A method for preparing an inflammatory cytokine (MIP-2) and diagnostic and therapeutic applications for the cytokine or its antibody

摘要

An inflammatory cytokine is disclosed which has been isolated from cells that have been incubated with a stimulator material. The inflammatory cytokine comprises a protein that is capable of binding to heparin, inducing localized inflammation characterized by polymorphonuclear cell infiltration when administered subcutaneously and having potent in vitro chemotactic activity while inducing little or no in vitro chemokinesis in polymorphonuclear cells, while lacking the ability to suppress the activity of the anabolic enzyme lipoprotein lipase, cause the cytotoxicity of cachectin/TNF-sensitive cells, stimulate the blastogenesis of endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ thymocytes, or induce the production of cachectin/TNF by primary thioglycollate-elicited mouse macrophage cells. A particular inflammatory cytokine has been isolated and its cDNA has been sequenced. The sequence predicts a cDNA of 74 amino acids in length and a molecular weight of 7,908. Diagnostic and therapeutic utilities are proposed, and testing procedures, materials in kit form, recombinant materials and procedures, and pharmaceutical compositions are likewise set forth.