Connective Tissue Growth Factor-3 (CTGF-3)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel connective tissue growth factor-3 protein which is a member of the growth factor superfamily. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human connective tissue growth factor-3 protein. Connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. Also provided are diagnostic and therapeutic methods for detecting and treating connective tissue related disorders.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −19 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −18 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756;   (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756; and   (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).   
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756. 
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence encoding the connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence encoding the mature connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule, comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence identical to a nucleotide sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide which hybridizes does not hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues or of only T residues. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide which encodes the amino acid sequence of an epitope-bearing portion of a connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 6 , which encodes an epitope-bearing portion of a connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 36 to about 49 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 75 to about 109 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 115 to about 139 in SEQ ID NO:2; and a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 196 to about 230 in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         8 . A method for making a recombinant vector, comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  into a vector. 
     
     
         9 . A recombinant vector produced by the method of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a recombinant host cell comprising introducing the recombinant vector of  claim 9  into a host cell. 
     
     
         11 . A recombinant host cell produced by the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A recombinant method for producing a connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide, comprising culturing the recombinant host cell of  claim 11  under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide. 
     
     
         13 . An isolated connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) amino acids from about −19 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) amino acids from about −18 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (c) amino acids from about 1 to about 231 in SEQ ID NO:2;   (d) the amino acid sequence of the connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756;   (e) the amino acid sequence of the mature connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC™ Deposit No. 97756; and   (f) the amino acid sequence of an epitope-bearing portion of any one of the polypeptides of (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).   
     
     
         14 . An isolated polypeptide of  claim 13 , comprising an epitope-bearing portion of connective tissue growth factor-3, wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 36 to about 49 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 75 to about 109 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 115 to about 139 in SEQ ID NO:2; and a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 196 to about 230 in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 13 , which is produced or contained in a recombinant host cell. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein said recombinant host cell is mammalian. 
     
     
         17 . An isolated antibody or antibody fragment that binds specifically to a connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating an individual in need of a decreased level of connective tissue growth factor-3 activity, comprising administering to said individual a composition comprising the isolated antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating an individual in need of an increased level of connective tissue growth factor-3 activity, comprising administering to said individual a composition comprising the isolated connective tissue growth factor-3 polypeptide of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         20 . A diagnostic method, comprising:
 (a) assaying connective tissue growth factor-3 gene expression level in mammalian cells or body fluid; and   (b) comparing said connective tissue growth factor-3 gene expression level with a standard connective tissue growth factor-3 gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in said connective tissue growth factor-3 gene expression level compared to said standard is indicative of a connective tissue-related disorder.