Antibodies against human ccn1 and uses thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for the recombinant expression of mammalian cell membrane-bound human CCN1 or a CCN1 domain thereof in mammalian cells, comprising transforming a mammalian host cell with a vector encoding CCN1 or a CCN1 domain thereof C-terminally fused to a mammalian cell transmembrane domain (CCN1 fusion protein), expressing said CCN1 or CCN1 domain fusion protein in said host cell, and recovering said membrane bound CCN1 or said CCN1 domain thereof. Disclosed herein is the use of such membrane bound CCN1 and domain for the generation of corresponding antibodies. Antibodies against human CCN1 are useful for the treatment of diseases.

1 . A method for the recombinant expression of mammalian cell membrane-bound human CCN1 or a CCN1 domain thereof in mammalian cells, comprising the steps of:
 a) transforming a mammalian host cell with a nucleic acid vector encoding CCN1 or a CCN1 domain thereof C-terminally fused to a mammalian cell transmembrane domain (CCN1 fusion protein);   b) expressing said CCN1 or CCN1 domain fusion protein in said host cell; and   c) recovering said membrane bound CCN1 or said CCN1 domain thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the domain of CCN1 is the variable domain of CCN1. 
     
     
         3 . A method of generating an isolated antibody against human CCN1 comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a mammalian cell membrane-bound human CCN1 or CCN1 domain;   b) immunizing a non-human animal with mammalian cell membrane-bound CCN1 or domain of CCN1; and   c) recovering an isolated antibody against said CCN1 or against said domain of CCN1.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the domain of CCN1 is the variable domain of CCN1. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated antibody against human CCN1, wherein said antibody specifically binds to
 a) amino acids 210 to 228 of the CCN1 variable domain; and   b) to a fusion protein consisting of the variable domain of CCN1 which is C-terminally fused to the transmembrane domain of the human beta-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor, wherein said fusion protein is expressed on the surface of a human cell.   
     
     
         6 . A method of treating a tumor disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the isolated antibody of  claim 5 .