Cytokine zalpha11 ligand

Abstract

Antibodies that bind to polypeptides and peptides comprising the sequence of zalpha11 Ligand as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 are described. The antibodies may bind the full length sequence of 162 amino acid residues or a fragment thereof, including a mature polypeptide of 131 amino acid residues and smaller polypeptide and peptide sequences. The antibodies may include antibodies that are polyclonal, monoclonal, murine, humanized or neutralizing. Methods for producing the antibodies are also described.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 41 to 148 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide binds a zalpha11 receptor as shown in SEQ ID NO: 115.  
     
     
         2 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 (a) a transcription promoter;    (b) a DNA segment that encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 41 to 148 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide binds a zalpha11 receptor as shown in SEQ ID NO:115; and    (c) a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         3 . A cultured cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         4 . The cultured cell of  claim 3 , wherein the cultured cell is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         5 . The prokaryotic cell of  claim 4 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is an  E. coli  cell.  
     
     
         6 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 3  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         7 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 4  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         8 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 5  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids that is at least 90% identical to residues 32 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide binds a zalpha11 receptor as shown in SEQ ID NO: 115.  
     
     
         10 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 (a) a transcription promoter;    (b) a DNA segment that encodes a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids that is at least 90% identical to residues 32 to 162 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide binds a zalpha11 receptor as shown in SEQ ID NO:115; and    (c) a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         11 . A cultured cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . The cultured cell of  claim 11 , wherein the cultured cell is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         13 . The prokaryotic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is an  E. coli  cell.  
     
     
         14 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 11  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         15 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 12  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         16 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 13  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         17 . An isolated polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 41 to 148 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide stimulates proliferation of NK cells or NK cell progenitors, stimulates activation of NK cells, stimulates proliferation of T cells, stimulates proliferation of B cells stimulated with anti-CD40 antibodies, or reduces proliferation of B cells stimulated with anti-IgM antibodies.  
     
     
         18 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 (a) a transcription promoter;    (b) a DNA segment that encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 41 to 148 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide stimulates proliferation of NK cells or NK cell progenitors, stimulates activation of NK cells, stimulates proliferation of T cells, stimulates proliferation of B cells stimulated with anti-CD40 antibodies, or reduces proliferation of B cells stimulated with anti-IgM antibodies; and    (c) a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         19 . A cultured cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         20 . The cultured cell of  claim 19 , wherein the cultured cell is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         21 . The prokaryotic cell of  claim 20 , wherein the prokaryotic cell is an  E. coli  cell.  
     
     
         22 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 19  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         23 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 20  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.  
     
     
         24 . A process comprising culturing the cell of  claim 21  under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed and further comprising recovering the polypeptide.