Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 1, (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a peptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 2, (c) a nucleic acid molecule whose complementary strand hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to (a) or (b) and which codes for a peptide which binds to ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), the peptide binding with lower affinity than ciliary neurotrophic factor to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), (d) a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence differs from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to (c) due to the degenerated genetic code, the codon at positions 82-84 of the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) coding for a non-positively charged amino acid, and the peptide at position 28 shown in SEQ ID: NO 2 having a non-positively charged amino acid residue.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 1, (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a peptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 2, (c) a nucleic acid molecule whose complementary strand hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to (a) or (b) and which codes for a peptide which binds to ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), the peptide binding with lower affinity than ciliary neurotrophic factor to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), (d) a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence differs from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to (c) due to the degenerated genetic code, the codon at positions 82-84 of the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) coding for a non-positively charged amino acid, and the peptide at position 28 shown in SEQ ID: NO 2 having a non-positively charged amino acid residue.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 GIn113 or ASn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising a) a nucleic acid molecule having one of the nucleotide sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 4 to SEQ ID:NO 8, b) a nucleic acid molecule that codes for a peptide having one of the amino acid sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 12 to SEQ ID:NO 16, c) a nucleic acid molecule, the complementary strand of which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to a) or b) and which codes for a peptide having antimicrobial activity, and d) a nucleic acid molecule, the nucleotide sequence of which deviates from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to c) because of the degenerated genetic code.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 Gln113 or Asn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising a) a nucleic acid molecule having one of the nucleotide sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 4 to SEQ ID:NO 8, b) a nucleic acid molecule that codes for a peptide having one of the amino acid sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 12 to SEQ ID:NO 16, c) a nucleic acid molecule, the complementary strand of which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to a) or b) and which codes for a peptide having antimicrobial activity, and d) a nucleic acid molecule, the nucleotide sequence of which deviates from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to c) because of the degenerated genetic code.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 Gln113 or Asn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.