Nucleic acid encoding eosinophil eotaxin receptor

Abstract

The eosinophil eotaxin receptor has been isolated, cloned and sequenced. This receptor is a human β-chemokine receptor and has been designated “CC CKR3”. The eosinophil eotaxin receptor may be used to screen and identify compounds that bind to the eosinophil eotaxin receptor. Such compounds would be useful in the treatment and prevention of atopic conditions including allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and particularly bronchial asthma.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . An isolated nucleic acid which encodes a human eosinophil eotaxin receptor receptor, said nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         37 . The nucleic acid of  claim 36  which further comprises the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         38 . The nucleic acid of  claim 36  which further comprises the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         39 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid which encodes a human eosinophil eotaxin receptor receptor, said nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         40 . The vector according to  claim 39  which is selected from the group consisting of: plasmids, modified viruses, yeast artificial chromosomes, bacteriophages, cosmids and transposable elements.  
     
     
         41 . An isolated mammalian host cell comprising the vector according to  claim 39 .  
     
     
         42 . The host cell of  claim 41  which is from the AML14.3D10 cell line.  
     
     
         43 . A method to determine the presence of a compound which binds to a human eosinophil eotaxin receptor comprising: 
 (a) introducing a nucleic acid which encodes the human eosinophil eotaxin receptor which comprises the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) into a cell under conditions so that eosinophil eotaxin receptor is expressed;    (b) introducing a detector molecule or a nucleic acid encoding a detector molecule into the cell, wherein the detector molecule is directly or indirectly responsive to a eosinophil eotaxin-ligand binding event;    (c) contacting the cell with a compound suspected of binding to the eosinophil eotaxin receptor; and    (d) determining whether the compound binds to the eosinophil eotaxin receptor by monitoring the detector molecule.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the result of step (d) is compared to that obtained using a known ligand of the eosinophil eotaxin receptor.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the known ligand of the eosinophil eotaxin receptor is eotaxin.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the known ligand of the eosinophil eotaxin receptor is RANTES.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the known ligand of the eosinophil eotaxin receptor is MCP-3.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the eosinophil eotaxin receptor is expressed in a host cell which does not naturally express the human eosinophil eotaxin receptor  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the host cell is from the AML14.3D10 cell line.