim 2 , wherein said ribonucleic acid is mRNA. 
     
     
         4 . A method for producing a recombinant sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (sppr) protein, comprising introducing a polynucleotide into a host cell to thereby transform said host cell, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:9, or SEQ ID NO:13 cultivating the thus-obtained transformant; and recovering the recombinant sppr protein thus produced. 
     
     
         5 . A method for screening for an autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease, comprising: providing a sample from a patient; and screening the sample for over-expression of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor (sppr). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sample comprises RNA and said screening comprises measuring sppr mRNA. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sample comprises protein and said screening comprises measuring sppr protein. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the disease is large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia or rheumatoid arthritis.