Recombinant human interferon-like proteins

Abstract

This application relates to recombinant human interferon-like proteins. In one embodiment a recombinant protein created by gene shuffling technology is described having enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to naturally occurring human interferon like alpha 2b (HuIFN-α2b). The invention encompasses a polynucleotide encoding the protein and recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide. Preferably the polynucleotide is selected from the group of polynucleotides each having a sequence at least 93% identical to SEQ ID: No. 1 and the protein is selected from the group of proteins each having an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. The proteins and compositions comprising the proteins can be used for treatment of conditions responsive to interferon therapy, such as viral diseases and cancer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein having human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides each comprising a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No: 1. 
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sequence is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID No: 1. 
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said sequence is at least 98% identical to SEQ ID No: 1. 
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said protein is non-naturally occurring. 
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said protein has enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to human interferon alpha 2b (HuIFN-α2b). 
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said protein has anti-viral activity at least 2 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         7 . The polynucleotide as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         8 . A recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A host cell containing the recombinant vector of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A non-naturally occurring protein exhibiting human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of proteins each comprising an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. 
     
     
         11 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said sequence is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. 
     
     
         12 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said sequence is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. 
     
     
         13 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said protein has enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activity in comparison to HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         14 . The protein as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said protein has anti-viral activity at least 2 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         15 . The protein as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said protein has anti-viral activity at least 5 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         16 . The protein as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said protein has anti-viral activity at least 10 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         17 . The protein as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 10 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         18 . The protein as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 50 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         19 . The protein as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 100 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         20 . The protein as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 200 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         21 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said protein is recombinant. 
     
     
         22 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said protein has a molecular weight of 19315 daltons. 
     
     
         23 . The protein as defined in  claim 10 , optionally comprising a methionine residue at the N terminus. 
     
     
         24 . A non-naturally occurring protein comprising a sequence which differs in 0 to 19 amino acids from SEQ ID No: 2, wherein said protein exhibits human interferon-like biological activities. 
     
     
         25 . The protein as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said protein has enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activity in comparison to HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         26 . The protein as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said protein has anti-viral activity at least 2 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         27 . The protein as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 10 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         28 . The protein as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said protein has anti-proliferative activity at least 100 fold greater than HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         29 . The protein as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said protein is recombinant. 
     
     
         30 . A polypeptide comprising a fragment of the protein as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said fragment comprises at least 146 amino acids and exhibits anti-viral and anti-proliferative biological activities at least as active as human interferon alpha 2b. 
     
     
         31 . A protein construct comprising the protein as defined in  claim 10  coupled to a moiety, wherein said construct exhibits said human interferon-like biological activities. 
     
     
         32 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said protein is glycosylated. 
     
     
         33 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said moiety is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         34 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said moiety is a non-polypeptide. 
     
     
         35 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 34 , wherein said moiety is a polymer molecule. 
     
     
         36 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said polymer molecule is a linear or branched polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         37 . The protein construct as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said moiety is a labeling molecule. 
     
     
         38 . A composition comprising the protein as defined in  claim 10  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
         39 . A polynucleotide encoding a protein as defined in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         40 . The use of the protein as defined in  claim 10  as an anti-viral agent. 
     
     
         41 . The use of the protein as defined in  claim 10  as an anti-proliferative agent. 
     
     
         42 . The use of the protein as defined in  claim 10  as an anti-cancer agent. 
     
     
         43 . The use of the protein as defined in  claim 10  as an immunomodulation agent. 
     
     
         44 . A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of the protein as defined in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         45 . A method of treating a viral disease comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of the protein as defined in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         46 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said subject is a human being. 
     
     
         47 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said protein is administered together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
         48 . A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the protein as defined in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         49 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said protein is therapeutically effective in respect of a broad range of different types of cancer, said cancer being selected from the group consisting of melanoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, lymphoma, prostate carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, esophagus carcinoma, lung carcinoma, cervix adenocarcinoma and cervix carcinoma. 
     
     
         50 . A non-naturally occurring protein exhibiting human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said protein has an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No: 2 and wherein said protein has enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to HuIFN-α2b. 
     
     
         51 . A polynucleotide encoding the protein of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         52 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         53 . A protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 2 or a fragment thereof comprising at least 146 amino acids exhibiting human interferon-like biological activities. 
     
     
         54 . A polynucleotide encoding the protein of  claim 53 . 
     
     
         55 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein having human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides each comprising a nucleotide sequence at least 97% identical to SEQ ID No: 1. 
     
     
         56 . A protein exhibiting human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of proteins each comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. 
     
     
         57 . A protein comprising a sequence which differs in 0 to 8 amino acids from SEQ ID No: 2, wherein said protein exhibits human interferon-like biological activities. 
     
     
         58 . A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a protein as defined in  claim 56 . 
     
     
         59 . A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a protein as defined in  claim 57 . 
     
     
         60 . The method as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said subject is a human being. 
     
     
         61 . The method as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said protein is administered together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.