Il-17 homologous polypeptides and therapeutic uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides having sequence identity with IL-17, IL-17 receptors and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention. Further provided herein are methods for treating degenerative cartilaginous disorders and other inflammatory diseases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting the presence of tumor in an mammal, said method comprising comparing the level of expression of
 (i) the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:18; or   (ii) the polypeptide encoded by the the full-length coding sequence of the cDNA deposited under ATCC accession number PTA-2591   in (a) a test sample of cells taken from said mammal and (b) a control sample of normal cells of the same cell type, wherein a higher level of expression of said polypeptide in the test sample as compared to the control sample is indicative of the presence of tumor in said mammal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor is kidney tumor, lung tumor, or rectal tumor.