Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor-18 (FGF-18) binds with FGF receptors-2 and -3. Compositions comprising an FGF-18 component can be used to target cells that express these receptors. Suitable targets include tumor cells that express constitutively activated forms of FGF receptors-2 and -3. For example, conjugates of FGF-18 and saporin can be used to target tumor cells that express FGF receptors-2 or -3, and to inhibit the proliferation of these cells.

Abstract: Heterodimeric proteins comprising two helical bundle cytokines are disclosed. One of the polypeptides comprises zsig81 and a second polypeptide which comprises either p19 (aka IL-12A) or p35 (aka IL-12A). The proteins may be produced as fusion proteins or expressed as a single chain. The heterdimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p19 is designated zcyto33f2 and the heterodimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p35 is designated zcyto35f2. Zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins are associated with epithelial cell types, including lung and gut epithelium, and may play a role in physiological conditions such as inflammation.

Abstract: The polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding for them, described herein are IL-21 antagonists that bind with specificity and exhibit an EC50 that is not detectable in receptor binding studies. These molecules have mutations in the D helix of the IL-21 molecule, and can be used to inhibit the activity of IL-21 with its cognate receptor.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for soluble zalpha11 receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used to block zalpha11 Ligand activity in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in conjunction with zalpha11 Ligand and other cytokines to selectively stimulate the immune system. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a tetrameric protein comprising culturing a host cell transformed or transfected with an expression vector encoding a fusion protein comprising a vasodialator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) domain and a heterologous protein. In one embodiment, the heterologous protein is a membrane protein, the portion of the heterologous protein that included in the fusion protein is the extracellular domain of that protein, and the resulting fusion protein is soluble. The method can be used to produced homo- and hetero-tetrameric proteins. The present invention also encompasses DNA molecules, expression vectors, and host cells used in the present method and fusion proteins produced by the present method.

Abstract: This present invention is directed to polypeptide and polynucleotide molecules that encode a four-helical bundle cytokine. The cytokine has been designated zsig81, and has restricted expression in primarily heart, lung and liver. zsig81 has been shown to stimulate proliferation of hematopoietic cells and will be useful expansion of these cells, as well as conditions associated with hematopoietic cells. The invention is directed to antibodies and methods of making zsig81 polypeptides, as well.

Abstract: Heterodimeric proteins comprising two helical bundle cytokines are disclosed. One of the polypeptides comprises zsig81 and a second polypeptide which comprises either p19 (aka IL-12A) or p35 (aka L-12A). The proteins may be produced as fusion proteins or expressed as a single chain. The heterdimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p19 is designated zcyto33f2 and the heterodimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p35 is designated zcyto35f2. Zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins are associated with epithelial cell types, including lung and gut epithelium, and may play a role in physiological conditions such as inflammation.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for soluble zalpha11 receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used to block zlapha11 Ligand activity in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in conjunction with zalpha11 Ligand and other cytokines to selectively stimulate the immune system. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: The polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding for them, described herein are IL-21 antagonists that bind with specificity and exhibit an EC50 that is not detectable in receptor binding studies. These molecules have mutations in the D helix of the IL-21 molecule, and can be used to inhibit the activity of IL-21 with its cognate receptor.

Abstract: The polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding for them, described herein are IL-21 antagonists that bind with specificity and exhibit an EC50 that is not detectable in receptor binding studies. These molecules have mutations in the D helix of the IL-21 molecule, and can be used to inhibit the activity of IL-21 with its cognate receptor.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for soluble zalpha11 receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used to block zlapha11 Ligand activity in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in conjunction with zalpha11 Ligand and other cytokines to selectively stimulate the immune system. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for soluble zalpha11 receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used to block zlapha11 Ligand activity in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in conjunction with zalpha11 Ligand and other cytokines to selectively stimulate the immune system. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: This present invention is directed to polypeptide and polynucleotide molecules that encode a four-helical bundle cytokine. The cytokine has been designated zsig81, and has restricted expression in primarily heart, lung and liver. zsig81 has been shown to stimulate proliferation of hematopoietic cells and will be useful expansion of these cells, as well as conditions associated with hematopoietic cells. The invention is directed to antibodies and methods of making zsig81 polypeptides, as well.

Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor-18 (FGF-18) binds with FGF receptors-2 and -3. Compositions comprising an FGF-18 component can be used to target cells that express these receptors. Suitable targets include tumor cells that express constitutively activated forms of FGF receptors-2 and -3. For example, conjugates of FGF-18 and saporin can be used to target tumor cells that express FGF receptors-2 or -3, and to inhibit the proliferation of these cells.

Abstract: The polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding for them, described herein are IL-21 antagonists that bind with specificity and exhibit an EC50 that is not detectable in receptor binding studies. These molecules have mutations in the D helix of the IL-21 molecule, and can be used to inhibit the activity of IL-21 with its cognate receptor.

Abstract: This present invention is directed to polypeptide and polynucleotide molecules that encode a four-helical bundle cytokine. The cytokine has been designated zsig81, and has restricted expression in primarily heart, lung and liver. zsig81 has been shown to stimulate proliferation of hematopoietic cells and will be useful expansion of these cells, as well as conditions associated with hematopoietic cells. The invention is directed to antibodies and methods of making zsig81 polypeptides, as well.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 90% identical to residues 46-163 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.