Mammalian cytokines; related reagents and methods

Abstract

Purified genes encoding cytokine from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An isolated antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a complex of an IL-12 p40 polypeptide and an IL-B30 polypeptide, wherein:
 a) the IL-12 p40 polypeptide comprises the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:20; and   b) the IL-B30 polypeptide comprises the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;   wherein the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, binds to sequences within the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and   further wherein the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof does not bind to either the mature human IL-12p40 polypeptide alone or the mature human IL-B30 polypeptide alone, and   yet further wherein the complex of IL-12p40 and IL-B30 is generated by co-expressing nucleic acids encoding the respective polypeptide chains in a mammalian cell and collecting the IL-12p40/IL-B30 complex secreted from the cell.   
     
     
         52 . The antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 51  comprising a monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 51  comprising a humanized antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The antigen binding fragment of  claim 51  comprising an Fv fragment, an Fab fragment, or an F(ab′)2 fragment. 
     
     
         55 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising:
 a) the antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 51 ; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         56 . An isolated antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a complex of an IL-12 p40 polypeptide and an IL-B30 polypeptide, wherein:
 a) the IL-12 p40 polypeptide consists of the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:20; and   b) the IL-B30 polypeptide consists of the mature sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;   wherein the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, does not bind to either the mature human IL-12p40 polypeptide alone or the mature human IL-B30 polypeptide alone, and   further wherein the complex of IL-12p40 and IL-B30 is generated by co-expressing genes encoding the respective polypeptide chains in a mammalian cell and collecting the IL-12p40/IL-B30 complex secreted from the cell.   
     
     
         57 . The antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 56  comprising a monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 56  comprising a humanized antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The antigen binding fragment of  claim 56  comprising an Fv fragment, an Fab fragment, or an F(ab)2 fragment. 
     
     
         60 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising:
 a) the antibody or antigen binding fragment of  claim 56 ; and   b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.