AU767527B2 - Human chemokine polypeptides - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0Oil 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors Address for service is: Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

David PARMELEE, Edward APPLEBAUM, Haodi John WHITE, Mark ADAMS, Ralph ALDERSON~ Hanschke LIMA and Yuling LI WRAYc A-SSE)IATE ew~ 9 L.Z 4jt; 239 ,Adelaide Torrocoe Le A c o (-5Ft P i l A 6 Q _Ltj VotCol Attorney code: Invention Title: "Human Chemokine Polypeptides" This application is a Divisional of Australian Patent Application 53559/96.

The following statement is a full description of this inVention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1/1 1/2 Human Chemokine Polypeptides This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by such S' polynucleotides, the use of such polynucleotides and 15 polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. More particularly, the polypeptides of the present invention are human chemokine beta-4 (also referred to as "Ckp-4") and human chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein (referred to as "MCP-4," and 20 also known and referred to as human chemokine beta-10 and which, collectively, are referred to as "the chemokine polypeptides". The invention also relates to i* inhibiting the action of such polypeptides.

Chemokines are an emerginig super-family of small 25 secreted cytokines that are structurally and functionally related. All chemokines exhibit 25 to 75% homology at the amino acid level and contain spatially conserved cysteine residues as do the polypeptides of the present invention.

Members of the "C-X-C branch" (according to the position of the first two cysteines in the .Conserved motif), also known as neutrophil-activating peptide (NAP)/IL-8 family, exert pro-inflammatory activity mainly through their action on neutrophils IL-8 and NAP-2), whereas members of the "C-C branch" family appear to attract certain mononuclear S 19.Sep. 2003 17:00 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 6 cells. Members of the "C-C branch" include PF4, MIPs, MCPs, and the chemokine polypeptides of the present invention.

Numerous biological activities have been assigned to this chemokine family. The macrophage inflammatory protein 4 5 la and 10 are chemotactic for distinct lymphocyte populations and monocytes (Schall, Cytokine, 3:165 (1991)), while MCP-1 has been described as a specific monocyte chemo-attractant (Matsushima et al., J. Exp. Med.,

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169: 1485 (1989)). The common function of this chemokine 10 family is their ability to stimulate chemotactic migration llof distinct sets of cells, for example, immune cells (leukocytes) and fibroblasts. These chemokines are also SNumeable to activate certain cells in this family.

~The immune cells which are responsive to the h15 chemokines have a vast number of in vivo functions and therefore their regulation by such chemokines is an important area in the treatment of disease.

,;;For example, eosinophils destroy parasites to lessen parasitic infection. Eosinophils are also responsible for 0 chronic inflammation in the airwayptof the respiratory system. Macrophages are responsible for suppressing tumor formation in vertebrates. Further, basophils release histamine which may play an important role in allergic inflammation. Accordingly, promoting and inhibiting such cells has wide therapeutic application.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there are provided novel polypeptides which are ~fragments of MCP-4 (also referred to' as Cko-10). The Spolypeptides of the present invention are of human origin.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided polynucleotides (DNA or RNA) ;:which encode such polypeptides.

2' COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for utilizing such polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides for therapeutic purposes, for example, to treat solid tumors, chronic infections, auto-immune diseases, psoriasis, asthma, allergy, to regulate hematopoiesis, and to promote wound healing.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there are provided antibodies against such polypeptides.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present 15 invention, there are provided antagonist/inhibitors to such polypeptides, which may be used to inhibit the action of such polypeptides, for example, in the treatment of auto-immune diseases, chronic inflammatory and infective diseases, histamine-mediated allergic reactions, prostaglandin- 20 independent fever, bone marrow failure, silicosis, sarcoidosis, hyper-eosinophilic syndrome and lung inflammation.

These and other aspects of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings 25 herein..

The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIGURE 1 displays the cDNA sequence and corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of CkP-4. The initial 24 amino 4 acids represent the deduced leader sequence of CkP-4 such that the putative mature polypeptide comprises 70 amino acids. The standard one-letter abbreviation for amino acids is used.

FIGURE 2 displays the cDNA sequence and corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of MCP-4 (also referred to as The initial 23 amino acids represent the putative leader sequence of MCP-4 (CkB-10) such that the putative mature polypeptide comprises 75 amino acids. As noted in Figure 5, however, there are several amino terminal ends of MCP-4 produced in cells, represented by arrows in Figure 1, e*o.o. as shown in Figure 5 and as discussed herein. In addition 1 several carboxyl terminus have been observed in certain forms 15 of MCP-4 and produced in cells; shown in Figure 5 and discussed herein. The standard one-letter abbreviation for amino acids is used.

o FIGURE 3 displays the amino acid sequence homology between 20 CkP-4 and the mature peptide of eotaxin (bottom). The standard one-letter- abbreviation for amino acids is used.

FIGURE 4 displays the amino acid sequence homology between human MCP-4 (Ck-10) (top) and human MCP-3 (bottom). The standard one-letter abbreviation for amino acids is used.

FIGURE 5 shows the amino acid sequences of several different forms of MCP-4 (CkB-10) isolated by expression in vitro.

Bacl, 2 and 3 show sequences of three NH 2 -terminal variants of MCP-4 expressed using baculovirus. Drol, 2 and 3+ show sequences of MCP-4 isolated by expression of MCP-4 cDNA in DrosoDhila cells in vitro. The figure also shows an homology comparison of the full length MCP-4 sequence with sequences of MCP-3 and eotaxin. Identical residues are indicated by vertical lines.

FIGURE 6 is a pair of graphs showing release of Nacetyl-3-D-glucosaminidase from cytochalasin B-treated human blood monocytes in response to MCP-4 (Ckp-10), Eotaxin, MCP- 1, MCP-2, MCP-3 and RANTES, and migration index of cytochalasin B-treated monocytes in response to MCP-4 (Ck3- MCP-1, MCP-3 and a negative control.

Enzyme activity is presented on a linear scale of o arbitrary fluorescence units along the vertical axis in (A) Relative migration index is presented on a linear scale on 15 the vertical axis in Chemokine concentration in nM is presented in both graphs on a log scale along the horizontal axis.

As discussed in the examples below, cell migration was measured in 48 well chemotaxis chambers. The migrating cells 20 were counted in five high power fields. The migration is expressed as migration index (mean of migrated cells/mean of Smigrated cells in absence of added chemokine). Each point is the average of three replicate cultures. The bar shows the standard deviation about the average for the three cultures.

FIGURE 7 is a set of graphs showing migration of CD4' and CD8* T-lymphocytes in response to various concentrations of MCP-4 (Ck3-10), Eotaxin, MCP-1, MIP-Ul and a negative control. Upper graphs show migration of CD4' T-lymphocytes.

Lower graphs show migration of CD8' T-lymphocytes. In both upper and lower pairs the left graph shows migration in response to MCP-1, MIP-la and a negative control and the right graph shows migration in response to MCP-4 (Ck3-10), Eotaxin. Number of migrating cells is indicted on a linear scale along the vertical axis. Chemokine concentrations in the attractant media are indicated in rnM on a log scale along the horizontal axis.

As discussed in the examples below, cell migration was measured in 48 well chemotaxis chambers. The migrating cells were counted in five high power fields. The migration is expressed as migration index (mean of migrated cells/mean of migrated cells in absence of added chemokine). Each point is the average of three replicate cultures. The bar shows the standard deviation about the average for the three cultures.

FIGURE 8 provides a pair of graphs showing the migration of human eosinophils in response to a negative control, 100 nM MCP-1, 100 nM MCP-3 and several concentration of MCP-4 (CkPand Eotaxin. Migration index is indicted on a linear scale along the vertical axis. Chemokine concentrations in the attractant media are indicated in nMI on a log scale along the horizontal axis.

As discussed in the examples below, cell migration was measured in 48 well chemotaxis chambers. The migrating cells were counted in five nigh power -fields. The migration is expressed as migration index (mean of migrated cells/mean of 25 migrated cells in absence of added chemokine). Each point is the average of three replicate cultures. The bar shows the standard deviation about the average for the three cultures.

FIGURE 9 is a graph showing survival of cortical neuronal cells cultured in the presence of various concentrations of CkP-4, Basic FGF and HG0100. The number of viable cell counts are indicted on a linear scale along the vertical axis, in terms of calcein emission. Concentrations of the 19.Sep. 2003 17:01 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 7 factors in the growth medium are indicated in ng/ml on a log scale along the horizontal axis. Each point is the i average of six replicate cultures. The bar shows the standard error of the mean about the average for the six 5 cultures.

FIGURE 10 is a graph showing neurite outgrowth of cortical neurons cultured in the presence of various concentrations of Ckp-4, Basic FGF and HG0100. Neurite outgrowth is 0 indicted on a linear scale along the vertical axis, in .I terms of neurofilament protein measured optical density at 490 nm (OD" 4 Concentrations of the factors in the growth medium are indicated in ng/ml on a log scale along the horizontal axis. Each point is the average of six 15 replicate cultures. The bar shows the standard error of "N the mean about the average for the six cultures.

FIGURE 11 is a graph showing chemotaxis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to cultured in the presence of 20 various concentrations of Ckp-4 an BCP-l. In each graph chemotaxis is indicted on a linear scale along the vertical axis, in terms of ratio of fluorescence emission at 530 nm stimulated by 485 nm excitation. Concentrations of the factors in the growth medium are indicated in ng/ml on a 25 log scale along the horizontal axis. Each point is the average of several; replicate cultures. The bar'shows the standard error of the mean about the average for the cultures.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there are provided isolated nucleic acids (polynucleotides) which encode for fragments of the mature 1 7

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COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:01 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 8

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MCP-4 (also known as Cko-10) polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of Figures 2 and 5 or of the mature polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of the clone deposited as ATCC Deposit No- 75849 on July 29, 1994. Also provided in accordance with this aspect of the invention are polynucleotides encoding MCP-4 polypeptides comprising in sequence residues 28-93 set out in Figures 2 and 5 and, among these, particularly polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 17-98, 20-98, 22-98, 28-98, 28-95 and 28-93 set out in Figures 2 and 5 and analogs and derivatives thereof.

The polynucleotide encoding MCP-4 (also known as Ck- 10) was discovered in a cDNA library derived from nine week early human tissue. MCP-4 is structurally related to the chemokine family. It contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 98 amino acid residues of which approximately the first 20 amino acid residues are putative or actual leader sequences as shown in Figure 5 and discussed elsewhere herein, and the ature protein comprises around 75 amino acids depending on the cleavage :site, or sites, also as shown in Figure 5. The protein has a marked sequence similarity to MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3 and Eotoxin and exhibits the highest degree of homology to MCP- 25 3 with 65% identity and 77% similarity over the entire coding sequence.

Particularly preferred MCP-4 polypeptides (also referred to herein as Ck-10) of the present invention, described herein below in greater detail, include fragments of the polypeptides having the amino acid sequences set out in Figure 2 or Figure 5. It will be appreciated that such preferred polypeptides include those with free amino and blocker amino termini, particular those noted in Figure iy COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19 Sep. 2003 17:01 613 96793111 No. 6595 P. 9 i*

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in which the terminal glutamine is a blocked pyroglutamine residue. In accordance with this aspect of the invention are preferred MCP-4 polypeptides comprising in sequence residues 28-93 set out in Figures 2 or 5 and, among these, particularly polypeptides having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 17-98, 98, 22-98, 28-98, 28-95 and 28-93 set out in Figures 2 or and analogs and derivatives thereof.

Such polypeptides may be produced by expressing a 10 cDNA of the invention, particularly a cDNA having the sequence set out in Figures 2 or 5 or having the sequence of the human cDNA of the deposited clones, using for instance a baculovirus vector in insect host cells.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be in the form of RNA or in the form of DNA, which DNA includes cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA. The DNA may be double-stranded or single-stranded, and if single stranded may be the coding strand or non-coding (anti-sense) strand.

The coding sequence which encodes the fragment of the 20 polypeptides may comprise a sequence identical to part of the coding sequence shown in Figures 1 and 2 or that of the deposited clones or may comprise part of a different coding *o sequence which coding sequence, as a result of the redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code, encodes the S 25 same mature polypeptides, or the other polypeptides noted 6ooo..

herein, as for instance noted herein abov, as the DNA of Figures 2 or 5 or the deposited cDNAs.

The polynucleotide which encodes polypeptides of Figures 2 or 5, and as noted elsewhere herein, or for the polypeptides encoded by the deposited cDNAs, may include! only the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide; the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide and additional coding sequence such as a leader or secretory sequence or a proprotein sequence; the coding sequence for the mature '9 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:02 613 96793111 No.6595 P. polypeptide (and optionally additional coding sequence) and non-coding sequence, such as introns or non-coding sequence and/or 3' of the coding sequence for the mature polypeptides.

Thus, the term "polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide" encompasses a polynucleotide which includes only coding sequence for the polypeptide as well as a polynucleotide which includes additional coding and/or non-coding sequence.

The present invention further relates to variants of the hereinabove described polynucleotides which encode for fragments of the polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of Figure 2, and the sequences set out in Figure 5, or the polypeptides encoded by the cDNA of the deposited 15 clones. The variant of the polynucleotides may be a naturally occurring allelic variant of the polynucleotides or a non-naturally occurring variant of the polynucleotides.

Thus, the present invention includes polynucleotides 20 encoding fragments of the same mature polypeptides as shown in Figure 2, the polypeptides set out in Figure 5, or the same mature polypeptides encoded by the cDNA of the deposited clones as well as variantsof such polynucleotides which variants encode for a fragment of the S 25 polypeptides of Figure 2, or the polypeptides set out in SFigure 5, or the polypeptides encoded by'Ehe cDNA of the deposited clones. Such nucleotide variants include deletion variants, substitution variants and addition or insertion variants.

As hereinabove indicated, the polynucleotides may have a coding sequence which is'part of a naturally occurring allelic variant of the coding sequence shown in Figure 2, or the polypeptides set out in Figure 5, or of the coding sequence of the deposited clones. As known in the art, an COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 i 19 Sep. 2003 17:02 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 11 allelic variant is an alternate form of a polynucleotide sequence which may have a substitution, deletion or addition of one or more nucleotides, which does not substantially alter the function of the encoded polypeptide.

The present invention also includes polynucleotides, wherein the coding sequence for the fragment of the mature polypeptides may be fused in the same.reading frame to a polynucleotide sequence which aids in expression and 10 secretion of a polypeptide from a host cell, for example, a leader sequence which functions as a secretory sequence for 3, controlling transport of a polypeptide from the cell. The polypeptide having a leader sequence is a preprotein and 15 may have the leader sequence cleaved by the host cell to 15 form the fragment of the mature form of the polypeptide.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may also have the coding sequence fused in frame to a marker i sequence which allows for purification of the polypeptides of the present invention. The marker sequence may be a 20 hexa-histidine tag supplied by a pQE-9 vector to provide for purification of the mature polypeptides fused to the marker in the case of a bacterial host, or, for example, the marker sequence may be a hemaglutinin (HA) tag when a mammalian host, e.g. COS-7 cells, is used. The HA tag f 25 corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza J hemaggluEinin protein (Wilson, et Cell, 37:767 (1984)).

The present invention further relates to polynucleotides which hybridize to the hereinabovedescribed sequences if there is at least 50% and preferably identity between the sequences. The present invention particularly relates to polynucleotides which hybridize under stringent conditions to the hereinabove-described polynucleotides. As herein used, the term "stringent 11 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:02 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 12 conditions" means hybridization will occur only if there is at least 95% and preferably at least 97% identity between the:sequences. The polynucleotides which hybridize to the hereinabove described polynucleotides in a preferred embodiment encode polypeptides which retain substantially the same biological function or activity as the mature polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of Figure 2, or the polypeptides set out in Figure 5, or the deposited cDNA.

The deposit(s) referred to herein will be maintained 10 under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for purposes of Patent Procedure. These deposits are provided merely as convenience to those of skill in the art and are not an admission that a deposit is required under Section 6. The 15 sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited materials, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides encoded thereby, are incorporated herein by reference and are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description of sequences herein. A license may be 20 required to make, use or sell the deposited materials, and no such license is hereby granted.

The present invention further relates to fragments of chemokine polypeptides which have the deduced amino acid sequences of Figure 2 or which has the amino acid sequence encoded by the deposited cDNA, as well as fragments, analogs and derivatives of such polypeptiSds.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides of the present invention may be recombinant polypeptides, natural polypeptides or a synthetic polypeptides, preferably recombinant polypeptides.

The fragments of the polypeptides of Figure 2, or of the polypeptides of Figure 5, or that encoded by the deposited cDNAs may be one in which one or more of the amino acid residues are substituted with a conserved or 12 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:02 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 13 non-conserved amino acid residue (preferably a conserved amino acid residue) and such substituted amino acid residue may.or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii) one in which one or more of the amino acid residues includes a substituent group, or (iii) one in which the polypeptide is fused with another compound, such as a compound to increase the half-life of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or (iv) one in which additional amino acids are fused to the polypeptide, such 10 as a leader or secretory sequence or a sequence which is employed for purification of the polypeptide.

The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form, and LP.: preferably are purified to homogeneity.

15 The term "isolated" means that the material is removed from its original environment the natural environment if it is naturally occurring). For example, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide or polypeptide present in a living animal is not isolated, but the same 20 polynucleotide or polypeptide, separated from some or all of the coexisting materials in the natural system, is *isolated. Such polynucleotides could be part of a vector and/or such polynucleotides or polypeptides could be part of a composition, and still be isolated in that such vector S 25 or composition is not part of its natural environment.

The present invention also relates t'6vectors which include polynucleotides of the present invention, host cells which are genetically engineered with vectors of the invention and the production of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques.

Host cells are genetically engineered (transduced or transformed or transfected) with the vectors of this invention which may be, for example, a cloning vector or an expression vector. The vector may be, for example, in the 13 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:03 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 14

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form of a plasmid, a viral particle, a phage, etc. The engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants or amplifying the MCP-4 genes (also referred to as Ckf-10 genes). The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for 0 OO0 '@oO00

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0 0 *o 0 0 0 ooo 0 *00 0* *0 0 00 0* 0 14 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be employed for producing polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Thus, for example, the polynucleotide may be included in any one of a variety of expression vectors for expressing a polypeptide. Such vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids; phage DNA; baculovirus; yeast plasmids; vectors derived fromcombinations of plasmids and phage DNA, viral DNA such as vaccinia, adenovirus, fowl pox virus, and pseudorabies.

However, any other vector may be used as long as it is replicable and viable in the host.

15 The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, the DNA sequence is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) by procedures known in the art. Such procedures and others are deemed to be within the scope of 20 those skilled in the art.

The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operatively linked to an appropriate expression control sequence(s) (promoter) to direct mRNA synthesis. As representative -examples of such promoters, there may be mentioned: LTR or SV40 promoter, the E. coli. lac or trD, the phage lambda P, promoter and other promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses.

The expression vector also contains a ribosome binding site for translation initiation and a transcription terminator.

The vector may also include appropriate sequences for amplifying expression.

In addition, the expression vectors preferably contain one or more selectable marker genes to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells such as dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or such as tetracycline or ampicillin resistance in E. coli.

The vector containing the appropriate DNA sequence as hereinabove described, as well as an appropriate promoter or control sequence, may be employed to transform an appropriate host to permit the host to express the protein.

As representative examples of appropriate hosts, there may be mentioned: bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streotomvces, Salmonella tvhimurium; fungal cells, such as yeast; insect cells such as Drosoohila and Sf9; animal cells such as CHO, COS or Bowes melanoma; plant cells, etc. The selection of an appropriate host is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

.i 15 More particularly, the present invention also includes recombinant constructs comprising one or more of the sequences as broadly described above. The constructs Scomprise a vector, such as a plasmid or viral vector, into which a sequence of the invention has been inserted, in a forward or reverse orientation. In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the construct further comprises regulatory sequences, including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the sequence. Large numbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known to those of skill in the art, and are commercially available. The following vectors are provided by way of example. Bacterial: pQE70, pQE60, pQE-9 (Qiagen), pBS, pD10, phagescript, psiX174, pbluescript SK, pbsks, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A (Stratagene); ptrc99a, pKK223- 3, pKK 233 3 pDR540, pRIT5 (Pharmacia). Eukaryotic: pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXTl, pSG (Str tagene) pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG, pSVL (Pharmacia). However, any other plasmid or vector may be used as long as they are replicable and viable in the host.

Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using CAT (chloramphenicol acctyl transferase) vectors or other vectors with selectable markers. Two appropriate vectors are pKK232-8 and pCM7. Particular named bacterial promoters include lacI, lacZ, T3, T7, gpt, lambda PL and trp. Eukaryotic promoters include CMV immediate early, HSV thymidine kinase, early and late SV40, LTRs from retrovirus, and mouse metallothionein-I. Selection of the appropriate vector and promoter is well within the level of ordinary skill in the art.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to host cells containing the above-described constructs. The host cell can be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell, or a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a 15 bacterial cell. Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE- Dextran mediated transfection, or electroporation. (Davis, Dibner, Battey, Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, (1986)).

20 The constructs in host cells can be used in a conventional manner to produce the gene product encoded by the recombinant sequence. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention can .be synthetically produced by conventional -peptide synthesizers.

Mature proteins can be expressed in mammalian cells, yeast; bacteria, or other cells under the control of appropriate promoters. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the present invention.

Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described by Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, (1989), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

18 Transcription of the DNA encoding the polyeptides of the present invention by higher eukaryotes is increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about from 10 to 300 bp that act on a promoter to increase its transcription.

Examples including the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin bp 100 to 270, a cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers.

Generally, recombinant expression vectors will include origins of replication and selectable markers permitting transformation of the host cell, the ampicillin resistance gene of E. coli and S. cerevisiae TRP1 gene, and a promoter derived from a highly-expressed gene to direct 15 transcription of a downstream structural sequence. Such promoters can be derived from operons encoding glycolytic enzymes such as 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), a-factor, acid phosphatase, or heat shock proteins, among others. The heterologous structural sequence is assembled in appropriate 20 phase with translation initiation and termination sequences, and preferably, a leader sequence capable of directing secretion of translated protein into the periplasmic space or extracellular mediui. Optionally, the heterologous sequence can encode a fusion protein including an N-terminal 25 identification peptide imparting desired characteristics, stabilization or simplified purification of expressed recombinant product.

Useful expression vectors for bacterial use are constructed by inserting a structural DNA sequence encoding a desired protein together with suitable translation initiation and termination signals in operable reading phase with a functional promoter. The vector will comprise one or more phenotypic selectable markers and an origin of replication to ensure maintenance of the vector and to,. if desirable, 19 provide amplification within the host. Suitable prokaryotic hosts for transformation include E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella tvphimurium and various species within the genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Staphylococcus, although others may also be employed as a matter of choice.

As a representative but nonlimiting example, useful expression vectors for bacterial use can comprise a selectable marker and bacterial origin of replication derived from commercially available plasmids comprising genetic elements of the well known cloning vector pBR322 (ATCC 37017). Such commercial vectors include, for example, pKK223-3 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Uppsala, Sweden) and pGEM1 (Promega Biotec, Madison, WI, USA). These pBR322 "backbone" sections are combined with an appropriate promoter 15 and the structural sequence to be expressed.

Following transformation of a suitable host strain and growth of the host strain to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter is induced by appropriate means temperature shift or chemical induction) and cells are S' 20 cultured for an additional period.

Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting '.crude extract retained for further purification.

Microbial cells employed in. expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents, such methods are well know to those skilled in the art.

Various mammalian cell culture systems can also be employed to express recombinant protein. Examples of mammalian expression systems include the COS-7 lines of monkey kidney fibroblasts, described by Gluzman, Cell, 23:175 (1981), and other cell lines capable of expressing a compatible vector, for example, the C127, 3T3, CHO, HeLa and 19.Sep. 2003 17:03 613 96793111 No.6595 P. BHK cell lines. Mammalian expression vectors will comprise an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5' flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements.

The chemokine polypeptides can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction e* chromatography, affinity chromatography hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Protein refolding steps can be used, as necessary, in completing configuration of the mature protein. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides of the present invention may be a naturally purified product, or a product of chemical synthetic procedures, or produced by ecombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host (for example, by bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect and mammalian cells in culture). Depending upon the ihost employed in a recombinant productio procedure, the Spolypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may be non-glycosylated. Polypeptides of the invention Smay also include an initial methionine amino acid residue.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides may be .used to inhibit bone marrow stem cell colony formation as Sadjunct protective treatment during cancer chemotherapy and for leukemia.

2They may also be used to regulate hematopoiesis, by i2 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:03 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 16 regulating the activation and differentiation of various hematopoietic progenitor cells The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides may also be used to inhibit epidermal keratinocyte proliferation for treatment of psoriasis, which is characterized by keratinocyte hyper-proliferation.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides may also be used to treat solid tumors by stimulating the invasion and activation of host defense cells, e.g, CD8', cytotoxic T cells and macrophages. Particularly, MCP-4 (also S. referred to as Ckp-10) on CD8S T-cells, eosinophils and monocytes. They may also be used to enhance host defenses against resistant chronic infections, for example, mycobacteria, listeria or leishmania infections, or 15 opportunistic infections such as, for example, cryptococcus o* o infections, via the attraction of microbicidal leukocytes, such as CD4+ T-cells, monocytes and eosinophils by MCP-4.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides also increase the presence of eosinophils which have the distinctive function of killing the.larvae of parasites that invade tissues, as in schistosomiasis, trichinosis and .ascariasis.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides may also be used to treat auto-immune disease and lymphocytic 25 leukemias by inhibiting T cell proliferation by the 0 inhibition of IL-2 biosynthesis.

SCko-4 and MCP-4 (also referred to as CkP-10) may also be used in wound healing, both via the recruitment of debris clearing and connective tissue promoting inflammatory cells and also via its control of excessive TGF-mediated fibrosis. In this same manner, fragments of MCP-4 may also be used to treat other fibrotic disorders, including liver cirrhosis, osteoarthritis and pulmonary 21 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:04 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 17 i fibrosis.

Fragments of chemokines may also be employed as inhibitors of angiogenesis, therefore, they have anti-tumor effects.

Fragments of chemokines of the present invention also may be used to enhance neuronal survival and differentiation and they may be employed, where effective in this regard, in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, for instance, CkB-4 may be used, where i 1 0 effective, to enhance neuton survival and neurite outgrowth.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides of the resent invention are also useful for identifying other molecules which have similar biological activity. An 15 example of a screen for this is isolating the coding region of the genes by using the known DNA sequence to synthesize oligonucleotide probes. Labeled oligonucleotides having a j sequence complementary to that of the genes of the present invention are used to screen a library of human CDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA to determine whigh members of the library the probe hybridizes to.

The present invention also relates to a diagnostic assays for detecting altered levels of the polypeptides or the mRNA which provides the message for such polypeptides, 25 both quantitatively and qualitatively. S~,ch assays are Swell-known in the art and include an ELISA assay, the radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR. The levels of the polypeptides, or their mRNAs, which are detected in the assays may be employed for the elucidation of the significance of the polypeptides in various diseases and for the diagnosis of diseases in which altered levels of the polypeptides may be significant.

This invention provides a method for identification of 22 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 /;t 4g..

!t .4 72

A~

A

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7.

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I

19.Sep. 2003 17:04 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 18 the receptors for the polypeptides. The gene encoding the receptors can be identified by expression cloning.

Polyadenylated RNA is prepared from a cell responsive to the polypeptides, and a CDNA library created from this RNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cells that are not responsive to the polypeptides.

22A COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 23 Transfected cells, which may be cultured on slides are exposed to the labeled polypeptides. The polypeptides can be labeled by a variety of means including iodidation or inclusion of a recognition site for a site-specific protein kinase. Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected to autoradiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-pools are prepared and retransfected using an iterative sub-pooling and rescreening process, eventually yielding a single clones that encodes the putative receptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, the labeled polypeptides can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane or extract preparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked material is resolved by PAGE analysis and exposed to x-ray film. The labeled complex containing 15 the receptors of the polypeptides can be excised, resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to protein microsequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencing would be used to design a set of generate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identify the genes encoding the putative receptors.

This invention provides a method of screening drugs to identify those which enhance (agonists) or block (antagonists) interaction of the polypeptides to their identified receptors. An agonist is a compound which 25 increases the natural biological functions of the polypeptides, while antagonists eliminate such functions. As an example, a mammalian cell or membrane preparation expressing the receptors of the polypeptides would be incubated with a labeled chemokine polypeptide, eg.

radioactivity, in the presence of the drug. The ability of the drug to enhance or block this interaction could then be measured.

Potential antagonists include antibodies, or in some cases, oligonucleotides, which bind to the polypeptides.

Another example of a potential antagonist is a negative dominant mutant of the polypeptides. Negative dominant mutants are polypeptides which bind to the receptor of the wild-type polypeptide, but fail to retain biological activity.

An assay to detect negative dominant mutants of the polypeptides include an in vitro chemotaxis assay wherein a multiwell chemotaxis chamber equipped with polyvinylpyrrolidone-free polycarbonate membranes is used to measure the chemoattractant ability of the polypeptides for leukocytes in the presence and absence of potential antagonist/inhibitor or agonist molecules.

Antisense constructs prepared using antisense technology 1 are also potential antagonists. Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through triple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which methods are based on binding of a polynucleotide to DNA or RNA. For example, the 5' coding portion of the polynucleotide sequence, which encodes for the mature polypeptides of the present invention, is used to design an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length.

A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene-involved in transcription (triple- helix, see Lee et al., Nucl. Acids Res... 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et 25 al, Science, 241:456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science, 251: 1360 (1991)), thereby preventing transcription and the production of the polypeptides. The antisense

RNA

oligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNA molecule into the polypeptides (antisense Okano, J. Neurochem., 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL (1988)). The oligonucleotides described above can also be delivered to cells such that the antisense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of the polypeptides.

Another potential antagonist is a peptide derivative of the polypeptides which are naturally or synthetically modified analogs of the polypeptides that have lost biological function yet still recognize and bind to the receptors of the polypeptides to thereby effectively block the receptors. Examples of peptide derivatives include, but are not limited to, small peptides or peptide-like molecules.

The antagonists may be employed to inhibit the chemotaxis and activation of macrophages and their precursors, and of neutrophils, basophils, B lymphocytes and some T cell subsets, activated and CD8+ cytotoxic

T

cells and natural killer cells, in auto-immune and chronic inflammatory and infective diseases. Examples of auto-immune 15 diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and insulin-dependent diabetes. Some infectious diseases include silicosis, sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by preventing the recruitment and activation of mononuclear phagocytes, idiopathic hyper-eosinophilic syndrome by 20 preventing eosinophil production and migration, endotoxic shock by preventing the migration of macrophages and their production of the chemokine polypeptides of the present invention. The antagonists may also be used for treating atherosclerosis, by preventing monocyte infiltration in the 25 artery wall.

The antagonists may also be used to treat histaminemediated allergic reactions by inhibiting chemokine-induced mast cell and basophil degranulation and release of histamine.

The antagonists may also be used to treat inflammation by preventing the attraction of monocytes to a wound area.

They may also be used to regulate normal pulmonary macrophage populations, since acute and chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases are associated with sequestration of mononuclear 19.Sep. 2003 17:04 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 19 phagocytes in the lung.

Antagonists may also be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis by preventing the attraction of monocytes into synovial fluid in the.joints of patients. Monocyte influx and activation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of both degenerative and inflammatory arthropathies.

The antagonists may be used to interfere with the Sdeleterious cascades attributed primarily to IL-1 and TNF, which prevents the biosynthesis of other inflammatory cytokines. In this way, the antagonists may be used to prevent inflammation. The antagonists may also be used to inhibit prostaglandin-independent fever induced by e9*** 4 chemokines.

S The antagonists may also be used to treat cases of 15 bone marrow failure, for example, aplastic anemia and *4 Smyelodysplastic syndrome.

The antagonists may also be used to treat asthma and Sallergy by preventing eosinophil accumulation in the lung.

The antagonists may be employed in a composition with a A 20 pharmaceutically acceptable carrier 4 as hereinafter .described.

The fragments of the chemokine polypeptides and o.o. agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be ".employed in combination with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Such a carrier includes but is not limited to saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Associated with such container(s) can be 26 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 S 19.Sep. 2003 17:04 613 96793111 No.6595 P. a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals Sor biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, the polypeptides of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with other therapeutic compounds.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in a convenient manner such as by the topical, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intratumor, subcutaneous, intranasal or intradermal routes. The polypeptides are administered in an amount which is effective for treating and/or prophylaxis of the specific indication. In general, the polypeptides will be administered in an amount of at S 15 least about 10Ag/kg body weight and in most cases they will be administered in an amount not in excess of about 8mg/Kg body weight per day. In most cases, the dosage is from 4 about 10pg/kg to about 1mg/kg body weight daily, taking into account the routes of administration, symptoms, etc.

i: 20 The fragments of the chemokinie,.polypeptides and agonists or antagonists may be employed in accordance with the present invention by expression of such polypeptides in vivo, which is often referred to as "gene therapy." Thus, for example, cells from a patient may be 25 engineered with a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) encoding a polypeptide ex vivo, with the engineered cells then being provided to a patient to be treated with the polypeptide.

Such methods are well-known in the art. For example, cells may be engineered by procedures known in the art by use of a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention.

Similarly, cells may be engineered in vivo for expression of a polypeptide in vivo.by, for example, 27 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 9 19-Sep. 2003 17:05 613 96793111 N o,6 59 5 2 1 procedures known in the art. As known in the art, a producer .1.

I. 00 0 00 0 .1 ope 0:0 0 9 *i 0 000 9* 0 99 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 cell for producing a retroviral particle containing RNA encoding the polypeptide of the present invention may be administered to a patient for engineering cells in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo. These and other methods for administering a polypeptide of the present invention by such method should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings of the present invention. For example, the expression vehicle for engineering cells may be other than a retrovirus, for example, an adenovirus which may be used to engineer cells in vivo after combination with a suitable delivery vehicle.

The sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification: The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on 15 an individual human chromosome. Moreover, there is a current need for identifying particular sites on the chromosome. Few chromosome marking reagents based on actual sequence data (repeat polymorphisms) are presently available for marking chromosomal location. The mapping of DNAs to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with genes associated with disease.

Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably. 15-25 bp) from the cDNA.

25 Computer analysis of the cDNA is used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating the amplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the human gen :corresponding to the primer will yield an amplified fragment.

PCR mapping of somatic cell hybrids is a rapid procedure for assigning a particular DNA to a particular chromosome.

Using the present invention with the same oligonucleotide primers, sublocalization can be achieved with panels of fragments from specific chromosomes or pools of large genomic clones in an analogous manner. Other mapping strategies that can similarly be used to map to its chromosome include in situ hybridization, prescreening with labeled flow-sorted chromosomes and preselection by hybridization to- construct chromosome specific-cDNA libraries.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a cDNA clones to a metaphase chromosomal spread can be used to provide a precise chromosomal location in one step. This technique can be used with cDNA as short as 500 or 600 bases; however, clones larger than 2,000 bp have a higher likelihood of binding to a unique chromosomal location with sufficient signal intensity for simple detection. FISH requires use of the clones from which the EST was derived, and the longer the better. For example, 2,000 bp is good, 4,000 is better, and more than 4,000 is probably not necessary to get good results a reasonable percentage of the time. For a review of this technique, see Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: a Manual of 20 Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

Once a sequence has been mapped.to a precise chromosomal the location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be .correlated with genetic map data. Such 2 data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian 25 Inheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physically adjacent genes).

Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

With current resolution of physical mapping and genetic mapping techniques, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal region associated with the disease could be one of between 50 and 500 potential causative genes. (This assumes 1 megabase mapping resolution and one gene per kb).

The polypeptides, their fragments or other derivatives, or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can be used as an immunogen to produce antibodies thereto. These antibodies can be, for example, polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.

The present invention also includes chimeric, single chain, and humanized antibodies, as 'well as Fab fragments, or the product of an Fab expression library. Various procedures S: 15 known in the art may be used for the production of such .antibodies and fragments.

Antibodies generated against the polypeptides corresponding to a sequence of the present invention can be obtained by direct injection of the polypeptides into an 20 animal or by administering the polypeptides to an animal, preferably a nonhuman. The antibody so obtained will -then bind the polypeptides itself. In this manner, even a sequence encoding only a fragment of the polypeptides can be used to generate antibodies binding the whole native polypeptides. Such antibodies can then be used to isolate the polypeptide from tissue expressing that polypeptide.

For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler and Milstein, 1975, Nature, 256:495-497), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72), and the EBVhybridoma technique to produce human monoclonal antibodies (Cole, et al., 1985, in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss,'Inc., pp. 77-96).

Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies Patent 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to immunogenic polypeptide products of this invention.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following examples; however, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such examples. All parts or amounts, unless otherwise specified, are by weight.

In order to facilitate understanding of the following examples certain frequently occurring methods and/or terms will be described.

"Plasmids" are designated by a lower case p preceded 15 and/or followed by capital letters and/or numbers. The starting 'plasmids herein are either commercially available, publicly available on an unrestricted basis, or can be constructed from available plasmids in accord with published procedures. In addition, equivalent plasmids to those described are known in the art and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

"Digestion" of DNA refers to catalytic cleavage of the DNA with a restriction enzyme that acts only at certain sequences in the DNA. The various restriction enzymes used herein are commercially available and their reaction conditions, cofactors and other requirements were used as would be known to the ordinarily skilled artisan. For analytical purposes, typically 1 j g of plasmid or DNA fragment is used with about 2 units of enzyme in about 20 .1 of buffer solution. For the" purpose of isolating DNA fragments for plasmid construction, typically 5 to 50 ig -of DNA are digested with 20 to 250 units of enzyme in a larger volume. Appropriate buffers and substrate amounts for 19.Sep. 2003 17:05 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 22 particular restriction enzymes are specified by the manufacturer. Incubation times of about 1 hour at 37-C are ordinarily used, but may vary in accordance with the supplier's instructions. After digestion the reaction is electrophoresed directly on a polyacrylamide gel to isolate the desired fragment.

Size separation of the cleaved fragments is performed using 8 percent polyacrylamide gel described by Goeddel, D.

et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 8:4057 (1980).

"Oligonucleotides" refers to either a single stranded polydeoxynucleotide or two complementary polydeoxynucleotide strands which may be chemically •synthesized. Such synthetic oligonucleotides have no phosphate and thus will not ligate to another 15 oligonucleotide without adding a phosphate with an ATP in the presence of a kinase. A synthetic oligonucleotide will ligate to a fragment that has not been dephosphorylated.

"Ligation" refers to the process of forming phosphodiester bonds between two double stranded nucleic acid fragments (Maniatis, et al.,,Id, p. 146). Unless .otherwise provided, ligation may be accomplished using S* known buffers and conditions with 10 units to T4 DNA ligase ("ligase") per 0.5 pg of approximately equimolar amounts of the DNA fragments to be ligated.

Unless otherwise stated, transformation was performed as described in the method of Graham, F. and Van der Eb, Virology, 52:456-457 (1973).

EXAMPLE 1: Bacterial Expression and Purification of MCP-4 The cDNA sequence coding for MCP-4 (also referred to as Cko-10), which is present in the human cDNA in the deposit in ATCC No- 75849, is initially amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5' and 3' 32 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 S 19.Sep. 2003 17:05 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 23 4 sequences of the processed MCP-4 protein (minus the signal peptide sequence) and the vector sequences 3' to the MCP-4 gene. Additional nucleotides corresponding to MCP-4 were added to the 5' and 3' sequences respectively. The oligonucleotide primer has the sequence (SEQ ID NO. 7) CCCGCATGCAGCCAGATGCACTCAACG 3' contains a Sphi restriction Senzyme site (bold) followed by 19 nucleotides of MCP-4 ~i coding sequence (underlined) starting from the sequences A coding for the mature protein. The ATG codon is included in the Sphl site. The 3' sequence, (SEQ ID NO. 8) AAAGGATCCAGTCTTCAGGGTGTGAGCT 3' contains complementary sequences to a BamH1 site (bold) and is followed by 19 nucleotides of gene specific sequences preceding the termination codon. The restriction enzyme sites correspond 15 to the restriction enzyme sites on the bacterial expression vector pQE-70 (Qiagen, Inc. 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA, 91311). pQE-70 encodes antibiotic resistance (Ampr), a bacterial origin of replication (ori), an IPTG-regulatable Spromoter operator a ribosome binding site (RBS), a I 20 6-His tag and restriction enzyme sites. pQE-70 was then digested with SphI and BamHl. The amplified sequences were ligated into pQE-70 and were inserted in frame with the sequence encoding for the histidine tag and the RBS. The ligation mixture was then used to transform the E. coli 25 strain available from Qiagen under the trademark M15/rep 4 by the procedure described in Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Laboratory Press, (1989). M15/rep4 contains multiple copies of the plasmid pREP4, which expresses the lacI repressor and also confers kanamycin resistance (Kan').

Transformants are identified by their ability to grow on LB plates and ampicillin/kanamycin resistant colonies were selected. Plasmid DNA was isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis. Clones containing the desired 33 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 S 19 Sep. 2003 17:05 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 24 :i constructs were grown overnight in liquid culture in LB media supplemented with both Amp (100 ug/ml) and Kan ug/ml). The O/N culture is used to inoculate a large culture at a ratio of 1:100 to 1:250. The cells were grown to an optical density 600 (O.D.o60) of between 0.4 and 0.6.

i IPTG ("Isopropyl-B-D-thiogalacto pyranoside") was then added to a final concentration of 1 mM. IPTG induces by Sinactivating the lacl repressor, clearing the P/O leading to increased gene expression. Cells were grown an extra 3 to 4 hours. Cells were then harvested by centrifugation.

The cell pellet was solubilized in the chaotropic agent 6 Molar Guanidine HCI. After clarification, solubilized MCP- S.4 (also referred to as Ckp-10) was purified from this solution by chromatography on a Nickel-Chelate column under S 15 conditions that allow for tight binding by proteins containing the 6-His tag (Hochuli, E. et al., J.

SChromatography 411:177-184 (1984)). MCP-4 >98% pure) was eluted from the column in 6 molar guanidine HC1 pH Protein renaturation out of GnHCl can be accomplished by several protocols (Jaenicke, R. andIRudolph, Protein Structure A Practical Approach, IRL Press, New York (1990)). Initially, step dialysis is utilized to remove the GnHCL. Alternatively, the purified protein isolated from the Ni-chelate column can be bound to a second column 25 over which a decreasing linear GnHCL gradient is run. The protein is allowed to renature while bound to the column and is subsequently eluted with a buffer containing 250 mM imidazole, 150 mM NaC1, 25 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5 and Glycerol. Finally, soluble protein is dialyzed against a storage buffer containing 5 mM Ammonium Bicarbonate. The protein was then analyzed on an SDS-PAGE gel EXAMPLE 2: Expression of Recombinant MCP-4 in COS cells 34 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 I 19.Sep. 2003 17:06 613 96793111 No.6595 P. The expression of plasmid, MCP-4-HA (also referred to as CkP-10 HA) is derived from a vector pcDNAI/Amp S(Invitrogen) containing: 1) SV40 origin of replication, 2) ampicillin resistance gene, 3) E.coli replication origin, 4) CMV promoter followed by a polylinker region, a intron and polyadenylation site. A DNA fragment encoding the entire MCP-4 precursor and a HA tag fused in frame to its 3' end was cloned into the polylinker region of the vector, therefore, the recombinant protein expression is directed under the CMV promoter. The HA tag correspond to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein S.as previously described Wilson, H. Niman, R. Heighten, A Cherenson, M. Connolly, and R. Lerner, 1984, Cell 37, 767). The infusion of HA tag to the target protein allows easy detection of the recombinant protein with an antibody Si that recognizes the HA epitope.

The plasmid construction strategy is described as S. follows: The cDNA sequence encoding for MCP-4 (also referred to as Ck-10), which is present in thqe DNA insert in the DNA in ATTC. Deposit No. 75849, was constructed by PCR on the original EST cloned using two primers: the 5' primer (SEQ ID NO. 11) 5' GGAAAGCTTATGAAAGTTTCTGCAGTGC 3' contains a HindIII site followed by 19 nucleotides of MCP-4 coding 25 sequence starting from the initiation codon; the 3' sequence (SEQ ID NO. 12): CAAGCGTAGT CTGGGACGTC GTATGGGTAA GTCTTCAGGG A TGTGAGCT-3' contains complementary sequences to XbaI site, translation stop codon, HA tag and the last 19 nucleotides of the MCP-4 coding sequence (not including the stop codon). Therefore, the PCR product contains a HindIII site, MCP-4 coding sequence followed by HA tag fused in frame, a translation termination stop codon next to the HA COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:06 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 26 tag, and an XbalI site. The PCR amplified DNA fragment and the vector, pcDNAI/Amp, were digested with HindIII and BamHl restriction enzyme and ligated. The ligation mixture was transformed into E. coli strain SURE (available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, 11099 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037) the transformed culture was plated on ampicillin media plates and resistant colonies were selected. Plasmid DNA was isolated from transformants and examined by restriction analysis for the presence of the correct fragment. For expression of the recombinant MCP-4 (also known as Cko-10), COS cells were transfected with the expression vector by DEAE-DEXTRAN method. Sambrook, E.

S" Fritsch, T. Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Laboratory Press, (1989)). The 15 expression of the MCP-4-HA protein was detected by radiolabelling and immunoprecipitation method. Harlow, D. Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, (1988)). Cells were labelled for 8 hours with "S-cysteine two days post transfection.

Culture media were then collected ad;:cells were lysed with detergent (RIPA buffer (150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.1% SDS, DOC, 50mM Tris, pH (Wilson, I. et al., Id.

37:767 (1984)). Both cell lysate and culture media were precipitated with a HA specific monoclonal antibody.

Proteins precipitated were analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

EXAMPLE 3; Further cloning and expression of MCP-4 using the baculovirus expression system The cDNA sequence encoding the full length MCP-4 protein (also known as Cko-10 protein), in the DNA in ATCC Deposit No. 75849, was amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5' and 3' sequences of the gene, as follows.

36 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:06 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 27 The 5' primer has the sequence (SEQ ID NO. 13): TTAACCTTCA ACATGAAA-3' and contains a BamHI restriction enzyme site (in bold) followed by 12 nucleotides resembling an efficient signal for the initiation of translation in eukaryotic cells Mol.

Biol. 1987, 196, 947-950, Kozak, and then is the first 6 nucleotides of the MCP-4 coding sequence (the initiation codon for translation "ATG" is underlined).

The 3' primer has the sequence (SEQ ID NO..14): 5'-CGCCGGTACC TTAACACATA GTACATTTT-3' and contains the cleavage site for the restriction endonuclease Asp781 and 19 nucleotides complementary to the 3' non-translated sequence of the MCP-4 gene. The amplified sequences were Sisolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially 15 available kit ("Geneclean," BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Ca.).

•The fragment was then digested with the endonucleases BamHI and Asp781 and then purified again on a 1% agarose gel.

This fragment is designated F2.

The vector pA2 (modification of pVL941 vector, discussed below) is used for the expression of the MCP-4 protein using the baculovirus expression system (for review *see: Summers, MD. and Smith, G.E. 1987, A manual of ,b* methods for baculovirus vectors and insect cell culture 9 procedures, Texas Agricultural Experimental Station 25 Bulletin No. 1555). This expression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of the Autograha californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) followed by the recognition sites for the restriction endonucleases BamHI and Asp781. The polyadenylation site of the simian virus (SV)40 is used for efficient polyadenylation. For an easy selection of recombinant viruses the beta-galactosidase gene from E.coli is inserted in the same orientation as the polyhedrin promoter followed by the polyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The polyhedrin sequences are 37 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:06 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 28 flanked at both sides by viral sequences for the cellmediated homologous recombination of cotransfected wildtype viral DNA. Many other baculovirus vectors could be used in place of pRG1 such as pAc373, pVL941 and pAcIM1 (Luckow, V.A. and Summers, Virology, 170:31-39).

The plasmid was digested with the restriction enzymes BamHI and Asp781 and then dephosphorylated using calf A intestinal phosphatase by procedures known in the art. The DNA was then isolated from a 1% agarose gel. This vector 10 DNA is designated V2.

Fragment F2 and the dephosphorylated plasmid V2 were t" ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E.coli HB101 cells were then transformed and bacteria identified that contained the plasmid pBacMCP-4 (also known as pBacCk3-10) with the MCP-4 15 gene using the enzymes BamHI and Asp781. The sequence of the cloned fragment was confirmed by DNA sequencing.

pg of the plasmid pBacMCP-4 were cotransfected with pg of a commercially available linearized baculovirus I ("BaculoGold baculovirus DNA", Pharmingen, San Diego, CA.) i 20 using the lipofection method (Felgn~,fet al. Proc. Natl.

Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7417 (1987)).

lpgg of BaculoGold T M virus DNA and 5 gg of the plasmid S pBacMCP-4 were mixed in a sterile well of a microtiter plate containing 50 p1 of serum free Grace's medium (Life 25 Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, MD). Afterwards 10 gl Lipofectin plus 90 pl Grace's medium were added, mixed and Sincubated for 15 minutes at room temperature- Then the Stransfection mixture was added dropwise to the Sf9 insect cells (ATCC CRL 1711) seeded in a 35 mm tissue culture plate with Iml Grace' medium without serum. The plate was rocked back and forth to mix the newly added solution. The plate was then incubated for 5 hours at 270C. After 38 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:07 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 29 hours the transfection solution was removed from the plate and 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with fetal calf serum was added. The plate was put back into an incubator and cultivation continued at 27CC for four days.

After four days the supernatant was collected and a plaque assay performed similar as described by Summers and Smith (supra). As a modification an agarose gel with "Blue Gal" (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) was used which allows an easy isolation of blue stained plaques. (A detailed description of a "plaque assay" can also be found in the user's guide for insect cell culture and baculovirology distributed by Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, page 9-10).

Four days after the serial dilution of the viruses was 15 added to the cells, blue stained plaques were picked with the tip of an Eppendorf pipette. The agar containing the recombinant viruses was then resuspended in an Eppendorf tube containing 200 1l of Grace's medium. The agar was removed by a brief centrifugation and the supernatant containing the recombinant baculovirpses was used to infect Sf9 cells seeded in 35 mm dishes. Four days later the Go. supernatants of these culture dishes were harvested and then stored at Sf9 cells were grown in Grace's medium supplemented

*SSS

S 25 with 10% heat-inactivated FBS. The cells were infected o with the recombinant baculovirus V-MCP-4 (also referred to as V-Ck3-10) at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2.

Six hours later the medium was removed and replaced with SF900 II medium minus methionine and cysteine (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg). 42 hours later 5 Ci of "S-methionine and 5 pCi "S cysteine (Amersham) were added.

The cells were further incubated for 16 hours before they were harvested by centrifugation and the labelled proteins 39 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:07 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 0 visualized by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography.

EXAMPLES 4 THROUGH Expression of MCP-4 (also referred to as CkI-10) using a baculovirus expression system and a drosophila cell expression system and characterization of the expressed MCP-4 The following examples 4 10 were carried out as described above, with the modifications and additional techniques described generally immediately below, as well as in the specific examples themselves. (As noted elsewhere herein MCP-4 also is referred to and known as S Cloning and expression The full-length cDNA encoding MCP-4 was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector (PharMingen), SF9 cells were infected with the recombinant baculovirus according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the cell supernatant was collected by low-speed centrifugation, The supernatant was treated with a cocktail of protease ihhibitors (20 ug/ml S pefabloc SC, 1 ug/ml leupeptin, 1 ug/ml E64 and 1 mM EDTA), :and the recombinant protein was purified by heparin 25 affinity, cation exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. The protein of over 95% purity was analyzed by electron spray mass spectrome'ry and sequenced.

Chemokines The chemokines used for comparison, MCP-L, MCP-2, MCP- 3, RANTES, KIP-1C and eotaxin, were chemically synthesized according to established protocols Clark-Lewis et al., Biochemistry 30:3128-3135 (1991).

COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:07 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 31 0 Cells Monocytes (Uguccioni et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 25: 64- 68 and neutrophils (Peveri et al., J. Exp. Med.

167:1547-1559 (1988)), were isolated at more than percent purity from donor blood buffy coats supplied by the Central Laboratory of the Swiss Red Cross. The same source was used for the isolation of blood lymphocytes (Loetscher et al., FASEB J. a:1055-1060 (1994). Human CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clones were maintained in culture and used according to Loetscher et al., FASEB J. 8:1055-1060 (1994). Fresh blood of healthy individuals was used to purify eosinophils by dextran sedimentation followed by Percoll densitygradient centrifucation and negative selection with anti- CD16 mAB-coated magnetic beads (Rot et al., Exp. Med.

179:8960-8964 (1995)).

EXAMPLE 4: Expression of MCP-4 (also referred to as Ckpin a baculovirus expression system Construction of a baculovirus transfer vector 20 containing the coding sequence of MCP4 The expression vector for this example was made much as described above. The plasmid vector pA2 was used to express MCP-4. This plasmid is a derivative of pNR704, described by Gentz et al., Eur. J. Biochem 210 :545-554 25 (1992). The E coli P-galactosidase gene has been introduced into the vector as well to facilitate selection of recombinants.

The following PCR oligonucleotides were used to isolate and amplify the coding sequence of MCP-4.

forward primer (SEQ ID NO.

GCGGGATCCTTAACCTTCAACATGAAA

reverse primer (SEQ ID NO. 16)

CGCGGGTACCTTAACACATAGTACATTTT

41 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:08 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 32 After amplification the fragment was digested with the restriction enzymes BamHI and Asp718 and then inserted into the:expression vector, which contains these restriction sites downstream of the polyhedron promoter.

Proper insertion and orientation of vector and insert was confirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing.

Isolation of recombinant baculovirus of the expression vector containing the MCP-4 cDNA and 1 ug of linearized baculovirus DNA ("BaculoGOLD TM, Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) were contransfected into Sf9 cells using the lipofectin method. After 3-4 days supernatants were collected. A series of limited dilutions was then performed and single, blue stained plaques were 15 isolated.

The insect cell line Sf9 used in this example is well known and readily available. It may be obtained, for example, from the American type culture collection: ATCC CRL 1711, among other places.

Purification of MCP-4 Sf9 cells were grown at 27 0 C en EX-CELL 400 medium containing 2% FBS. Before infection the cells were collected by low-speed centrifugation and the medium was 25 replaced by EX-CELL 400 medium without serum. After 6 hours the cells were infected at an MOI=2. About 72 hours after infection the cells were removed by low-speed centrifugation. The supernatant was treated with a cocktail of protease inhibitors (20 ugml pefabloc SC, 1 ug/ml leupeptin, 1 ug/ml E-64 and 1 mM EDTA). The supernatant was passed through a strong cation exchange column I poros 50 HS, (Perseptive Biosystem) for initial capturing. The recombinant MCP-4 protein was eluted with 1 42 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:08 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 33 M NaC1 in 25 mM sodium acetate, pH 6 and then further purified by heparin affinity chromatography (poros 20 HEIl, Perseptive Biosystem). The resultant MCP-4 protein was polished by size exclusion chromatography (Sephacryl S200 HR, Pharmacia). The purified MCP-4 obtained following size exclusion was about 95% or more pure. This material was further analyzed by mass spectroscopy and by microsequencing.

The purified material was analysed by standard mass spectral analysis.

The purified MCP-4 also was analysed by microsequencing, using well known and routine techniques.

For this purpose, the purified material was applied to .SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Novex 4-20% gels) and S 15 transblotted onto a ProBlott membrane (Applied Biosystems, Inc. (ABI). After staining with Ponceau S in 4% acetic acid) the protein band was excised, placed in a "Blot Cartridge" and then subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis using a model ABI-494 sequencer (Perking-Elmer-Applied Biosystems, Inc.) with the Gas-phase Blot cycler.

Analytical results •*go Expression of MCP-4 from cloned genes using a 25 baculovirus expression system yielded several forms of MCP- 4. MCP-4 made by expressing cDNA of FigiThe 1 in a baculovirus expression system, isolated and characterized by electrophoresis on SDS PAGE containing 18% urea (Padrines et al., FEBS Lett. 352:231-235 (1994), as described above, gave rise to a single, somewhat broad band with an apparent M, around 8,000 dalton. There was no indication of contaminant proteins.

Mass spectrometry of the purified preparation yielded two main components with masses of 8,576 and 8,754 daltons, 43 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:08 613.96793111 No.6595 P. 34 respectively.

Microsequencing revealed that three mature forms of MCP.-4, which differ in length by a few residues at the NH, terminus.

The sequences of these MCP-4 polypeptides are shown in Figure 5, along with the amino acid sequence encoded in the full length cDNA, which is also shown aligned with the sequences of MCP-3 and eotaxin. The major form of MCP-4 shares 60% amino acid identity with these proteins, and has 29, 39 and 41% identity with RANTES, MIP-1IC and A mixture of the two closely related variants was used for the activity assays described herein below.

EXAMPLE 5: MCP-4 stimulates chemotaxis of a variety of 15 blood cells Chemotaxis was assessed in 48-well chambers (Neuro Probe, Cabin John, MD, USA) using polyvinylprrolidone-free polycarbonate membranes (Nucleopore) with 5um pores for monocytes and eosinophils, and 3-um pores for lymphocytes, RPMI 1640 supplemented with 20 mM hepes, pH 7.4, and 1% pasteurized plasma protein solution PPL SRK; Swiss Red Cross Laboratory, Bern, Switzerland) was used to dissolve the chemokines, which were placed in the lower well, and to suspend the cells (50,000 monocytes or eosinophils and 25 100,000 lymphocytes per upper well). After 60 min at 370C, the membrane was removed, washed on the upper side with PBS, fixed and stained. All assays were done in triplicate, and the migrated cells were counted in five randomly selected fields at 1,000-fold magnification.

Spontaneous migration was determined in the absence of chemoaltractant- MCP-4 induced the migration of monocytes, eosinophils and lymphocytes with a typical bimodal concentration 44 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:08 613 96793111 No.6595 P. dependence (as shown in Figures 6. 7 and 8).

The activity on monocytes was comparable to that of MCP-3, both in terms of efficacy and potency, as indicated by the numbers of migrating cells and the concentration (100 nM) at which maximum effects were observed, as illustrated in Graph in Figure 6. In agreement with a former study (Uguccioni et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 25:64-68 (1995) MCP-1 was somewhat more efficacious and considerably more potent on these cells, reaching maximum effect at 1 nM.

*MCP-4 also induced strong migration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, as illustrated in Figure 7. Its efficacy was similar to that of MCP-1, but 10 to 100 nM MCP-4 were required for the maximum effects as compared to 1 nM MCP-1.

15 Some migration of both types of T cells was also observed with eotaxin at concentrations between 10 nM and 1 uM.

Freshly prepared blood lymphocytes did not migrate in response to any of the chemokines that were effective on cloned cells.

On eosinophils, as illustrated in Figure 8, MCP-4 9 elicited migration similar to eotaxin, with a maximum at to 30 nM. MCP-3 had comparable efficacy, but its maximum effective concentration was 100 nM. Eotaxin and MCP-3 both potent attractants for these cells. MCP-1 is not a 25 chemoattractant for eosinophils and served as negative control. EXAMPLE 6: MCP-4 (also referred to as Ckp-10) stimulates cells to release of N-acetyl-P-D-glucosaminidase Uguccioni et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 2a:64-68 (1995) showed that measuring the release of N-acetyl--Dglucosaminidase in response to chemostimulation is a particularly reliable and convenient way to determine COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:09 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 36 Squantitatively the response of monocytes. Monocyte responsiveness to chemokines was determined exactly as 1 described therein.

In brief, samples of 1.2x10 monocytes in 0.3 ml prewarmed medium (136 mM NaC1, 4.8 mM KC1, 1.2 mM KHPO,, 1 moM CaCI,, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, 5 mM D-glucose and 1 mg/ml fatty acid-free BSA) were pretreated for 2 min with Scytochalasin B (2.7 ug/ml) and stimulated with a chemokine.

SThe reaction was stopped after 3 min by cooling on ice and centrifugation (6,000, 3 min), and enzyme activity was determined in the supernatant.

As shown in Figure 6, Graph cells exposed to MCP- 4 were stimulated to release abundant amounts of lysosomal enzymes such as N-acetyl-o-D-glucosaminidase. In this 15 regard, MCP-4 was as potent as MCP-2 and similar to the effects of other monocyte chemotactic proteins. In Scontrast, RANTES stimulated considerably less enzyme Srelease and there was no stimulation of release by eotaxin.

Similarly, elastase release by neutrophils was measured to determine responsivenesq to chemokines, in accordance with the methods described in Peveri et al., J.

Exp. Med. 167:1547-1559 (1988). MCP-4 did not stimulate 1. elastase release by neutorphils in these experiments.

S. 25 EXAMPLE 7; MCP-4 (also referred to as CkB-10) modulates cytostolic free Ca 2 Changes in the cytosolic free Ca 2 concentration were measured in monocytes, eosinophils and lymphocytes, using standard techniques, essentially as described by von Tscharner et al.. Nature 324:369-372 (1986).

Cells were loaded with fura-2 by incubation for 30 min at 370 with 0.2 nmol fura-2 acetoxymethylester per 10' cells 46 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:09 613 96793111 .No.6595 P. 37 in a buffer containing 136 mM Nacl, 4.8 mM KC1, 1 mM CaC1l, mM glucose, and 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4. After centrifugation, the fura-loaded cells were resuspended in the same buffer (10'cells/ml) and stimulated with chemokine at 37 0 C. [CaClI]-related fluorescence changes then were recorded.

A rapid and transient rise in was observed after MCP-4 stimulation of monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils. The rate and magnitude of the rise increased with the MCP-4 concentration. Maximum rises in [Ca2+] were obtained at concentrations between 10 to 100 nM. MCP-4 and MCP-1 exhibited similar concentration-dependent transient induction on both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

MIP-la and eotaxin induced much smaller, but significant, 15 [Ca2+] changes in both types of cells. The lower potency of these cytokines in this regard is consistent with previous reports by Loetscher et al, FASEB J. 8:1055-1060 (1994) and others that they are weak lymphocyte attractants.

20 i, EXAMPLE 8S Receptor usage desensitization experiments Receptor usage was tested by monitoring changes in [Ca2+] brought about by repeated chemokine stimulation at short intervals. The consequent desensitization of the 25 exposure regimen provides a measure of receptor utilization. The determinations were made using 90 sec intervals exactly as described for monocytes by Uguccioni et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 2U:64-68 (1995). Determinations were made in monocytes and eosinophils.

Stimulation of monocytes with MCP-1 or MCP-3 abolished responsiveness to MCP-4, indicating that the novel chemokine shares receptors with these monocyte chemotactic proteins. In contrast, stimulation with RANTES or MIP-Ic 47 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:09 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 38 did not affect MCP-4 responsiveness in this assay.

In tests of the opposite polarity, monocytes first stimulated with MCP-4 were markedly less responsive to MCP- 1, RANTES and MIP-a and slightly less responsive to MCP-3.

Densensitization increased with the concentration of MCP-4 The results also show that MCP-4 shares receptors with other monocyte chemotactic proteins and that MCP-4 recognizes a receptor that binds RANTES and MIP-la, In eosinophils, MCP-4 exhibited marked crossdesensitization with MCP-3, RANTES and eotaxin. In fact, it abrogated the response to subsequent stimulation by eotaxin and MCP-3, markedly decreased responsiveness to RANTES. MCP-4, and it therefore appears to be a major agonist for these cells. The results indicate that MCP-4 15 shares receptors with MCP-3, RANTES and Eotaxin.

In contrast, stimulation with MCP-4 did not affect the response of eosinophils to MIP-la. Thus, MIP-(l. receptors apparently do not recognize or bind MCP-4. The same receptor is likely to bind RANTES, which retained some 20 activity on cells that had been stinrtuated with MCP-4.

S

S

S. EXAMPLE 9: Expression of MCP-4 (also referred to as CkP- 10) in a drosophila expression system A full-length cDNA encoding MCP-4 was expressed in a S 25 well known and readily available drosoDhil' cell expression, using routine techniques for expressing cloned genes in this system.

Expressed MCP-4 was prepared from cells in which the cDNA was expressed and then characterized, using well known, routine techniques for characterizing polypeptides and proteins.

Several forms of MCP-4 was found in the expressing cells, including MCP-4 with shortened amino and carboxyl 48 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:09 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 39 termini and MCP-4 comprising post-translational modifications.

In particular, drosophila cells expressed MCP-4 having the amino acid sequence set out in Figure 1 except for the following differences.

N-terminal sequences changed to: Drol: QGLKAQPD Dro2: pyroQGLKAQPD Dro3++: LNVPST, which occurred in three forms differing by different deletions of the C-terminal sequence. In particular DR03 was found with T, T (des3) and A (des 5) carboxyl termini as indicated in Figure The full sequences are set out in Figure oeeo 15 EXAMPLE 10: Assay of MCP-4 (also referred to as produced in a drosophila expression system Differing forms of MCP-4 expressed in drosophila cells were assays for activities using the techniques described herein above.

20 Drol and Dro2 mobilized monocyte; PBL and EOL-3 cells 9 .3, in the chemotaxis assays, and they both were active in Ca2+ D mobilization assays.

Dro3 showed substantially reduced bioactivity and, in 9 fact, can be used as an antagonist.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as particularly described.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply 49 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:10 613 96793111 No.6595 P. the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers- *99* 9 9 .9° 9 9.

9 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19-Sep. 2903 17:10 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 41 0 0 SS@ S

CS

9* S *060 SEQUENCE LISTING GENERAL INFOPMATION: Ci) APgLICANT: Li. Heodong (ii) TITLE OF -i VENTION: Human Chemokifle polypeptides (iii) NU MBER OF SEQUENCES: (iv) CORRESPONDSNCE

ADDRESS:

ADDRESSEE: Human Genome SciencsIflC STREET; 9410 Key'West Avenue CITY: Rockville STATE: MD CE) COUNTFS:

USA

ZIP: 20850 COMPUTE READABLE FORM: MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk COMPUTER! IBM PC compatible OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS SOFTWARE: Patantln Release Versioo *1.30 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION

DATA:

APPLICATION NUMBER:

US

FILING DATE: 23-FEB-1996

CLASSIFICATION:

(viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT

INFORMATION:

NAME: Milistein, Larry S REGYSTRNTXON NUMBER; 34,679 (ix) TELECOMMUtTICATION

INFORMATION:

TELEPHONE: 301-309-8504 TELEFAX: 301-309-8512 INFORMATION FOR SEQ I NO:1: ti) SEQUENCE

CHRACTERISTICS:

LENGTH: 291 base TYPE: nucleic acid STP.ANEDNESS:single TOPOLOCY: Linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomi) (ix) FEATURE: NAM/KEY:

CDS

LOCATION: 288 CO SO

S

ego.

gee.

5 0000

S

(xi) SEQUENCE DZSCRZPTION SEQ ID NO:1! ATO TGC TOT ACC AAG ACT TTG CTC CTG GOT GCTTrTG Met Cys Cys Thr Lys Ser Len Leu Len Ala Ala LCU 1 S 10 ATO TCA GTG CTG met Ser Val Len CTA CTC CAC Len Leu His TGT CTT GGA Cys Leu Gly CTC TGC GGC GAA Len Cys Gly Glu 20 TAC ACA GAC CGT Tyr Thr Ap Ara TCA GAA OCA Ser Glu Ala 25 ATT CTT CAT Ile Lau His 40 UCA AGO AAC 'TT GAC TOC Ala Ser Asn Phe Asp Cys OCT Px; TTT ATT GTG =OC Pro Lys phe le Val Gly COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19-Sep. 2903 11:19 613 96793111 No-6595 P. 42 52 TTC ACA CC G CAC CTG GCC AAT GAA GCC TOT GAC ATO ?AT O, CT ATC ATC 192 ph Thr Arg Gin Len Ala Asn Glu Gjy Cys Asp Ile As. Ala 2.e 1e sO 55 TTT CAC ACA AAG AAA AAkG TTG TOT GTG TGC GCA AA!'T COS ?IAA CAG ACT 240 Phe His Thr Lys Lys Lys Leu Ser Val Cys Ala Asn Pro Lys Gin Tht 70 75 TGG GTG AAA TAT ATT GTO COT CTC CTC ACT AXA AAA GC AAG ARC ATG 288 Trp Val Lys Tyr Ile Val Arg Leu Leu Ser Lys Lys Val Lys Asn Me- 90 TAR 291 NFORM,.ATION FOR SEQ ID NO±2: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 96 amino acids TYPE: amino acid TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: Protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTTON: SEQ ID NO:2: Met Cys Cys Thr Lys Se:z Len Leu Le Ala Ala Leu Met Ser Val Len 1 5 10 is Lou Lou His Leu Cys Gly Glu Set Glu Ala Ala ser Aen ?ne Asp Cys 25 Cys Leu Gly Tyr Tbr Asp Arg Ile Len His Pro Lys Phe Xle al Gly 40 Phe Thr Arg Gln Leu Ala Asn Glu Gly Cys Asp lie Asn Ala lie Ile 55 Phe His Thr Lys Ly Lys Len Ser Val Cys Ala Asn Pro Lys Gin Tht 70 75 Trp Val Lys Tyr Ile Val Ag Leu Leu Ser Lys Lys Val Lys ASn Met 90 !NFOPM4ATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3± SEQUENCE CIARACTERESTICS: LENGTH: 297 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (ix) FEATURE: UAME/KCEY; CDS Cn) LOCATION: 1..294 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCqtPTION SEQ ID NO:3: ATO AA 011 TOT GCA GTG CTT CTO TGC CTG CTG CEC ATG ACA GCA OCT 48 Met Lys Val ser Ala Val Len Len Cys Len Le Le Met Thr Ala Ala 1 5 10 is COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:16 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 43

TTC

phe

ACT

Thr

A.AG

Lys

TTC

Phe

TGG

Trp

AAG

Lys AAC CCC GAG An Pro Gin TGC TGC TTO Cys Cy-Phe AGC TAT GTG SO: Tyr Vat so AGA ACC AA Arg Th: Lye arC CAG AAT Val Gin ASfl ACT TGA Tb:

CTT

Leu

TTT

Phe

ACC

Thr

GGC

Gly 70

ATG

Met

GCT

Ala

AGO

Ser

ACC

Thr .55

XAG

Lys

MA

Lye GO CCA GAT Gin pro Asp AGT MAG A.AG Ser Lys Lys AGO AGO TGT ser Arg cys GAG ATO TGT Glu lie Cys CAC CTf- GGC His Len Gly

GCA

Ala

ATO

Ile

CCC

Pro

OCT

Ala 75

CCG

Arg

CTC

Len~

TCC

Ser

CAG

Gin

GAC

Asp

AAA

Lys 1

C

I

i e e r r INFOMiATION FOA SEQ XD NO;4: sEQUENCE CKARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 98 amino acids TYPE; amino acid TOPOLOGYt linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID Met Lys Val Ser Ala Val Le Leu Cy' Len 1 5 10 Phe Asn Pro Gin Gly Teu Ala Gin Pro Asp 20 25 Thr Cys Zys Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Lys Lys 40 Lys Sgr Tyr Val Ile Tbr Thr Sr Arg Cys 55 Phe Arg Thr-Lys Leu Gly Lye Glu lie Cys GS 70 Trp vat Gin Asn Tyr Met Lye His Len Gly 90 Lys Thr INFORZEATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 26 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) rCT Ser Jeu

LTC

lie

PLC-

;Lvs

:TG

Len Ala Ser Len Ile Lys Leu MO :4± Leu Len Met Thr Ala Ala Len Asn Va1 Pro tie So: Leu Gin Arg 4S Pro Gin Lys Ala Val Al a Asp Pro Lye Glu 75 Arg Lys Ala :4is Thr COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 lY-Sep. 2603 11:10 613 96193111 No.6595 P. 44 54 (xi) SEQUENCE D=ESCRIPTION: SE-Q ID NO:S: CCCGCATCCA AGCAGCAAGC AACTTT 26 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:S: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS! LENGTH: 30 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS:. single TOPOLOGY: linear (1i) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA Cgenomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SZQ ID NO:6: AAAGGATCCC ATG;TTCTTGA CTTTTTTACT INFOFVATTONl FOR SEQ In so;7: Ci) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A)LENGTH. 27 base-pairs (BTYPE: nucleic acid TRAD~nNSS:single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTZON: SEQ ID NO;: CCGCATGCA GCCAGATGCAX C'DCAACG 27 o.o, XNFOENA.;TION FOR SEQ TO XO:8: 0 SEQUENCE CH-ABAC'ERISTICS:.

O..o LENGTH: 28 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid .9 9 ST~FlEqnDb1ESS,sifl;lQ 0 TOPOLOGY: linear 0 (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic).

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCREPTION: SEQ I0 NO:B: AAAGGATCCA GTC'ITCAGGG TGTGAGCT 28 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 29 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRAtNDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYP7: DNA (getiotic) COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Rec-eived by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:11 613 96793111 No.6595 P. (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9: GCAAAGCTTA TGTGCTGTAC CAAGAGTTT-' 29 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CKAP.ACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 59 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID CGCTCTAOAT TAAGCGTAGT CTGGGACGTC GTATGGGTAA CATGCGTTCCT TGACTTTTT 59 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO;11: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 28 base pairs TYPEr nucleic acid STRANDEDNES: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l: GGAAAGCTTA TGAAACTTTC TGCAGTGC 28 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: ci) SEQUENCE CHARACTERXSTZCS: LENGTH: 58 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: litear (ii) !OLECULE TYPE; DNA (genomic) C.i (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: CGCTCTAGAT CAAGCGTAGT CTGGGACGTC GTATGGGTAA GTCTTCAGGG TGTGAGCT 58 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13; SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 28 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:11 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 46 56 CGCGGGATCC TTAACCTTCA ACATGAAA INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 29 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid ST-ANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) 7MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCEIPTION: SEQ ID NO;14: CGCGGGTACC TTAACACATA GTACATTTT 29 s INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 27 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID GCGGGATCCT TAACCTTCAA CATGAAA 27 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16: C(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 29 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear Soo. (Ai; MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16; CGCGGGTACC TTAACACATA GTACATTTT 29 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 70 amino acids TYPE: amino acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein COMS ID No: SMBI-00 4 2 3 7 0 1 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:11 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 47 0 0 9* 900 9 9* His Pro Gly ile Pro Ser Ala Cys Cys Phe 1 5. 10 Lys Ile Ser Phe Gin Ala Leu Lys Ser Tyr 25 Lys Cys Pro Gin Thr Ala Ile Val Phe Glu 40 Ile Cys Ala Asp Pro Arg Xaa Xaa Trp Val 55 Leu Asp Gln Ile Ser Gin INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18: SEQUENCE CHA.RACTERISTICS; LENGTH: 99 amino acids TYPE; amino acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (Xi) SEQUENCE PESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18; Met Lys Ala Ser Ala Ala LOu LeO Cys Leu 1 5 Phe Ser Pro Gln Gly Leu Ala Gin Pro Val 20 25 Thr Cys Cys Tyr Arg Phe Ile Asn Lys Lys 40 Glu Ser Tyr Arg Arg Thr Thr Sex Set His 55 Ile Phe Lys Thr Lys Leu Asp Lys Glu Ile 70' Lys Trp Val Gln Asp Phe Met Lys His Leu 90 Pro Lys Leu INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO;19: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 76 amino acids TYPE: amino acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION; SEQ ID NO:19 Arg Val Thr ASn Ile Cys Lys Ile lie Thr Ser Ser Ile Lys Pro Asp Lys Met Gln Asp Ala Lys Lys Tyr Leu Clv Ile Cys Cys 'Asp Leu Thr Ala Ile Asn Thr Prp Lys Gin Pro Arg Glu Ala Asp Pro LyS Lys Thr COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:11 513 96793111 No.8595 P. 48 CKln Pro Val Gly lIe Asn Tb: Se= Thr 1 5 Asn Lys Lys Ile Pro Lys Gin Arg Leu 25 Ser Ser His Cys Pro Arg 0Th Ala Val *40 Lye Gtu Ile Cys Ala Asp Pro TE: Gin so 55 Lys His Leu Asp Lys Lys Thr Gin Thr 70 INFO-RATIOt FOR SEQ ID SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTm: 74 anino acids TYPE: amino acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein Cys Cys Tyr Arg Phe lie Ser Tyr Arg Arg Thr T: ?he Lys Tar Lys Leu ASr Tr Val Gin Asp Phe Met Lys Leu 9 99..

.99.

9999 (xi) Gly 1 Lys Lys Ile Leu SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID Pro Ala Ser Val Pro Thr Th: Cys Cys Phe Asn Leu Ala Asl Arg 5 10 Ile Pro Leu Gin Arg Leu Giu Ser Tyr Arg Arg le Thr Ser Gly 20 25 Cys Pro Gin Lys Ala Val Tie Phe LYS Tb: Lys Leu Ala Lys Asp 35 40 Cys Ala Asp Pro Lys Lys Lys Trp Val Gln Af 6nSer Met Lys Tyr 55 Asp Gin Lys Ser Pro Thr Pro Lys Pro COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19

Claims (2)

19.Sep. 2003 17:11 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 49 0 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-93 of SEQ ID NO:4; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-95 of SEQ ID NO:4; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 22-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 20-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide shown as amino acids 17-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; and a polynucleotide complementary to any one of to (f) 2. The polynucleotide of claim 1 comprising DNA. 3. A method of producing a recombinant vector comprising inserting the polynucleotide of claim 1 into a vector. 4. A'vector containing the polynucletide of claim 1 or 2. 5. The vector of claim 4, wherein the polynucleotide is linked to a regulatory sequence that controls gene expression. 6. A host cell transformed or transfected with the polynucleotide of claim 1 or 2 or the vector of claim 4 or 7. A method of producing a polypeptide comprising growing or incubating the host cell of claim 6 for a time and under conditions sufficient for expression of the polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide to occur. 8. A method of producing a cell capable of expressing a polypeptide comprising transforming or transfecting a cell with the polynucleotide of claim 1 or 2 or the vector of claim 4 or 9. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 59 COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:12 613 96793111 No.6595 P. the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-93 of SEQ ID NO;4; the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-95 of SEQ ID NO:4; the polypeptide shown as amino acids 28-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; the polypeptide shown as amino acids 22-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; the polypeptide shown as amino acids 20-98 of SEQ ID NO:4; and the polypeptide shown as amino acids 17-98 of SEQ ID NO:4. 10. The isolated polypeptide of claim 9 fused to a heterologous polypeptide. 11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polynucleotide of claim 1 or 2, or the polypeptide of claim 9 or 10, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 12. A method for the treatment of a patient having need of Ck--l0 comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of claim 9 or 13. The method of claim 13 wherein said therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide is ddministered by providing to the patient a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide and expressing said polypeptide in vivo. 14. Use of the polynucleotide of claim 1 or 2, the vector of claim 4 or 5, or the polypeptide of claim 9 or 10 in the manufacture of a medicament to rectify abnormal chemokine polypeptide activity in a human or animal subject. The polynucleotide of claim 1 or 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples- 16. The vector of claim 4 or 5 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. 17. The host cell of claim 6 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19 19.Sep. 2003 17:12 613 96793111 No.6595 P. 51 18. The polypeptide of claim 9 or 10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. 19. The method according to any one of claims 3, 7-8, or 12- 13 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. The composition of claim 11 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples.

21. The use of claim 14 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures and/or Examples. *0 0 **o 000** 000** S00 ooor o O COMS ID No: SMBI-00423701 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:23 Date 2003-09-19