Stem cell factor

Abstract

Novel stem cell factors, oligonucleotides encoding the same, and methods of production, are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating disorders involving blood cells are also disclosed.

1 - 70 . (canceled)  
     
     
         71 . A method of inhibiting the activity of a mast cell population comprising contacting said mast cell population with an antibody specifically immunoreactive with a stem cell factor (SCF).  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with human SCF.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with a non-human vertebrate SCF.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with an SCF factor comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO: 46, or SEQ ID NO: 61.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with a non-human SCF factor comprising the sequence of any of the sequences set out in SEQ ID NOs: 49-57.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein said mast cell population is located in vivo in a mammal.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said mammal is selected from the group consisting of human, rat, mouse, monkey, dog, cat, and cow.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 71  wherein said antibody decreases mast cell proliferation, maturation or activity.  
     
     
         80 . A method of decreasing blood cell proliferation, maturation or activity in a in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal an antibody specifically immunoreactive with a stem cell factor (SCF).  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein said blood cell is selected from the group consisting of neutrophil, macrophage, basophil, mast cell, eosinophil, T cell and B cell.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said cell is a mast cell.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein said cell is an eosinophil cell.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said mammal is a human.  
     
     
         85 . A method of decreasing the interaction between a SCF and an SCF receptor in a cell population comprising contacting said cell population with an antibody specifically immunoreactive with an SCF or an antigen binding fragment of an antibody specifically immunoreactive with an SCF.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with human SCF.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with a non-human vertebrate SCF.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with an SCF factor comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 46, or SEQ ID NO: 61.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with a non-human SCF factor comprising the sequence of any of the sequences set out in SEQ ID NOs: 49-57.  
     
     
         91 . A method of treating a mammal having a disorder mediated through the interaction of SCF with an SCF receptor comprising administering to said mammal an antibody specifically immunoreactive with an SCF factor, in an amount effective to inhibit the interaction of said SCF with said SCF receptor.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein said antibody binds to and neutralizes SCF.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with an SCF factor comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO: 46, or SEQ ID NO: 61.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein said antibody is specifically immunoreactive with a non-human SCF factor comprising the sequence of any of the sequences set out in SEQ ID NOs: 49-57.  
     
     
         95 . A method of treating a mammal having a disorder mediated through the interaction of SCF with an SCF receptor comprising administering to said mammal an antibody is specifically immunoreactive with an SCF factor receptor, in an amount effective to inhibit the interaction of said SCF with said SCF receptor.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein said antibody is an anti-c-kit antibody.