Secreted protein HT5GJ57

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No: PCT/US99/15849 filed Jul. 14, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Applications:

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides, uses of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production.

Unlike bacterium, which exist as a single compartment surrounded by a membrane, human cells and other eucaryotes are subdivided by membranes into many functionally distinct compartments. Each membrane-bounded compartment, or organelle, contains different proteins essential for the function of the organelle. The cell uses “sorting signals,” which are amino acid motifs located within the protein, to target proteins to particular cellular organelles.

One type of sorting signal, called a signal sequence, a signal peptide, or a leader sequence, directs a class of proteins to an organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER separates the membrane-bounded proteins from all other types of proteins. Once localized to the ER, both groups of proteins can be further directed to another organelle called the Golgi apparatus. Here, the Golgi distributes the proteins to vesicles, including secretory vesicles, the cell membrane, lysosomes, and the other organelles.

Proteins targeted to the ER by a signal sequence can be released into the extracellular space as a secreted protein. For example, vesicles containing secreted proteins can fuse with the cell membrane and release their contents into the extracellular space—a process called exocytosis. Exocytosis can occur constitutively or after receipt of a triggering signal. In the latter case, the proteins are stored in secretory vesicles (or secretory granules) until exocytosis is triggered. Similarly, proteins residing on the cell membrane can also be secreted into the extracellular space by proteolytic cleavage of a “linker” holding the protein to the membrane.

Despite the great progress made in recent years, only a small number of genes encoding human secreted proteins have been identified. These secreted proteins include the commercially valuable human insulin, interferon, Factor VIII, human growth hormone, tissue plasminogen activator, and erythropoeitin. Thus, in light of the pervasive role of secreted proteins in human physiology, a need exists for identifying and characterizing novel human secreted proteins and the genes that encode them. This knowledge will allow one to detect, to treat, and to prevent medical diseases, disorders, and/or conditions by using secreted proteins or the genes that encode them.

The present invention relates to novel polynucleotides and the encoded polypeptides. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to the polypeptides and polynucleotides, and therapeutic methods for treating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying binding partners of the polypeptides.

The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used throughout this specification.

In the present invention, “isolated” refers to material removed from its original environment (e.g., the natural environment if it is naturally occurring), and thus is altered “by the hand of man” from its natural state. For example, an isolated polynucleotide could be part of a vector or a composition of matter, or could be contained within a cell, and still be “isolated” because that vector, composition of matter, or particular cell is not the original environment of the polynucleotide. The term “isolated” does not refer to genomic or cDNA libraries, whole cell total or mRNA preparations, genomic DNA preparations (including those separated by electrophoresis and transferred onto blots), sheared whole cell genomic DNA preparations or other compositions where the art demonstrates no distinguishing features of the polynucleotide/sequences of the present invention.

In the present invention, a “secreted” protein refers to those proteins capable of being directed to the ER, secretory vesicles, or the extracellular space as a result of a signal sequence, as well as those proteins released into the extracellular space without necessarily containing a signal sequence. If the secreted protein is released into the extracellular space, the secreted protein can undergo extracellular processing to produce a “mature” protein. Release into the extracellular space can occur by many mechanisms, including exocytosis and proteolytic cleavage.

In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention are at least 15, at least 30, at least 50, at least 100, at least 125, at least 500, or at least 1000 continuous nucleotides but are less than or equal to 300 kb, 200 kb, 100 kb, 50 kb, 15 kb, 10 kb, 7.5 kb, 5 kb, 2.5 kb, 2.0 kb, or 1 kb, in length. In a further embodiment, polynucleotides of the invention comprise a portion of the coding sequences, as disclosed herein, but do not comprise all or a portion of any intron. In another embodiment, the polynucleotides comprising coding sequences do not contain coding sequences of a genomic flanking gene (i.e., 5′ or 3′ to the gene of interest in the genome). In other embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention do not contain the coding sequence of more than 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 genomic flanking gene(s).

As used herein, a “polynucleotide” refers to a molecule having a nucleic acid sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA contained within the clone deposited with the ATCC. For example, the polynucleotide can contain the nucleotide sequence of the full length cDNA sequence, including the 5′ and 3′ untranslated sequences, the coding region, with or without the signal sequence, the secreted protein coding region, as well as fragments, epitopes, domains, and variants of the nucleic acid sequence. Moreover, as used herein, a “polypeptide” refers to a molecule having the translated amino acid sequence generated from the polynucleotide as broadly defined.

In the present invention, the full length sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X was often generated by overlapping sequences contained in multiple clones (contig analysis). A representative clone containing all or most of the sequence for SEQ ID NO:X was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”). As shown in Table 1, each clone is identified by a cDNA Clone ID (Identifier) and the ATCC Deposit Number. The ATCC is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA. The ATCC deposit was made pursuant to the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for purposes of patent procedure.

A “polynucleotide” of the present invention also includes those polynucleotides capable of hybridizing, under stringent hybridization conditions, to sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X, the complement thereof, or the cDNA within the clone deposited with the ATCC. “Stringent hybridization conditions” refers to an overnight incubation at 42 degree C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mM NaCI, 75 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 μg/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC at about 65 degree C.

Also contemplated are nucleic acid molecules that hybridize to the polynucleotides of the present invention at lower stringency hybridization conditions. Changes in the stringency of hybridization and signal detection are primarily accomplished through the manipulation of formamide concentration (lower percentages of formamide result in lowered stringency); salt conditions, or temperature. For example, lower stringency conditions include an overnight incubation at 37 degree C in a solution comprising 6×SSPE (20×SSPE=3M NaCl; 0.2M NaH 2 PO 4 ; 0.02M EDTA, pH 7.4), 0.5% SDS, 30% formamide, 100 ug/ml salmon sperm blocking DNA; followed by washes at 50 degree C with 1×SSPE, 0.1% SDS. In addition, to achieve even lower stringency, washes performed following stringent hybridization can be done at higher salt concentrations (e.g. 5×SSC).

Note that variations in the above conditions may be accomplished through the inclusion and/or substitution of alternate blocking reagents used to suppress background in hybridization experiments. Typical blocking reagents include Denhardt's reagent, BLOTTO, heparin, denatured salmon sperm DNA, and commercially available proprietary formulations. The inclusion of specific blocking reagents may require modification of the hybridization conditions described above, due to problems with compatibility.

Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to polyA+ sequences (such as any 3′ terminal polyA+ tract of a cDNA shown in the sequence listing), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) residues, would not be included in the definition of “polynucleotide,” since such a polynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing a poly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically any double-stranded cDNA clone generated using oligo dT as a primer).

The polynucleotide of the present invention can be composed of any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. For example, polynucleotides can be composed of single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, the polynucleotide can be composed of triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. A polynucleotide may also contain one or more modified bases or DNA or RNA backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications can be made to DNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically, or metabolically modified forms.

The polypeptide of the present invention can be composed of amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i.e., peptide isosteres, and may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. The polypeptides may be modified by either natural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Polypeptides may be branched , for example, as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched, and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from posttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, pegylation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, for instance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); POSTTRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, pgs. 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al., Meth Enzymol 182:626-646 (1990); Rattan et al., Ann Ny Acad Sci 663:48-62 (1992).)

“SEQ ID NO:X” refers to a polynucleotide sequence while “SEQ ID NO:Y” refers to a polypeptide sequence, both sequences identified by an integer specified in Table 1.

“A polypeptide having biological activity” refers to polypeptides exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical to, an activity of a polypeptide of the present invention, including mature forms, as measured in a particular biological assay, with or without dose dependency. In the case where dose dependency does exist, it need not be identical to that of the polypeptide, but rather substantially similar to the dose-dependence in a given activity as compared to the polypeptide of the present invention (i.e., the candidate polypeptide will exhibit greater activity or not more than about 25-fold less and, preferably, not more than about tenfold less activity, and most preferably, not more than about three-fold less activity relative to the polypeptide of the present invention.)

Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 1

This gene is expressed primarily in pancreas islet cell tumors.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: PFCSGFFPSLWIYLPFIFNVSDLWMGSLSGCALPFCLXVFFLTVSPSAVGLLXF AGGPLQTLFAWVSPVEAAEQQRLLPVLSSGSFVSEGTCQMPARALLYEVSVG AYWEIPPSQDTRRSGTYLRRQSDP (SEQ ID NO: 195). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the pancreas, including cancer and diabetes. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the pancreas, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., endocrine, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in tumors of pancreatic islet cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis, treatment and intervention of such tumors, in addition to other endocrine or gastrointestinal tumors where expression has been indicated. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:11 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1099 of SEQ ID NO:11, b is an integer of 15 to 1113, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:11, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 2

This gene is expressed equally in hemangiopericytoma cells, breast lymph node tissue, and bone marrow.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: HEGSCRAPGFSAHKGRGCPSPRMTLPSRALASLGVGVWGMLRLNQVTVSCG GSRWSSRVALGAFSWVCGV ALVLQPSGGGLGLTSPSEGCWEGELALAVLRAPGGSPS (SEQ ID NO: 196). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic disorders, particularly leukemia. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the vascular and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hemolymphoid, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 104 as residues: Gly-29 to Ser-35, Ser-63 to Cys-68. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in hemangiopericytoma, breast lymph node, and bone marrow indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. The uses include bone marrow cell ex vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:12 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 969 of SEQ ID NO:12, b is an integer of 15 to 983, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:12, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 3

The protein product of this gene shares homology with Drosophila, mouse, and human Slit proteins (See Genbank Accession Numbers (protein) AAD25539 and AAD38940; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference; for example Rothberg et al., Genes Dev. 4:2169-87 (1990), Brose K., et al., Cell 1999 Mar. 19;96(6):795-806, and Liang Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1999 Jun 18;274(25):17885-92). Slit gene products are secreted proteins that contain both EGF domain and Leucine Rich Repeat domains; and function as ligands for cell-surface receptors. In Drosophilia, Slits are important in the development of midline glia and commissural axon pathways. In vertebrates, Slit family proteins have been shown to function as ligands of receptors in nervous system tissue. Slit proteins are thought to be critical for certain stages of central nervous system histogenesis and to have evolutionarily conserved roles in axon guidance (Brose K., et al., Cell 1999 Mar 19;96(6):795-806 and Liang Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1999 Jun 18;274(25):17885-92). Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with Slit proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein.

This gene is expressed primarily in human hippocampus.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological, and developmental disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the neurological system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neurological, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution within human hippocampus combined with the homology to the Drosophila slit protein, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and eglsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and preception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, or disorders of the cardiovascular system. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:13 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 959 of SEQ ID NO:13, b is an integer of 15 to 973, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:13, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 4

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: IPLTLPGIFLLIRLFWRLGQSICGPGKLVLWPQFCCGCAVISGHCVPRGMPSSW LPGCFVLLCLVAVGCQLREWGVGGVSAVGLLALPHLQVLGMRGRGLISGG (SEQ ID NO: 197). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 16. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 16.

This gene is expressed in KMH2 cells, osteoblasts, fetal spleen, Jurkat membrane bound polysomes, breast, and cerebellum.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer, immune, and skeletal disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, skeletal, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in KMH2 cells, osteoblasts, and fetal spleen indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Expression of this gene product in fetal spleen and T-cells indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g., by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product may be involved in immune functions. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma and tissues. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:14 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1444 of SEQ ID NO:14, b is an integer of 15 to 1458, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:14, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 5

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with phospholipase A2 which cleaves fatty acids from carbon 2 of glycerol (ref. Prosite pattern documentation for PS2 — HIS). Many snake venoms contain phospolipase A2, which prevents transmission of nerve impulses to muscles by blocking the release of acetylcholine from the neuron. Therefore, included in this invention as preferred domains are Phospholipase A2 histidine active site domains, which were identified using the ProSite analysis tool (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). Phospholipase A2 is an enzyme which releases fatty acids from the second carbon group of glycerol. Structurally, PA2's are small and rigid proteins of 120 amino-acid residues that have four to seven disulfide bonds. PA2 binds a calcium ion which is required for activity. The side chains of two conserved residues, a histidine and an aspartic acid, participate in a ‘catalytic network’. Two different signature patterns for PA2's were developed. The first is centered on the active site histidine and contains three cysteines involved in disulfide bonds. The consensus pattern is as follows: C-C-x(2)-H-x(2)-C [H is the active site residue].

Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise a Phospholipase A2 histidine active site domain selected from the following amino acid sequences: CCNQHDRC (SEQ ID NO: 199), SLTKCCNQHDRCYET (SEQ ID NO: 200), and/or LTKCCNQHDRCYETCG (SEQ ID NO: 201). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided. Further preferred are polypeptides comprising the Phospholipase A2 histidine active site domain of the sequence listed in Table 1 for this gene, and at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or 75 additional contiguous amino acid residues of this referenced sequence. The additional contiguous amino acid residues may be N-terminal or C-terminal to the Phospholipase A2 histidine active site domain. Alternatively, the additional contiguous amino acid residues may be both N-terminal and C-terminal to the Phospholipase A2 histidine active site domain, wherein the total N- and C-terrminal contiguous amino acid residues equal the specified number. The above preferred polypeptide domain is characteristic of a signature specific to Phospholipase A2 proteins. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with Phospholipase A2 proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein, or see, for example, McIntosh, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 270 (8), 3518-3526 (1995), incorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: GPAGKEAWIWSWLLPSPGPAPLPSASWGLCGDAPRAAARGPVEPGAARMAL LSRPALTLLLLLMAAVVRCQEQAQTTDWRATLKTIRNGVHKIDTYLNAALDL LGGEDGLCQYKCSDGSKPFPRYGYKPSPPNGCGSPLFGXHLNIGIPSLTKCCN QHDRCYETCGKSKNDCDEE FQYCLSKICRDVQKTLGLTQHVQACETTVELLFDSVIHLGCKPYLDSQRAAC RCHYEEKTDL (SEQ ID NO: 198). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 4. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 4.

This gene is expressed in a diverse variety of cell types.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological disorders, or metabolism disorders, specifically phospholipase A2 deficiencies. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the neuromuscular system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., pancreas, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., bile, lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 107 as residues: Gln-23 to Asp-30, Lys-66 to Cys-87. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The ubiquitous tissue distribution and homology to phospholipase A2 indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders. Alternatively, considering the activity of phospholipase A2 as a block for neuro-transmission may suggest that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and preception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, or disorders of the cardiovascular system. Alternatively, the homology to Phospholipase A2 proteins may indicate a potential use for the protein product of this gene in diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of metabolism disorders, specifically deficiencies in Phospholipase A2. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 15 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1991 of SEQ ID NO:15, b is an integer of 15 to 2005, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:15, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No 6

In a specific embodiment polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: GTSSARPRGALPGGSAPSAPHGQLPGRAQPAPVSGPPPTSGLCHFDPAAPWPL WPGPWQLPPHPQDWPAHPDIPQDWVSFLRSFGQLTLCPRNGTVTGKWRGSH VVGLLTTLNFGDGPDRNKTRTFQATVLGSQMGLKGSSAGQLVLITARVTTER TAGTCLYFSAVPGILPSSQPPISCSEEGAGNATLSPRMGEECVSVWSHEGLVLT KLLTSEELALCGSRLLVLGSFLLLFCGLLCCVTAMCFHPRRESHWSRTRL (SEQ ID NO: 202). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: ARAPPGPEGLSPEAQPPLLPMGNCQAGHNLHLCLAHHPPLVCATLILLLLGLS GLGLGSFLLTHRTGLRT LTSPRTGSLF (SEQ ID NO: 203). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed in a wide variety of tissue types including testes, cerebellum, dendritic cells, breast cancer, umbilical vein endothelial cells, epididymus, corpus colosum, chronic synovitis, liver hepatome, normal breast, osteoblasts, melanocytes, B cell lymphomas, and to a lesser extent in other tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer, particularly of endothelial tissues. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the reproductive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., endothelial, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, seminal fluid, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 108 as residues: Thr-52 to Gly-57. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

Expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates that the protein product of this gene may play a role in the regulation of cellular division and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Additionally, the expression in hematopoietic cells and tissues indicates that this protein may play a role in the proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival of hematopoietic cell lineages. In such an event, this gene may be useful in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders, and in the maintenance and differentiation of various hematopoietic lineages from early hematopoietic stem and committed progenitor cells. Similarly, embryonic development also relies on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:16 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 929 of SEQ ID NO:16, b is an integer of 15 to 943, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:16, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 7

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: RFLSVXPQXEVPFLLHPCVCFXGGHPSLLPDPCRAVGGGWEAPRCCLHEALC QSLGCKAEEIVSVSESSSAQRCWYLLRGRKAGGRGPASPVLFALMRLESLCH LCLACLFFRLPATRTVYCMNEAEIVDVALGILIESRKQXKACEQPALAGADNP EHSPPCSVSPHTSSGSSSEEEDSGKQALXPGLSPSQRPGGSSSACSRSPEEEE EEDVLKYVREIFFS (SEQ ID NO: 204). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided. Polynucleotides of the invention do not consist of the nucleic acid sequences shown as GeneSeq Accession Nos: V59595 and V59744, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This gene is expressed primarily in a variety of immune cell types, including stromal cells, dendritic cells, leukocytes, activated T-cells, macrophages, monoctyes, neutrophils and to a lesser extent in a variety of other adult and fetal tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer and other proliferative disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in immune cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Expression of this gene product in fetal tissue and various hematopoietic cancers indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g., by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product may be involved in immune functions. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma and tissues.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:17 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is umbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1489 of SEQ ID NO:17, b is an integer of 15 to 1503, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:17, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 8

When tested against Jurkat T-cell lines. supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the NF-kB (Nuclear Factor kB) pathway. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates T-cells through the NF-kB signal transduction pathway. NF-kB is a transcription factor activated by a wide variety of agents, leading to cell activation, differentiation, or apoptosis. Reporter constructs utilizing the NF-kB promoter element are used to screen supernatants for such activity. In a specific embodiment polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: VPGWPRACSPCQADSPRAHPPKLRGILRWAPVPLXCAALCPPLDSGMSMAA CPEAPEPSFLREVPSSPASTQWHRPCNFRQVEANPRKEPKNLVWRDVSLGQX SRTPRGSGLELVRVCGGGMQRDKTVVEERVGEERERERERESLGGAGKHGE MRCVYVRESVGAPGRAGGGGNGVNSVGCVRTVHSGSXPPPSAGVS (SEQ ID NO: 205). Also preferred are the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

This gene is expressed primarily in parts of the brain such as cerebellum and frontal lobe.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, cancerous, or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in cerebellum and frontal lobe indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:18 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1498 of SEQ ID NO:18, b is an integer of 15 to 1512, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:18, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 9

In a specific embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: TRPGKELNLVFGLQLSMARIGSTVNMNLMGWLYSKIEALLGSAGHTTLGITL MIGGITCILSLICALALAYLDQRAERILHKEQGKTGEVIKLTDVKDFSLPLWLIF IICVCYYVAVFPFIGLGKVFFTEKFGFSSQAAS AINSVVYVISAPMSPVFGLLVDKTGKNIIWVLCA (SEQ ID NO: 206). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 3. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 3.

This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissue, and to a lesser extent in a variety of adult human tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, fetal abnormalities, particularly developmental disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the reproductive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., developing, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., amniotic fluid, lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 111 as residues: Lys-30 to Thr-35. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in fetal tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates that this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division. Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Additionally, the expression in hematopoietic cells and tissues indicates that this protein may play a role in the proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival of hematopoietic cell lineages. In such an event, this gene may be useful in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders, and in the maintenance and differentiation of various hematopoietic lineages from early hematopoietic stem and committed progenitor cells. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:19 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between I to 1641 of SEQ ID NO: 19, b is an integer of 15 to 1655, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:19, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 10

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with human histiocyte-secreted factor (HSF) which is a novel cytokine that shows in vivo antitumour activity without the cytotoxicity associated with tumour necrosis factor. Furthermore, the translation product of this gene also shares sequence homology with the human endogenous virus S71 gag polyprotein, the sequence of which is believed to represent a transformation locus for several cancers (See Genbank Accession No. pirlA46312lA46312; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein). Similarly, the translation product of this gene also shares homology with B219, a sequence that is expressed in at least four isoforms in very primitive hematopoietic cell populations which may represent a novel hemopoietin receptor (See, e.g., Cioffi, et al. Nat. Med. 2:585-589 (1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein). In a preferred embodiment polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: CKDLCSRVYLLTLSPLLSYDPATSHSPRNTQ (SEQ ID NO: 207). Also preferred are the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

This gene is expressed primarily in tonsil, and colon, and to a lesser extent in a wide variety of human tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune, hematopoietic, and gastrointestinal disorders, particularly tumors of the colon and tonsil. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the hematopoietic, digestive and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 112 as residues: Met-1 to Cys-6. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in tonsil and colon, combined with the homology to human histiocyte growth factor, the human endogenous viral protein, and B219 strongly indicate that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention, of a variety of hematopoietic and immune system disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein.

Expression of this gene product in tonsils indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g., by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product may be involved in immune functions. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma and tissues.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:20 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2511 of SEQ ID NO:20, b is an integer of 15 to 2525, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:20, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 11

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 7. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 7.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: IICECWEEECQSCRLKITQPREICRMDFLVLFLFYLASVLMGLVLICVCSKTHS LKGLARGGAQIFSCIIPECLQRAXHGLLHYLFHTRNHTFIVLHLVLQGMVYTE YTWEVFGYCQELELSLHYLLLPYLLLGVNLFFFTLTCGTNPGIITKANELLFLH VYEFDEVMFPKNVRCSTCDLRKPARSKHCSVCNWCVHRFDHHCVWVNNCI GAWNIRYFLIYVLTLTASAATVAIVSTTFLVHLVVMSDLYQETYIDDLGHLHV MDTVFLIQYLFLTFPRIVFMLGFVVVLSFLLGGYLLFVLYLAATNQTTNEWYR GDWAWCQRCPLVAWPPSAEPQVHRNIHSHGLRSNLQEIFLPAFPCHERKKQE (SEQ ID NO: 208). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in colon and brain and to some extent in all tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological and digestive disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and digestive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neurological, gastrointestinal, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in brain indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Alternatively, expression of this gene in colon may indicate a role in the detection, prevention and/or treatment of colon disorders such as colon cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcers, and digestive tract disorders in general. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are elated to SEQ ID NO:21 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1382 of SEQ ID NO:21, b is an integer of 15 to 1396, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:21, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 12

When tested against Reh cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activation site) pathway. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates B-cells through the Jak-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream in many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STATs pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

This gene maps to chromosome 7, and therefore, may be used as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 7.

This gene is expressed primarily in brain, and in the developing embryo.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological, behavioral, immune, and developmental disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the nervous and developmental systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, developing, immune, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, amniotic fluid, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 114 as residues: Lys-60 to Asn-67. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in brain indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the tissue distribution in developing embryo indicates that the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, or disorders of the cardiovascular system. Alternatively, the biological activity within B-cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Activation of genes within B-cells indicates a role for this protein in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g., by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product may be involved in immune functions.

Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:22 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1055 of SEQ ID NO:22, b is an integer of 15 to 1069, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:22, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 13

This gene maps to chromosome 6, and therefore, may be used as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 6.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: LLSFKIRGLRTEDAGWAQSSSGGLCVRGDAFWMPSSSSGLGSPSRPPSSFLCL LLLLLPPAALALLLFFLDFFPPRAAVSPFLPDHCSARQPRVWRRETLNRSASGL GCWARSTEQGAVGVATGTVLDI SLPASCLSLWPPGPSGGI (SEQ ID NO: 209). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

In a specific embodiment polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: QLGLCLTSASLPPASRCGHQAPLGASDLSAHHSAPGFSDSYFTMSCQSSLSRA EILQCPLVPSVSPPTHLPQGRANKSSRASLPLLPQTHWCLFPSARGWRRGIQSG LPPGGSCTSPRSPPQTLHQHITLVNHNTSYWQSPST (SEQ ID NO: 210), HQPPCLLPLAVATRPLWGHLTCLPIILHLVSVTLTSPCLANQAFQGQRSYNAL WCPLFLLLPTSPKGEQTNHPEPACPCFPKLTGVFSLQHVVGAEEFSQVFLLVD PVPVLDHLLKLFTSTSHLLIIIPHIGKAPAPDSLL EELSLSLATHCKVAVARFT (SEQ ID NO: 211). Also preferred are the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

Polynucleotides of the invention do not consist of the nucleic acid sequence shown as GeneSeq Accession No. X04377, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This gene is expressed primarily in brain.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, behavioral and neurological disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 115 as residues: Pro-2 to Gly-7, Ser-10 to Ser-16, Pro-52 to Val-62, Arg-64 to Ser-73. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in brain indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:23 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1644 of SEQ ID NO:23, b is an integer of 15 to 1658, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:23, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 14

The translation product of this gene was shown to have homology to the lysosomal mannosidase alpha-B protein (See Genebank Accession No. P34098) which is thought to be important in protein metabolism. One embodiment of this gene comprises polypeptides of the following amino acid sequence: MAAEGSRFSSQSPGLVDRQGPKCDPSRLVSPWGRHGLRILQIGHHHGRDGQH EATHHLLRVLRAPRVGKADEGAVDSDPSTPLQLKHEAAHAEDHAQQVHVVR RRVVQGRVTFARRGLVPQHFVRPPWVRHIVSGHSESKARSRLFRCRNRSFRR AS (SEQ ID NO: 212), and/or RLVSPWGRHGLRILQIGHHHGRDGQH EATHHLLRVLRA (SEQ ID NO: 213). An additional embodiment is the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

This gene maps to chromosome 19, and therefore, may be used as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 19.

This gene is expressed primarily in brain, placenta, fetal liver, and to a lesser extent in most tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological, reproductive, and hepatic disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, hepatic, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., bile, amniotic fluid, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 116 as residues: Asn-34 to Lys-42, Leu-60 to Trp-70. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution predominantly in brain indicates a role in the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Alternatively, the tissue distribution in liver indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and treatment of liver disorders and cancers (e.g., hepatoblastoma, jaundice, hepatitis, liver metabolic diseases and conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells). In addition the expression in fetus would suggest a useful role for the protein product in developmental abnormalities, fetal deficiencies, pre-natal disorders and various would-healing models and/or tissue trauma.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:24 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1063 of SEQ ID NO:24, b is an integer of 15 to 1077, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:24, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 15

This gene is expressed primarily in spinal cord, Merkel cells, and adipose tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the nervous and immune systems, particularly those disorders relating to the CNS involving lipid metabolism disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the nervous and immune systems and adipose tissue, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, immune, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in spinal cord, Merkel cells and adipose tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases the nervous systems, such as spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative diseases, muscular dystrophy or obesity. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:25 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1191 of SEQ ID NO:25, b is an integer of 15 to 1205, where both a and b correspond to the positions of pucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:25, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 16

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the human uncoupling protein-2 which is thought to be important in energy metabolism, obesity, and the predisposition of hyperinsulinemia (See Genbank Accession No. gil1857278). Recently, another group published on this gene, designating it brain mitochondrial carrier protein-1 (BCMP1) (J Biol Chem 1998 Dec 18;273(51):34611-5). One embodiment of this gene comprises polypeptides of the following amino acid sequence: PTDVLKIRMQAQ (SEQ ID NO: 214), and/or TYEQLKR (SEQ ID NO: 215). An additional embodiment is the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

This gene maps to the X chromosome, and therefore, may be used as a marker in linkage analysis for the X chromosome.

This gene is expressed primarily in manic depression brain tissue, epileptic frontal cortex, human erythroleukemia cell line, T-helper cells, and to a lesser extent in endothelial and amygdala cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the central nervous system or hematopoietic/immune disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system or hematopoietic/immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, hemolymphoid, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 118 as residues: Ser-34 to Thr-39, Gln-198 to Leu-205. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in neural tissues combined with the homology to the human uncoupling protein indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and preception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, or disorders of the cardiovascular system. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Alternatively, given the homology to uncoupling proteins, the gene and/or its translation product may also be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of thermogenesis disorders such as obesity, cachexia, and hyperinsulinemia. Uncoupling proteins dissipate the proton gradient created from the oxidation of fuels by the electron transport chain, thus releasing stored energy as heat. Dysfunction of thermogenesis can induce disorders such as obesity and cachexia. It is thought that obesity may result from decreased thermogenesis in humans. Alternatively, cachexia is a metabolic state in which energy expenditure exceeds food intake, for example in anorexia nervosa. Uncoupling proteins may be useful for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders involved with aberrant metabolic and thermogenic pathways. The following method provides for the determination of respiration uncoupling activity of the polypeptides of the present invention, including fragments and variants of the full length proteins. Briefly, yeast are transfected with an expression vector expressing polypeptide of the present invention as previously described by Bouillaud et al., EMBO J., 13:1990 (1994) (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Rates of growth in liquid medium of transformed yeast are measured in the presence of galactose, which induces expression, as described in International Publication No. WO 98/31396 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Instantaneous generation times are compared between the polypeptide of the present invention and appropriate controls. An in vivo decrease of membrane potential associated with uncoupling of respiration is analyzed by flow cytometry of yeast labeled with the potential sensitive probe DiOC6 (3) (3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodine, Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR). The ability of a polypeptide of the present invention to influence mitochondrial activity and uncouple respiration is thus determined.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:26 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1660 of SEQ ID NO:26, b is an integer of 15 to 1674, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:26, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 17

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with 55 kD deglycosylated zona pellucida protein which is known to be important in egg fertilization (See Genebank Accession No.R39356). One embodiment of this gene comprises polypeptides of the following amino acid sequence: RPRPSASSLARSASLLPAAHGXGVGGAGGGSSXLRSRYQQLQNEEESGEPEQ AAGDAPPPYSSISAESAHXFDYKDESGFPKPPSYNVATTLPSYDEAERTKAEA TIPLVPGRDEDFVGRDDFDDADQLRIGNDGIF (SEQ ID NO: 216), RYQQLQNEEESGEPEQAAGD (SEQ ID NO: 217), and/or PGRDEDFVGRDDFDDADQLRIG (SEQ ID NO: 218). An additional embodiment is the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides.

Preferred polypeptide fragments of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: MLTFFMAFLFNWIGFFLSFCLTTSAAGRYGAISGFGLSLIKWILIVRFSTYFPGY FDGQYWLWWVFLVLGFLLFLRGFINYAKVRKMPET FSNLPRTRVLFIY (SEQ ID NO: 219). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Preferred polypeptide variants of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: MKKSLENLNRLQVMLLHLTAAFLQRAQHXFDYKDESGFPKPPSYNVATTLPS YDEAERTKAEATIPLVPGRDEDFVGRDDFDDADQLRIGNDGIFMLTFFMAFLF NWIGFFLSFCLTTSAAGRYGAISGFGLSLIKWILIVRFSTYFPGYFDGQYWLW WVFLVLGFLLFLRGFINYAKVR KMPETFSNLPRTRVLFIY (SEQ ID NO: 220), MLLHLTAAFLQRAQFSTYFPGYFDGQYWLWWVFLVLGFLLFLRGFINYAKV RKMPETFSNLPRTRVLFIY (SEQ ID NO: 221), MLTFFMAFLFNWIGFFLSFCLTTSAAGRYGAISGFGLSLIKWILIVRFSTYFPAF MNSLSRSKRTPAGSESRCRTQRNNHLL (SEQ ID NO: 222), and/or MKKSLENLNRLQVMLLHLTAAFLQRAHXILTTRMSLGFQSPHLTM (SEQ ID NO: 223). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

When tested against U937 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent, other immune and hematopoietic cells and JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

This gene is expressed primarily in adult kidney, colon adenocarcinoma, and fetal brain, and to a lesser extent, ubiquitously expression in many tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of kidney, colon cancers, and central nervous system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the renal and neural systems, and cancers, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., renal, neural, urogenital, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 119 as residues: Cys-15 to Gly-36. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution adult kidney, colon adenocarcinoma, and fetal brain indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, colon cancers, and disorders of the central nervous system. Additionally, the homology to the zona pellucida protein indicates that the gene product may be used for male contraceptive development, and infertility diagnosis etc. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:27 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1951 of SEQ ID NO:27, b is an integer of 15 to 1965, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:27, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 18

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the chicken transferrin receptor in addition to a human prostate-specific protein homolog (See Genebank Accession Nos.pirlJH0570lJH0570 and gil2565338 (AF026380), respectively). This gene also shares significant homology with both the murine and the rat hematopoietic lineage switch 2 proteins (See Genbank Accession Nos. g3169729 and g3851632, respectively), which are induced during an erythroid to myeloid lineage switch.

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MTVMDPKQMNVAAAVWAVVSYVVADMEEML PRS (SEQ ID NO: 224). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissues, such as liver/spleen and brain.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, pre-natal disorders, anomalies, deficiencies. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the developing fetus, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., developing, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., amniotic fluid, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 120 as residues: Arg-31 to Lys-37, Lys-58 to Glu-65, Asp-157 to Gly-168, Ile-219 to Gly-225, Ala-260 to Ser-268, Thr-276 to Glu-282. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of pre-natal disorders, anomalies and deficiencies.

The homology to the hematopoietic lineage switch 2 proteins also indicates that the translation product of this gene is useful for the detection and/or treatment of immune system disorders. In addition, the homology to the transferrin receptor indicates that the translation product of the present invention may have utility in the regulation of iron metabolism as well as the numerous genes under the stringent control of physiologic iron levels. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:28 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1849 of SEQ ID NO:28, b is an integer of 15 to 1863, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:28, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 19

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: PRVRSREPVAGAPGCGTAGPPAMATLWGGLLRLGSLLSLSCLALSVLLLAHC QTPPSDCLHVVEPMPVRGPDVEAYCLRCECKYEERSSVTIKVTIIIYLSILGLLL LYMVYLTLVEPILKRRLFGHAQLIQSDDDIGDHQPFANAHDVLARSRSRANV LNKVEYAQQRWKLQVQEQRKSVFDRHVVLS (SEQ ID NO: 225). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 72-88 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 89 to 167 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ia membrane proteins.

A preferred polypeptide variant of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: MATLWGGLLRLGSLLSLSCLALSVLLLAHCQTPPRISRMSDVNVSALPIKKNS GHIYNKNISQKDCDCLHVVEPMPVRGPDVEAYCLRCECKYEERSSVTIKVTIII YLSILGLLLLYMVYLTLVEPILKRRLFGHAQLIQSDDDIGDHQPFANAHDVLA RSRSRANVLNKVEYGTAALE ASSPRAAKSLSLTGMLSSANWGIEFKVTRK KQADNWKGTDWVLLGFILIPC (SEQ ID NO: 226). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in infant brain tissue, and to a lesser extent in other cell types and tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, developmental and neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and nervous system, such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, mania, dementia, paranoia, addictive behavior, sleep disorders, epilepsy, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the brain, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, developmental, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., amniotic fluid, lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 121 as residues: Gln-110 to Pro-120, Val-152 to Val-159. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in infant brain tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of developmental, degenerative and behavioral conditions of the brain and nervous system. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette Syndrome, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), mania, depression, dementia, paranoia, addictive behavior, obsessive-compulsive disorder and sleep disorders. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:29 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1612 of SEQ ID NO:29, b is an integer of 15 to 1626, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:29, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 20

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with a recently published gene Dysferlin, which is thought to be a skeletal muscle gene that is mutated in Miyoshi myopathy and limb girdle muscular dystrophy (See Genbank Accession No. g3600028, and Nat. Genet. 20 (1), 31-36 (1998); all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein.)).

This gene is expressed primarily in fetal liver, fetal heart tissue, and T-cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immunodeficiency, tumor necrosis, lymphomas, auto-immunities, cancer, inflammation, anemias (leukemia) and liver disorders, vascular disorders, and cancers (e.g., hepatoblastoma, hepatitis, liver metabolic diseases and conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells). Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the liver and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., hepatic, developmental, vascular, or cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., amniotic fluid, bile, lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders including: leukemias, lymphomas, auto-immunities, immunodeficiencies (e.g., AIDS), immuno-supressive conditions (transplantation) and hematopoeitic disorders. In addition this gene product may be applicable in conditions of general microbial infection, inflammation or cancer.

Expression in liver may suggest a role for this gene product in the treatment and detection of liver disorders and cancers (e.g., hepatoblastoma, jaundice, hepatitis, liver metabolic diseases and conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells).

Alternatively, the tissue distribution in fetal heart tissue indicates that the protein product of this gene is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and pathologies of the cardiovascular system, such as heart disease, restenosis, atherosclerosis, stoke, angina, thrombosis, and wound healing. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Additionally, the homology to the dysferlin gene indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diseases related to degenerative myopathies that are characterized by the weakness and atrophy of muscles without neural degradation; such as Duchenne and Becker's muscular dystropies. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:30 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 591 of SEQ ID NO:30, b is an integer of 15 to 605, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:30, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 21

This gene is expressed primarily in haemopoietic cels and tumor cells, such as pancreatic tumor tissue, and to a lesser extent in bladder cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, haemopoietic disorders, diseases of the renal and pancreatic systems, and cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the haemopoietic, pancreatic, and renal systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., pancreas, renal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the renal, pancreatic and haemopoietic systems, and cancers thereof. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:31 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 917 of SEQ ID NO:3 1, b is an integer of 15 to 931, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:31, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 22

This gene is expressed primarily in liver tissue, cancer cells and fetal lung tissue, and to a lesser extent in dendritic cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, metabolic disorders, diseases of developing systems and cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the fetus, metabolic systems and cancers, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., developing, metabolic, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 124 as residues: His-44 to Gly-49. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the fetus, metabolic systems and cancers.

The tissue distribution also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and treatment of liver disorders and cancers (e.g. hepatoblastoma, jaundice, hepatitis, liver metabolic diseases and conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells). In addition the expression in fetus would suggest a useful role for the protein product in developmental abnormalities, fetal deficiencies, pre-natal disorders and various would-healing models and/or tissue trauma. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or irnmunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as FST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:32 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1393 of SEQ ID NO:32, b is an integer of 15 to 1407, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:32, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 23

This gene is expressed primarily in central nervous system tissues and cancers, such as endometrial tumors, and to a lesser extent in other tissues and organs.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the CNS and cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and cancerous tissues, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 125 as residues: Tyr-16 to Ser-22, Asp-209 to Leu-215. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system, as well as cancers of tissues where expression of this gene has been observed, such as in endometrial tumors.

The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:33 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1512 of SEQ ID NO:33, b is an integer of 15 to 1526, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:33, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 24

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with low-density lipoprotein receptor (See, e.g., Genbank Accession No. >dbjlBAA24580.1; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein).

The translation product of this gene also shares sequence homology with a rat homolog of the human CD94 (See, e.g., Genbank Accession No. gblAAC10220.1; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein).

This gene is expressed primarily in macrophages, eosinophils, neutrophil and other cells of the haemopoietic and immune system.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the immune and haemopoietic systems and diseases of the endothelial and vascular system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune, haemopoietic and vascular system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 126 as residues: Lys-9 to Ala-17, Met-55 to Leu-61, Tyr-105 to Cys-127, Asp-132 to Lys-141, Ser-165 to Tyr-172, Pro-178 to Met-186, His-222 to Gln-227. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution and homology to LDL receptor and rat CD94 homolog indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the immune, haemopoietic and vascular systems.

Moreover, the tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of hematopoietic disorders. This gene product is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and tissues, suggesting that it plays a role in the survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation of hematopoieitic lineages. Expression of this gene product in eosinophils and macrophage also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:34 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1723 of SEQ ID NO:34, b is an integer of 15 to 1737, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:34, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 25

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MAAAGRLPSSWALFSPLLAGLALLGVGPVPARALHNVTAELFGAEAWGTLA AFGDLNSDK QTDLFVLRERNDLIVFLADQNAPYFKPKVKVSFKNHSALITSVVPGDYDGDS QMDVLLTYLPKNYAKSELGAVIFWGQNQTLDPNNMTILNRTFQDEPLIMDFN GDLIPDIFGITNESNQPQILLGGNLSWHPALTTTSKMRIPHSHAFIDLTEDFTAD LFLTTLNATTSTFQFEIWENLDGNFSVSTILEKPQNMMVVGQSAFADFDGDG HMDHLLPGCEDKNCQKSTIYLVRSGMKQWVPVLQDFSNKGTLWGFVPFVDE QQPTEIPIPITLHIGDYNMDGYPDALVILKNTSGSNQQAFLLENVPCNNASCEE ARRMFKVYWELTDLNQIKDAMVATFFDIYEDGILDIVVLSKGYTKNDFAIHT LKNNFEADAYFVKVIVLSGLCS NDCPRR (SEQ ID NO: 227). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

When tested against U937 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent, other immune and hematopoietic cells and tissue cell types, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

This gene is expressed primarily in infant brain and placental tissues, and to a lesser extent in several other tissues including cancers.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, brain disorders and diseases of developing systems and cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and fetal systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, developing, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 127 as residues: Leu-56 to Thr-62, Gln-80 to Pro-87, Gly-106 to Gln-113, Pro-122 to Lys-127, Gln-138 to Asn-146. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in neural tissues and developing tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the central nervous system, disorders of developing systems, and cancers. The tissue distribution in infant brain tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of the placenta. Specific expression within the placenta indicates that this gene product may play a role in the proper establishment and maintenance of placental function. Alternately, this gene product may be produced by the placenta and then transported to the embryo, where it may play a crucial role in the development and/or survival of the developing embryo or fetus. Expression of this gene product in a vascular-rich tissue such as the placenta also indicates that this gene product may be produced more generally in endothelial cells or within the circulation. In such instances, it may play more generalized roles in vascular function, such as in angiogenesis. It may also be produced in the vasculature and have effects on other cells within the circulation, such as hematopoietic cells. It may serve to promote the proliferation, survival, activation, and/or differentiation of hematopoietic cells, as well as other cells throughout the body. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:35 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2228 of SEQ ID NO:35, b is an integer of 15 to 2242, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:35, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 26

Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise the following amino acid sequence: MTKREDGGYTFTATPEDFPKKHKAPVIDIGIANTGKFIMTASSDTTVLIWSLK GQVLSTINTNQMNNTHAAVSPCGRFVASCGFTPDVKVWEVCFGKKGEFQEV VRAFELKGHSAAVHSFAFSNDSRRMASVSKDGTWKLWDTXVEYKKKQDPY LLKTGRFEEAAGAXPCRLALSPNAQVLALASGSSIHLYNTRRGEKEECFERVH GECIANLSFDITGRFLASCGDRAVRLFHNTPGHRAMVEEMQGHLKRASNEST RQRLQQQLTQAQETLKSLGALKK (SEQ ID NO: 228). Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are also provided.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is thought to reside on chromosome 7. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 7.

When tested against U937 Myeloid cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS assay. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells through the Jak-STAT signal transduction pathway. The gamma activating sequence (GAS) is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 12-28 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ib membrane proteins.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: VIRHEGSTNMELSQMSXLMGLSVLLGLLALMATAAVXRGWLRAGEERSGRP ACQKANGFPPDKSSGSKKQKQYQRIRKEKPQQHNFTHRLLAAALKSHSGNIS CMDFSSNGKYLATCADDRTIRIWSTKDFLQREHRSMRANVELDHATLVRFSP DCRAFIVWLANGDTLRVFKMTKREDGGYTFTATPEDFPKKHKAPVIDIGIAN TGKFIMTASSDTTVLIWSLKGQVLSTINTNQMNNTHAAVSPCGRFVASCGFTP DVKVWEVCFGKKGEFQEVVRAFELKGHSAAVHSFAFSNDSRRMASVSKDGT WKLWDTXVEYKKKQDPYLLKTGRFEEAAGAXPCRLALSPNAQVLALASGSS IHLYNTRRGEKEECFERVHGECIANLSFDITGRFLASCGDRAVRLFHNTPGHR AMVEEMQGHLKRASNESTRQRLQQQLTQAQETLKSLGALKK (SEQ ID NO: 229). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in testes, synovial sarcoma and fetal tissues, and to a lesser extent in several other tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the reproductive and developing systems and cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the reproductive and developing systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, testicular, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, seminal fluid, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in testes tissue, synovial sarcoma, and fetal tissues, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the reproductive and developing systems, and cancers.

The tissue distribution also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function (e.g. endocrine function, sperm maturation), as well as cancer. Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of male infertility and/or impotence.

This gene product is also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, as such agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents. Similarly, the protein is believed to be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancer. The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts that may be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of the body. Therefore, this gene product may be expressed in other specific tissues or organs where it may play related functional roles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, bone formation, and kidney function, to name a few possible target indications.

Furthermore, the tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders.

Expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates that this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division. Additionally, the expression in hematopoietic cells and tissues indicates that this protein may play a role in the proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival of hematopoietic cell lineages. In such an event, this gene may be useful in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders, and in the maintenance and differentiation of various hematopoietic lineages from early hematopoietic stem and committed progenitor cells. Similarly, embryonic development also involves decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Thus this protein may also be involved in apoptosis or tissue differentiation and could again be useful in cancer therapy. This protein is useful for the treatment, detection, and/or prevention of William's disease. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:36 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2221 of SEQ ID NO:36, b is an integer of 15 to 2235, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:36, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 27

Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise amino acids 1-363, 2-363, 4-363, 5-363, 30-363, 31-363, 32-363, 75-363, 76-363 and 82-363 of the following amino acid sequence: MSVMVVRKKVTRKWEKLPGRNTFCCDGRVMMARQKGIFYLTLFLILGTCTL FFAFECRYLAVQLSPAIPVFAAMLFLFSMATLLRTSFSDPGVIPRALPDEAAFIE MEIEATNGAVPQGQRPPPRIKNFQINNQIVKLKYCYTCKIFRPPRASHCSICDN CVERFDHHCPWVGNCVGKRNYRYFYLFILSLSLLTIYVFAFNIVYVALKSLKI GFLETLKETPGTVLEVLICFFTLWSVVGLTGFHTFLVALNQTTNEDIKGSWTG KNRVQNPYSHGNIVKNCCEVLCGPLPPSVLDRRGILPLEESGSRPPSTQETSSS LLPQSPAPTELNSNEMPEDSSTPEEMPPPEPPEPPQEAAEAEK (SEQ ID NO: 230). Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are also provided.

A preferred polypeptide variant of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MLFLFSMATLLRTSFSDPGVIPRALPDEAAFIEMEIEATNGAVPQGQRPPPRIK NFQINNQIVKLKYCYTCKIFRPPRASHCSICDNCVE RFDHHCPWVGNCVGKRNYRYFYLFILSLSL LTIYVFAFNIVYVALKSLKIGFLETLKGNSWNCSRSPHLLLYTLVRRGTDWIS YFPRGSQPDNQ (SEQ ID NO: 231). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in ovarian and endometrial tumors, fetal liver, spleen and brain tissues, and to a lesser extent in several other tissues and organs.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the developing systems, and cancers of the female reproductive system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the developing, female reproductive and fetal systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, developing, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 129 as residues: Pro-44 to Lys-54, Cys-88 to His-95, Val-103 to Tyr-108, Gln-181 to Ser-190, Thr-192 to Ile-206, Glu-233 to Ser-245, Ser-252 to Ala-286. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in developing systems indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of developing and fetal systems and cancers. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in ovarian and endometrial tumor tissues indicates that the translation product of this gene is useful for the detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of cancers of the female reproductive system. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting these tumors. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support.

Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:37 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2957 of SEQ ID NO:37, b is an integer of 15 to 2971, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:37, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 28

This gene is expressed primarily in normal and cancerous colon tissue, macrophages, endothelial cells and placental tissue, and to a lesser extent in several other tissues and organs.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, colon cancer and gastrointestinal disorders, immune disorders, vascular diseases and disorders of developing systems. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune , vascular and developing systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, gastrointestinal, developmental, vascular, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 130 as residues: Thr-27 to Ser-33. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in macrophage, endothelial and placental tissues, and normal and cancerous colon tissues, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of immune, gastrointestinal and vascular disorders and diseases. Expression of this gene product in colon tissue indicates involvement in digestion, processing, and elimination of food, as well as a potential role for this gene as a diagnostic marker or causative agent in the development of colon cancer, and cancer in general. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene.

Also provided is a kit for detecting colon cancer. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting colon cancer in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein.

Alternatively, the tissue distribution in placental tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of the placenta. Specific expression within the placenta indicates that this gene product may play a role in the proper establishment and maintenance of placental function. Alternately, this gene product may be produced by the placenta and then transported to the embryo, where it may play a crucial role in the development and/or survival of the developing embryo or fetus. Expression of this gene product in a vascular-rich tissue such as the placenta and endothelial cells also indicates that this gene product may be produced more generally in endothelial cells or within the circulation. In such instances, it may play more generalized roles in vascular function, such as in angiogenesis. It may also be produced in the vasculature and have effects on other cells within the circulation, such as hematopoietic cells. It may serve to promote the proliferation, survival, activation, and/or differentiation of hematopoietic cells, as well as other cells throughout the body.

Additionally, expression of this gene product in macrophage also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:38 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1149 of SEQ ID NO:38, b is an integer of 15 to 1163, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:38, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 29

The translation product of this gene shares homology with HNK-sulfotransferase, which directs glycan synthesis (see, e.g., Genbank Accession no. AF033827; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein).

This gene is expressed primarily in activated T cells, osteoclastoma, and glioblastoma, and to a lesser extent in various other normal and transformed cell types.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, inflammation, immune defects, cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and hemopoietic systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 131 as residues: Pro-32 to Gly-48, Gln-63 to Thr-69, Pro-77 to Trp-84, Val-88 to Leu-94. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in T-cells and various types of neoplasms indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, study and/or treatment of inflammatory and general immune defects, and various types of neoplasms. Expression of this gene product in T cells strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Alternatively, the tissue distribution in various cancerous tissues indicates that the translation product of the gene is useful for the detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of these cancers, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been observed. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:39 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1918 of SEQ ID NO:39, b is an integer of 15 to 1932, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:39, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 30

Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: LHECLPGSISYLHPRTPWLCLPPQHLSFSTFSPPWQPAMSPVPGTGGPPCGL

(SEQ ID NO: 232), and/or MLPLLIICLLPAIEGKNCLRCWPELSALIDYDLQILWVTPGPPTELSQSIHSLFLE

DGLKEKGAPPLHECLP GSISYLHPRTPWLCLPPQHLSFSTFSPPWQPAMSPVPGTGGPPCGL (SEQ ID NO: 233). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in infant brain, testes and activated T cells, and to a lesser extent in various other normal and transformed cell types.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological, reproductive and inflammatory conditions. Simiarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the neural, immune and male reproductive systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, immune, reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 132 as residues: Gly-41 to Leu-46, Asp-67 to Thr-75, Ile-114 to Ala-123. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in infant brain tissue, testes tissue, and activated T-cells, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study, diagnosis, and/or treatment of neurological, reproductive and immune system disorders. Expression of this gene product in T-cells indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell type.

Alternatively, the tissue distribution in testes tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function (e.g. endocrine function, sperm maturation), as well as cancer. Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of male infertility and/or impotence. This gene product is also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, as such agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents. Similarly, the protein is believed to be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancer. The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts that may be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of the body. Therefore, this gene product may be expressed in other specific tissues or organs where it may play related functional roles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, bone formation, and kidney function, to name a few possible target indications. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in infant brain tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:40 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 867 of SEQ ID NO:40, b is an integer of 15 to 881, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:40, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 31

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with some human and rodent melanoma and leukocyte specific antigens (see, for example, Genbank accession nos: gil189384, gil205898 and gil180926).

In addition, the translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with Tetraspan protein (see, for example, Genbank accession number: GI 3152703). Therefore, it is likely that the polypeptide of this gene shares some biological functions, such as cell-to-cell signaling, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation with Tetraspan.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have two transmembrane domains at about amino acid position 52-68 and 197-213 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type IlIa membrane proteins.

The transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF) or tetraspan superfamily has at least 16 members (including CD9, CD20, CD37, CD53, CD63, CD81, CD82, A15, CO-029, Sm23, RDS, Uro B, Uro A, SAS, Rom-1, PETA3, and YKK8), is the second biggest subfamily among CD antigen superfamily. and activation antigen of T-cells. All TM4SF member contains four putative transmembrane domains, two extracellular loops, and two short cytoplasmic tails. They are variously expressed on Immature, early, mature, activated lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, platelets, eosinophils, basophils, certain leukemic and lymphoma cells, and a variety of other cells and tissues. CD9 cell surface protein is expressed by both hematopoietic and neural cells, and may play a role for CD9 in intercellular signaling in the immune and nervous system. CD63 is a 53-Kd lysosomal membrane glycoprotein that has been identified as a platelet activation molecule, which play important role in cell adhesion of platelets and endothelial cells. Increased mRNA for CD63 antigen was found in atherosclerotic lesions of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits, suggesting a potential role of CD63 in progression of atherosclerosis. CD63 is also a mast cell marker. CD82 was originally identified as the target of several mAbs inhibitory to syncytium formation induced by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia. Therefore, this gene could be a target for the development of a drug for this leukemia. CD81 is the target of an antiproliferative antibody. A diverse group of human cell lines, including hematolymphoid, neuroectodermal, and mesenchymal cells, express the CD81 protein. Many of the lymphoid cell lines, in particular those derived from large cell lymphomas, were susceptible to the antiproliferative effects of the antibody. CD81 may therefore play an important role in the regulation of lymphoma cell growth. CD9, CD20, CD37, CD63, CD81 and CD82 have been implicated in the regulation of cell growth, adhesion, and signal transduction of B, T lymphocytes and some other non-lymphoid cells. They associate with CD2, CD21 , CD4, CD8, MHC Class II molecules, integrins, function as co-receptor for T, B and other lymphoid cells.

Some TM4SF are leukocyte antigens, highly expressed in activated leukocytes, lymphocytes, are highly specific surface marker for lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, and neuroblastoma. CD9 has been show to be involved in cell motility and tumor metastasis. These antigen could be a valuable immunogen or target to implement active and passive immunotherapy in patients with cancer. Others have been shown to be involved in inhibition of prostate cancer metastasis. This gene has close homology to C33 antigen (CD82). which is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily (TMSF) and activation antigen of T-cells. C33 Ag (CD82 was originally identified as the target of several mAbs inhibitory to syncytium formation induced by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia. Therefore, this gene could be very important target for developing drug for leukemia. Other members of this family are Sm23, CO-029, R2, TAPA-1, CD9, CD37, CD53, and CD63. CD63 is a 53-Kd lysosomal membrane glycoprotein that has been identified as a platelet activation molecule. There are strong evidence indicating that CD63 and Pltgp40, a platelet membrane glycoprotein are the same molecule and that CD63/Pltgp40 is identical to the well-characterized, stage-specific melanoma-associated antigen ME491. These antigens could be valuable immunogens or target to implement active and passive immunotherapy in patients with cancer.

This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissue (kidney, heart, liver, spleen, brain), macrophages, dendritic cells, retina and to a lesser extent in various other tissues, mostly of lymphoid origin or epithelial cell types. In addition This gene is expressed in cancerous tissues (e.g. breast).

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders and cancers in a variety of organs and cell types. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., developmental, proliferating, immune, hematopoietic, integumentary, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, spinal fluid, or amniotic fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 133 as residues: Tyr-123 to Tyr-131, Cys-134 to Ser-145, Tyr-234 to Tyr-244. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution fetal cells and tissues and homology to tumor antigens indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for study, treatment and diagnosis of lymphoid and epithelial disorders and neoplasms. Additionally, tissue distribution in immune cells and other tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting hematopoiesis, including cancers. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:41 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1918 of SEQ ID NO:41, b is an integer of 15 to 1932, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:41, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 32

The translation product of this gene shares limited sequence homology with VEGF which is thought to be important in regulation of endothelial cell growth. Therefore, it is likely that the protein encoded by this gene would share some similar biological functions.

When tested against U937 Myeloid cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS assay. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent, other immune and hematopoietic cells and tissue cell types, through the Jak-STAT signal transduction pathway. The gamma activating sequence (GAS) is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

This gene is expressed in brain.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, nervous system disease and/or disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(Is) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 134 as residues: Thr-25 to Pro-46. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in brain indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:42 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1150 of SEQ ID NO:42, b is an integer of 15 to 1164, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:42, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 33

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with human p150 which is thought to be important in signal transduction in neuronal cells. Therefore, it is likely that the protein encoded by this polynucleotide would share some similar biological functions with p150.

This gene is expressed primarily in whole embryo and cerebellum.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological and growth defects/disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the CNS, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for study and treatment of central nervous system, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and memory disorders. The tissue distribution also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:43 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1091 of SEQ ID NO:43, b is an integer of 15 to 1105, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:43, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 34

This gene is expressed primarily in PMA stimulated HL-60 cells and to a lesser extent in 6 week embryo.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders affecting cell differentiation, particularly hematopoietic disorders and/or defects. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the metabolic system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 136 as residues: Pro-61 to Asp-68. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study of cellular differentiation and for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia. The tissue distribution also indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses).

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types Additionally, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:44 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1248 of SEQ ID NO:44, b is an integer of 15 to 1262, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:44, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 35

This gene is expressed primarily in colon.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders and/or defects of the digestive tract including but not limited to cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the digestive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., gastrointestinal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of disorders of the digestive system particularly disorders involving the colon. Further, expression of this gene product in colon tissue indicates involvement in digestion, processing, and elimination of food, as well as a potential role for this gene as a diagnostic marker or causative agent in the development of colon cancer, and cancer in general. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the colon and/or other gastrointestinal tissue including, but not limited to, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:45 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 503 of SEQ ID NO:45, b is an integer of 15 to 517, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:45, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 36

This gene is expressed primarily in blood cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and hematopoietic system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 138 as residues: Pro-19 to Cys-29, Thr-35 to Glu-44, Val-72 to Lys-78. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of the immune and hematopoietic system. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses).

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:46 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 844 of SEQ ID NO:46, b is an integer of 15 to 858, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:46, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 37

This gene is expressed in multiple tissue systems such as brain, immune cells, prostate, uterus, testes, placenta, and fetal heart as well as in cancerous tissues such as ovarian tumors.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the immune, reproductive, urogenital, and central nervous system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, reproductive, urogenital, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 139 as residues: Tyr-33 to Lys-38. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of disorders of the immune, urogenital, reproductive, and central nervous systems. The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system, as well as cancers of tissues where expression of this gene has been observed, such as in ovarian tumors.

The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. The tissue distribution in uterus indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treating female infertility. The protein product is likely involved in preparation of the endometrium of implantation and could be administered either topically or orally. Alternatively, this gene could be transfected in gene-replacement treatments into the cells of the endometrium and the protein products could be produced. Similarly, these treatments could be performed during artificial insemination for the purpose of increasing the likelihood of implantation and development of a healthy embryo. In both cases this gene or its gene product could be administered at later stages of pregnancy to promote healthy development of the endometrium. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. The tissue distribution in testes indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function (e.g. endocrine function, sperm maturation), as well as cancer. Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of male infertility and/or impotence. This gene product is also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, as such agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents. Similarly, the protein is believed to be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancer. The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts that may be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of the body. Therefore, this gene product may be expressed in other specific tissues or organs where it may play related functional roles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, bone formation, and kidney function, to name a few possible target indications. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:47 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 6093 of SEQ ID NO:47, b is an integer of 15 to 6107, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:47, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 38

This gene is expressed in a wide range of tissue systems such as brain, immune cells, fetal liver, kidney, testes, breast, and pancreas as well as cancerous tissue such as ovarian tumors.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the central nervous system, immune system, urogenital, and reproductive system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, CNS, urogenital, reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 140 as residues: Met-I to Ser-7, Asp-32 to Pro-43, Ser-96 to Arg-102. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of disorders of the immune, reproductive, urogenital and central nervous systems.

The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system, as well as cancers of tissues where expression of this gene has been observed, such as in ovarian tumors.

The tissue distribution in central nervous system tissues also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioural disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:48 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 689 of SEQ ID NO:48, b is an integer of 15 to 703, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:48, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 39

This gene is expressed primarily in macrophages and fetal cells and to a lesser extent in cancerous ovarian tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune diseases, disorders of developing tissues, and cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the fetal and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of developmental abnormalities and disorders of the immune systems.

The tissue distribution cancerous ovaries indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and intervention of these tumors.

Expression of this gene product in macrophage cells strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). This gene product may have clinical utility in the treatment of immune dysfunction; in the correction of autoimmunity; in immune modulation; and in the control of inflammation.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scieroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation.

The tissue distribution also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment, diagnosis, and/or prevention of various skin disorders such as melanomas. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:49 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 625 of SEQ ID NO:49, b is an integer of 15 to 639, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:49, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 40

This gene is expressed primarily in neutrophils, bone marrow, brain, and fetal cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, hematopoietic disorders, Limbic system dysfunction/defects and disorders of the immune system and developing systems. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune, Limbic system and developing systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 142 as residues: Ala-84 to Gln-93. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treatment and diagnosis of disorders of the immune, Limbic system, CNS and developing systems. Expression of this gene product in bone marrow, eosinophils, and neutrophils strongly indicates a role for this protein in hematopoiesis and immune surveillance. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). This gene product may have clinical utility in the treatment of immune dysfunction; in the correction of autoimmunity; in immune modulation; and in the control of inflammation.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Additionally, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:50 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 853 of SEQ ID NO:50, b is an integer of 15 to 867, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:50, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 41

When tested against MVEC endothelial cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the expression of ICAM-1. Thus, this gene activates signal transduction pathways which upregulate cell-surface expression and/or secretion of ICAM-1. ICAM-1—is found on the cell surface of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts. It binds to its ligand, LFA-1, a heterodimer complex that is a member of the leukocyte integrin family of cell adhesion receptors. Inflammatory mediators and cytokines, such as, IL-1, TNFa and IFNg, stimulate ICAM-1 expression on vascular cells, in addition to the aforementioned cells and tissue cell types. Polypeptides which increase ICAM expression are useful in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and/or disorders.

This gene is expressed primarily in ovary and to a lesser extent in fetal tissue, colon, and immune cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the female reproductive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, gastrointestinal, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 143 as residues: Ile-23 to Ala-29. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer and related metastases. The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are also useful for treating female infertility. Additionally, the tissue distribution in colon tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract. This may include diseases associated with digestion and food absorption, as well as hematopoietic disorders involving the Peyer's patches of the small intestine, or other hematopoietic cells and tissues within the body. Similarly, expression of this gene product in colon tissue indicates again involvement in digestion, processing, and elimination of food, as well as a potential role for this gene as a diagnostic marker or causative agent in the development of colon cancer, and cancer in general.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:51 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1555 of SEQ ID NO:51, b is an integer of 15 to 1569, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:51, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 42

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with retrovirus-related reverse transcriptase pseudogene. In addition, this gene shares homology with human interferon-beta (Genseq accession number T35524; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference), therefore, it is likely that this gene and the protein encoded by this gene shares some similar biological functions with this protein.

This gene is expressed primarily in frontal cortex.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative diseases and/or disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in frontal cortex and homology to retrovirus-related reverse transcriptase pseudogene and human interferon-beta indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain, particularly of the frontal cortex.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:52 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1182 of SEQ ID NO:52, b is an integer of 15 to 1196, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:52, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 43

This gene is expressed primarily in immune cells, brain, fetal tissue, and cancerous tissues (such as testes, stomach, lung, pancreas, ovaries) and to a lesser extent in other numerous tissues including, but not limited to, testes and kidney.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and immune cells expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 145 as residues: Lys-23 to Lys-35, Met-46 to Tyr-52. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders of the frontal cortex, as well as, cancer or a number of tissues including but not limited to testes, stomach, lung, pancreas, and ovaries.

The tissue distribution also indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:53 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 931 of SEQ ID NO:53, b is an integer of 15 to 945, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:53, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 44

This gene is expressed primarily in epithelioid sarcoma and to a lesser extent in pancreatic carcinoma, aorta endothelial cells induced with TNF-alpha, and amniotic cells induced with TNF. This gene is also expressed, to a lesser extent, in cancerous lung and ovary tissue and fetal tissue.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, epithelioid sarcoma and related cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., amniotic, lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 146 as residues: Tyr-39 to Arg-51. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers, including epithelioid sarcoma and pancreatic carcinoma.

The tissue distribution in tumors of lung, ovary, and pancreas origins indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and intervention of these tumors, in addition to other tumors where expression has been indicated.

Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation.

The tissue distribution indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:54 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 474 of SEQ ID NO:54, b is an integer of 15 to 488, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:54, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 45

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: PPVPPWISLPLTGSPPRPGFVPVSPFCFSPMTNGHQVLLLLLLTSAVAAGPWPQ VHAGQWGWMCLPPGLPSVQARSGLGGLPGGPQWVPGGARGY (SEQ ID NO: 234). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in fetal and infant tissue, particularly infant brain and fetal liver/spleen libraries, and to a lesser extent in breast, ovary tumor, pharynx carcinoma, endometrial stromal cells, thymus, islet cell tumors, and adult cerebellum.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer and other proliferative disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the brain and breast, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, developmental, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in developing cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. The expression within cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:55 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2846 of SEQ ID NO:55, b is an integer of 15 to 2860, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:55, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 46

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: IQQWGDSVLGRRCRDLLLQLYLQRPELRVPVPEVLLHSEGAASSSVCKLDGLI HRFITLLADTSDSRALENRGADASMACRKLAVAHPLLLLRHLPMIAALLHGR THLNFQEFRQQNHLSCFLHVLGLLELLQPHVFRSEHQGALWDCLLSFIRLLLN YRKSSRHLAAFINKFVQFIHKYITYNAPAAISFLQKHADPLHDLSFDNSDLVM LKSLLAGLSLPSRDDRTDRGLDEEGEEESSAGSLPLVSVSLFTPLTAAEMAPY MKRLSRGQTVEDLLEVLSDIDEMSRRRPEILSFFSTNLQRLMSSAEECCRNLA FSLALRSMQNSPSIAAAFLPTFMYCLGSQDFEVVQTALRNLPEYALLCQEHA AVLLHRAFLVGMYGQMDPSAQISEALRILHMEAVM (SEQ ID NO: 235). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in breast cancer, and to a lesser extent in a variety of other cancers, including uterine cancer, synovial sarcoma, and pharynx carcinoma.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, breast cancer; proliferative diseases and/or disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the breast, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, breast, proliferative, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, breast milk, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 148 as residues: Glu-35 to His-41, Ser-62 to Ala-67, Pro-145 to Leu-155, Glu-157 to Ser-163, Arg-190 to Val-197, Asp-208 to Pro-215, Ser-247 to Pro-252. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in breast cancer tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer. Elevated expression of this gene product in cancers, such as breast cancer, suggest that it may be involved in the abnormal proliferation of cells, dedifferentiation, angiogenesis, and other processes that accompany the development of cancer. Thus, therapeutics targeted against this gene product may be useful therapeutic products in and of themselves.

Alternately, expression of this gene product at elevated levels in breast tissue may be reflective of expression within breast lymph nodes, and may suggest a hematopoietic role for this protein. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:56 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1545 of SEQ ID NO:56, b is an integer of 15 to 1559, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:56, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 47

The translation product of this gene shares limited sequence homology with cytochrome-c oxidase. An alternative embodiment is the polypeptide comprising the following amino acid sequence: MLLKHLQRMVSVPQVKASALKVVTLTANDKTSVSFSSLPGQGVIYNVIVWD PFLNTSAAYIPAHTYACSFEAGEGSCASLGRVSSKVFFTLFALLGFFICFFGHR FWKTELFFIGFIIMGFFFYILITRLTPIKYDVNLILTAVTGSVGGMFLVAVWWR FGILSICMLCVGLVLGFLISSVTFFTPLGNLKIFHDDGVFWVTFSCIAILIPVVF MGCLRILNILTCGVIGSYSVVLAIDSYWSTSLSYITLNVLKRALNKDFHRAFTN VPFQTNDFIILAVWGMLAVSGITLQIRRERGRPFFPPHPYKLWKQERERRVTNI LDPSYHIPPLRERLYGRLTQIKGLFQKEQPAGERTPLLL (SEQ ID NO: 236).

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: WARLRGPGAHARTSPQPWRGPSPAQAAMGFLQLLVVXVLXSEHRVAGAAE VFGNSSEGLIEFSVGKFRYF ELNRPFPEEAILHDISSNVTFLIFQIHSQYQNTTVSFSPRRRSPTM (SEQ ID NO: 237). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in keratinocytes, brain, and spinal cord and to a lesser extent in hematopoietic cells and tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative disorders; hematopoietic disorders; integumentary disorders; immune dysfunction; learning disabilities. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and nervous systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., integumentary, neural, developmental, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in brain and spinal cord cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of neurological and hematopoietic disorders. For example, elevated levels of expression of this gene product in brain and spinal cord indicates that it may be involved in neurodegenerative disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Alternately, expression of this gene product in hematopoietic cells indicates that it may be involved in the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and activation of all hematopoietic lineages, including stem and progenitor cells.

Expression of this gene product in keratinocytes indicates that it may be involved in normal skin function, and could be involved in skin disorders, dermatitis, and fibrosis. The protein is useful in detecting, treating, and/or preventing congenital disorders (i.e. nevi, moles, freckles, Mongolian spots, hemangiomas, port-wine syndrome), integumentary tumors (i.e. keratoses, Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, Paget's disease, mycosis fungoides, and Kaposi's sarcoma), injuries and inflammation of the skin (i.e., wounds, rashes, prickly heat disorder, psoriasis, dermatitis), atherosclerosis, uticaria, eczema, photosensitivity, autoimmune disorders (i.e. lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, dermatomyositis, morphea, scleroderma, pemphigoid, and pemphigus), keloids, striae, erythema, petechiae, purpura, and xanthelasma. In addition, such disorders may predispose increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections of the skin (i.e. cold sores, warts, chickenpox, molluscum contagiosum, herpes zoster, boils, cellulitis, erysipelas, impetigo, tinea, althletes foot, and ringworm).

Moreover, the protein product of this gene may also be useful for the treatment or diagnosis of various connective tissue disorders (i.e., arthritis, trauma, tendonitis, chrondomalacia and inflammation, etc.), autoimmune disorders (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, etc.), dwarfism, spinal deformation, joint abnormalities, amd chondrodysplasias (i.e. spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, familial osteoarthritis, Atelosteogenesis type H, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type Schmid). Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:57 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2050 of SEQ ID NO:57, b is an integer of 15 to 2064, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:57, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 48

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: PRVRPASPPVRSPARWGSMAGSPLLWGPRAGGVGLLVLLLLGLFRPPPALCA RPVKEPRGLSAASPPLARLALLAASGGQCPEVRRRGRCRPGAGAGASAGAER QERARAEAQRLRISRRASWRSCCASGAPPATLIRLW AWTTTPTRLQRSSLALCSAPALTLPP (SEQ ID NO: 238). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in human pituitary and to a lesser extent in pineal gland, and other areas of the brain.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, pituitary dysfunction; abnormal growth; neurological defects; insufficient milk secretion; abnormal smooth muscle contraction. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine and nervous systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., endocrine, developmental, reproductive, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, breast milk, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 150 as residues: Pro-36 to Gly-42, Pro-64 to Ala-76, Gly-83 to Ala-90, Ser-100 to Cys-108, Thr-126 to Ser-135. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution primarily in pituitary cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of disorders, particularly of the endocrine system.

Elevated expression of this gene product in the pituitary indicates that it may be possibly a hormone-like substance that either controls pituitary development itself, or various processes controlled by the pituitary. These include growth, milk secretion, smooth muscle contraction, diuresis, blood pressure, and homeostasis. Thus, this gene product may have numerous clinical applications.

Moreover, expression of this gene product in other regions of the brain indicates that it may be involved in normal neurological function, and may be useful in the treatment of a variety of neurological disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Biological Activity”, “Hyperproliferative Disorders”, and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Example 11, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein can be used for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Addison's disease, Cushing's Syndrome, and disorders and/or cancers of the pancreas (e.g. diabetes mellitus), adrenal cortex, ovaries, pituitary (e.g., hyper-, hypopituitarism), thyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypothyroidism), parathyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypoparathyroidism), hypothallamus, and testes. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:58 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1036 of SEQ ID NO:58, b is an integer of 15 to 1050, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:58, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 49

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: PRVRLATPNIWDLSMLFAFISLLVMLPTWWIVSSWLVWGVILFVYLVIRALRL WRTAKLQVTLKKYSVHLEDMATNSRAFTNLVRKALRLIQETEVISRGFTLVS AACPFNKAGQHPSQHLIGLRKAVYRTLRANFQAARLATLYMLKNYPLNSES DNVTNYICVVPFKELGLGLSEEQISEEEAHNFTDGFSLPALKVLFQLWVAQSS EFFRRLALLLSTANSPPGPLLTPALLPHRILSDVTQGLPHAHSACLEELKRSYE FYRYFETQHQSVPQCLSKTQQKSRELNNVHTAVRSLQLHLKALLNEVILEDE LEKLVCTKETQELVSEAYPILEQKLKLIQPHVQASNNCWEEAISQVDKLLRRN TDKKGKPEIACENPHCTVSTFEAAYSTHCRQRSNPRGAGIRSLCR (SEQ ID NO: 239). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 7-23 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 24 to 390 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ib membrane proteins.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 12. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 12.

This gene is expressed primarily in prostate and placenta and to a lesser extent in pancreatic tumors and hematopoietic cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, prostate cancer; pancreatic cancer; prostate dysfunction; hematopoietic disorders; reproductive diseases and/or disorders, and pancreatitis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, prostate, pancreas, placental, vascular, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, seminal fluid, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 151 as residues: Pro-85 to Ser-94, Pro-127 to Thr-136, Glu-154 to Glu-160, Phe-240 to Ser-250, Leu-255 to Leu-265, Leu-341 to Lys-351, Thr-372 to Gly-384. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in prostate and placental cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of reproductive disorders. Elevated expression of this gene product in the prostate indicates that it may be involved in normal prostate function, and may be a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer.

Alternately, expression of this gene product in placenta indicates that it may play a role in normal vascular function, and may be involved in such processes as angiogenesis and endothelial cell chemotaxis. Thus, this gene product may be useful in the treatment of myocardial infarction, cancer, ischemia, and diabetic retinopathy. Expression of this gene product in placenta may also be indicative of fetal health and development. Similarly, expression of this gene product in hematopoietic cells indicates that it may be involved in the proliferation, differentiation, survival, or activation of all hematopoietic cell lineages. Finally, expression of this gene product in pancreatic cancers indicates that it may play a role in cancer in general, or in pancreatic function.

The secreted protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, and as nutritional supplements. It may also have a very wide range of biological activities. Representative uses are described in the “Chemotaxis” and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Examples 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein may possess the following activities: cytokine, cell proliferation/differentiation modulating activity or induction of other cytokines; immunostimulating/immunosuppressant activities (e.g. for treating human immunodeficiency virus infection, cancer, autoimmune diseases and allergy); regulation of hematopoiesis (e.g. for treating anemia or as adjunct to chemotherapy); stimulation or growth of bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and/or nerves (e.g. for treating wounds, stimulation of follicle stimulating hormone (for control of fertility); chemotactic and chemokinetic activities (e.g. for treating infections, tumors); hemostatic or thrombolytic activity (e.g. for treating hemophilia, cardiac infarction etc.); anti-inflammatory activity (e.g. for treating septic shock, Crohn's disease); as antimicrobials; for treating psoriasis or other hyperproliferative diseases; for regulation of metabolism, and behavior. Also contemplated is the use of the corresponding nucleic acid in gene therapy procedures. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:59 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2519 of SEQ ID NO:59, b is an integer of 15 to 2533, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:59, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 50

When tested against Jurkat and K562 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) and ISRE (interferon-sensitive responsive element) promoter elements, respectively. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid, leukemia, and to a lesser extent, other immune or hematopoietic cells and tissue cell-types, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. ISRE is also a promoter element found upstream in many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the ISRE element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: AAPHPPLLRPLCLWCPLWPAWPLRGRPRSAWKRWPPLPVGPAKLGCSMTTR QPTAVSWPCWLMSSSLSTACLAWTLTGSLAREATRRARSLSPTWNCSARQV PPSPPHSGLGRRGWAHCHLT CLLVTQLFRVGRIHPILSLPLVT (SEQ ID NO: 240). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in brain and placenta.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, vascular diseases; aberrant angiogenesis; neurological disorders; learning disorders; placental insufficiency; and fetal distress. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the vascular and neurological systems (CNS/PNS), expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, reproductive, vascular, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 152 as residues: Met-1 to Thr-7, Glu-36 to Ser-43, Pro-46 to Gly-63. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in brain and placental cells and tissues, combined with the detected GAS and ISRE biological activities, indicates that the protein products of this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of neural, reproductive, and vascular diseases and/or disorders. neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Expression of this gene product in placenta indicates that it may play a role in blood vessel development or function, as the placenta is a highly vascularized organ. Thus, this gene product may be involved in such processes as angiogenesis, endothelial cell chemotaxis, and vascular cord formation. Thus, it may be useful in the treatment of such conditions as myocardial infarction; ischemia; and cancer.

Alternately, expression of this gene product in the brain indicates that it may play a role in the survival, proliferation, or function of neurons, and thus may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of such neurological disorders as ALS, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. It may likewise be involved in learning disorders as well. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:60 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 885 of SEQ ID NO:60, b is an integer of 15 to 899, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:60, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 51

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: LQLASQSAGIKGMSHCARPTFLTLLLASCFWAAAIPNRNVILSVSFRPLHMQ FTLSILVFILRILILLRSFL (SEQ ID NO: 241). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 40-56 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 57 to 60 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ia membrane proteins.

This gene is expressed primarily in spleen derived from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; hematopoietic disorders; impaired immune function; cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in spleen cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of hematopoietic disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Elevated expression of this protein in the spleens of patients with CLL indicates that it may be a useful marker for this disease. Alternately, it may be associated with the development and/or progression of the disease, and may be a useful target for therapeutic intervention. Additionally, this gene product may play more general roles in hematopoiesis, and may serve to control cellular decisions regarding proliferation, survival, activation, and/or differentiation of all hematopoietic cell lineages. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:61 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1065 of SEQ ID NO:61, b is an integer of 15 to 1079, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:61, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 52

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with a putative protein tyrosine kinase from the Chilo iridescent virus. See, for example, Genbank accession no. gil2738451 (AF003534). Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with tyrosine kinases and signaling proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein.

This gene is expressed in a variety of tissues, including microvascular endothelial cells, dendritic cells, and fetal tissues. as well as several tumors.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, vascular, immune, and developmental diseases and/or disorders, particularly cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., vascular, immune, developmental, proliferative, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, amniotic fluid, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 154 as residues: Ala-21 to Lys-3 1, Arg-41 to Cys-56, Thr-92 to Cys-102, Arg-132 to Val-137, Lys-152 to Ile-159, Pro-199 to Ser-205, Arg-210 to Asp-219, Ser-225 to Lys-230, Tyr-236 to Ala-241, Lys-243 to Leu-249, Thr-375 to Asp-381. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution and homology to a tyrosine kinase indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Alternatively, the protein is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of vascular conditions, which include, but are not limited to, microvascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, or embolism. For example, this gene product may represent a soluble factor produced by smooth muscle that regulates the innervation of organs or regulates the survival of neighboring neurons. Likewise, it is involved in controlling the digestive process, and such actions as peristalsis. Similarly, it is involved in controlling the vasculature in areas where smooth muscle surrounds the endothelium of blood vessels. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:62 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1914 of SEQ ID NO:62, b is an integer of 15 to 1928, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:62, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 53

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 2-18 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type lb membrane proteins.

The translation product of this gene shares some homology with IL-6DPB, a nuclear, leucine-zipper containing, transcriptional regulator protein involved in interleukin-6 signal transduction (see e.g., GenBank Accession GI:204918; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference); for example, Roll, V. et al., Cell 63, 643-653 (1990). Therefore, this gene product is expected to have at least some biological activities in common with transcriptional regulatory proteins.

This gene is expressed primarily in neutrophils.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly cancer and immune suppression. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 155 as residues: Gly-63 to Ser-72. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in neutrophils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a marker for neutrophil monitoring in cancer and/or immune suppressed patients and/or during chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:63 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 767 of SEQ ID NO:63, b is an integer of 15 to 781, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:63, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 54

This gene is expressed primarily in IL-1 and LPS induced neutrophils, and to a lesser extent, in fetal brain.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune, hematopoietic, and neural diseases and/or disorders, particularly cancer and immune suppression. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, neural, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 156 as residues: Ile-28 to Trp-37, Ser-68 to Lys-81. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in neutrophils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a marker in neutrophils to monitor patients who are immune suppressed or cancer patients during chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stein cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Alternatively, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:64 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1180 of SEQ ID NO:64, b is an integer of 15 to 1194, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:64, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 55

This gene is expressed primarily in prostate.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, urogenital diseases and/or disorders, particularly prostate cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the urogenital system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., urogenital, prostate, renal, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 157 as residues: Arg-30 to Gln-36. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in prostate cancer cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for study, treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer and other urogenital disorders. Moreover, the expression within cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:65 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1663 of SEQ ID NO:65, b is an integer of 15 to 1677, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:65, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 56

A preferred polypeptide of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MVLVLRHPLCARERAFREPGRGLLTRTGQHDGAPAVTAVPGPLGAVAAAEG RRSAWGAGGSSPPRKVLWGDMRGRRAGVDVLGPALSSEAAGAEARGWGM PGMGVGVGASETRGALFLGREGVHGPCPMDGLGPWPWGPW (SEQ ID NO: 242). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in rejected kidney.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, diseases and/or disorders affecting the kidney. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the urinary tract, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., urogenital, renal, kidney, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 158 as residues: Ala-30 to Gly-36, Asp-45 to Trp-50, Lys-65 to Cys-71, Pro-80 to Cys-87. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in kidney indicates the protein product of this gene could be used in the treatment and/or detection of kidney diseases including renal failure, nephritus, renal tubular acidosis, proteinuria, pyuria, edema, pyelonephritis, hydronephritis, nephrotic syndrome, crush syndrome, glomerulonephritis, hematuria, renal colic and kidney stones, in addition to Wilm's Tumor Disease, and congenital kidney abnormalities such as horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney, and Falconi's syndrome. The protein is useful for modulating the immune response to aberrant proteins, as may exist in proliferating cells and tissues. Such modulation of the immune response would also show utility in inhibiting the rejection of transplanted tissues, particularly of the renal system. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:66 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1223 of SEQ ID NO:66, b is an integer of 15 to 1237, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:66, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 57

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with both human and mouse Fibulin polypeptides which is are extracellular matrix proteins found in heart tissue (See Genbank Accession Nos. emblCAA57876.1 and emblCAA53040.1, respectively; all references available through these accessions are hereby incorporated herein by reference; for example, J. Cell Biol. 123 (5), 1269-1277 (1993)).

Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise the following amino acid sequence: MGPAVKMWTNAWKGLDDCHYNQLCENTPGGHRCSCPRGYRMQGPSLPCL DVNECLQLPKACAYQCHNLQGSYRCLCPPGQTLLRDGKACTSLERNGQNVT TVSHRGPLLPWLRPWASIPGTSYHAWVSLRPGPMALSSVGRAWCPPGFIRQN GVCTDLDECRVRNLCQHACRNTEGSYQCLCPAGYRLLPSGKNCQDINECEEE SIECGPGQMCFNTRGSYQCVDTPCPATYRQGPSPGTCFRRCSQDCGTGGPSTL QYRLLPLPLGVRAHHDVARLTAFSEVGVPANRTELSMLEPDPRSPFALRPLRA GLGAVYTRRALTRAGLYRLTVRAAAPRHQSVFVLLIAVSPYPY (SEQ ID NO: 243). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MRVLVVTIAPIYWALARESGEALNGHSLTGGKFRQSHTWSLLQGAAHDDPV ARGLDPDGLLLLDVVVNGVVPGRAWLTQIFKCRTLKKHYVQTRAWPAVRG LHTALLPGRPPLVPTLQPQHPVQRGPGPPAPAGAAPAGLSYQLGL (SEQ ID NO: 244). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: HASGAFLVVRGEPQGSWGSMTGVINGRKFGVATLNTSVMQEAHSGVSSIHSS IRHVPANVGPLMRVLVVTIAPIYWALAREFSGEALNGHSLTGGKFRQESHVEF ATGELLTMTQWPGVWIPMASCSSTWWSMALSPDSLADADLQVQDFEEHYV QTGPGQLFVGSTQRFFQGGLPSFLRCNHSIQYNAARGPQPQLVQHLRASAISS AFDPEAEALRFQLATALQAEENEVGCPEGFELDSQGAFCVDVDECAWDAHL CREGQRCVNLLGSYRCLPDCGPGFRVADGAGCEDVDECLEGLDDCHYNQLC ENTPGGHRCSCPRGYRMQGPSLPCLDVNECLQLPKACAYQCHNLQGSYRCL CPPGQTLLRDGKACTSLERNGQNVTTVSHRGPLLPWLRPWASIPGTSYHAWV SLRPGPMALSSVGRAWCPPGFIRQNGVCTDLDECRVRNLCQHACRNTEGSY QCLCPAGYRLLPSGKNCQDINECEEESIECGPGQMCFNTRGSYQCVDTPCPAT YRQGPSPGTCFRRCSQDCGTGGPSTLQYRLLPLPLGVRAHHDVARLTAFSEV GVPANRTELSMLEPDPRSPFALRPLRAGLGAVYTRRALTRAGLYRLTVRAAA PRHQSVFVLL IAVSPYPY (SEQ ID NO: 245). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

When tested against U937 and Jurkat cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene repeatedly activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid, T-cells, and to a lesser extent, other immune and hematopoietic cells and tissue cell types, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

This gene is expressed primarily in kidney.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, diseases and/or disorders affecting the kidney and renal system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the urinary tract, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., renal, urogenital, kidney, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 159 as residues: Lys-32 to Ser-37, His-89 to Gly-94, Asn-124 to Gln-130, Ala-163 to Val-168, Cys-196 to Arg-201, Gln-244 to Gln-264, His-288 to Tyr-294, Leu-314 to Gln-319, Ala-392 to Ser-399, Pro-412 to Asp-419, Ala-452 to Pro-460, Arg-466 to Thr-473. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in rejected kidney, the homology to the conserved Fibulin-2 protein, in addition to the detected GAS biological activity, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting kidneys, particularly proliferative disorders. Representative uses are described here and elsewhere herein.

The protein product of this gene could be used in the treatment and/or detection of kidney diseases including renal failure, nephritus, renal tubular acidosis, proteinuria, pyuria, edema, pyelonephritis, hydronephritis, nephrotic syndrome, crush syndrome, glomerulonephritis, hematuria, renal colic and kidney stones, in addition to Wilm's Tumor Disease, and congenital kidney abnormalities such as horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney, and Falconi's syndrome. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:67 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1920 of SEQ ID NO:67, b is an integer of 15 to 1934, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:67, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 58

Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise the following amino acid sequence: MGEKFLLLAMKENHPECFCKILKILHCMDPGEWLPQTEHCVHLTPKEFLIWT MDIASNERSEIQSVALRLASKVISHHMQTCVENRELIAAELKQWVQLVILSCE DHLPTESRLAVVEVLTSTTPLFLTNPHPILELQDTLALWKCVLTLLQSEEQAV RDAATETVTTAMSQENTCQSTEFAFCQVDASIALALALAVLCDLLQQWDQL APGLPILLGWLLGESDDLVACVESMHQVEEDYLFEKAEVNFWAETLIFVKYL CKHLFCLLSKSGWRPPSPEMLCHLQRMVSEQCHLLSQFFRELPPAAEFVKTV EFTRLRIQEERTLACLRLLAFLEGKEGEDTLVLSVWDSYAESRQLTLPRTEAA C (SEQ ID NO: 246). Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are also provided.

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MGEPNRHPSMFLLLLVLERLYASPMDGTSSALSMGPFVPFIMRCGHSPVYHS REMAARALVPFVMIDHIPNTIRTLLSTLPSCTDQCFRAKPHSWGHFSRFFHLL QAYSDSKTRNEFRLPARAD (SEQ ID NO: 247). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: MTGREFFSRFPELYPFLLKQLETVANTVDSDMGEPNRHPSMFLLLLVLERLY ASPMDGTSSALSMGPFVPFIMRCGHSPVYHSREMAARALVPFVMIDHIPNTIR TLLSTLPSCTDQCFRQNHIHGTLLQVFHLLQAYSDSKHGTNSDFQHELTDITV CTKAKLWLAKRQNPCLVTRAVYIDILFLLTCCLNRSAKDNQPVLESLGFWEE VRGIISGSELITGFPWAFKVPGLPQYLQSLTRLAIAAVWAAAAKSGERETNVPI SFSQLLESAFPEVRSLTLEALLEKFLAAASGLGEKGVPPLLCNMGEKFLLLAM KENHPECFCKILKILHCMDPGEWLPQTEHCVHLTPKEFLIWTMDIASNERSEIQ SVALRLASKVISHHMQTCVENRELIAAELKQWVQLVILSCEDHLPTESRLAVV EVLTSTTPLFLTNPHPILELQDTLALWKCVLTLLQSEEQAVRDAATETVTTAM SQENTCQSTEFAFCQVDASIALALALAVLCDLLQQWDQLAPGLPILLGWLLG ESDDLVACVESMHQVEEDYLFEKAEVNFWAETLIFVKYLCKHLFCLLSKSG WRPPSPEMLCHLQRMVSEQCHLLSQFFRELPPAAEFVKTVEFTRLRIQEERTL ACLRLLAFLEGKEGEDTLVLSVWDSYAESRQLTLPRTEAAC (SEQ ID NO: 248). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have two transmembrane domains at about amino acid position 144-160, and 462-478 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type IIIa membrane proteins.

Included in this invention as a preferred domain is the formate and nitrite transporters domain, which was identified using the ProSite analysis tool (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). A number of bacterial and archaebacterial proteins involved in transporting formate or nitrite have been shown [1] to be related: -focA and focB, from Escherichia coli , transporters involved in the bidirectional transport of formate. -fdhc, from Methanobacterium formicicum and thermoformicicum, a probable formate transporter. -nirC, from Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, a probable nitrite transporter. - Bacillus subtilis hypothetical protein yrhG. - Bacillus subtilis hypothetical protein ywcJ (ipa-48R). These transporters are proteins of about 280 residues and seem to contain six transmembrane regions. As signature patterns, we selected two conserved regions. The first one is located in what seems to be a cytoplasmic loop between the second and third transmembrane domains; the second is part of the fourth transmembrane region. The 70 Kd yeast hypothetical protein YHL008c is highly similar, in its N-terminal section, to the prokaryotic members of this family. The concensus pattern is as follows: [LIVMA]-[LIVMY]-x-G-[GSTA]-[DES]-L-[FI]-[TN]-[GS].

Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: IISGSELITG (SEQ ID NO: 249). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Further preferred are polypeptides comprising the formate and nitrite transporter domain of the sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene, and at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or 75 additional contiguous amino acid residues of this referenced sequence. The additional contiguous amino acid residues may be N-terminal or C-terminal to the formate and nitrite transporter domain. Alternatively, the additional contiguous amino acid residues may be both N-terminal and C-terminal to the formate and nitrite transporter domain, wherein the total N- and C-terminal contiguous amino acid residues equal the specified number. The above preferred polypeptide domain is characteristic of a signature specific to formate and nitrite transporter proteins. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with formate and nitrite transporter proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein.

It is believed that this gene maps to chromosome 2. Accordingly, polynucleotides derived from this gene are useful in linkage analysis as markers for chromosome 2.

This gene is expressed primarily in cells of the immune system, primarily T-cells and to a lesser extent in spleen, liver, thymus, tonsils, and testis. Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly disorders affecting hematopoiesis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of hematopoetic cells, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 160 as residues: Gly-2 to Pro-8, Ser-82 to His-92, Tyr-107 to Asp-117, Arg-162 to Pro-169, Ser-224 to Thr-229, Leu-310 to His-315, Ser-333 to Glu-338, Glu-381 to Ser-388, Gln-428 to Ala-433, Met-446 to Thr-455, Ser-548 to Ser-554, Gly-613 to Asp-618, Ser-627 to Gln-633. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in immune cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting hematopoiesis, including cancers. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:68 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 3286 of SEQ ID NO:68, b is an integer of 15 to 3300, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:68, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 59

This gene is expressed primarily in bone marrow, CD34 positive cells, and immune cells, including, neutrophils, T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells and to a lesser extent in brain and tonsils.

In one embodiments, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention may comprise, or alternatively consist of the following amino acid sequence: VDGIDKLDIEFLQQFLETHSRGPRLHSPGHASQEATPGANMSSGTELLWPGAA LLVLLGVAASLCVRCSRPGAKRSEKIYQQRSLREDQQSFTGSRTYSLVGQAW PGPLADMAPTRKDKLLQFYPSLEDPASSRYQNFSKGSRHGSEEAYIDPIAMEY YNWGRFSKPPEDDDANSYENVLICKQKTTETGAQQEGIGGLCRGDLSLSLAL KTGPTSGLCPSASPEEDEGI (SEQ ID NO: 250). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Preferred polypeptide fragments may comprise or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four or more of the following amino acid sequence: ASSRYQNFSKGSRHGSEEAYIDPIA (SEQ ID NO: 251), MEYYNWGRFSKPPEDDDANSY (SEQ ID NO: 252), ENVLICKQKTTETGAQQEGIGGLCRGD (SEQ ID NO: 253), VRCSR PGAKRSEKIYQQRSLREDQQSFTGSRTYSLVGQAWPGPLADMAPTRKDKLLQ FYPSLEDPASS (SEQ ID NO: 255) and LSLSLALKTGPTSGLCPSASPEEDEGI (SEQ ID NO: 254). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments (SEQ ID NOS:251, 252, 253, 254, and/or 255), polynucleotides that hybridize to the complementary strand of these polynucleotides (e.g., under the hybridization conditions described herein) are encompassed by the invention, as are the polypeptides encoded by these hybridizing polynucleotides.

Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, or more of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 161 as residues: Ser-29 to Thr-57, Pro-74 to Lys-79, Pro-85 to Glu-107, Tyr-118 to Tyr-136, Gln-144 to Gln-152, Ala-182 to Glu-188. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Also preferred are polypeptides comprising the mature polypeptide which is predicted to consist of residues 26-190 of the foregoing sequence (SEQ ID NO: 161), and biologically active fragments of the mature polypeptide (e.g., fragments that stimulate the proliferation of bone marrow CD34+ cells).

FIGS. 1A-B show the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:69) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 161) of this polypeptide.

FIG. 2 shows an analysis of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:161). Alpha, beta, turn and coil regions; hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity; amphipathic regions; flexible regions; antigenic index and surface probability are shown, and all were generated using the default settings. In the “Antigenic Index or Jameson-Wolf” graph, the positive peaks indicate locations of the highly antigenic regions of the protein, i.e., regions from which epitope-bearing peptides of the invention can be obtained. The domains defined by these graphs are contemplated by the present invention.

The data presented in FIG. 2 are also represented in tabular form in Table 3. The columns are labeled with the headings “Res”, “Position”, and Roman Numerals I-XIV. The column headings refer to the following features of the amino acid sequence presented in FIG. 2, and Table 3: “Res”: amino acid residue of SEQ ID NO:161 and FIGS. 1A and 1B; “Position”: position of the corresponding residue within SEQ ID NO: 161 and FIGS. 1A and 1B; I: Alpha, Regions—Garnier-Robson; II: Alpha, Regions—Chou-Fasman; III: Beta, Regions—Garnier-Robson; IV: Beta, Regions—Chou-Fasman; V: Turn, Regions—Garnier-Robson; VI: Turn, Regions—Chou-Fasman; VII: Coil, Regions—Garnier-Robson; VIII: Hydrophilicity Plot—Kyte-Doolittle; IX: Hydrophobicity Plot—Hopp-Woods; X: Alpha, Amphipathic Regions—Eisenberg; XI: Beta, Amphipathic Regions—Eisenberg; XII: Flexible Regions—Karplus-Schulz; XIII: Antigenic Index—Jameson-Wolf; and XIV: Surface Probability Plot—Emini.

Preferred embodiments of the invention in this regard include fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions (“alpha-regions”), beta-sheet and beta-sheet forming regions (“beta-regions”), turn and turn-forming regions (“turn-regions”), coil and coil-forming regions (“coil-regions”), hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions and high antigenic index regions. The data representing the structural or functional attributes of the protein set forth in FIG. 2 and/or Table 3, as described above, was generated using the various modules and algorithms of the DNA*STAR set on default parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the data presented in columns VIII, IX, XIII, and XIV of Table 3 can be used to determine regions of the protein which exhibit a high degree of potential for antigenicity. Regions of high antigenicity are determined from the data presented in columns VIII, IX, XIII, and/or XIV by choosing values which represent regions of the polypeptide which are likely to be exposed on the surface of the polypeptide in an environment in which antigen recognition may occur in the process of initiation of an immune response.

Certain preferred regions in these regards are set out in FIG. 2, but may, as shown in Table 3, be represented or identified by using tabular representations of the data presented in FIG. 2 . The DNA*STAR computer algorithm used to generate FIG. 2 (set on the original default parameters) was used to present the data in FIG. 2 in a tabular format (See Table 3). The tabular format of the data in FIG. 2 is used to easily determine specific boundaries of a preferred region. The above-mentioned preferred regions set out in FIG. 2 and in Table 3 include, but are not limited to, regions of the aforementioned types identified by analysis of the amino acid sequence set out in FIGS. 1A-B (SEQ ID NO:161). As set out in FIG. 2 and in Table 3, such preferred regions include Garnier-Robson alpha-regions, beta-regions, turn-regions, and coil-regions, Chou-Fasman alpha-regions, beta-regions, and turn-regions, Kyte-Doolittle hydrophilic regions and Hopp-Woods hydrophobic regions, Eisenberg alpha- and beta-amphipathic regions, Karplus-Schulz flexible regions, Jameson-Wolf regions of high antigenic index and Emini surface-forming regions.

The present invention is further directed to fragments of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein. By a fragment of an isolated DNA molecule having the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:69 is intended DNA fragments at least about 15nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt in length which are useful as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed herein. Of course, larger fragments 50-1500 nt in length are also useful according to the present invention, as are fragments corresponding to most, if not all, of the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or as shown in SEQ ID NO:69. By a fragment at least 20 nt in length, for example, is intended fragments which include 20 or more contiguous bases from the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:69. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited size, larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. Representative examples of polynucleotide fragments of the invention include, for example, fragments that comprise, or alternatively, consist of, a sequence from about nucleotide 1 to about 50, from about 51 to about 100, from about 101 to about 150, from about 151 to about 200, from about 201 to about 250, from about 251 to about 300, from about 301 to about 350, from about 351 to about 400, from about 401 to about 450, from about 451 to about 500, and from about 501 to about 550, and from about 551 to about 600, and from about 601 to about 650, and from about 651 to about 700, and from about 701 to about 750, and from about 751 to about 800, and from about 801 to about 850, and from about 851 to about 900, and from about 901 to about 950, and from about 951 to about 1000, and from about 1001 to about 1050, and from about and from about 1051 to about 1100, and from about 1101 to about 1150, and from about 1151 to about 1200, and from about 1201 to about 1250, and from about 1251 to about 1300, and from about 1301 to about 1350, and from about 1351 to about 1400, and from about 1401 to about 1450, and from about 1451 to about 1500, and from about 1501 to about 1551, and from about 1551 to about 1600, and from about 1601 to about 1650, and from about 1651 to about 1700, and from about 1701 to about 1750, and from about 1751 to about 1797 of SEQ ID NO:69, or the complementary strand thereto, or the cDNA contained in the deposited gene. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges, larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. In additional embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention encode functional attributes of the corresponding protein.

Preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein as well as the mature form. Further preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein or the mature form having a continuous series of deleted residues from the amino or the carboxy terminus, or both. For example, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-60, can be deleted from the amino terminus of either the secreted polypeptide or the mature form. Similarly, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-30, can be deleted from the carboxy terminus of the secreted protein or mature form. Furthermore, any combination of the above amino and carboxy terminus deletions are preferred. Similarly, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also preferred.

Preferably, the polynucleotide fragments of the invention encode a polypeptide which demonstrates a functional activity. By a polypeptide demonstrating a “functional activity” is meant to be a polypeptide capable of displaying one or more known functional activities associated with a full-length (complete) or mature-form of the protein. Such functional activities include, but are not limited to, biological activity (e.g., ability to regulate (e.g., stimulate) hematopoiesis in vitro or in vivo), antigenicity, and immunogenicity. The functional activity of polypeptides of the invention, and fragments, variants derivatives, and analogs thereof, can be assayed by various methods described herein.

In addition, assays described herein and otherwise known in the art may routinely be applied to measure biological activity of polypeptides and fragments of the invention, variants derivatives and analogs thereof (e.g., to regulate (e.g., to stimulate or inhibit) hematopoiesis in vitro or in vivo). For example, techniques known in the art (such as for example assaying for thymidine incorporation), may be applied or routinely modified to assay for the ability of the compositions of the invention to inhibit proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Other methods will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Even if deletion of one or more amino acids from the N-terminus of a protein results in modification of loss of one or more biological functions of the protein, other functional activities (e.g., biological activities, ability to multimerize, etc.) may still be retained. For example, the ability of shortened muteins to induce and/or bind to antibodies which recognize the complete or mature forms of the polypeptides generally will be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the complete or mature polypeptide are removed from the N-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking N-terminal residues of a complete polypeptide retains such immunologic activities can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known in the art. It is not unlikely that a mutein with a large number of deleted N-terminal amino acid residues may retain some biological or immunogenic activities. In fact, peptides composed of as few as six amino acid residues may often evoke an immune response.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the amino terminus of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (i.e., SEQ ID NO:69), up to the Glu residue at position number 185 and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides.

Particularly, N-terminal deletions of the polypeptide can be described by the general formula m-190, where m is an integer from 2 to 184, where m corresponds to the position of the amino acid residue identified in SEQ ID NO:161. More in particular, the invention provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, an amino acid sequence selected from the group: V-26 to I-190; R-27 to I-190; C-28 to I-190; S-29 to I-190; R-30 to I-190; P-31 to I-190; G-32 to I-190; A-33 to I-190; K-34 to I-190; R-35 to I-190; S-36 to I-190; E-37 to I-190; K-38 to I-190; I-39 to I-190; Y-40 to I-190; Q-41 to I-190; Q-42 to I-190; R-43 to I-190; S-44 to I-190; L-45 to I-190; R-46 to I-190; E-47 to I-190; D-48 to I-190; Q-49 to I-190; Q-50 to I-190; S-51 to I-190; F-52 to I-190; T-53 to I-190; G-54 to I-190; S-55 to I-190; R-56 to I-190; T-57 to I-190; Y-58 to I-190; S-59to I-190; L-60 to I-190; V-61 to I-190; G-62 to I-190; Q-63 to I-190; A-64 to I-190; W-65 to I-190; P-66 to I-190; G-67 to I-190; P-68 to I-190; L-69 to I-190; A-70 to I-190; D-71 to I-190; M-72 to I-190; A-73 to I-190; P-74 to I-190; T-75 to I-190; R-76 to I-190; K-77 to I-190; D-78 to I-190; K-79 to I-190; L-80 to I-190; L-81 to I-190; Q-82 to I-190; F-83 to I-190; Y-84 to I-190; P-85 to I-190; S-86 to I-190; L-87 to I-190; E-88 to I-190; D-89 to I-190; P-90 to I-190; A-91 to I-190; S-92 to I-190; S-93 to I-190; R-94 to I-190; Y-95 to I-190; Q-96 to I-190; N-97 to I-190; F-98 to I-190; S-99 to I-190; K-100 to I-190; G-101 to I-190; S-102 to I-190; R-103 to I-190; H-104 to I-190; G-105 to I-190; S-106 to I-190; E-107 to I-190; E-108 to I-190; A-109 to I-190; Y-110 to I-190; I-111 to I-190; D-112 to I-190; P-113 to I-190; I-114 to I-190; A-115 to I-190; M-116 to I-190; E-117 to I-190; Y-118 to I-190; Y-119 to I-190; N-120 to I-190; W-121 to I-190; G-122 to I-190; R-123 to I-190; F-124 to I-190; S-125 to I-190; K-126 to I-190; P-127 to I-190; P-128 to I-190; E-129 to I-190; D-130 to I-190; D-131 to I-190; D-132 to I-190; A-133 to I-190; N-134 to I-190; S-135 to I-190; Y-136 to I-190; E-137 to I-190; N-138 to I-190; V-139 to I-190; L-140 to I-190; I-141 to I-190; C-142 to I-190; K-143 to I-190; Q-144 to I-190; K-145 to I-190; T-146 to I-190; T-147 to I-190; E-148 to I-190; T-149 to I-190; G-150 to I-190; A-151 to I-190; Q-152 to I-190; Q-153 to I-190; E-154 to I-190; G-155 to I-190; I-156 to I-190; G-157 to I-190; G-158 to I-190; L-159 to I-190; C-160 to I-190; R-161 to I-190; G-162 to I-190; D-163 to I-190; L-164 to I-190; S-165 to I-190; L-166 to I-190; S-167 to I-190; L-168 to I-190; A-169 to I-190; L-170 to I-190; K-171 to I-190; T-172 to I-190; G-173 to I-190; P-174 to I-190; T-175 to I-190; S-176 to I-190; G-177 to I-190; L-178 to I-190; C-179 to I-190; P-180 to I-190; S-181 to I-190; A-182 to I-190; S-183 to I-190; P-184 to I-190; and E-185 to I-190, of SEQ ID NO:161. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Also as mentioned above, even if deletion of one or more amino acids from the C-terminus of a protein results in modification of loss of one or more biological functions of the protein, other functional activities (e.g., biological activities, ability to multimerize, ability to bind ligand) may still be retained. For example the ability of the shortened mutein to induce and/or bind to antibodies which recognize the complete or mature forms of the polypeptide generally will be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the complete or mature polypeptide are removed from the C-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking C-terminal residues of a complete polypeptide retains such immunologic activities can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known in the art. It is not unlikely that an mutein with a large number of deleted C-terminal amino acid residues may retain some biological or immunogenic activities. In fact, peptides composed of as few as six amino acid residues may often evoke an immune response. Accordingly, the present invention further provides polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the carboxy terminus of the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide shown in FIGS. 1A-B (SEQ ID NO:161), as described by the general formula 1-n, where n is an integer from 6 to 184 where n corresponds to the position of amino acid residue identified in SEQ ID NO:161. More in particular, the invention provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, an amino acid sequence selected from the group: V-26 to G-189; V-26 to E-188; V-26 to D-187; V-26 to E-186; V-26 to E-185; V-26 to P-184; V-26 to S-183; V-26 to A-182; V-26 to S-181; V-26 to P-180; V-26 to C-179; V-26 to L-178; V-26 to G-177; V-26 to S-176; V-26 to T-175; V-26 to P-174; V-26 to G-173; V-26 to T-172; V-26 to K-171; V-26 to L-170; V-26 to A-169; V-26 to L-168; V-26 to S-167; V-26 to L-166; V-26 to S-165; V-26 to L-164; V-26 to D-163; V-26 to G-162; V-26 to R-161; V-26 to C-160; V-26 to L-159; V-26 to G-158; V-26 to G-157; V-26 to I-156; V-26 to G-155; V-26 to E-154; V-26 to Q-153; V-26 to Q-152; V-26 to A-151; V-26 to G-150; V-26 to T-149; V-26 to E-148; V-26 to T-147; V-26 to T-146; V-26 to K-145; V-26 to Q-144; V-26 to K-143; V-26 to C-142; V-26 to I-141; V-26 to L-140; V-26 to V-139; V-26 to N-138; V-26 to E-137; V-26 to Y-136; V-26 to S-135; V-26 to N-134; V-26 to A-133; V-26 to D-132; V-26 to D-131; V-26 to D-130; V-26 to E-129; V-26 to P-128; V-26 to P-127; V-26 to K-126; V-26 to S-125; V-26 to F-124; V-26 to R-123; V-26 to G-122; V-26 to W-121; V-26 to N-120; V-26 to Y-119; V-26 to Y-118; V-26 to E-117; V-26 to M-116; V-26 to A-115; V-26 to I-114; V-26 to P-113; V-26 to D-112; V-26 to I-111; V-26 to Y-110; V-26 to A-109; V-26 to E-108; V-26 to E-107; V-26 to S-106; V-26 to G-105; V-26 to H-104; V-26 to R-103; V-26 to S-102; V-26 to G-101; V-26 to K-100; V-26 to S-99; V-26 to F-98; V-26 to N-97; V-26 to Q-96; V-26 to Y-95; V-26 to R-94; V-26 to S-93; V-26 to S-92; V-26 to A-91; V-26 to P-90; V-26 to D-89; V-26 to E-88; V-26 to L-87; V-26 to S-86; V-26 to P-85; V-26 to Y-84; V-26 to F-83; V-26 to Q-82; V-26 to L-81; V-26 to L-80; V-26 to K-79; V-26 to D-78; V-26 to K-77; V-26 to R-76; V-26 to T-75; V-26 to P-74; V-26 to A-73; V-26 to M-72; V-26 to D-71; V-26 to A-70; V-26 to L-69; V-26 to P-68; V-26 to G-67; V-26 to P-66; V-26 to W-65; V-26 to A-64; V-26 to Q-63; V-26 to G-62; V-26 to V-61; V-26 to L-60; V-26 to S-59; V-26 to Y-58; V-26 to T-57; V-26 to R-56; V-26 to S-55; V-26 to G-54; V-26 to T-53; V-26 to F-52; V-26 to S-51; V-26 to Q-50; V-26 to Q-49; V-26 to D-48; V-26 to E-47; V-26 to R-46; V-26 to L-45; V-26 to S-44; V-26 to R-43; V-26 to Q-42; V-26 to Q-41; V-26 to Y-40; V-26 to I-39; V-26 to K-38; V-26 to E-37; V-26 to S-36; V-26 to R-35; V-26 to K-34; V-26 to A-33; V-26 to G-32; and V-26 to P-31 of SEQ ID NO:161. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

In addition, any of the above listed N- or C-terminal deletions can be combined to produce a N- and C-terminal deleted polypeptide. The invention also provides polypeptides having one or more amino acids deleted from both the amino and the carboxyl termini, which may be described generally as having residues m-n of SEQ ID NO:161, where n and m are integers as described above. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Also included are a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide consisting of a portion of the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No.209889, where this portion excludes any integer of amino acid residues from 1 to about 180 amino acids from the amino terminus of the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 209889, or any integer of amino acid residues from 1 to about 180 amino acids from the carboxy terminus, or any combination of the above amino terminal and carboxy terminal deletions, of the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 209889. Polynucleotides encoding all of the above deletion mutant polypeptide forms also are provided.

The present application is also directed to proteins containing polypeptides at least 90%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to the polypeptide sequence set forth herein m−n. In preferred embodiments, the application is directed to proteins containing polypeptides at least 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of the specific N- and C-terminal deletions recited herein. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders affecting the immune and hematopoietic systems, particularly hematopoiesis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system and hematopoeitic system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

This gene has been found to stimulate the proliferation of bone marrow CD34+ cells. This assay which is described in Example 53 herein is based on the ability of human CD34+ to proliferate in presence of hematopoietic growth factors and evaluates the ability of the polypeptides of the invention, and agonists and antagonists thereof, to stimulate or inihibit this proliferation.

The tissue distribution in immune and hematopoietic cells and tissues and the ability to stimulate the proliferation of bone marrow CD34+ cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the immune system and hematopoiesis. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. Moreover, the protein represents a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

The polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof, can also be employed to inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and therefore may be employed to protect bone marrow stem cells from chemotherapeutic agents during chemotherapy. This antiproliferative effect may allow administration of higher doses of chemotherapeutic agents and, therefore, more effective chemotherapeutic treatment.

The polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof, may also be employed for the expansion of immature hematopoeitic progenitor cells, for example, granulocytes, macrophages or monocytes, by temporarily preventing their differentiation. These bone marrow cells may be cultured in vitro. Thus, polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention, or agonists or antagonists thereof, may be useful as a modulator of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro for the purpose of bone marrow transplantation and/or gene therapy. Since stem cells are rare and are most useful for introducing genes into for gene therapy, polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention can be used to isolate enriched populations of stem cells. Stem cells can be enriched by culturing cells in the presence of cytotoxins, such as 5-Fu, which kills rapidly dividing cells, where as the stem cells will be protected by polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention. These stem cells can be returned to a bone marrow transplant patient or can then be used for transfection of the desired gene for gene therapy. In addition, this gene can be injected into animals which results in the release of stem cells from the bone marrow of the animal into the peripheral blood. These stem cells can be isolated for the purpose of autologous bone marrow transplantation or manipulation for gene therapy. After the patient has finished chemotherapy or radiation treatment, the isolated stem cells can be returned to the patient.

Polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. The uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia.

This gene product may also be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

This gene may also have a very wide range of biological activities. Representative uses are described in the “Chemotaxis” and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Examples 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein may possess the following activities: cytokine, cell proliferation/differentiation modulating activity or induction of other cytokines; immunostimulating/immunosuppressant activities (e.g. for treating human immunodeficiency virus infection, cancer, autoimmune diseases and allergy); regulation of hematopoiesis (e.g. for treating anemia or as adjunct to chemotherapy); stimulation or growth of bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and/or nerves (e.g. for treating wounds, stimulation of follicle stimulating hormone (for control of fertility); chemotactic and chemokinetic activities (e.g. for treating infections, tumors); hemostatic or thrombolytic activity (e.g. for treating hemophilia, cardiac infarction etc.); anti-inflammatory activity (e.g. for treating septic shock, Crohn's disease); as antimicrobials; for treating psoriasis or other hyperproliferative diseases; for regulation of metabolism, and behavior. Also contemplated is the use of the corresponding nucleic acid in gene therapy procedures. Based upon the proteins immune cell specific message distribution, it may be involved in many aspects of the immune response, especially its initial stages, inflammation, allograft rejection, infectious disease response etc. It is frequently found in the hematopoietic cell cDNA libraries. Thus, this factor could be involved in the control of hematopoietic cell proliferation, differentiation, and function. Based on this one can postulate its use in the management of anemias, leukemias, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, autoimmune iseases, blood tissue engraftment, and poikilothromerythromatosis. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

The gene encoding the disclosed CDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 7. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 7.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:69 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1783 of SEQ ID NO:69, b is an integer of 15 to 1797, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:69, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 60

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: VLWREASALVLSNRLSSGLLHDLLLQPAIHSRLFPRRSRGLSEGEGSSVSLQRS RVLSAMKHVLNLYLLGVVLTLLSIFVRVMESLEGLLESPSPGTSWTTRSQLAN TEPTKGLPDHPSRSM (SEQ ID NO: 256). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in immune cells including activated T cells, macrophages, jurkat cells, bone marrow cells, and osteoblasts and to a lesser extent in kidney cortex, brain, placenta and lung.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly inflammation and diseases related to inflammatory activity. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 162 as residues: Pro-34 to Met-63. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in immune cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treating or diagnosing disease related to the normal or abnormal activation of T cells. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.

Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:70 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1359 of SEQ ID NO:70, b is an integer of 15 to 1373, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:70, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 61

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: YTFHTQIFLDFPMIFLTVLPLAFLFLHSGFYHYISFSCLFSLSLALFFOFLDVATFR RPGQLFCERSVLFDMFHFGFVSLFLHEWIQAKHFWAGLFIVLPSDVFFSVHHL EAPDGSFPNIAKLSLIILLR (SEQ ID NO: 257). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have two transmembrane domains at about amino acid position 2-18 and 22-38 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Illa membrane proteins.

This gene is expressed in many tissues including brain, liver, prostate, testes, cartilage, gall bladder. Expression is also seen in a number of tumors including colon carcinoma, pancreas tumor, osteoclastoma, ovarian cancer, B cell lymphoma and acute lymphocytic leukemias. Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, tumors of various organs including the pancreas, colon, and bone. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the major organs, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, hepatic, metabolic, reproductive, testicular, skeletal, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, amniotic fluid, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in tumors and proliferative tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treating or diagnosing tumors of several major organs including the pancreas and large intestine. This protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:71 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded firom the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1565 of SEQ ID NO:71, b is an integer of 15 to 1579, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:71, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 62

This gene is expressed primarily in dendritic cells and fetal liver/spleen and to a lesser extent in many tissues including tonsils, fetal lung, stromal cell lines, bone marrow cell lines, placenta and tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreas tumor and osteosarcoma.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, diseases and/or disorders of the immune and hematopoietic system. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in dendritic cells and fetal liver/spleen indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosing and treating disorders of the immune system particularly related to the control and generation of precursor cells. Polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:72 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1014 of SEQ ID NO:72, b is an integer of 15 to 1028, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:72, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 63

This gene is expressed primarily in adrenal gland tumor and endothelial cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, endocrine and vascular diseases and/or disorders, particularly diseases associated with the vascular endothelium. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the vascular system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., endocrine, vascular, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in endothelial cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosing and treating disorders that involve the vascular system including diseases such as athersclerosis, neoangiogenesis associated with tumor growth and conditions associated with inflammation. Moreover, the protein is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of a variety of vascular disorders and conditions, which include, but are not limited to miscrovascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke, embolism, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and/or atherosclerosis. Alternatively, the protein is useful in the treatment, detection, and/or prevention of metabolic disorders, particularly lethargy and depression. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:73 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or ore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 3660 of SEQ ID NO:73, b is an integer of 15 to 3674, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:73, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 64

The translation product of this gene is related to bovine PAM precursor (See, e.g., Genbank accession gil 163482 incorporated herein by reference and also see the following patent publications, which are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: J04311386 and WO8902460). Many bioactive peptides terminate with an amino acid alpha-amide at their COOH terminus. The enzyme responsible for this essential posttranslational modification is known as peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase or PAM. An NH2-terminal signal sequence and short propeptide precede the NH2 terminus of purified PAM. The sequences of several PAM cyanogen bromide peptides were localized in the NH2-terminal half of the predicted protein. The forms of PAM purified from bovine neurointermediate pituitary may be generated by endoproteolytic cleavage at a subset of the 10 pairs of basic amino acids in the precursor. High levels of PAM mRNA have been found in bovine pituitary and cerebral cortex. In corticotropic tumor cells, levels of PAM mRNA and pro-ACTH/endorphin mRNA are known to be regulated in parallel by glucocorticoids and CRF.

This gene is expressed primarily in endometrial tumors, dendritic cells, a multiple sclerosis library, kidney, hematopoietic cells, melanocytes, osteoblasts, the spleen, colon, ovary, stromal cells, fetal and adult brain, heart, and in tissues undergoing wound repair.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, endometriosis, endometrial cancer, multiple sclerosis, hematopoietic diseases, bone disease, and wound healing. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly the hematopoietic system and female reproduction. expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, immune, hematopoieticm integumentary, skeletal, gastrointestinal, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, amniotic fluid, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in dendritic and hematopoietic cells and tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a therapeutic or diagnostic agent is diseases of hematopoietic origin as well as the female reproductive track due to the gene's primary pattern of expression. Polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

The protein may also have a very wide range of biological activities. Representative uses are described in the “Chemotaxis” and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Examples 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein may possess the following activities: cytokine, cell proliferation/differentiation modulating activity or induction of other cytokines; immunostimulating/immunosuppressant activities (e.g. for treating human immunodeficiency virus infection, cancer, autoimmune diseases and allergy); regulation of hematopoiesis (e.g. for treating anemia or as adjunct to chemotherapy); stimulation or growth of bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and/or nerves (e.g. for treating wounds, stimulation of follicle stimulating hormone (for control of fertility); chemotactic and chemokinetic activities (e.g. for treating infections, tumors); hemostatic or thrombolytic activity (e.g. for treating hemophilia, cardiac infarction etc.); anti-inflammatory activity (e.g. for treating septic shock, Crohn's disease); as antimicrobials; for treating psoriasis or other hyperproliferative diseases; for regulation of metabolism, and behavior. Also contemplated is the use of the corresponding nucleic acid in gene therapy procedures. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:74 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2783 of SEQ ID NO:74, b is an integer of 15 to 2797, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:74, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 65

The translation product of this gene shares sequence similarity with several G-protein coupled receptors (See Genbank Accession No. gblAAC77910.11 (AF061443); all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference; for example, Mol. Endocrinol. 12, 1830-1845 (1998)). G-protein coupled receptors are well known in the are and affect a variety of functions.

In particular, the translation product of this gene shares similarity with Follical Stimulating Hormone Receptor. Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise the following amino acid sequence: GTRFPTGETPSLGFTVTLVLLNSLAFLLMAVIYTKLYCNLEKEDLSENSQSSMI KHVAWLIFTNCIFFCPVAFFSFAPLITAISISPEIMKSVTLIFFP (SEQ ID NO: 258). Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are also provided.

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MIKHVAWLIFTNCIFFCP VAFFSFAPLITAISISPEIMKSVTLIFFPCLLA (SEQ ID NO: 259). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: GTRFPTGETPSLGFTVTLVLLNSLAFLLMAVIYTKLYCNLEKEDLSENSQSSMI KHVAWLIFTNCIFFCP VAFFSFAPLITAISISPEIMKSVTLIFFPLPACLNPVLYVFFNPKFKEDWKLLKRR VTKKSGSVSVSISSQGGCLEQDFYYDCGMYSHLQGNLTVCDCCESFLLTKPV SCKHLIKSHSCPALAVASCQRPEGYWSDCGTQSAHSDYADEEDSFVSDSSDQ VQACGRACFYQSRGFPLVRYAYNLPRVKD (SEQ ID NO: 260). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 43-59 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 60 to 207 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ia membrane proteins.

Included in this invention as preferred domains are Zinc finger, C2H2 type domains, which were identified using the ProSite analysis tool (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). ‘Zinc finger’ domains [1-5] are nucleic acid-binding protein structures first identified in the Xenopus transcription factor TFIIIA. These domains have since been found in numerous nucleic acid-binding proteins.

A zinc finger domain is composed of 25 to 30 amino-acid residues. There are two cysteine or histidine residues at both extremities of the domain, which are involved in the tetrahedral coordination of a zinc atom. It has been proposed that such a domain interacts with about five nucleotides. A schematic representation of a zinc finger domain is shown below:

Many classes of zinc fingers are characterized according to the number and positions of the histidine and cysteine residues involved in the zinc atom coordination. In the first class to be characterized, called C2H2, the first pair of zinc coordinating residues are cysteines, while the second pair are histidines. A number of experimental reports have demonstrated the zinc-dependent DNA or RNA binding property of some members of this class. Some of the proteins known to include C2H2-type zinc fingers are listed below. We have indicated, between brackets, the number of zinc finger regions found in each of these proteins; a ‘+’ symbol indicates that only partial sequence data is available and that additional finger domains may be present. In addition to the conserved zinc ligand residues it has been shown that a number of other positions are also important for the structural integrity of the C2H2 zinc fingers. The best conserved position is found four residues after the second cysteine; it is generally an aromatic or aliphatic residue. The concensus pattern is as follows: C-x(2,4)-C-x(3)-[LIVMFYWC]-x(8)-H-x(3,5)-H.

Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: CDCCESFLLTKPVSCKHLIKSH (SEQ ID NO: 261). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

Further preferred are polypeptides comprising the Zinc finger, C2H2 type domain of the sequence referenced in Table for this gene, and at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or 75 additional contiguous amino acid residues of this referenced sequence. The additional contiguous amino acid residues may be N-terminal or C-terminal to the Zinc finger, C2H2 type domain. Alternatively, the additional contiguous amino acid residues may be both N-terminal and C-terminal to the Zinc finger, C2H2 type domain, wherein the total N- and C-terminal contiguous amino acid residues equal the specified number. The above preferred polypeptide domain is characteristic of a signature specific to zinc finger proteins. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with G-coupled proteins, their receptors, and zinc finger proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein.

This gene is expressed primarily in adult and fetal liver, human placenta, colon carcinoma cell lines and fibroblasts and to a lesser extent in the fetal and adult brain, the developing nervous system, lung, pancreas, salivary gland, breast tissue, and dendritic cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, diseases of the liver, developmental abnormalities, neurologic diseases, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the neurological and hepatic origin, as well as the proliferation and/or differentiation of numerous types of tissues. expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., hepatic, immune, hematopoietic, neural, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, amniotic fluid, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 167 as residues: Pro-62 to Asp-67, Arg-74 to Gly-80, Gln-146 to Glu-168. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in fetal liver indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for a diagnostic marker or therapeutic in a wide variety of disease states. Polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

Alternatively, the protein expression in placental and brain tissue indicates the protein is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of vascular conditions, which include, but are not limited to, microvascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, or embolism. For example, this gene product may represent a soluble factor produced by smooth muscle that regulates the innervation of organs or regulates the survival of neighboring neurons. Likewise, it is involved in controlling the digestive process, and such actions as peristalsis. Similarly, it is involved in controlling the vasculature in areas where smooth muscle surrounds the endothelium of blood vessels. The protein is useful in the treatment, detection, and/or prevention of bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral infections, particularly infections caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2; pain; cancers; anorexia; bulimia; asthma; Parkinson's disease; acute heart failure; hypotension; hypertension; urinary retention; osteoporosis; angina pectoris; myocardial infarction; ulcers; allergies; benign prostatic hypertrophy; and psychotic and neurological disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, manic depression, delirium, severe mental retardation and dyskinesias, such as Huntington's disease or Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:75 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2689 of SEQ ID NO:75, b is an integer of 15 to 2703, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:75, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 66

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: ALENSGSPGLQDSARAHFNXSLRSFSFLRNQMYIFELSLYLEGTSFVVVLLFLL ISVSLDSPPTTKGWDS VLHIWVPLIVQ (SEQ ID NO: 262). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in placenta and in hematopoietic cells, especially those of T-cell and monocyte origin and to a lesser extent in the brain, endothelial cells, and the lungs.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, hematopoietic, vascular, and developmental diseases and/or disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., vascular, immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 168 as residues: Ser-30 to Trp-37. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in hematopoietic cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for therapeutic and/or diagnostic intervention in hematopoietic and developmental disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Alternatively, the protein is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of vascular conditions, which include, but are not limited to, microvascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, or embolism. For example, this gene product may represent a soluble factor produced by smooth muscle that regulates the innervation of organs or regulates the survival of neighboring neurons. Likewise, it is involved in controlling the digestive process, and such actions as peristalsis. Similarly, it is involved in controlling the vasculature in areas where smooth muscle surrounds the endothelium of blood vessels. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:76 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 728 of SEQ ID NO:76, b is an integer of 15 to 742, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:76, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 67

This gene is expressed primarily in the prostate and to a lesser extent in human B-cell lymphomas.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, prostate cancer and diseases of hematopoietic origin, particularly of B-cells. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the prostate and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., prostate, reproductive, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, seminal fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 169 as residues: Asp-33 to Lys-42. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in prostate tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a therapeutic or diagnostic marker for prostate cancer and disorders involving hematopoietic cells, especially those of B-cell origin. Moreover, the expression within cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant proteins and polypeptides, as may exist in rapidly proliferating cells and tissues. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:77 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1811 of SEQ ID NO:77, b is an integer of 15 to 1825, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:77, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 68

When tested against U937 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: GHESICGSCRSWIYFSIRCRRRMRPWWSLLLEACATCAQTGPTRSTSCTQEVS HSSSTAYPAPMRRRCCL PSPRSCT (SEQ ID NO: 263). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 17. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 17.

This gene is expressed primarily in the brain and the developing embryo and to a lesser extent in the heart, colon, adipose tissue, kidney, mammary tissue, activated T-cells and dendritic cells.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurological diseases, developmental conditions, colon cancer, and hematopoietic diseases, especially of T-cell origin. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, developmental, cardiovascular, adipose, immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 170 as residues: Thr-18 to Cys-26, Glu-29 to Thr-36, Ser-50 to Thr-55. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in brain, combined with the detected GAS biological activity, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents in neurological diseases, developmental abnormalities, colon cancer, and hematopoietic diseases, especially those of T-cell origin. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:78 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1660 of SEQ ID NO:78, b is an integer of 15 to 1674, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:78, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 69

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 2-18 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type II membrane proteins.

In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acid sequence: KRAGVEVGGLVMALAGSVFVLGGVLVLCVERNGEGEMGWPQHLPKSQPLS PPVAVRRCSFERSWIDLLVETSSSMVTCRQQVGTPNGMEGRGGGPKTTFPIRL QLSGACAVRPEIQWEV (SEQ ID NO: 264). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

This gene is expressed primarily in activated monocytes, dendritic cells, and in the tonsils.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly leukemia, lymphomas, tumors of hematopoietic origin. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the hematopoietic system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 171 as residues: Gln-30 to Leu-38, Asn-75 to Thr-86. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution in activated monocytes, dendritic cells, and tonsils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent for leukemias, lymphomas, and other diseases associated with cells of hematopoietic origin. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:79 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2177 of SEQ ID NO:79, b is an integer of 15 to 2191, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:79, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 70

When tested against U937 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent, other immune cells and tissue cell types, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 12. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 12.

This gene is expressed primarily in the placenta, brain, and liver and to a lesser extent in most other tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, hematopoietic, neurological, vascular, and developmental diseases and/or disorders, particularly cancers. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and nervous systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., hematopoietic, neurological, vascular, developmental, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, amniotic fluid, bile, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in brain tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent in a multitude of disease states, particularly those involving the immune and neurologic systems. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Moreover, the protein is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of a variety of vascular disorders and conditions, which include, but are not limited to miscrovascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke, embolism, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and/or atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:80 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1321 of SEQ ID NO:80, b is an integer of 15 to 1335, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:80, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 71

The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the murine FIG. 1 (interleukin-four induced gene 1) (See Genbank Accession No AAB51353; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference; for example Chu,C. C. and Paul,W. E., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94 (6), 2507-2512 (1997)). which shares homology to the monoamine oxidases, particularly in domains responsible for FAD binding.

Preferred polypeptides encoded by this gene comprise the following amino acid sequence: QDWKAERSQDPFEKCMQDPDYEQLLKVTILEADNRIGGRIFTYRDQXTGWIG ELGAMRMPSSHRILHKLCQGLGLNLTKFTQYDKNTWTEVHEXKLRNYVVEK VPEKLGYALRPQEKGHSPEDIYQMALNQALKDLKALGCRKAMKKFERHTLL EYLLGEGNLSRPAVQLLGDVMSEDGFFYLSFAEALRAXSCLSDRLQYSRIVG GWDLLPRALLSSLSGLVLLNAPVVAMTQGPHDVHVQIETSPPARNLKVLKAD VVLLTASGPAVKRITFS (SEQ ID NO: 265), and/or LPRHMQEALRRLHYVPATKVFLSFRRPFWREEHIEGGHSNTDRPSRMIFYPPP REGALLLASYTWSDAAAAFAGLSREEALRLALDDVAALHGPVVRQLWDGT GVVKRWAEDQHSQGGFVVQXPALWQTEKDDWTVPYGRIYFAGEHTAYPHG WVETAVKSALRAAIKINSRKGPASDTASPEGHASDMEGQGHVHGVASSPSH DLAKEEGS (SEQ ID NO: 266). Polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are also provided.

A preferred polypeptide fragment of the invention comprises the following amino acid sequence: MAPLALHLLVLVPILLSLVASQDWKAERSQDPFEKCMQDPDYEQLLKVTIL EADNRIGGRIFTYRDQXTGWIGELGAMRMPSSHRILHKLCQGLGLNLTKFTQ YDKNTWTEVHEXKLRNYVVEKVPEKLGYALRPQEKGHSPEDIYQMALNQA LKDLKALGCRKAMKKFERHTLLEYLLGEGNLSRPAVQLLGDVMSEDGFFYL SFAEALRAXSCLSDRLQYSRIVGGWDLLPRALLSSLSGLVLLNAPVVAMTQG PHDVHVQIETSPPARNLKVLKADVVLLTASGPAVKRITFSPRCPATCRRRCGG CTTCRPPRCS (SEQ ID NO: 267).

Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with monoamine oxidases, disintegrins, metalloproteinases, and apoptosis modulating proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also provided.

The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 235-251 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 252 to 319 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ia membrane proteins.

This gene is expressed primarily in hematopoietic cells, particularly in dendritic cells, and activated monocytes and to a lesser extent in T-cells, endothelial cells, and cells associated with ulcerative colitis.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, leukemias, lymphomas, and diseases associated with antigen presenting cells, in addition to apoptosis dependant events. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder. Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 173 as residues: Gln-22 to Gln-44, Ala-90 to Gly-95, Lys-137 to Trp-146, Arg-171 to Asp-181, Glu-370 to Ser-380, Asp-447 to Gly-452, Gln-463 to Trp-469, Asn-504 to Ala-510, Asp-512 to His-519, Ala-541 to Val-550, Asn-558 to His-566. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also provided.

The tissue distribution immune and hematopoietic cells and tissues, combined with the homology to the murine FIG. 1 gene indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent for hematopoietic diseases, especially those associated with antigen presenting cells. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:81 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a−b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1853 of SEQ ID NO:81, b is an integer of 15 to 1867, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:81, and where b is greater than or equal to a+14.

Table 1 summarizes the information corresponding to each “Gene No.” described above. The nucleotide sequence identified as “NT SEQ ID NO:X” was assembled from partially homologous (“overlapping”) sequences obtained from the “cDNA clone ID” identified in Table 1 and, in some cases, from additional related DNA clones. The overlapping sequences were assembled into a single contiguous sequence of high redundancy (usually three to five overlapping sequences at each nucleotide position), resulting in a final sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X.

The cDNA Clone ID was deposited on the date and given the corresponding deposit number listed in “ATCC Deposit No:Z and Date.” Some of the deposits contain multiple different clones corresponding to the same gene. “Vector” refers to the type of vector contained in the cDNA Clone ID.

“Total NT Seq.” refers to the total number of nucleotides in the contig identified by “Gene No.” The deposited clone may contain all or most of these sequences, reflected by the nucleotide position indicated as “5′ NT of Clone Seq.” and the “3′ NT of Clone Seq.” of SEQ ID NO:X. The nucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the putative start codon (methionine) is identified as “5′ NT of Start Codon.” Similarly, the nucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the predicted signal sequence is identified as “5′ NT of First AA of Signal Pep.”

The translated amino acid sequence, beginning with the methionine, is identified as “AA SEQ ID NO:Y,” although other reading frames can also be easily translated using known molecular biology techniques. The polypeptides produced by these alternative open reading frames are specifically contemplated by the present invention.

The first and last amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the predicted signal peptide is identified as “First AA of Sig Pep” and “Last AA of Sig Pep.” The predicted first amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the secreted portion is identified as “Predicted First AA of Secreted Portion.” Finally, the amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the last amino acid in the open reading frame is identified as “Last AA of ORF.”

SEQ ID NO:X (where X may be any of the polynucleotide sequences disclosed in the sequence listing) and the translated SEQ ID NO:Y (where Y may be any of the polypeptide sequences disclosed in the sequence listing) are sufficiently accurate and otherwise suitable for a variety of uses well known in the art and described further below. For instance, SEQ ID NO:X is useful for designing nucleic acid hybridization probes that will detect nucleic acid sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA contained in the deposited clone. These probes will also hybridize to nucleic acid molecules in biological samples, thereby enabling a variety of forensic and diagnostic methods of the invention. Similarly, polypeptides identified from SEQ ID NO:Y may be used, for example, to generate antibodies which bind specifically to proteins containing the polypeptides and the secreted proteins encoded by the cDNA clones identified in Table 1.

Nevertheless, DNA sequences generated by sequencing reactions can contain sequencing errors. The errors exist as misidentified nucleotides, or as insertions or deletions of nucleotides in the generated DNA sequence. The erroneously inserted or deleted nucleotides cause frame shifts in the reading frames of the predicted amino acid sequence. In these cases, the predicted amino acid sequence diverges from the actual amino acid sequence, even though the generated DNA sequence may be greater than 99.9% identical to the actual DNA sequence (for example, one base insertion or deletion in an open reading frame of over 1000 bases).

Accordingly, for those applications requiring precision in the nucleotide sequence or the amino acid sequence, the present invention provides not only the generated nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X and the predicted translated amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:Y, but also a sample of plasmid DNA containing a human cDNA of the invention deposited with the ATCC, as set forth in Table 1. The nucleotide sequence of each deposited clone can readily be determined by sequencing the deposited clone in accordance with known methods. The predicted amino acid sequence can then be verified from such deposits. Moreover, the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by a particular clone can also be directly determined by peptide sequencing or by expressing the protein in a suitable host cell containing the deposited human cDNA, collecting the protein, and determining its sequence.

The present invention also relates to the genes corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or the deposited clone. The corresponding gene can be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequence information disclosed herein. Such methods include preparing probes or primers from the disclosed sequence and identifying or amplifying the corresponding gene from appropriate sources of genomic material.

Also provided in the present invention are allelic variants, orthologs, and/or species homologs. Procedures known in the art can be used to obtain full-length genes, allelic variants, splice variants, full-length coding portions, orthologs, and/or species homologs of genes corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or a deposited clone, using information from the sequences disclosed herein or the clones deposited with the ATCC. For example, allelic variants and/or species homologs may be isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from the sequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid source for allelic variants and/or the desired homologue.

The polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurring polypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, synthetically produced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination of these methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understood in the art.

The polypeptides may be in the form of the secreted protein, including the mature form, or may be a part of a larger protein, such as a fusion protein (see below). It is often advantageous to include an additional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification, such as multiple histidine residues, or an additional sequence for stability during recombinant production.

The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably are substantially purified. A recombinantly produced version of a polypeptide, including the secreted polypeptide, can be substantially purified using techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, by the one-step method described in Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31-40 (1988). Polypeptides of the invention also can be purified from natural, synthetic or recombinant sources using techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, antibodies of the invention raised against the secreted protein.

The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:X, and/or a cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. The present invention also provides a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively, consisting of, the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. Polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively consisting of the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide sequence encoded by the CDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z are also encompassed by the invention.

Signal Sequences

The present invention also encompasses mature forms of the polypeptide having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or the polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone. Polynucleotides encoding the mature forms (such as, for example, the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotide sequence contained in the cDNA of a deposited clone) are also encompassed by the invention. According to the signal hypothesis, proteins secreted by mammalian cells have a signal or secretary leader sequence which is cleaved from the mature protein once export of the growing protein chain across the rough endoplasmic reticulum has been initiated. Most mammalian cells and even insect cells cleave secreted proteins with the same specificity. However, in some cases, cleavage of a secreted protein is not entirely uniform, which results in two or more mature species of the protein. Further, it has long been known that cleavage specificity of a secreted protein is ultimately determined by the primary structure of the complete protein, that is, it is inherent in the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.

Methods for predicting whether a protein has a signal sequence, as well as the cleavage point for that sequence, are available. For instance, the method of McGeoch, Virus Res. 3:271-286 (1985), uses the information from a short N-terminal charged region and a subsequent uncharged region of the complete (uncleaved) protein. The method of von Heinje, Nucleic Acids Res. 14:4683-4690 (1986) uses the information from the residues surrounding the cleavage site, typically residues −13 to +2, where +1 indicates the amino terminus of the secreted protein. The accuracy of predicting the cleavage points of known mammalian secretory proteins for each of these methods is in the range of 75-80%. (von Heinje, supra.) However, the two methods do not always produce the same predicted cleavage point(s) for a given protein.

In the present case, the deduced amino acid sequence of the secreted polypeptide was analyzed by a computer program called SignalP (Henrik Nielsen et al., Protein Engineering 10:1-6 (1997)), which predicts the cellular location of a protein based on the amino acid sequence. As part of this computational prediction of localization, the methods of McGeoch and von Heinje are incorporated. The analysis of the amino acid sequences of the secreted proteins described herein by this program provided the results shown in Table 1.

As one of ordinary skill would appreciate, however, cleavage sites sometimes vary from organism to organism and cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Accordingly, the present invention provides secreted polypeptides having a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y which have an N-terminus beginning within 5 residues (i.e., +or −5 residues) of the predicted cleavage point. Similarly, it is also recognized that in some cases, cleavage of the signal sequence from a secreted protein is not entirely uniform, resulting in more than one secreted species. These polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are contemplated by the present invention.

Moreover, the signal sequence identified by the above analysis may not necessarily predict the naturally occurring signal sequence. For example, the naturally occurring signal sequence may be further upstream from the predicted signal sequence. However, it is likely that the predicted signal sequence will be capable of directing the secreted protein to the ER. Nonetheless, the present invention provides the mature protein produced by expression of the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotide sequence contained in the cDNA of a deposited clone, in a mammalian cell (e.g., COS cells, as desribed below). These polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are contemplated by the present invention.

Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Variants

The present invention is directed to variants of the polynucleotide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X, the complementary strand thereto, and/or the cDNA sequence contained in a deposited clone.

The present invention also encompasses variants of the polypeptide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:Y and/or encoded by a deposited clone. “Variant” refers to a polynucleotide or polypeptide differing from the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention, but retaining essential properties thereof. Generally, variants are overall closely similar, and, in many regions, identical to the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention.

The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid molecules which comprise, or alternatively consist of, a nucleotide sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for example, the nucleotide coding sequence in SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, the nucleotide coding sequence contained in a deposited cDNA clone or the complementary strand thereto, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone, and/or polynucleotide fragments of any of these nucleic acid molecules (e.g., those fragments described herein). Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acid molecules under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency conditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides.

The present invention is also directed to polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identical to, for example, the polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone, and/or polypeptide fragments of any of these polypeptides (e.g., those fragments described herein).

By a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence of the present invention, it is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid is identical to the reference sequence except that the nucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide. In other words, to obtain a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. The query sequence may be an entire sequence shown inTable 1, the ORF (open reading frame), or any fragment specified as described herein.

As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule or polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a nucleotide sequence of the presence invention can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determining the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are both DNA sequences. An RNA sequence can be compared by converting U's to T's. The result of said global sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB alignment of DNA sequences to calculate percent identiy are: Matrix=Unitary, k-tuple=4, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=30, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty 0.05, Window Size=500 or the lenght of the subject nucleotide sequence, whichever is shorter.

If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence because of 5′ or 3′ deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correction must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does not account for 5′ and 3′ truncations of the subject sequence when calculating percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the 5′ or 3′ ends, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of bases of the query sequence that are 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a nucleotide is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This corrected score is what is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only bases outside the 5′ and 3′ bases of the subject sequence, as displayed by the FASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, are calculated for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score.

For example, a 90 base subject sequence is aligned to a 100 base query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletions occur at the 5′ end of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a matched/alignment of the first 10 bases at 5′ end. The 10 unpaired bases represent 10% of the sequence (number of bases at the 5′ and 3′ ends not matched/total number of bases in the query sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 bases were perfectly matched the final percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 base subject sequence is compared with a 100 base query sequence. This time the deletions are internal deletions so that there are no bases on the 5′ or 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected. Once again, only bases 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence are manually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for the purposes of the present invention.

By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence of the present invention, it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subject polypeptide is identical to the query sequence except that the subject polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a query amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the subject sequence may be inserted, deleted, (indels) or substituted with another amino acid. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, an amino acid sequences shown in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:Y) or to the amino acid sequence encoded by cDNA contained in a deposited clone can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determing the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are either both nucleotide sequences or both amino acid sequences. The result of said global sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB amino acid alignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Window Size=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5. Gap Size Penalty=0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino acid sequence, whichever is shorter.

If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence due to N- or C-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correction must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does not account for N- and C-terminal truncations of the subject sequence when calculating global percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the N- and C-termini, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of residues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminal of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with a corresponding subject residue, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a residue is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This final percent identity score is what is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only residues to the N- and C-termini of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, are considered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score. That is, only query residue positions outside the farthest N- and C-terminal residues of the subject sequence.

For example, a 90 amino acid residue subject sequence is aligned with a 100 residue query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletion occurs at the N-terminus of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a matching/alignment of the first 10 residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% of the sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini not matched/total number of residues in the query sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched the final percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 residue subject sequence is compared with a 100 residue query sequence. This time the deletions are internal deletions so there are no residues at the N- or C-termini of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected. Once again, only residue positions outside the N- and C-terminal ends of the subject sequence, as displayed in the FASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequnce are manually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for the purposes of the present invention.

The variants may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotide variants containing alterations which produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred. Moreover, variants in which 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination are also preferred. Polynucleotide variants can be produced for a variety of reasons, e.g., to optimize codon expression for a particular host (change codons in the human mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host such as E. coli).

Naturally occurring variants are called “allelic variants,” and refer to one of several alternate forms of a gene occupying a given locus on a chromosome of an organism. (Genes II, Lewin, B., ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York (1985).) These allelic variants can vary at either the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide level and are included in the present invention. Alternatively, non-naturally occurring variants may be produced by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

Using known methods of protein engineering and recombinant DNA technology, variants may be generated to improve or alter the characteristics of the polypeptides of the present invention. For instance, one or more amino acids can be deleted from the N-terminus or C-terminus of the secreted protein without substantial loss of biological function. The authors of Ron et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 2984-2988 (1993), reported variant KGF proteins having heparin binding activity even after deleting 3, 8, or 27 amino-terminal amino acid residues. Similarly, Interferon gamma exhibited up to ten times higher activity after deleting 8-10 amino acid residues from the carboxy terminus of this protein. (Dobeli et al., J. Biotechnology 7:199-216 (1988).)

Moreover, ample evidence demonstrates that variants often retain a biological activity similar to that of the naturally occurring protein. For example, Gayle and coworkers (J. Biol. Chem 268:22105-22111 (1993)) conducted extensive mutational analysis of human cytokine IL-1 a. They used random mutagenesis to generate over 3,500 individual IL-1a mutants that averaged 2.5 amino acid changes per variant over the entire length of the molecule. Multiple mutations were examined at every possible amino acid position. The investigators found that “[m]ost of the molecule could be altered with little effect on either [binding or biological activity].” (See, Abstract.) In fact, only 23 unique amino acid sequences, out of more than 3,500 nucleotide sequences examined, produced a protein that significantly differed in activity from wild-type.

Furthermore, even if deleting one or more amino acids from the N-terminus or C-terminus of a polypeptide results in modification or loss of one or more biological functions, other biological activities may still be retained. For example, the ability of a deletion variant to induce and/or to bind antibodies which recognize the secreted form will likely be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the secreted form are removed from the N-terminus or C-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking N- or C-terminal residues of a protein retains such immunogenic activities can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known in the art.

Thus, the invention further includes polypeptide variants which show substantial biological activity. Such variants include deletions, insertions, inversions, repeats, and substitutions selected according to general rules known in the art so as have little effect on activity. For example, guidance concerning how to make phenotypically silent amino acid substitutions is provided in Bowie et al., Science 247:1306-1310 (1990), wherein the authors indicate that there are two main strategies for studying the tolerance of an amino acid sequence to change.

The first strategy exploits the tolerance of amino acid substitutions by natural selection during the process of evolution. By comparing amino acid sequences in different species, conserved amino acids can be identified. These conserved amino acids are likely important for protein function. in contrast, the amino acid positions where substitutions have been tolerated by natural selection indicates that these positions are not critical for protein function. Thus, positions tolerating amino acid substitution could be modified while still maintaining biological activity of the protein.

The second strategy uses genetic engineering to introduce amino acid changes at specific positions of a cloned gene to identify regions critical for protein function. For example, site directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (introduction of single alanine mutations at every residue in the molecule) can be used. (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244:1081-1085 (1989).) The resulting mutant molecules can then be tested for biological activity.

As the authors state, these two strategies have revealed that proteins are surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions. The authors further indicate which amino acid changes are likely to be permissive at certain amino acid positions in the protein. For example, most buried (within the tertiary structure of the protein) amino acid residues require nonpolar side chains, whereas few features of surface side chains are generally conserved. Moreover, tolerated conservative amino acid substitutions involve replacement of the aliphatic or hydrophobic amino acids Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; replacement of the hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr; replacement of the acidic residues Asp and Glu; replacement of the amide residues Asn and Gln, replacement of the basic residues Lys, Arg, and His; replacement of the aromatic residues Phe, Tyr, and Trp, and replacement of the small-sized amino acids Ala, Ser, Thr, Met, and Gly.

Besides conservative amino acid substitution, variants of the present invention include (i) substitutions with one or more of the non-conserved amino acid residues, where the substituted amino acid residues may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii) substitution with one or more of amino acid residues having a substituent group, or (iii) fusion of the mature polypeptide with another compound, such as a compound to increase the stability and/or solubility of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or (iv) fusion of the polypeptide with additional amino acids, such as, for example, an IgG Fc fusion region peptide, or leader or secretory sequence, or a sequence facilitating purification. Such variant polypeptides are deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

For example, polypeptide variants containing amino acid substitutions of charged amino acids with other charged or neutral amino acids may produce proteins with improved characteristics, such as less aggregation. Aggregation of pharmaceutical formulations both reduces activity and increases clearance due to the aggregate's immunogenic activity. (Pinckard et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2:331-340 (1967); Robbins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845 (1987); Cleland et al., Crit. Rev. Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10:307-377 (1993).)

A further embodiment of the invention relates to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of the present invention having an amino acid sequence which contains at least one amino acid substitution, but not more than 50 amino acid substitutions, even more preferably, not more than 40 amino acid substitutions, still more preferably, not more than 30 amino acid substitutions, and still even more preferably, not more than 20 amino acid substitutions. Of course, in order of ever-increasing preference, it is highly preferable for a peptide or polypeptide to have an amino acid sequence which comprises the amino acid sequence of the present invention, which contains at least one, but not more than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid substitutions. In specific embodiments, the number of additions, substitutions, and/or deletions in the amino acid sequence of the present invention or fragments thereof (e.g., the mature form and/or other fragments described herein), is -5, 5-10, 5-25, 5-50, 10-50 or 50-150, conservative amino acid substitutions are preferable.

Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Fragments

The present invention is also directed to polynucleotide fragments of the polynucleotides of the invention.

In the present invention, a “polynucleotide fragment” refers to a short polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence which: is a portion of that contained in a deposited clone, or encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone; is a portion of that shown in SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, or is a portion of a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y. The nucleotide fragments of the invention are preferably at least about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt, at least about 50 nt, at least about 75 nt, or at least about 150 nt in length. A fragment “at least 20 nt in length,” for example, is intended to include 20 or more contiguous bases from the cDNA sequence contained in a deposited clone or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:X. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited value, a value larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. These nucleotide fragments have uses that include, but are not limited to, as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed herein. Of course, larger fragments (e.g., 50, 150, 500, 600, 2000 nucleotides) are preferred.

Moreover, representative examples of polynucleotide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a sequence from about nucleotide number 1-50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200, 201-250, 251-300, 301-350, 351-400, 401-450, 451-500, 501-550, 551-600, 651-700, 701-750, 751-800, 800-850, 851-900, 901-950, 951-1001, 1001-1050, 1051-1100, 1101-1150, 1151-1200, 1201-1250, 1251-1300, 1301-1350, 1351-1400, 1401-1450, 1451-1500, 1501-1550, 1551-1600, 1601-1650, 1651-1700, 1701-1750, 1751-1800, 1801-1850, 1851-1900, 1901-1950, 1951-2000, or 2001 to the end of SEQ ID NO:X, or the complementary strand thereto, or the cDNA contained in a deposited clone. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges, and ranges larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. Preferably, these fragments encode a polypeptide which has biological activity. More preferably, these polynucleotides can be used as probes or primers as discussed herein. Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acid molecules under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency conditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides.

In the present invention, a “polypeptide fragment” refers to an amino acid sequence which is a portion of that contained in SEQ ID NO:Y or encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone. Protein (polypeptide) fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within a larger polypeptide of which the fragment forms a part or region, most preferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of, from about amino acid number 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 102-120, 121-140, 141-160, or 161 to the end of the coding region. Moreover, polypeptide fragments can be about 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, or 150 amino acids in length. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges or values, and ranges or values larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) amino acids, at either extreme or at both extremes. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein as well as the mature form. Further preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein or the mature form having a continuous series of deleted residues from the amino or the carboxy terminus, or both. For example, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-60, can be deleted from the amino terminus of either the secreted polypeptide or the mature form. Similarly, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-30, can be deleted from the carboxy terminus of the secreted protein or mature form. Furthermore, any combination of the above amino and carboxy terminus deletions are preferred. Similarly, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also preferred.

Also preferred are polypeptide and polynucleotide fragments characterized by structural or functional domains, such as fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheet and beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenic index regions. Polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:Y falling within conserved domains are specifically contemplated by the present invention. Moreover, polynucleotides encoding these domains are also contemplated.

Other preferred polypeptide fragments are biologically active fragments. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of the polypeptide of the present invention. The biological activity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable activity. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also encompassed by the invention.

Preferably, the polynucleotide fragments of the invention encode a polypeptide which demonstrates a functional activity. By a polypeptide demonstrating a “functional activity” is meant, a polypeptide capable of displaying one or more known functional activities associated with a full-length (complete) polypeptide of invention protein. Such functional activities include, but are not limited to, biological activity, antigenicity [ability to bind (or compete with a polypeptide of the invention for binding) to an antibody to the polypeptide of the invention], immunogenicity (ability to generate antibody which binds to a polypeptide of the invention), ability to form multimers with polypeptides of the invention, and ability to bind to a receptor or ligand for a polypeptide of the invention.

The functional activity of polypeptides of the invention, and fragments, variants derivatives, and analogs thereof, can be assayed by various methods.

For example, in one embodiment where one is assaying for the ability to bind or compete with full-length polypeptide of the invention for binding to an antibody of the polypeptide of the invention, various immunoassays known in the art can be used, including but not limited to, competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidal gold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots, precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutination assays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays, immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresis assays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected by detecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, the primary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondary antibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment, the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art for detecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of the present invention.

In another embodiment, where a ligand for a polypeptide of the invention identified, or the ability of a polypeptide fragment, variant or derivative of the invention to multimerize is being evaluated, binding can be assayed, e.g., by means well-known in the art, such as, for example, reducing and non-reducing gel chromatography, protein affinity chromatography, and affinity blotting. See generally, Phizicky, E., et al., 1995, Microbiol. Rev. 59:94-123. In another embodiment, physiological correlates of binding of a polypeptide of the invention to its substrates (signal transduction) can be assayed.

In addition, assays described herein (see Examples) and otherwise known in the art may routinely be applied to measure the ability of polypeptides of the invention and fragments, variants derivatives and analogs thereof to elicit related biological activity related to that of the polypeptide of the invention (either in vitro or in vivo). Other methods will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Epitopes and Antibodies

The present invention encompasses polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, an epitope of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y, or an epitope of the polypeptide sequence encoded by a polynucleotide sequence contained in ATCC deposit No. Z or encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the complement of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or contained in ATCC deposit No. Z under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency hybridization conditions as defined supra. The present invention further encompasses polynucleotide sequences encoding an epitope of a polypeptide sequence of the invention (such as, for example, the sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X), polynucleotide sequences of the complementary strand of a polynucleotide sequence encoding an epitope of the invention, and polynucleotide sequences which hybridize to the complementary strand under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency hybridization conditions defined supra.

The term “epitopes,” as used herein, refers to portions of a polypeptide having antigenic or immunogenic activity in an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably in a human. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a polypeptide comprising an epitope, as well as the polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide. An “immunogenic epitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein that elicits an antibody response in an animal, as determined by any method known in the art, for example, by the methods for generating antibodies described infra. (See, for example, Geysen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002 (1983)). The term “antigenic epitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein to which an antibody can immunospecifically bind its antigen as determined by any method well known in the art, for example, by the immunoassays described herein. Immunospecific binding excludes non-specific binding but does not necessarily exclude cross-reactivity with other antigens. Antigenic epitopes need not necessarily be immunogenic.

Fragments which function as epitopes may be produced by any conventional means. (See, e.g., Houghten, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:5131-5135 (1985), further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,211).

In the present invention, antigenic epitopes preferably contain a sequence of at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, more preferably at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, and, most preferably, between about 15 to about 30 amino acids. Preferred polypeptides comprising immunogenic or antigenic epitopes are at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 amino acid residues in length. Additional non-exclusive preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as portions thereof. Antigenic epitopes are useful, for example, to raise antibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind the epitope. Preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, five or more of these antigenic epitopes. Antigenic epitopes can be used as the target molecules in immunoassays. (See, for instance, Wilson et al., Cell 37:767-778 (1984); Sutcliffe et al., Science 219:660-666 (1983)).

Similarly, immunogenic epitopes can be used, for example, to induce antibodies according to methods well known in the art. (See, for instance, Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra; Chow et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:910-914; and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol. 66:2347-2354 (1985). Preferred immunogenic epitopes include the immunogenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, five or more of these immunogenic epitopes. The polypeptides comprising one or more immunogenic epitopes may be presented for eliciting an antibody response together with a carrier protein, such as an albumin, to an animal system (such as rabbit or mouse), or, if the polypeptide is of sufficient length (at least about 25 amino acids), the polypeptide may be presented without a carrier. However, immunogenic epitopes comprising as few as 8 to 10 amino acids have been shown to be sufficient to raise antibodies capable of binding to, at the very least, linear epitopes in a denatured polypeptide (e.g., in Western blotting).

Epitope-bearing polypeptides of the present invention may be used to induce antibodies according to methods well known in the art including, but not limited to, in vivo immunization, in vitro immunization, and phage display methods. See, e.g., Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra, and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol., 66:2347-2354 (1985). If in vivo immunization is used, animals may be immunized with free peptide; however, anti-peptide antibody titer may be boosted by coupling the peptide to a macromolecular carrier, such as keyhole limpet hemacyanin (KLH) or tetanus toxoid. For instance, peptides containing cysteine residues may be coupled to a carrier using a linker such as maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), while other peptides may be coupled to carriers using a more general linking agent such as glutaraldehyde. Animals such as rabbits, rats and mice are immunized with either free or carrier-coupled peptides, for instance, by intraperitoneal and/or intradermal injection of emulsions containing about 100 pg of peptide or carrier protein and Freund's adjuvant or any other adjuvant known for stimulating an immune response. Several booster injections may be needed, for instance, at intervals of about two weeks, to provide a useful titer of anti-peptide antibody which can be detected, for example, by ELISA assay using free peptide adsorbed to a solid surface. The titer of anti-peptide antibodies in serum from an immunized animal may be increased by selection of anti-peptide antibodies, for instance, by adsorption to the peptide on a solid support and elution of the selected antibodies according to methods well known in the art.

As one of skill in the art will appreciate, and as discussed above, the polypeptides of the present invention comprising an immunogenic or antigenic epitope can be fused to other polypeptide sequences. For example, the polypeptides of the present invention may be fused with the constant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM), or portions thereof (CH 1, CH2, CH3, or any combination thereof and portions thereof) resulting in chimeric polypeptides. Such fusion proteins may facilitate purification and may increase half-life in vivo. This has been shown for chimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. See, e.g., EP 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature, 331:84-86 (1988). Enhanced delivery of an antigen across the epithelial barrier to the immune system has been demonstrated for antigens (e.g., insulin) conjugated to an FcRn binding partner such as IgG or Fc fragments (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 96/22024 and WO 99/04813). IgG Fusion proteins that have a disulfide-linked dimeric structure due to the IgG portion desulfide bonds have also been found to be more efficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules than monomeric polypeptides or fragments thereof alone. See, e.g., Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem., 270:3958-3964 (1995). Nucleic acids encoding the above epitopes can also be recombined with a gene of interest as an epitope tag (e.g., the hemagglutinin (“HA”) tag or flag tag) to aid in detection and purification of the expressed polypeptide. For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allows for the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human cell lines (Janknecht et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-897). In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the open reading frame of the gene is translationally fused to an amino-tenrinal tag consisting of six histidine residues. The tag serves as a matrix binding domain for the fusion protein. Extracts from cells infected with the recombinant vaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni2+ nitriloacetic acid-agarose column and histidine-tagged proteins can be selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffers.

Additional fusion proteins of the invention may be generated through the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”). DNA shuffling may be employed to modulate the activities of polypeptides of the invention, such methods can be used to generate polypeptides with altered activity, as well as agonists and antagonists of the polypeptides. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793; 5,811,238; 5,830,721; 5,834,252; and 5,837,458, and Patten et al., Curr. Opinion Biotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82 (1998); Hansson, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); and Lorenzo and Blasco, Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998) (each of these patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In one embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involves the assembly of two or more DNA segments by homologous or site-specific recombination to generate variation in the polynucleotide sequence. In another embodiment, polynucleotides of the invention, or the encoded polypeptides, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior to recombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention may be recombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules.

Antibodies

Further polypeptides of the invention relate to antibodies and T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) which immunospecifically bind a polypeptide, polypeptide fragment, or variant of SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or an epitope, of the present invention (as determined by immunoassays well known in the art for assaying specific antibody-antigen binding). Antibodies of the invention include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, multispecific, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′) fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodies to antibodies of the invention), and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above. The term “antibody,” as used herein, refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that immunospecifically binds an antigen. The immunoglobulin molecules of the invention can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule.

Most preferably the antibodies are human antigen-binding antibody fragments of the present invention and include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs (scFv), single-chain antibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv) and fragments comprising either a VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibody fragments, including single-chain antibodies, may comprise the variable region(s) alone or in combination with the entirety or a portion of the following: hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. Also included in the invention are antigen-binding fragments also comprising any combination of variable region(s) with a hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. The antibodies of the invention may be from any animal origin including birds and mammals. Preferably, the antibodies are human, murine (e.g., mouse and rat), donkey, ship rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, or chicken. As used herein, “human” antibodies include antibodies having the amino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodies isolated from human immunoglobulin libraries or from animals transgenic for one or more human immunoglobulin and that do not express endogenous immunoglobulins, as described infra and, for example in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598 by Kucherlapati et al.

The antibodies of the present invention may be monospecific, bispecific, trispecific or of greater multispecificity. Multispecific antibodies may be specific for different epitopes of a polypeptide of the present invention or may be specific for both a polypeptide of the present invention as well as for a heterologous epitope, such as a heterologous polypeptide or solid support material. See, e.g., PCT publications WO 93/17715; WO 92/08802; WO 91/00360; WO 92/05793; Tutt, et al., J. Immunol. 147:60-69 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,893; 4,714,681; 4,925,648; 5,573,920; 5,601,819; Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148:1547-1553 (1992).

Antibodies of the present invention may be described or specified in terms of the epitope(s) or portion(s) of a polypeptide of the present invention which they recognize or specifically bind. The epitope(s) or polypeptide portion(s) may be specified as described herein, e.g., by N-terminal and C-terminal positions, by size in contiguous amino acid residues, or listed in the Tables and Figures. Antibodies which specifically bind any epitope or polypeptide of the present invention may also be excluded. Therefore, the present invention includes antibodies that specifically bind polypeptides of the present invention, and allows for the exclusion of the same.

Antibodies of the present invention may also be described or specified in terms of their cross-reactivity. Antibodies that do not bind any other analog, ortholog, or homolog of a polypeptide of the present invention are included. Antibodies that bind polypeptides with at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, at least 55%, and at least 50% identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of the present invention are also included in the present invention. In specific embodiments, antibodies of the present invention cross-react with murine, rat and/or rabbit homologs of human proteins and the corresponding epitopes thereof. Antibodies that do not bind polypeptides with less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 85%, less than 80%, less than 75%, less than 70%, less than 65%, less than 60%, less than 55%, and less than 50% identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of the present invention are also included in the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the above-described cross-reactivity is with respect to any single specific antigenic or immunogenic polypeptide, or combination(s) of 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the specific antigenic and/or immunogenic polypeptides disclosed herein. Further included in the present invention are antibodies which bind polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides which hybridize to a polynucleotide of the present invention under stringent hybridization conditions (as described herein). Antibodies of the present invention may also be described or specified in terms of their binding affinity to a polypeptide of the invention. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10 −2 M, 10 −2 M, 5×10 −3 M, 10 −3 M, 5×10 −4 M, 10 −4 M, 5×10 −5 M, 10 −5 M, 5×10 −6 M, 10 −6 M, 5×10 −7 M, 10 −7 M, 5×10 −8 M, 10 −8 M, 5×10 −9 M, 10 −9 M, 5×10 −10 M, 10 −10 M, 5×10 −11 M, 10 −11 M, 5×10 −12 M, 10−12 M, 5×10 −13 M, 10 −13 M, 5×10 −14 M, 10 −14 M, 5×10 −15 M, or 10 −15 M.

The invention also provides antibodies that competitively inhibit binding of an antibody to an epitope of the invention as determined by any method known in the art for determining competitive binding, for example, the immunoassays described herein. In preferred embodiments, the antibody competitively inhibits binding to the epitope by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85 %, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.

Antibodies of the present invention may act as agonists or antagonists of the polypeptides of the present invention. For example, the present invention includes antibodies which disrupt the receptor/ligand interactions with the polypeptides of the invention either partially or fully. Preferrably, antibodies of the present invention bind an antigenic epitope disclosed herein, or a portion thereof. The invention features both receptor-specific antibodies and ligand-specific antibodies. The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which do not prevent ligand binding but prevent receptor activation. Receptor activation (i.e., signaling) may be determined by techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art. For example, receptor activation can be determined by detecting the phosphorylation (e.g., tyrosine or serine/threonine) of the receptor or its substrate by immunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis (for example, as described supra). In specific embodiments, antibodies are provided that inhibit ligand activity or receptor activity by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50% of the activity in absence of the antibody.

The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which both prevent ligand binding and receptor activation as well as antibodies that recognize the receptor-ligand complex, and, preferably, do not specifically recognize the unbound receptor or the unbound ligand. Likewise, included in the invention are neutralizing antibodies which bind the ligand and prevent binding of the ligand to the receptor, as well as antibodies which bind the ligand, thereby preventing receptor activation, but do not prevent the ligand from binding the receptor. Further included in the invention are antibodies which activate the receptor. These antibodies may act as receptor agonists, i.e., potentiate or activate either all or a subset of the biological activities of the ligand-mediated receptor activation, for example, by inducing dimerization of the receptor. The antibodies may be specified as agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for biological activities comprising the specific biological activities of the peptides of the invention disclosed herein. The above antibody agonists can be made using methods known in the art. See, e.g., PCT publication WO 96/40281; U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,097; Deng et al., Blood 92(6):1981-1988 (1998); Chen et al., Cancer Res. 58(16):3668-3678 (1998); Harrop et al., J. Immunol. 161(4):1786-1794 (1998); Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214 (1998); Yoon et al., J. Immunol. 160(7):3170-3179 (1998); Prat et al., J. Cell. Sci. 111(Pt2):237-247 (1998); Pitard et al., J. Immunol. Methods 205(2):177-190 (1997); Liautard et al., Cytokine 9(4):233-241 (1997); Carlson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272(17):11295-11301 (1997); Taryman et al., Neuron 14(4):755-762 (1995); Muller et al., Structure 6(9):1153-1167 (1998); Bartunek et al., Cytokine 8(1):14-20 (1996) (which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties).

Antibodies of the present invention may be used, for example, but not limited to, to purify, detect, and target the polypeptides of the present invention, including both in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic methods. For example, the antibodies have use in immunoassays for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring levels of the polypeptides of the present invention in biological samples. See, e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988) (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

As discussed in more detail below, the antibodies of the present invention may be used either alone or in combination with other compositions. The antibodies may further be recombinantly fused to a heterologous polypeptide at the N- or C-terminus or chemically conjugated (including covalently and non-covalently conjugations) to polypeptides or other compositions. For example, antibodies of the present invention may be recombinantly fused or conjugated to molecules useful as labels in detection assays and effector molecules such as heterologous polypeptides, drugs, radionuclides, or toxins. See, e.g., PCT publications WO 92/08495; WO 91/14438; WO 89/12624; U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,995; and EP 396,387.

The antibodies of the invention include derivatives that are modified, i.e, by the covalent attachment of any type of molecule to the antibody such that covalent attachment does not prevent the antibody from generating an anti-idiotypic response. For example, but not by way of limitation, the antibody derivatives include antibodies that have been modified, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation, phosphylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to a cellular ligand or other protein, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including, but not limited to specific chemical cleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin, etc. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non-classical amino acids.

The antibodies of the present invention may be generated by any suitable method known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies to an antigen-of-interest can be produced by various procedures well known in the art. For example, a polypeptide of the invention can be administered to various host animals including, but not limited to, rabbits, mice, rats, etc. to induce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies specific for the antigen. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, and include but are not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacterium parvum. Such adjuvants are also well known in the art.

Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using a wide variety of techniques known in the art including the use of hybridoma, recombinant, and phage display technologies, or a combination thereof. For example, monoclonal antibodies can be produced using hybridoma techniques including those known in the art and taught, for example, in Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling, et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties). The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein is not limited to antibodies produced through hybridoma technology. The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody that is derived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or phage clone, and not the method by which it is produced.

Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies using hybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art and are discussed in detail in the Examples (e.g., Example 16). In a non-limiting example, mice can be immunized with a polypeptide of the invention or a cell expressing such peptide. Once an immune response is detected, e.g., antibodies specific for the antigen are detected in the mouse serum, the mouse spleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. The splenocytes are then fused by well known techniques to any suitable myeloma cells, for example cells from cell line SP20 available from the ATCC. Hybridomas are selected and cloned by limited dilution. The hybridoma clones are then assayed by methods known in the art for cells that secrete antibodies capable of binding