Monocyte-derived Nucleic Acids and Related Compositions and Methods

Abstract

Nucleic acids encoding various monocyte-derived proteins and related compositions, including purified proteins and specific antibodies are described. Methods of using such composition are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10. 
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1  comprising the amino acid sequence of the mature protein. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid of  claim 3  wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes the mature protein. 
     
     
         5 . The nucleic acid of  claim 4  comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID:
 NO 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. 
 
     
     
         6 . A fusion protein comprising the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A binding compound which specifically binds to the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The binding compound of  claim 7  which is an antibody or antibody fragment. 
     
     
         9 . The binding compound of  claim 8  wherein the anitbody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         10 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         11 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A process for recombinatly producing a polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 11  under conditions in which the polypeptide is expressed. 
     
     
         13 . A method for detecting a specific nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample suspected to contain a specific nucleic acid sequence with a probe comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 8 consecutive nucleotides selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 under conditions in which a hybrid can form between said probe and the specific nucleic acid in said sample; and   (ii) detecting any hybrid formed in step (i), wherein detection of said hybrid indicates the presence of the specific nucleic acid sequence in said sample.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising amplifying said specific sequence in said sample prior to said detecting step. 
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting a specific antigenic component in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample suspected to contain a specific antigenic component encoded by an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 with an antibody specific for said component, under conditions in which a stable antigen-antibody complex can form between said antibody and said antigenic component in said sample; and   (ii) detecting any antigen-antibody complex formed in step (i), wherein detection of an antigen-antibody complex indicates the presence of said antigenic component in said sample.   
     
     
         16 . A method of screening for candidate therapeutic agents comprising:
 selecting as a target sequence a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10;   contacting a test compound with said target sequence; and   selecting as candidate therapeutic agent those test compounds which bind to the target sequence.