ALBUMIN FUSION PROTEINS

The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating or preventing diseases, disorders or conditions related to diabetes mellitus using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/775,180 filed Feb. 11, 2004, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US02/40892, filed Dec. 23, 2002, which claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/341,811, fried Dec. 21, 2001; 60/360,000, filed Feb. 28, 2002; 60/378,950, filed May 10, 2002; 60/398,008, filed Jul. 24, 2002; 60/411,355, filed Sep. 18, 2002; 60/414,984, filed Oct. 2, 2002; 60/417,611, filed Oct. 11, 2002; 60/420,246, filed Oct. 23, 2002; 60/423,623, filed Nov. 5, 2002; 60/350,358, filed Jan. 24, 2002; 60/359,370, filed Feb. 26, 2002; 60/367,500, filed Mar. 27, 2002; 60/402,131, filed Aug. 9, 2002; 60/402,708, filed Aug. 13, 2002; and 60/370,227, filed Apr. 8, 2002. All of the above listed applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING ON COMPACT DISC

This application refers to a “Sequence Listing” listed below, which is provided as an electronic document on three identical compact discs (CD-R), labeled “Copy 1,”, Copy 2,” and “Computer Readable Format.” These compact discs each contain the file “Sequence Listing.txt” (1,387,726 bytes, created on Mar. 28, 2006), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The Sequence Listing may be viewed on an IBM-PC machine running the MS-Windows operating system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to Therapeutic proteins (including, but not limited to, at least one polypeptide, antibody, peptide, or fragment and variant thereof) fused to albumin or fragments or variants of albumin. The invention encompasses polynucleotides encoding therapeutic albumin fusion proteins, therapeutic albumin fusion proteins, compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, formulations and kits. Host cells transformed with the polynucleotides encoding therapeutic albumin fusion proteins are also encompassed by the invention, as are methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention using these polynucleotides, anti/or host cells.

Over the past few decades, an increasing percentage of the population has become diabetic. Diabetes mellitus is categorized into two types: Type I, known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), or Type II, known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). IDDM is an autoimmune disorder in which the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells of the islets of Langerhans we destroyed. In these individuals, recombinant insulin therapy is employed to maintain glucose homeostasis and normal energy metabolism. NIDDM, on the other hand, is a polygenic disorder with no one gene responsible for the progression of the disease.

In NIDDM, insulin resistance eventually leads to the abolishment of insulin secretion resulting in insulin deficiency. Insulin resistance, at least in part, ensues from a block at the level of glucose uptake and phosphorylation in humans. Diabetics demonstrate a decrease in expression in adipose tissue of insulin-receptor substrate I (“IRS1”) (Carvalho et al., FASEB 113(15):2173-8 (1999)), glucose transporter 4 (“GLUT4”) (Garvey et al., Diabetes 41(4):465-75 (1992)), and the novel abundant protein M gene transcript 1 (“apM1”) (Statnick et al., Int. J. Exp. Diabetes 1(2):81-8 (2000)), as well as other as of yet unidentified factors. Insulin deficiency in NIDDM leads to failure of normal pancreatic beta-cell function and eventually to pancreatic-beta cell death.

Insulin affects fat, muscle, and liver. Insulin is the major regulator of energy metabolism. Malfunctioning of any step(s) in insulin secretion and/or action can lead to many disorders, including for example the dysregulation of oxygen utilization, adipogenesis, glycogenesis, lipogenesis, glucose uptake, protein synthesis, thermogenesis, and maintenance of the basal metabolic rate. This malfunctioning results in diseases and/or disorders that include, but are not limited to, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, insulin deficiency, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperketonemia, and diabetes.

Numerous debilitating diabetes-related secondary effects include, but are not limited to, obesity, forms of blindness (cataracts and diabetic retinopathy), limb amputations, kidney failure, fatty liver, coronary artery disease, and neuropathy.

Some of the current drugs used to treat insulin resistance and/or diabetes (e.g., insulin secratogogues—sulfonylurea, insulin sensitizers—thiazolidenediones and metformin, and α-glucosidase and lipase inhibitors) are inadequate due to the dosage amounts and frequency with which they have to be administered as a result of poor pharmacokinetic properties, the lack of effective control over blood sugar levels, and potential side effects, among oilier reasons. Diabetes Therapeutic proteins in their native state or when recombinantly produced exhibit a rapid in vivo clearance. Typically, significant amounts of therapeutics are required to be effective during therapy. In addition, small molecules smaller than the 20 kDa range can be readily filtered through the renal tubules (glomerulus) leading to dose-dependent nephrotoxicity.

Diabetes Therapeutic proteins in their native state or when recombinantly produced are typically labile molecules exhibiting short shelf-lives, particularly when formulated in aqueous solutions. The instability in these molecules when formulated for administration dictates that many of the molecules must be lyophilized and refrigerated at all times during storage, thereby rendering the molecules difficult to transport and/or store. Storage problems are particularly acute when pharmaceutical formulations must be stored and dispensed outside of the hospital environment. Many protein and peptide drug compositions also require the addition of high concentrations of other protein such as albumin to reduce or prevent loss of protein due to binding to the container. For this reason, many therapeutic proteins are formulated in combination with a large proportion of albumin carrier molecule (100-1000 fold excess), though this is an undesirable and expensive feature of the formulation.

Few practical solutions to the storage problems of labile protein molecules have been proposed. Accordingly, there is a need for stabilized, long lasting formulations of proteinaceous therapeutic molecules that are easily dispensed, preferably with a simple formulation requiring minimal post-storage manipulation.

Human serum albumin possesses many desirable characteristics. HSA is found throughout the body, but more specifically in the interstitial space and in blood at serum concentrations of 40 g/L which is equivalent to 0.7 mM (Yeh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:1904-1908 (1992)). HSA is considered to be the must abundant protein of the serum and is responsible for maintaining osmolarity. HSA has favorable pharmacokinetic properties and is cleared very slowly by the liver displaying in vivo half-lives up to several weeks (Yeh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:1904-1908 (1992); Waldmann, T. A., Albumin Structure, Function and Uses, pp. 255-273 (1977)). HSA lacks enzymatic activity and antigenicity thereby eliminating potentially undesirable side effects. HSA acts as a carrier for endogenous as well as exogenous ligands. Combined, these features can be extended, at least partially, onto albumin fusion proteins. The poor pharmacokinetic properties displayed by Diabetes Therapeutic proteins can then be circumvented.

Human serum albumin (HSA, or HA), a protein of 585 amino acids in its mature form (SEQ ID NO:327) of approximately 66 kDa, is responsible for a significant proportion of the osmotic pressure of serum and also functions as a carrier of endogenous and exogenous ligands. At present, HA for clinical use is produced by extraction from human blood. The production of recombinant HA (rHA) in microorganisms has been disclosed in EP 330 451 and EP 361 991.

The present invention is directed to albumin fusion proteins comprising a Therapeutic protein (e.g., a polypeptide, antibody, or fragment or variant thereof) fused to albumin or a fragment (portion) or variant of albumin. The present invention also encompasses polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules encoding a Therapeutic protein (e.g., a polypeptide, antibody, or fragment or variant thereof) fused to albumin or a fragment (portion) or variant of albumin that is sufficient to prolong the shelf life of the Therapeutic protein, increase serum half-life, and/or stabilize the Therapeutic protein and/or its activity in solution (or in a pharmaceutical composition) in vitro and/or in vivo. In one embodiment, an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide described in Table 1 or 2 has extended shelf life. In a second embodiment, an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide described in Table 1 or 2 has a longer serum half-life and/or stabilized activity in solution (or in a pharmaceutical composition) in vitro and/or in vivo than the corresponding unfused Therapeutic molecule described in Table 1 or 2. The present invention also encompasses polynucleotides, comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins comprising a Therapeutic protein (e.g., a polypeptide, antibody, or fragment or variant thereof) fused to albumin or a fragment (portion) or variant of albumin. Albumin fusion proteins encoded by polynucleotides of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are host cells containing these polynucleotides, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these polynucleotides, and/or host cells. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides encoding therapeutic albumin fusion proteins, therapeutic albumin fusion proteins, compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, formulations and kits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises one or more of the Therapeutic proteins disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein: X” column of Table 1. Fusion proteins comprising fragments Or variants of one or more of the Therapeutic proteins as disclosed in the “Construct Name” column of Table 2 are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules encoding the above albumin fusion proteins are also encompassed by the invention, as are host cells containing these polynucleotides. In one embodiment, an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide described in Table 1 or 2 has extended shelf life. In a second embodiment, an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide described in Table 1 or 2 has a longer serum half-life and/or stabilized activity in solution (or in a pharmaceutical composition) in vitro and/or in vivo than the corresponding unfused Therapeutic molecule described in Table 1.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, albumin fusion proteins include, but are not limited to, those encoded by the polynucleotides described in Table 2.

The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical formulations comprising an albumin fusion protein of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Such formulations may be in a kit or container. Such kit or container may be packaged with instructions pertaining to the extended shelf life of the Therapeutic protein. Such formulations may be used in methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) preventing, or diagnosing a disease or disease symptom in a patient, preferably a mammal, most preferably a human, comprising the step of administering the pharmaceutical formulation to the patient.

In other embodiments, the present invention encompasses methods of preventing or treating (e.g., ameliorating) a disease or disorder. In preferred embodiments, the present invention encompasses a method of treating a disease or disorder listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1 comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention that comprises a Therapeutic protein portion corresponding to a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein: X” column of Table 1 (in the same row as the disease or disorder to be treated is listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1) in an amount effective to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent the disease or disorder. Moreover, diseases or disorders that can be treated or prevented with an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, diabetes (e.g., Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)), insulin resistance, insulin deficiency, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperketonemia, hypertension, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, renal failure, neuropathy (e.g., autonomic neuropathy, parasympathetic neuropathy, and polyneuropathy), retinopathy, cataracts, metabolic disorders (e.g., insulin and/or glucose metabolic disorders), endocrine disorders, obesity, weight loss, liver disorders (e.g., liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and disorders associated with liver transplant), and conditions associated with these diseases or disorders.

In one embodiment, an albumin fusion protein described in Table 1 or 2 has extended shelf life.

In a second embodiment, an albumin fusion protein described in Table 1 or 2 is more stable than the corresponding unfused Therapeutic molecule described in Table 1.

In another preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that is useful to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent a metabolic/endocrine disorder. In a highly preferred embodiment, the metabolic/endocrine disorder is diabetes and/or a condition associated with diabetes. As a non-limiting example, a “Therapeutic protein” may be one that regulates glucose uptake by cells, that binds specifically to a particular cell type (e.g., normal adipocytes, myotubes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta cells of the Islet of Langerhans, and/or abnormal (e.g., cancer cell or insulin-resistant adipocytes, myotubes, and hepatocytes)), that enhances insulin sensitivity in insulin-responsive tissues, and/or that regulates hepatic glucose output, and therefore may be used to target a compound (drug, or cytotoxic agent) to that cell type specifically.

In highly preferred embodiments, the present invention encompasses methods of preventing or treating (e.g., ameliorating) diabetes and/or a condition associated with diabetes comprising administering to a patient (preferably a human) in which such prevention or treatment is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention that comprises a Therapeutic protein portion corresponding to a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein: X” column of Table 1 in an amount effective to treat or prevent diabetes and/or a condition associated with diabetes. Conditions associated with diabetes that can be prevented or treated with an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, hyperglycemia, obesity, diabetic retinopathy, mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, atherosclerosis, ulcers, heart disease, stroke, anemia, gangrene (e.g., of the feet and hands), impotence, infection, cataract, poor kidney function, malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system, impaired white blood cell function, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

In a most preferred embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to modulate or maintain glucose homeostasis.

In other embodiments, the present invention encompasses a method of maintaining a basal level of insulin in a patient comprising administering an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

The invention also relates to methods of regulating (e.g., suppressing or decreasing) appetite, and methods of altering nutritional partitioning in a patient (e.g., methods of increasing muscle mass and/or methods of decreasing fat mass) comprising administering to a patient (preferably a human) an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing insulin-related disorders comprising administering to a patient (preferably a human) an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

The invention further relates to methods of regulating insulin responsiveness in a patient, as well as methods of increasing glucose uptake by a cell, and methods of regulating insulin sensitivity of a cell, using the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other Therapeutic proteins or molecules (e.g., insulin and/or other proteins (including antibodies), peptides, or small molecules that regulate insulin sensitivity, weight, heart disease, hypertension, neuropathy, cell metabolism, and/or glucose, insulin, or other hormone levels, in a patient). In specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are administered in combination with insulin (or an insulin derivative, analog, fusion protein, or secretagogue).

The present invention further includes transgenic organisms modified to contain or express compositions of the invention (including, but not limited to, fusion proteins and/or the polynucleotides described in Tables 1 and 2), preferably modified to express an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts the ability of GLP-1 albumin fusion proteins and exendin-4 albumin fusion proteins to enhance glucose sensitivity and uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes as compared to GLP-1 and exendin-4 alone, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows the effectiveness of insulin albumin fusion proteins (CID 2250 and 2276) to allow for glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

FIG. 3 is a map of the vector pPPC0005 cloning vector (ATCC Deposit Number PTA-3278).

FIG. 4 is a map of the pSAC35 yeast S. Cerevisiae expression vector (Sleep et al., Biotechnology 8:42 (1990)).

FIG. 5A-D shows the amino acid sequence of the mature form of human albumin (SEQ ID NO:327) and a polynucleotide encoding it (SEQ ID NO:326).

FIG. 6 shows the effect of various dilutions of IFNb albumin fusion proteins encoded by DNA comprised in CID 2011 and 2053 on SEAP activity in the ISRE-SEAP/293f reporter cells (see Example 19). Proteins were serially diluted from 5e-7 to 1e-14 g/ml in DMEM/10% FBS and used to treat ISRE-SEAP/293f reporter cells. After 24 hours supernatants were removed from reporter cells and assayed for SEAP activity. IFNb albumin fusion protein was purified from three stable clones: 293f/#2011, CHO/#2011 and NSO/#2053. Mammalian derived IFNb, Avonex, came from Biogen and was reported to have a specific activity of 2.0c5 IU/ug.

FIG. 7 illustrates the steady-state levels of insulin mRNA in INS-1 (832/13) cells after treatment with GLP-1 or GLP-1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct ID 3070 (CID 31170 protein). Both GLP-1 and the CID 3070 protein stimulate transcription of the insulin gene in INS-1 cells. The first bar (black) represents the untreated cells. Bars 2-4 (white) represent cells treated with the indicated concentrations of GLP-1. Bars 5-7 (gray) represent cells treated with the indicated concentrations of CID 3070 protein.

FIG. 8 compares the anti-proliferative activity of IFN albumin fusion protein encoded by CID 3165 (CID 3165 protein) and recombinant IFNa (rIFNa) on Hs294T melanoma cells. The cells were cultured with varying concentrations of either CID 3165 protein or rIFNa and proliferation was measured by BrdD incorporation after 3 days of culture. CID 3165 protein caused measurable inhibition of cell proliferation at concentrations above 10 ng/ml with 50% inhibition achieved at approximately 200 ng/ml. (▪)=CID 3165 protein, (♦)=rIFNa.

FIG. 9 shows the effect of various dilutions of IFNa albumin fusion proteins on SEAP activity in the ISRE-SEAP/293F reporter cells. One preparation of IFNa fused upstream of albumin (♦) was tested, as well as two different preparations of IFNa fused downstream of albumin (▴) and (▪).

FIG. 10 shows the effect of time and dose of IFNa albumin fusion protein encoded by DNA comprised in construct 2249 (CID 2249 protein) on the mRNA level of OAS (p41) in treated monkeys (see Example 92). Per time point: first bar=Vehicle control, 2nd bar=30 ug/kg CID 2249 protein day 1 iv, third bar=30 ug/kg CID 2249 protein day 1 so, 4th bar=300 ug/kg CID 2249 protein day 1 sc, 5th bar=40 ug/kg recombinant IFNa day 1, 3 and 5 sc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definitions

The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used throughout this specification.

As used herein, “polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y (wherein Y is a number shown in column 6 of Table 2) or a fragment or variant thereof; a nucleotide sequence generated as described in Table 2 or in the Examples; a nucleotide sequence contained in an albumin fusion construct described in Table 2; a nucleotide sequence contained in an albumin fusion construct deposited with the ATCC (as described in Table 3); and/or more generally to a nucleotide sequence encoding a Therapeutic albumin fusion protein of the invention. Also as used herein, “polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one Therapeutic protein X (or fragment or variant thereof); a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y (as described in column 6 of Table 2) or a fragment or variant thereof; a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence comprising or alternatively consisting of the sequence shown in SEQ ED NO:X; a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Z; a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention generated as described in Table 2 or in the Examples; a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding a Therapeutic albumin fusion protein of the invention, a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence contained in an albumin fusion construct described in Table 2.

As used herein, “albumin fusion construct” refers to: a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein of the invention (including fragments and variants); a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein of the invention (including fragments and variants) generated as described in Table 2 or in the Examples; and/or a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, one or more of the above polynucleotides and further comprising, or alternatively consisting of, one or more of the following: (1) a functional self-replicating vector (including but not limited to, a shuttle vector, an expression vector, an integration vector, and/or a replication system), (2) a region for initiation of transcription (e.g., a promoter region, such as for example, a regulatable or inducible promoter, a constitutive promoter), (3) a region for termination of transcription, (4) a leader sequence, and (5) a selectable marker. The polynucleotide encoding the Therapeutic protein and albumin protein, once part of the albumin fusion construct, may each be referred to herein as a “portion,” “region” or “moiety” of the albumin fusion construct.

As used herein, “mature albumin fusion protein” refers to: the processed form of an albumin fusion protein. An albumin fusion protein of the invention is processed by a host cell and secreted into the surrounding culture medium. Processing of the nascent albumin fusion protein that occurs in the secretory pathways of the host used for expression may include, but is not limited to signal peptide cleavage: formation of disulfide bonds; proper folding; addition and processing of carbohydrates (such as for example, N- and O-linked glycosylation); specific proteolytic cleavages; and assembly into multimeric proteins. An albumin fusion protein of the invention is preferably in the processed form. Ina most preferred embodiment, the “processed form of an albumin fusion protein” refers to an albumin fusion protein product which has undergone N-terminal signal peptide cleavage, herein also referred to as a “mature albumin fusion protein”.

The present invention relates generally to polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins; albumin fusion proteins; and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a disease or disorder using albumin fusion proteins or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. As used herein, “albumin fusion protein” refers to a protein formed by the fusion of at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) to at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof). In preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a metabolic/endocrine disorder using a polynucleotide and/or albumin fusion protein of the invention. In highly preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing diabetes and/or a condition associated with diabetes using a polynucleotide and/or albumin fusion protein of the invention. In a highly preferred embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein X or fragment or variant of thereof (including, but not limited to a mature form of the Therapeutic protein X) and at least one molecule of albumin or fragment or variant thereof (including but not limited to a mature form of albumin).

As used herein, “albumin fusion protein” refers to a protein formed by the fusion of at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) to at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof). An albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and at least a fragment or variant of human serum albumin, which are associated with one another, preferably by genetic fusion (i.e., the albumin fusion protein is generated by translation of a nucleic acid in which a polynucleotide encoding all or a portion of a Therapeutic protein is joined in-frame with a polynucleotide encoding all or a portion of albumin). The Therapeutic protein and albumin protein, once part of the albumin fusion protein, may each be referred to herein as a “portion”, “region” or “moiety” of the albumin fusion protein (e.g., a “Therapeutic protein portion” or an “albumin protein portion”).

An additional embodiment includes a protein containing at least one protein, fragment, or variant of a Therapeutic protein of the invention and at least a protein fragment or variant of human serum albumin, which are associated with one another, via chemical conjugation.

In several instances, a representative clone containing an albumin fusion construct of the invention was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (herein referred to as “ATCC®”). Furthermore, it is possible to retrieve a given albumin fusion construct from the deposit by techniques known in the an and described elsewhere herein. The ATCC® is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA. The ATCC® deposits were made pursuant to the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein encoded by a polynucleotide described in Table 2. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein whose sequence is shown as SEQ ID NO:Y in Table 2. In other embodiments, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment of a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. In other embodiments, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active variant of a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. In preferred embodiments, the serum albumin protein component of the albumin fusion protein is the mature portion of serum albumin. The invention further encompasses polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules and host cells containing these nucleic acids encoding these albumin fusion proteins.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein, and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment of serum albumin. In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active variant of serum albumin. In preferred embodiments, the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is the mature portion of the Therapeutic protein. In a further preferred embodiment, the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is the extracellular soluble domain of the Therapeutic protein. In an alternative embodiment, the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is the active form of the Therapeutic protein. The invention further encompasses polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Host cells containing these polynucleotides are also encompassed by the invention as are methods of making albumin fusion proteins using these host cells.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment or variant of serum albumin. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the mature portion of a Therapeutic protein and the mature portion of serum albumin. The invention further encompasses polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Host cells containing these polynucleotides are also encompassed by the invention as are methods of making albumin fusion proteins using these host cells.

Therapeutic Proteins

As stated above, a polynucleotide of the invention encodes a protein comprising or alternatively consisting of, at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and at least a fragment or variant of human serum albumin, which are associated with one another, preferably by genetic fusion.

As used herein, “Therapeutic protein” refers to proteins, polypeptides, antibodies, peptides or fragments or variants thereof, having one or more therapeutic and/or biological activities. Therapeutic proteins encompassed by the invention include but are not limited to, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, antibodies, and biologics. (The terms peptides, proteins, and polypeptides are used interchangeably herein.) It is specifically contemplated that the term “Therapeutic protein” encompasses antibodies and fragments and variants thereof. Thus a protein of the invention may contain at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein, and/or at least a fragment or variant of an antibody. Additionally, the term “Therapeutic protein” may refer to the endogenous or naturally occurring correlate of a Therapeutic protein.

By a polypeptide displaying a “therapeutic activity” or a protein that is “therapeutically active” is meant a polypeptide that possesses one or more known biological and/or therapeutic activities associated with a therapeutic protein such as one or more of the Therapeutic proteins described herein or otherwise known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that is useful to treat (ameliorate) or prevent a metabolic/endocrine disorder. As a non-limiting example, a “Therapeutic protein” may be one that binds specifically to a particular cell type (normal (e.g., lymphocytes) or abnormal e.g., (cancer cells)) and therefore may be used to target a compound (drug, or cytotoxic agent) to that cell type specifically.

In a highly preferred embodiment, the metabolic/endocrine disorder is diabetes mellitus and/or one or more conditions associated with diabetes. In preferred embodiments, the “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that is useful to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent Type II Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) and/or a condition or conditions associated with NIDDM. In other preferred embodiments, the “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that is useful to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent Type I Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and/or a condition or conditions associated with IDDM. In other preferred embodiments, the “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that is useful to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent a condition including, but not limited to, hyperglycemia, obesity, diabetic retinopathy, mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, atherosclerosis, ulcers, heart disease, stroke, anemia, gangrene (e.g. of the feet and hands), impotence, infection, cataract, poor kidney function, malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system, impaired white blood cell function, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

As a non-limiting example, a “Therapeutic protein” may be one that regulates glucose uptake by cells and/or that binds specifically to a particular cell type (e.g., normal adipocytes, myotubes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta cells of the Islet of Langerhans, and/or abnormal (e.g., cancer cell or insulin-resistant adipocytes, myotubes, and hepatocytes)), that enhances insulin sensitivity in insulin-responsive tissues, and/or that regulates hepatic glucose output, and therefore may be used to target a compound (drug, or cytotoxic agent) to that cell type specifically.

For example, a non-exhaustive list of “Therapeutic protein” portions which may be comprised by an albumin fusion protein of the invention includes, but is not limited to, proteins comprising, a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence disclosed in Table 2, column 8 as SEQ ID NO: Z and fragments or variants thereof; or in Table 1, column I as “Therapeutic Protein X” and fragments and variants thereof.

Interferon hybrids may also be fused to the amino or carboxy terminus of albumin to form an interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein. Interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein may have enhanced, or alternatively, suppressed interferon activity, such as antiviral responses, regulation of cell growth, and modulation of immune response (Lebleu et al., PNAS USA, 73:3107-3111 (1976); Gresser et al., Nature, 251:543-545 (1974); and Johnson, Texas Reports Biol Med, 35:357-369 (1977)). Each interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein can be used to treat, prevent, or ameliorate viral infections (e.g., hepatitis (e.g., HCV); or HIV), multiple sclerosis, or cancer.

In one embodiment, the interferon hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein comprises an interferon alpha-interferon alpha hybrid (herein referred to as an alpha-alpha hybrid). For example, the alpha-alpha hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein consists, or alternatively comprises, of interferon alpha A fused to interferon alpha D. In a further embodiment, the A/D hybrid is fused at the common BgIII restriction site to interferon alpha D, wherein the N-terminal portion of the A/D hybrid corresponds to amino acids 1-62 of interferon alpha A and the C-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 64-166 of interferon alpha D. For example, this A/D hybrid would comprise the amino acid sequence: CDLPQTHSLGSRRTLMLLAQMRX1ISLFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFGNQFQKAETIPVLHEMIQQIFNLFTTKDSSAAWDEDLLDKFC TELYQQLNDLEACVMQEERVGETPLMNX2DSILAVKKYFRRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSLSLSTNLQERLRRKE (SEQ ID NO:472), wherein the X1 is R or K and the X2 is A or V (see, for example, Construct ID #2872). In an additional embodiment, the A/D hybrid is fused at the common PvuIII restriction site, wherein the N-terminal portion of the A/D hybrid corresponds to amino acids 1-91 of interferon alpha A and the C-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 93-166 of interferon alpha D. For example, this A/D hybrid would comprise the amino acid sequence: CDLPQTHSLGSRRTLMLLAQMRX1ISLFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFGNQFQKAETIPVLHEMIQQIFNUFSTKDSSAAWDETLLDKFY TELYQQLNDLEACVMQEERVGETPLMNX2DSTLAVKKYFRRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSLSLSTNLQERLRRKE (SEQ ID NO:457), wherein the X1 is R or K and the X2 is A or V (see, for example, Construct ID #2872). These hybrids are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,510, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In an additional embodiment, the alpha-alpha hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein consists, or alternatively comprises, of interferon alpha A fused to interferon alpha P. In a further embodiment, the A/F hybrid is fused at the common PvuIII restriction site, wherein the N-terminal portion of the A/F hybrid corresponds to amino acids 1-91 of interferon alpha A and the C terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 93-166 of interferon alpha F. For example, this A/F hybrid would comprise the amino acid sequence: CDLPQTHSLGSRRTLMLLAQMRXISLFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFGNQFQKAETIPVLHEMIQQIFNLFSTKDSSAAWDETLLDKFYT ELYQQLNDMEACVIQEVGVEETPLMNVDSILAVKKYFQRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSFSLSKIFQERLRRIKE (SEQ ID NO:467), wherein X is either R or K (see, for example, Construct ID #2874). These hybrids are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,510, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In a further embodiment, the alpha-alpha hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein consists, or alternatively comprises, of interferon alpha A fused to interferon alpha B. In an additional embodiment, the A/B hybrid is fused at the common PvuIII restriction site, wherein the N-terminal portion of the A/B hybrid corresponds to amino acids 1-91 of interferon alpha A and the C-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 93-166 of interferon alpha B. For example, this A/B hybrid would comprise an amino acid sequence: CDLPQTHSLGSRRTLMLLAQMR1ISLFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFGNQFQKAETIPVLHEMIQQIFNLFSTKDSSAAWDETLLDKFY TELYQQLNDLEX2X3X4X5QEVGVIESPLMYEDSILAVRKYFQRITLYLTEKKYSSCAWEVVRAEIMRSFSLSINLQKRLKSKE (SEQ ID NO:462), wherein the X1 is R or K and X2 through X5 is SCVM or VLCD (see, for example, Construct ID #2873). These hybrids are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,510, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In another embodiment, the interferon hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein comprises an interferon beta-interferon alpha hybrid (herein referred to as a beta-alpha hybrid). For example, the beta-alpha hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein consists, or alternatively comprises, of interferon beta-1 fused to interferon alpha D (also referred to as interferon alpha-1).

In a further embodiment, the beta-1/alpha D hybrid is fused wherein the N-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 1-73 of interferon beta-1 and the C-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 74-167 of interferon alpha D. For example, this beta-1/alpha D hybrid would comprise an amino acid sequence: MSYNLLGFLQRSSNFQCQ KLLWQLNGRLEYCLKDRMNFDIPEEIKQLQQFQKEDAALTIYEMLQNIFAIFRQDSSAAWDEDLLDK FCTELYQQLNDLEACVMQEERVGETPLMNXDSILAVKKYFRRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSESLSTNLQERLRRKE (SEQ ID NO:823), wherein X is A or V. These hybrids are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,428, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In another embodiment, the interferon hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein comprises an interferon alpha-interferon beta hybrid (herein referred to as a alpha-beta hybrid), For example, the alpha-beta hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein consists, or alternatively comprises, of interferon alpha D (also referred to as interferon alpha-1) fused to interferon beta-1. In a further embodiment, the alpha D/beta-1 hybrid is fused wherein the N-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 1-73 of interferon alpha D and the C-terminal portion corresponds to amino acids 74-166 of interferon beta-1. For example, this alpha a/beta-1 hybrid would have an amino acid sequence: MCDLPETHSLDNRRTLMLLAQMSRISPSSCLMDRHDFGEPQEEFDGNQFQKAPAISVLHELIQQIFNLFITKDSSSTOWNETIVEN LLANVYHQINHLKTVLEEKLEKEDFTRGKLMSSLHLKRYYGRILHYLKAKEYSHCAWTIVRVEILRNFYFINRLTGYLRN (SEQ ID NO:824). These hybrids are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,428, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In further embodiments, the interferon hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion proteins may comprise additional combinations of alpha-alpha interferon hybrids, alpha-beta interferon hybrids, and beta-alpha interferon hybrids. In additional embodiments, the interferon hybrid portion of the interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein may be modified to include mutations, substitutions, deletions, or additions to the amino acid sequence of the interferon hybrid. Such modifications to the interferon hybrid albumin fusion proteins may be made, for example, to improve levels of production, increase stability, increase or decrease activity, or confer new biological properties.

The above-described interferon hybrid albumin fusion proteins are encompassed by the invention, as are host cells and vectors containing polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. In one embodiment, a interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide as described above has extended shelf life. In an additional embodiment, a interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide described above has a longer serum half-life and/or more stabilized activity in solution (or in a pharmaceutical composition) in vitro and/or in vivo than the corresponding unfused interferon hybrid molecule.

In another non-limiting example, a “Therapeutic protein” is a protein that has a biological activity, and in particular, a biological activity. A non-exhaustive list of biological activities that may be possessed by a Therapeutic protein includes, inducing pancreatic ductal epithelial cell differentiation into insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells, stimulating synthesis and release of insulin, enhancing glucose sensitivity, enhancing insulin sensitivity, maintaining metabolic homeostasis, regulating the activation of the complement system, enhancing or suppressing an immune response, promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis, regulating hematopoietic functions, stimulating nerve growth, or any one or more of the biological activities described herein (e.g., in the “Biological Activities” section below and/or as disclosed for a given Therapeutic protein in Table 1).

As used herein, “therapeutic activity” or “activity” may refer to an activity whose effect is consistent with a desirable therapeutic outcome in humans, or to desired effects in non-human mammals or in other species or organisms. Therapeutic activity may be measured in vivo or in vitro. For example, a desirable effect may be assayed in cell culture. As an example, the ability of a Therapeutic protein and/or albumin fusion protein of the invention (including fragments and variants thereof) to regulate glucose uptake may be routinely assayed using, or routinely modified, techniques described herein (e.g., Example 28) or otherwise known in the art. In another example, the ability of a Therapeutic protein and/or albumin fusion protein of the invention (including fragments and variants thereof) to promote expression of the II4IIe-SEAP reporters may be routinely assayed using, or routinely modified, techniques described herein (e.g., Example 35) or otherwise known in the art. Such in vitro or cell culture assays are known for many Therapeutic proteins. Additional example of assays include, but are not limited to, those described herein in the Examples section or in the “Exemplary Activity Assay” column of Table 1.

Therapeutic proteins corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, such as cell surface and secretory proteins, are often modified by the attachment of one or more oligosaccharide groups. The modification, referred to as glycosylation, can dramatically affect the physical properties of proteins and can be important in protein stability, secretion, and localization. Glycosylation occurs at specific locations along the polypeptide backbone. There are usually two major types of glycosylation: glycosylation characterized by O-linked oligosaccharides, which are attached to serine or threonine residues; and glycosylation characterized by N-linked oligosaccharides, which are attached to asparagine residues in an Asn-X-Ser/Thr sequence, where X can be any amino acid except proline. N-acetylneuramic acid (also known as sialic acid) is usually the terminal residue of both N-linked and 0-linked oligosaccharides. Variables such as protein structure and cell type influence the number and nature of the carbohydrate units within the chains at different glycosylation sites. Glycosylation isomers are also common at the same site within a given cell type.

For example, several types of human interferon are glycosylated. Natural human interferon-α2 is O-glycosylated at threonine 106, and N-glycosylation occurs at asparagine 72 in interferon-α14 (Adolf et al., J. Biochem 276:511 (1991): Nyman T A et al., J. Biochem 329:295 (1998)). The oligosaccharides at asparagine 80 in natural interferon-β1α may play an important factor in the solubility and stability of the protein, but may not be essential for its biological activity. This permits the production of an unglycosylated analog (interferon-β1b) engineered with sequence modifications to enhance stability (Hosoi et al., J. Interferon Res. 8:375 (1988; Karpusas at al., Cell Mol Life Sci 54:1203 (1998); Knight, J. Interferon Res. 2:421 (1982); Runkel et al., Mann Res 15:641 (1998); Lin, Dev. Biol. Stand. 96:97 (1998)). Interferon-γ contains two N-linked oligosaccharide chains at positions 25 and 97, both important for the efficient formation of the bioactive recombinant protein, and having an influence on the pharmacokinetic properties of the protein (Sareneva et al., Eur. J. Biochem 242:191 (1996); Sareneva et al., Biochem J. 303:831 (1994); Sareneva et al., J. Interferon Res. 13:267 (1993)). Mixed O-linked and N-linked glycosylation also occurs, for example in human erythropoietin, N-linked glycosylation occurs at asparagine residues located at positions 24, 38 and 83 while O-linked glycosylation occurs at a serine residue located at position 126 (Lai et al., J. Biol. Chem. 261:3116 (1986); Broody et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 265:329 (1988)).

Therapeutic proteins corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, as well as analogs and variants thereof, may be modified so that glycosylation at one or more sites is altered as a result of manipulation(s) of their nucleic acid sequence, by the host cell in which they are expressed, or due to other conditions of their expression. For example, glycosylation isomers may be produced by abolishing or introducing glycosylation sites, e.g., by substitution or deletion of amino acid residues, such as substitution of glutamine for asparagine, or unglycosylated recombinant proteins may be produced by expressing the proteins in host cells that will not glycosylate them, e.g. in E. coli or glycosylation-deficient yeast. These approaches are described in more detail below and are known in the art.

Therapeutic proteins that may be used, for example, in treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing diabetes and a condition associated with diabetes are known in the art (e.g., those disclosed in Table 1 and nucleic acid sequences encoding these proteins). Many of the sequences corresponding to these Therapeutic proteins are available in public databases such as Chemical Abstracts Services Databases (e.g., the CAS Registry), GenBank, and subscription provided databases such as GeneSeq (e.g., Derwent). Exemplary nucleotide sequences of Therapeutic proteins which encode a polynucleotide of the invention are disclosed in column 7, “SEQ ID NO:X,” of Table 2. Sequences shown as SEQ ID NO:X may be a wild type polynucleotide sequence encoding a given Therapeutic protein, or in some instances the sequence may be a variant of the wild type polynucleotide sequence (e.g., a polynucleotide which encodes the wild type Therapeutic protein optimized, for example, for expression in a particular host; or a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the wild type Therapeutic protein (e.g., a site directed mutant; an allelic variant)). It is well within the ability of the skilled artisan to use the sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:X to derive the construct described in the same row. For example, if SEQ ID NO:X corresponds to a full length protein, but only a portion of that protein is used to generate the specific CID, it is within the skill of the art to rely on molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, to amplify the specific fragment and clone it into the appropriate vector.

Additional Therapeutic proteins corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, one or more of the Therapeutic proteins or peptides disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein X” column of Table 1, or fragment or variable thereof.

Table 1 provides a non-exhaustive list of Therapeutic proteins that correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, and thus, an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention. The first column, “Therapeutic Protein X,” discloses Therapeutic protein molecules that may be followed by parentheses containing scientific and brand names of proteins that comprise, or alternatively consist of, that Therapeutic protein molecule or a fragment or variant thereof. “Therapeutic protein X” as used herein may refer either to an individual Therapeutic protein molecule, or to the entire group of Therapeutic proteins associated with a given Therapeutic protein molecule disclosed in this column. The “Biological activity” column (column 2) describes Biological activities associated with the Therapeutic protein molecule (and fragments and variants of the Therapeutic protein). Column 3, “Exemplary Activity Assay,” provides references that describe assays which may be used or routinely modified to test the therapeutic and/or biological activity of a Therapeutic Protein X or an albumin fusion protein comprising a Therapeutic protein X portion. Each of the references cited in the “Exemplary Activity Assay” column are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties, particularly with respect to the description of the respective activity assay described in the reference (see Methods section therein, for example) for assaying the corresponding biological activity set forth in the “Biological Activity” column of Table 1. The fourth column, “Preferred Indication Y,” describes disease, disorders, and/or conditions that may be treated (e.g., ameliorated), prevented, or diagnosed, by Therapeutic protein X or an albumin fusion protein comprising a Therapeutic protein X portion. The fifth column, “Therapeutic Protein Z” provides an amino acid sequence associated with the Therapeutic protein molecule (and fragments and variants of the Therapeutic protein). The “Construct ID” column (column 6) provides a link to an exemplary albumin fusion construct disclosed in Table 2 which encodes an albumin fusion protein comprising the referenced Therapeutic Protein X portion.

TABLE 1 Therapeutic Protein: X Biological Activity Exemplary Activity Assay Preferred Indication: Y Therapeutic Protein: Z Construct ID Insulin (Human insulin; Stimulates glucose Insulin activity may be assayed in Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2250, 2255, 2276, Insulin aspart; Insulin uptake and promotes vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 2278, 2656, 2668, Glargine; Insulin lispro; Lys- glycogenesis and assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding 2669, 2671, 2821, B28 Pro-B29; lyspro; LY lipogenesis. 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number 2822, 2832, 2877, 275585; diarginylinsulin; Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes 2878, 2882, 2885, Des-B26-B30-insulin-B25- Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With 2891, 2897, 2930, amide; Insulin detemir; Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 2931, 2942, 2986, LABI; NOVOLIN; Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, 3025, 3133, 3134, NOVORAPID; HUMULIN; And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune 3197, 3198, 2726, NOVOMIX 30; Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of 2727, 2784, 2789 VELOSULEN; NOVOLOG; Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. LANTUS; ILETIN; HUMALOG; MACRULIN; EXUBRA; INSUMAN; ORALIN; ORALGEN; HUMAHALE; HUMAHALIN) Glucagon-Like-Peptide 1 Stimulates the synthesis GLP1 activity may be assayed in Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2448, 2455, 2456, (GLP1; Insulinotropin) and release of insulin; vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 2457, 2803, 2804, enhances the sensitivity assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding 2900, 2904, 2945, of adipose, muscle, and 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number 2964, 2982, 3070, liver tissues towards Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes 2802, 3027, 3028, insulin; stimulates Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With 3045, 3046, 3069, glucose uptake; slows Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 3071, 3072, 3085, the digestive process; Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, 3086, 3087, 3140, suppresses appetite; And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune 3309 blocks the secretion of Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of glucagon. Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Exendin-4 (AC-2993) Stimulates the synthesis Exendin-4 activity may be assayed Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2469 and 2470. and release of insulin; in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description enhances the sensitivity uptake assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding of adipose, muscle, and Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number liver tissues towards Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes insulin; stimulates Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With glucose uptake; slows Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart the digestive process; Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, suppresses appetite; And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune blocks the secretion of Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of glucagon. Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Resistin Mediates insulin Ability of resistin to influence type Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2295, 2296, 2297, resistance in Type II II diabetes can be determined using mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 2300, and 2309. diabetes; inhibits assays known in the art: Pontoglio resistance; Insulin deficiency ; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding insulin-stimulated et al., J Clin Invest 1998 May Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number glucose uptake 15: 101 (10): 2215-22. Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Leptin Controls obesity through In vivo modulation of food intake, Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2146, 2184, 2186, regulation of appetite, reduction in body weight, and mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description and 2187. reduction of body lowering of insulin and glucose resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding weight, and lowering of levels in ob/ob mice, Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number insulin and glucose radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes level. activation of the leptin receptor in a Mellitus (IDDM); a Condition Associated With cell-based assay. Protein Expr Purif Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 1998 Dec.; 14 (3): 335-42 Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; Immunological Disorders; Immunosuppression. HLDOUI8 (Bone Activates L6/GSK3 Assays for activation of GSK3 Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 22328, 2340, Morphogenic Protein 9 kinase assay. kinase activity are well known in the mellitus; Type I diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 22350, 2351, (BMP9); Growth art. For example, Biol. Chem. resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding 22359, 2362, differentiation factor-2 379 (8-9): (1998) 1101-1110.; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number 22367, 2369, precursor (GDF-2 Biochem J. 1993 Nov. 15; 296 ( Pt Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus 22370, 2473, precursor)) 1): 15-9. (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes 2623, 2624, 2625, Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, 2631, 2632, 2633, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. IL-22 (IL22, interleukin-22; Stimulates glucose IL-22 activity may be assayed in Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2901, 2903 IL17D, IL27) uptake in skeletal muscle vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description cells; increases skeletal assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding muscle insulin 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number sensitivity. Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. RegIV (Colon Specific Stimulates glucose RegIV activity may be assayed in Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2910, Gene; Colon Specific uptake; increases insulin vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description Protein) sensitivity assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipodemia; under the corresponding 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Interferon alfa (Interferon Stimulates glucose Interferon activity may be assayed Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2249, 2343, 2366, alfa-2b; recombinant; uptake; increases insulin in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 2381, 2382, 2410, Interferon alfa-n1; Interferon sensitivity. uptake assay, (J Biol Chem 1999 resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding and 3165. alfa-n3; Peginterferon alpha- Oct. 22; 274 (43) 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number 2b; Ribavirin and interferon Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes alfa-2b; Interferon alfacon-1; Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With interferon consensus; YM Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 643; CIFN; interferon -alpha Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, consensus; recombinant And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune methionyl consensus Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of interferon: recombinant Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. consensus interferon; CGP 35269; RO 253036; RO 258310; INTRON A; PEG- INTRON; OIF; OMNIFERON; PEG- OMNIFERON; VELDONA; PEG-REBETRON; ROFERON A; WELLFERON; ALFERON N/LDO; REBETRON; ALTEMOL; VIRAFERONPEG; PEGASYS; VIRAFERON; VIRAFON; AMPLIGEN; INFERGEN; INFAREX; ORAGEN) HCE1P80 Stimulates glucose Interferon activity may be assayed Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2008, 3049, 3050, uptake; increases insulin in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description 3051, 3052. sensitivity. uptake assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. HDRMI82 Stimulates glucose HDRMI82 activity may be assayed Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes *See TABLE 2 for the 2909. uptake; increases insulin in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Therapeutic protein description sensitivity. uptake assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; under the corresponding Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Construct ID number Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite: Syndrome X. PYY (Peptide YY) including Decreases appetite; Appetite and food intake can be can Most preferred: Treatment of Obesity; treatment of *See TABLE 2 for the 3108, 3109, 3281, PYY3-36 increases satiety; be measured by methods known in Diabetes; suppression of body weight gain; suppression Therapeutic protein description 3117, 3118, 3282. (amino acid residues 31-64 decreases food intake. the art (Batterham et al. Nature of appetite. under the corresponding of full length PYY, amino 2002; 418: 650654); Activity may Also Preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Construct ID number acid residues 3-36 of mature also be assayed in vitro using a [3- Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 PYY) H]-glucose uptake assay. (J Biol diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Chem 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin 30873). dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Other indications for antibodies, antagonists: treatment of weight loss; treatment of AIDS wasting; appetite stimulant; treatment of cachexia. HCBOG68 (enteric Controls proliferation/ Activation of cAMP-mediated Treatment of Obesity; treatment of Diabetes; See TABLE 2 for the 3106, 3270 adipokine; Fat SID; proline differentiation or transcription in adipocytes can be suppression of body weight gain; suppression of Therapeutic protein description rich acidic protein) metabolism/ assayed using methods known in appetite. Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; under the corresponding physiology/pathology/ of the art (Berger et al., Gene 66: 1-10 Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Construct ID number adipocytes and adipose (1998); Cullen and Malm, Methods Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; tissue in response to in Enzymol 216: 362-368 (1992); Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes dietary conditions. Henthorn et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes USA 85: 6342-6346 (1988); Reusch Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With et al., Mol Cell Biol 20 (3): 1008- Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 1020 (2000); and Klemm et al., J Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, Biol Chem 273: 917-923 (1998)); And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Activity may also be assayed in Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; Other indications for antibodies and/ or antagonists 274 (43): 30864-30873). include treatment of weight loss; treatment of AIDS wasting; appetite stimulant; treatment of cachexia. F-992 Vasopressin agonist Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes Vasopressin (Genbank (Ferring Pharmaceuticals) using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Accession AAB86629) and/or (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; fragments or variants thereof 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes including but not limited to [D- Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Phe2-Thi3-alpha-Me-Abu4- Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Hyp7-D-Arg8]-dC1-vasopressin. Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. INGAP peptide Stimulates the synthesis Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes SEQ ID NO: 840 (See Genbank (GMP Companies) and release of insulin; using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Accession No. U41737) and/or enhances the sensitivity (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; fragments or variants thereof. of adipose, muscle, and 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes liver tissues towards Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes insulin; stimulates Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With glucose uptake; slows Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart the digestive process; Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, suppresses appetite; And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune blocks the secretion of Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of glucagons; involves islet Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. neogenesis associated protein Chrysalin Thrombin mimetic; Activity may be assayed in vitro Most preferred indications include: Diabetic foot ulcer; SEQ ID NO: 841 (Chrysalis Biotechnology) chemotactic for using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. bone fractures; chronic wound healing; heart (508-530 of mature neutrophils; enhance (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; angiogenesis; cartilage repair and spine surgery (spinal prothrombin); or collagen accumulation in 274 (43): 30864-30873). fusion repair); and a condition associated with diabetes SEQ ID NO: 842 (508-530 of wounds; enhance including but not limited to obesity, heart disease, preprothrombin, see Genbank revascularization of hyperglycemia, infections, and as otherwise described Accession No. P00734); and/or wounds; accelerate herein. fragments or variants thereof. healing of incisional and Also preferred are: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes open wounds in normal Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 animals and in animals diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; with impaired healing Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. NB1-6024 Therapeutic vaccine to Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes insipidus; Diabetes SEQ ID NO: 843 and/or (Neurocrine Biosciences) elicit a potentially using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin fragments or variants thereof protective immune (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; response to slow islet 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes cell destruction Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. SPM-933 C-peptide analog Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes SEQ ID NO: 844 (see Genbank (Schwarz Pharma AG and using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin Accession No. P01308) and/or Creative Peptides) (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; fragments or variants thereof. 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type 1 IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Octreotide; SMS 995, Growth hormone Activity may be assayed in vitro Proliferative diabetic retinopathy; prevention of obesity; SEQ ID NO:845 and/or Sandostatin LAR antagonist (somatostatin using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. metastatic carcinoid syndrome and acromegaly; control fragments or variants thereof (Novartis) analog) (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; diarrhea due to vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting including but not limited to [R- 274 (43): 30864-30873). tumours; prevention of variceal bleeds; psoriasis; viral (R*,R*)]-D-Phe-L-Cys-L-Phe- infection; Alzheimer's disease and migraine. D-Trp-L-Lys-L-Thr-N-[2- Also preferred include: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; hydroxy-1- Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; (hydrozymethyl)propyl]-L- Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; cysteinamide cyclic (2-7)- Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin disulfide. dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy Pexiganan Acetate Anti-infective; Disrupts Pexiganan acetate activity can be Most preferred include: Diabetic foot ulcer; wound Lysinamide (SEQ ID NO: 846) (CAS-172820-23-4) bacterial membranes. assessed using in vitro antibacterial healing; diabetic foot ulcer infections; bacterial acetate and/or fragments or assays known in the art. (Zasloff et infection; impetigo; burns; and a condition associated variants thereof. al., Antimicrobial Agents and with diabetes including but not limited to obesity, heart Chemotherapy 1999, 43: 782-788); disease, hyperglycemia, infections, and as otherwise Activity may be also assayed in described herein. vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake Also preferred include: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; 274 (43): 30864-30873).. Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Pramlintide (Amylin) Amylin analog; Appetite and food intake can be can Treatment of Obesity; treatment of Diabetes; SEQ ID NO: 847, with a C- (CAS-151126-32-8) improves glycemic be measured by methods known in suppression of body weight gain; suppression of teminal L-tryrosinamide cyclic control; reduces the art (Batterham et al. Nature appetite; treatment of endocrine disorders; (2-7)-disulfide and/or fragments postprandial blood 2002; 418: 650654); Activity may be Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes or variants thereof. glucose peaks; flattens also assayed in vitro using a [3-H]- mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin glucose peaks and glucose uptake assay. (J Biol Chem resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; troughs observed in 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes diabetic patients; Slows 30873). Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes gastric emptying; Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With decreases food intake. Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Other indications for antibodies, antagonists: treatment of weight loss; treatment of AIDS wasting; appetite stimulant; treatment of cachexia HP-228 Cytokine release Activity may be assayed in vitro Diabetes mellitus; obesity; inflammation; pain; SEQ ID NO: 848 and/or (LION Biosciences) modulator; melanocortin using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. chemotherapy-induced emesis; toxicity; and a condition fragments or variants thereof modulator; lowers (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; associated with diabetes including but not limited to including but not limited to N- plasma insulin and 274 (43): 10864-30873). obesity, heart disease, hyperglycemia, infections, and as acetyl-L-norleucyl-L-Gln-L-His- glucose levels otherwise described herein. D-Phe-L-Arg-D-Trp- Also preferred include: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Glycinamide. Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. Neurulin Activity may be assayed in vitro Most preferred: Diabetic Neuropathy; and a condition (Cortecs International Ltd) using a [3-H]-glucase uptake assay. associated with diabetes including but not limited to (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; obesity, heart disease, hyperglycemia, infections, and as 274 (43): 30864-30873). otherwise described herein. Also preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. AC-253 GLP-1 agonist; appetite Activity may be assayed in vitro Most preferred: Type II NIDDM; obesity; (Amylin Pharmaceuticals) suppressant; using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. hypertension; and a condition associated with diabetes hypoglycemic agent; (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; including but not limited to obesity, heart disease, amylin antagonist 274 (43): 30864-301873). hyperglycemia, infections, and as otherwise described herein. Also preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. ALT-300 Glucagon antagonist; Activity may be assayed in vitro Most preferred: Type I IDDM and Type II NIDDM; (Alteon) lowers plasma glucose using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. acidosis; and a condition associated with diabetes levels (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; including but not limited to obesity, heart disease, 274 (43): 30864-30873). hyperglycemia, infections, and as otherwise described . herein. Also preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. ANERVAX.DB Peptide vaccine; delay Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes insipidus; Diabetes (Corixa Corp) and suppress the using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin development of Type I (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; IDDM 274 (43): 308154-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. AZM-140 Amylase inhibitor; Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes (Alizyme) hypoglycemic agent using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin (J Blot Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetitie; Syndrome X. Interferon beta (Interferon Modulates MHC antigen Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 1778, 1779, 2011, beta-1a; Interferon beta 1b; expression, NK cell using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. 2013, 2053, 2054, Interferon-beta-serine; SH activity and IFNg (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; 2492, 2580, 2795, 579; ZK 157046; BCDF; production and IL12 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes 2796, 2797 beta-2 IF; Interferon-beta-2; production in Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes rhIL-6; SJ0031; DL 8234; monocytes. Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With FERON; IFNbeta; Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart BETASERON; AVONEX; Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, REBIF; BETAFERON; And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune SIGOSIX) Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. TR6 (DcR3; Decoy Receptor Inhibits Fas Ligand and Cellular apoptosis can be measured Renal failure; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 1520, 1537, 1545, 3; FASTR) AIM-2 (TL5, LIGHT) by annexin staining, TUNEL staining, rheumatoid arthritis; inflammatory bowel disease; particular construct. 1546, 1568, 1570, mediated apoptosis. measurement of caspase levels. autoimmune disease; toxic epidermal necrolysis; 1622, 1623, 1645, Inhibition of cell growth can also be multiple sclerosis. 1700, 1702, 1703, directly measured, for example by Also preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes 1704, 1891, 1892, ALOMAR Blue staining. Assay refs: Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 1912, and 1913. cytotoxicity assay on human diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; fibrosarcoma (Epsevik and Nissen- Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin Meyer, 1986, J. Immunol. methods); dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- Activity may be assayed in vitro using dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. (J Biol Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited Chem 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, 30873). Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. TNFR2 (p75) (ENBREL) Binds both TNFa and T-cell proliferation can be measured Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 1777 and 1784. TNFb; mediates T-cell using assays known in the art. For mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. proliferation by TNF; example, “Lymphocytes: a practical resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; reduces signs and approach” edited by: SL Rowland, AJ Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes structural damage in McMichael-ch. 6, pages 138-160 Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes patients with moderately Oxford University Press (2000); and Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With to severly active “Current Protocols on CD-ROM” Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart rheumatoid arthritis section 3.12 Proliferation Assays for Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, (RA). T-cell Function John Wiley & Soncs, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Inc. (1999); Activity may be assayed Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose uptake retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body 274 (43): 30864-30873). Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. ACE2 inhibitor (DX512) Inhibits production of Inhibition of angiotensin can be Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes angiotensin II which determined using assays known in the mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 1989, 2000, 2001, induces aldosterone art. For example, in vitro using a resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; particular construct. and 2002. production, aneriolar proliferation assay with rat cardiac Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes smooth muscle fibroblasts as described in Naunyn Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes vasoconstriction, and Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 1999 Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With proliferation of cardiac May; 359 (5): 394-9; Activity may be Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart fibroblasts, Induces assayed in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, angiogenesis; an enzyme uptake assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of that converts angiotensin 22; 274 (43): 30864-30873). Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and I to angiotensin1-9; also retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; cleaves des-Arg, Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body bradykinin and Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; neurotensin. Proteinuria; Renal disorders, congestive heart failure. Interferon Hybrids, Confers a range of Activity may be assayed in vitro Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 2875, 2872, 2876, specifically preferred: cellular responses using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. 2874, 2873. IFNalpha A/D hybrid (BgIII including antiviral, (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; version) antiproliferative, 274 (43): 30864-30873), Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes IFNalpha A/D hybrid (PvuII antitumor and Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes version) immunomodulatory Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With IFNalpha A/F hybrid activities; stimulate Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart IFNalpha A/B hybrid production of two Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, IFNbeta 1/alpha D hybrid enzymes: a protein And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune (IFNbeta-1/alpha-1 hybrid) kinase and an Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of IFNalpha/beta hybrid oligoadenylate Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. synthetase. Also, modulates MHC antigen expression, NK cell activity and IFNg production and IL12 production in monocytes. HWHGZ51 (CD59; Stimulates an immune The ability to affect chondrocyte Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 2407, 2408 Metastasis-associated GPI- response and induces differentiation can be measured mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. adhered protein homolog) inflammation by using methods known in the art, resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; inducing mononuclear such as described in Bone (1995) Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes cell, eosinophil and Sep; 17 (3): 279-86; Activity may be Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes PMN infiltration; assayed in vitro using a [3-H]- Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Inhibits growth of breast glucose uptake assay. (J Biol Chem Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart cancer, ovarian cancer, 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, leukemia, and 30873). And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune melanoma; Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Overexpressed in colon, Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; lung, breast and rectal Kidney disorders; Hyperinsulinemia; Hypoinsulinemia tumors; Regulates glucose and/or FFA update by adipocytes and skeletal muscle; Induces redifferentiation of chondrocytes C17 (cytokine-like protein Inhibits glucose and/or Proliferation of kidney mesangial Kidney diseases and disorders; Shonlein-Henoch See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 2489, 2490 C17) FFA uptake by cells can be assayed using purpura, 13erger disease, celiac disease, dermatitis particular construct. adipocytes; Induces techniques described in J. Investig. herpetiformis, Chron disease; Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; proliferation of kidney Med. (1998) Aug. 46 (6): 297-302; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; mesangial cells; Activity may be assayed in vitro Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Regulation of cytokine using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin production and antigen (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- presentation 274 (43): 30864-30873). dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; Kidney disorders; Hyperinsulinemia; Hypoinsulinemia Somatostatin (Octreotide; Inhibits growth Inhibition of growth hormone Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 2798, 2825, 2830, octreotide acetate; hormone, glucagons and release in humans by somatostatin mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct, 2831, 2902 Sandostating LAR ®) insulin; Suppresses LF can be measured as described in J. resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; response to GnRH; Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. (1973) Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Decreases splanchnic Oct.; 37 (4): 632-4. Mellitus (NIDDM); insulin-dependent Diabetes blood flow; Inhibits Inhibition of insulin secretion by Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With release of serotonin, somatostatin can be measured as Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart gastrin, vasoactive described in the Lancet (1973) Dec. Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, intestinal peptide, 8; 2 (7841): 1299-1301; Activity may And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune secretin, motilin, and be assayed in vitro using a [3-H]- Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of pancreatic polypeptide. glucose uptake assay, (J Biol Chem Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- Kidney disorders 30873). HDALV07 (adiponectin; Modulates insulin action HDALV07 activity may be assayed Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 3053, 3055, 3056 gelatin-binding 28k protein in vitro using a [3-H]-glucose mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. precurson; adipose most uptake assay. (J Biol Chem 1999 resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; abundant gene transcript; Oct. 22: 274 (43): 30864-30873). Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes APM-1; GBP28; ACRP30; Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes ADIPOQ) Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; Hyperglycemia; Familial combined hyperlipidemia; Metabolic syndrome C Peptide An insulin precursor C-peptide concentrations can be Hyperglycemia, Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 3088, 3149 involved in insulin measured using assays well known mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin particular construct. regulation in the art, such as the one described resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; in PNAS (1970) Sep.; 67 (1): 148-55; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Activity may be assayed in vitro Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin-dependent Diabetes using a [3-H]-glucose uptake assay. Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With (J Biol Chem 1999 Oct. 22; Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart 274 (43): 30864-30873). Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X; Hyperglycemia; Familial combined hyperlipidemia; Metabolic syndrome WNT10b Inhibits adipogenesis. WNT10b activity can be measured Most preferred: Treatment of Obesity; suppression of See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 3141 using adipogenesis inhibition assays body weight gain; suppression of appetite. particular construct. (Ross et al., Science 2000; Other indications: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes 289 (5481): 950-953; Activity may Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 be assayed in vitro using a [3-H]- diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; glucose uptake assay. (J Biol Chem Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- 30873). dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). Also preferred: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X. CART (Cocaine- and Inhibits food intact and Appetite and food intake can be can Most preferred: Treatment of Obesity; suppression of See TABLE 2, SEQ ID NO: Z for 3232 Amphetamine-Regulated fat storage; promotes be measured by methods known in body weight gain; suppression of appetite, particular construct. Transcript) lipid oxidation. the art (Batterham et al. Nature Other indications: Hyperglycemia; Diabetes; Diabetes 2002; 418: 650654); Activity may be Insipidus; Diabetes mellitus; Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 assayed in vitro using a [3-H]- diabetes; Insulin resistance; Insulin deficiency; glucose uptake assay. (J Biol Chem Hyperlipidemia; Hyperketonemia; Non-insulin 1999 Oct. 22; 274 (43): 30864- dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM); Insulin- 30873). dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM); A Condition Associated With Diabetes Including, But Not Limited To Obesity, Heart Disease, Hyperglycemia, Infections, Retinopathy, And/Or Ulcers; Late-stage diabetic complications of Type I IDDM (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy; Metabolic Disorders; Immune Disorders; Obesity; Vascular Disorders; Suppression of Body Weight; Suppression of Appetite; Syndrome X.

TABLE 2 Fusion Construct Expression SEQ ID No. ID Construct Name Description Vector NO: Y 1 1520 pC4:HSA/TR6.V30-H300 Amino acids V30 to H300 of TR6 (fragment shown pC4 70 as V1 to H271 of SEQ ID NO: 139) fused downstream of HSA. 2 1537 pYPG:HSA.TR6coV30-E294 Amino acids V30 to E294 of TR6 (fragment shown pYPGaf 71 as V1 to E265 of SEQ ID NO: 140) fused downstream of HSA. DNA encoding TR6 has been codon optimized. 3 1545 pYPG:HSA.TR6coV30-L288 Amino acids V30 to L288 of TR6 (fragment shown pYPGaf 72 as V1 to L259 of SEQ ID NO: 141) fused downstream of HSA. DNA encoding TR6 has been codon optimized. 4 1546 pYPG:HSA.TR6coV30-R284 Amino acids V30 to R284 of TR6 (fragment shown pYPGaf 73 as V1 to R255 of SEQ ID NO: 142) fused downstream of HSA. DNA encoding TR6 has been codon optimized. 5 1568 pSAC35:HSA-yTR6 TR6 fused downstream of HSA. DNA encoding pSAC35 74 TR6 has been codon optimized. 6 1570 pSAC35:TR6-HSA Mature TR6 fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 pSAC35 75 leader and upstream of the mature HSA. 7 1622 pC4:synTR6.M1-H300.HSA Synthetic TR6 fused upstream of mature HSA, with pC4 76 2 extra amino acids between the TR6 and HSA portions. 8 1623 pC4:HSA.synTR6.V30-H300 Synthetic mature TR6 fused downstream of FL pC4 77 HSA. Last amino acid HSA sequence is missing at BSU361 site. 9 1645 pSAC35:yTR6(N173Q).HSA Mutant mature TR6 cloned upstream of mature HSA pSAC35 78 and downstream of the HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 10 1700 pSAC35:HSA-yTR6(N173Q) Mutant TR6 fused downstream of mature HSA with pSAC35 79 HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 11 1702 pYPG:HSA.ek.TR6coV30- Amino acids V30 to L288 of TR6 (fragment shown pYPGaf 80 L288 as V1 to L259 of SEQ ID NO: 149) feed downstream of FL HSA with an enterokinase site in between. DNA encoding TR6 has been codon optimized. 12 1703 pYPG:HSA.ek.TR6coV30- Amino acids V30 to R284 of TR6 (fragment shown pYPGaf 81 R284 as V1 to R255 of SEQ ID NO: 150) fused downstream of HSA with an enterokinase site in between. DNA encoding TR6 has been codon optimized. 13 1704 pYPG:HSA.TR6.V30-E294 Amino acids V30 to E294 of TR6 fused downstream pYPGaf 82 of HSA. Two additional amino acids (Leu, Glu) are in between HSA and TR6. 14 1777 pSAC35:TNFR2.L23- Mature TNFR2 fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 pSAC35 83 D257.HSA signal and upstream of mature HSA. 15 1778 pSAC35:IFNβ.M22- Residues M22-N187 of full-length IFNb (shown as pSAC35 84 N187:HSA M1 to N166 of SEQ ID NO: 153) fused upstream of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 16 1779 pSAC35:HSA:IFNβ.M22- Residues M22-N187 of full-length IFNb (shown as pSAC35 85 N187 M1 to N166 of SEQ ID NO: 154) fused downstream of HSA with HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 17 1784 pSAC35:HSA.TNFR2.L23- Mature TNFR2 fused downstream of FL HSA. pSAC35 86 D257 18 1891 pEE12:HSA.sTR6 Soluble mature TR6 fused downstream of HSA. pEE12.1 87 19 1892 pEE12:sTR6.HSA Synthetic full length TR6 fused upstream of mature pEE12.1 88 HSA. 20 1912 pC4:sTR6.HSA Synthetic full length TR6 fused upstream of mature pC4 89 HSA. 21 1913 pC4:HSA.synTR6.V30-H300 Amino acids V30 to H300 of synthetic TR6 (shown pC4 90 (seamless) as V1 to H271 of SEQ ID NO: 159) fused downstream of full-length HSA. 22 1989 pSAC35:activeAC2inhibitor: Active inhibitor of ACE2 (DX512) fused upstream pSAC35 91 HSA of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 23 2000 pSAC35:HSA:activeAC2inhibitor Active inhibitor of ACE2 (DX512) fused pSAC35 92 downstream of HSA. 24 2001 pSAC35:inactiveAC2inhibitor:HSA Inactive inhibitor of ACE2 (DX510) fused upstream pSAC35 93 of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 25 2002 pSAC35:HSA.inactiveAC2inhibitor Inactive inhibitor of ACE2 (DX510) fused pSAC35 94 downstream of HSA. 26 2011 pC4:IFNb-HSA Full length IFNb fused upstream of mature HSA. pC4 95 27 2013 pC4:HSA-IFNb.M22-N187 Amino acids M22 to N187 of IFNb (fragment shown pC4 96 as amino acids M1 to N166 of SEQ ID NO: 165) fused downstream of HSA. 28 2053 pEE12:IFNb-HSA Full length IFNb fused upstream of mature HSA. pEE12.1 97 also named pEE12.1:IFNβ- HSA 29 2054 pEE12:HSA-IFNb Mature IFNb fused downstream of HSA. pEE12.1 98 30 2146 pC4:Leptin.HSA Full length Leptin fused upstream of mature HSA. pC4 99 31 2184 pC4:HSA.Leptin.V22-C166 Amino acids V22 to C167 of Leptin fused pC4 100 downstream of HSA. 32 2186 pSAC35:Leptin.V22- Amino acids V22 to C167 of Leptin fused upstream pSAC35 101 C166.HSA of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 33 2187 pSAC35:HSA.Leptin.V22- Amino acids V22 to C167 of Leptin fused pSAC35 102 C166 downstream of HSA with HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 34 2249 pSAC35:IFNa2-HSA Mature IFNa2 fused upstream of mature HSA and pSAC35 103 also named: downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. pSAC23:IFNα2-HSA 35 2250 pSAC35:HSA.INSULIN(GYG) Mature Insulin wherein the C-peptide is replaced by pSAC35 104 also named: the C-domain of IGF-1 fused downstream of HSA. pSAC35.HSA.INSULING(GYG).F1-N62 DNA encoding Insulin was codon optimized. 36 2255 pSAC35:INSULlN(GYG).HSA Mature Insulin wherein the C-peptide is replaced by pSAC35 105 also named the C-domain of IGF-1 fused upstream of mature pSAC35.INSULING(GYG).F1-N62.HSA HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader. DNA encoding Insulin was codon optimized. 37 2276 pSAC35:HSA.INSULIN(GGG) Mature Insulin wherein the C-peptide is replaced by pSAC35 106 also named: a synthetic linker fused downstream of HSA. DNA pSAC35.HSA.INSULING(GGG).F1-N58 encoding Insulin was codon optimized. 38 2278 pSAC35:insulin(GGG).HSA Mature Insulin wherein the C-peptide is replaced by pSAC35 107 a synthetic linker fused downstream of HSA/kex2 leader and upstream of mature HSA. DNA encoding Insulin was codon optimized. 39 2295 pSAC35:humanresistin.K19- Amino acids K19 to P108 of Resistin fused pSAC35 108 P108:HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 40 2296 pSAC35:HSA:humanresistin.K19- Amino acids K19 to P108 of Resistin fused pSAC35 109 P108 downstream of HSA. 41 2297 pSAC35:humanresistin.K19- Amino acids K19 to P108 of Resistin fused pSAC35 110 P108.stop:HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. Includes two stops at 3′ end for termination of translation before the HSA. 42 2300 pC4:humanresistin.M1- Amino acids M1 to P108 of Resistin fused upstream pC4 111 P108:HSA of mature HSA. 43 2309 pEE12.1:humanresistin.M1- Amino acids M1 to P108 of Resistin fused upstream pEE12.1 112 P108:HSA of mature HSA. 44 2328 pC4:HLDOU18.K23- Amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pC4 113 R429.HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of native HSA leader sequence. 45 2340 pC4:HSA.HLDOU18.K23- Amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pC4 114 R429 downstream of HSA. 46 2343 pSAC35.INV-IFNA2.HSA Mature Interferon alpha2 fused upstream of mature pSAC35 115 HSA and downstream of invertase signal peptide. 47 2350 pC4:MPIFsp.HLDOU18(S320- Amino acids S320 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pC4 116 R429).HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of MPIF leader sequence. 48 2351 pC4:HSA.HLDOU18(S320- Amino acids S320 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pC4 117 R429) downstream of HSA. 49 2359 pEE12:HLDOU18.K23- Amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pEE12.1 118 R429.HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of native HSA leader sequence. 50 2362 pEE12:HSA.HLDOU18.K23- Amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pEE12.1 119 R429 downstream of HSA. 51 2366 pSAC35.MAF-IFNa2.HSA Mature IFNa2 fused upstream of mature HSA and PSAC35 120 downstream of yeast mating factor alpha leader sequence. 52 2367 pEE12.MPIFsp.HLDOU18.S320- Amino acids S320 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pEE12.1 121 R429.HSA upstream of mature HSA and downstream of MPIF leader sequence. 53 2369 pC4:HLDOU18.HSA Amino acids M1 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pC4 122 upstream of mature HSA. 54 2370 pEE12:HLDOU18.HSA Amino acids M1 to R429 of HLDOU18 fused pEE12.1 123 upstream of mature HSA. 55 2381 pC4:HSA-IFNa2(C17-E181) Amino acids C17 to E181 of IFNa2 (fragment pC4 124 shown as amino acids C1 to E165 of SEQ ID NO: 193) fused downstream of HSA. 56 2382 pC4:IFNa2-HSA IFNa2 fused upstream of mature HSA. pC4 125 57 2407 pC4:HWHGZ51.M1-N323.HSA Amino acids M1 to N323 of HWHGZ51 fused pC4 126 upstream of mature HSA. 58 2408 pEE12.1:HWHGZ51.M1-N323.HSA Amino acids M1 to N323 of HWHGZ51 fused pEE12.1 127 upstream of mature HSA. 59 2410 pSAC35INV:IFNa-HSA Mature IFNa2 fused downstream of the invertase pSAC35 128 signal peptide and upstream of mature HSA. 60 2448 pSAC35:GLP-1(7-36).HSA Amino acids H98 to R127 of preproglucagon (SEQ pSAC35 129 ID NO: 198) (hereinafter this specific domain will be referred to as “GLP-1(7-36)”) is fused upstream of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 61 2455 pSAC35:HSA.GLP-1(7-36) GLP-1(7-36) is fused downstream of mature HSA pSAC35 130 and HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 62 2456 pSAC35:GLP-1(7-36(A8G)).HSA Amino acids H98 to R127 of Preproglucagon (SEQ pSAC35 131 ID NO: 200)(also referred to as “GLP-1(7-36)”) is mutated at amino acid 99 of SEQ ID NO: 200 to replace the alanine with a glycine. This particular GLP-1 mutant will be hereinafter referred to as “GLP-1(7-36(A8G))” and corresponds to the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 698. GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) is fused upstream of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 63 2457 pSAC35:HSA.GLP-1(7- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is fused pSAC35 132 36(A8G)) downstream of mature HSA and HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 64 2469 pSAC35:HSA.exendin.H48- Amino acids H48 to S86 of Extendin fused pSAC35 133 S86 downstream of full length HSA. 65 2470 pSAC35:Exendin.H48- Amino acids H48 to S86 of Extendin fused upstream pSAC35 134 S86.HSA of mature HSA and downstream of HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 66 2473 pC4.HLDOU18:HSA:S320- M1-R319 of HLDOU18 (containing the furin site pC4 135 R429 RRKR) followed by residues ‘LE’ followed by mature HSA followed by ‘LE’ and amino acids S320 through R429 of HLDOU18 (fragment shown as SEQ ID NO: 204). 67 2489 pSAC35:HSA.C17.A20-R136 Amino acids A20 to R136 of C17 fused downstream pSAC35 136 of mature HSA with HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 68 2490 pSAC35:C17.A20-R136.HSA Amino acids A20 to R136 of C17 fused downstream pSAC35 137 of the HSA/kex2 leader and upstream of mature HSA. 69 2492 pC4.IFNb(deltaM22).HSA Mutant full length INFbeta fused upstream of mature pC4 138 HSA. First residue of native, mature IFNbeta (M22) has been deleted. 70 2580 pC4.IFNb(deltaM22.C38S).HSA IFNb fused upstream of mature HSA. The IFNb pC4 555 used in this fusion lacks the first residue of the mature form of IFNb, which corresponds to M22 of SEQ ID NO: 632. Also amino acid 38 of SEQ ID NO: 632 has been mutated from Cys to Ser. 71 2623 pC4:(AGVSG,14- A modified HSA A14 leader followed by mature pC4 556 18)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 HSA and amino acids K23 through R429 of HLDOU18. 72 2624 pC4:(SGVSG,14- Modified HSA S14 leader followed by mature HSA pC4 557 S8)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 and amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18. 73 2625 pC4:(GGVSG,14- A modified HSA G14 leader sequence followed by pC4 558 18)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 mature HSA and amino acids K23 through R429 of HLDOU18. 74 2631 pEE12.1:(AGVSG,14- A modified HSA A14 leader sequence followed by pEE12.1 559 18)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 mature HSA and amino acids K23 through R429 of HLDOU18. 75 2632 pEE12.1:(SGVSG,14- Modified HSA S14 leader followed by mature HSA pEE12.1 560 18)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 and amino acids K23 to R429 of HLDOU18. 76 2633 pEE12.1:(GGVSG,14- A modified HSA G14 leader sequence followed by pEE12.1 561 18)HSA.HLDOU18.K23-R429 mature HSA and amino acids K23 through R429 of HLDOU18. 77 2656 pSac35:Insulin(KR.GGG.KR).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pScCHSA 562 HSA at C-terminus. Contains a modified loop for processing resulting in correctly disulfide bonded insulin coupled to HSA. 78 2668 pSac35:HSA.Insulin(KR.GGG.KR) Synthetic gene coding for insulin with FL HSA at N- pScNHSA 563 terminus. Contains a modified loop for processing resulting in correctly disulfide bonded insulin coupled to HSA. 79 2669 pSac35:Insulin(GGG.KK).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pScCHSA 564 HSA at C-terminus. Contains a modified loop. 80 2671 pSac35:HSA.Insulin(GGG.KK) Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pScNHSA 565 HSA at N-terminus. Contains a modified loop for greater stability. 81 2726 pSac35.INV.GYGinsulin.HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pSAC35 566 HSA at C-terminus. The signal peptide of invertase is used for this construct. 82 2727 pSac35.INV.GYGinsulin(delF1).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pSAC35 567 HSA at C-terminus. Construct uses the invertase signal peptide and is lacking the first amino acid (F) of mature human insulin. 83 2784 pSAC35:Insulin(GYG)-H5A Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pSAC35 568 codon optimized HSA at C-terminus. 84 2789 pSAC35:Insulin(GGG).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pSAC35 569 (codon optimized) HSA at C-terminus. 85 2795 pC4:HSA(A14)-IFNb.M22- The mature form of IFNb is fused to the C-terminus pC4 570 N187 of HSA, which contains an modified signal peptide, designed to improve processing and homogeneity. 86 2796 pC4:HSA(S14)-IFNb.M22- The mature form of IFNb is fused to the C-terminus pC4 571 N187 of HSA, which contains a modified signal peptide, designed to improve processing and homogeneity. 87 2797 pC4:HSA(G14)-IFNb.M22- The mature form of IFNb is fused to the C-terminus pC4 572 N187 of HSA, which contains an modified signal peptide. 88 2798 pSAC35:Somatostatin(S14).HSA A 14 amino acid peptide of Somatostatin fused pScCHSA 573 downstream of HSA/kex2 leader and upstream of mature HSA. 89 2802 pSAC35:GLP-1(7- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is fused pScNHSA 574 36(A8G)).IP2.HSA downstream from the HSA/kex2 leader sequence and upstream from the intervening peptide-2 of proglucagon peptide and upstream from mature HSA. 90 2803 pSAC35:GLP-1(7- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is tandemly pScCHSA 419 36(A8G))x2.HSA repeated and fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 signal sequence, and upstream of mature HSA. 91 2804 pSAC35:coGLP-1(7- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is tandemly pScCHSA 420 36(A8G))x2.HSA repeated and fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 signal sequence, and upstream of mature HSA. 92 2821 pSac35.delKex2.Insulin(GYG).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pScCHSA 575 HSA at C-terminus. The kex2 site has been deleted from the HSA/KEX2 signal peptide. 93 2822 pSac35.alphaMF.Insulin(GYG).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pSAC35 576 HSA at C-terminus. The signal peptide of alpha mating factor (MFα-1) is used for this construct. 94 2825 pSAC35:HSA.Somatostatin(S14) 14 amino acid peptide of Somatostatin was fused pScNHSA 577 downstream of HSA/kex2 leader and mature HSA. 95 2830 pSAC35:S28.HSA 28 amino acids of somatostatin fused downstream pScCHSA 578 of HSA/kex2 leader and upstream of mature HSA. 96 2831 pSAC35:HSA.S28 28 amino acids of somatostatin fused downstream pScNHSA 579 of HSA/kex2 leader and mature HSA. 97 2832 pSAC35:Insulin.HSA (yeast Long-acting insulin peptide fused upstream of pScCHSA 580 codon optimized) mature HSA. 98 2872 pSAC35:HSA.IFNaA(C1-Q91)/ This construct contains a hybrid form of IFNaA and pSAC35 455 D(L93-E166) IFNaD fused downstream of mature HSA. 99 2873 pSAC35:HSA.IFNaA(C1-Q91)/ This construct contains a hybrid form of IFNaA and pSAC35 460 B(L93-E166) IFNaB fused downstream of mature HSA. 100 2874 pSAC35:HSA.IFNaA(C1-Q91)/ This construct contains a hybrid form of IFNaA and pSAC35 465 F(L93-E166) IFNaF fused downstream of mature HSA, 101 2875 pSAC35:HSA.IFNaA(C1Q-62)/ This construct contains a hybrid form of IFNaA and pSAC35 470 D(Q64-E166) IFNaD fused downstream of mature HSA. 102 2876 pSAC35:HSA.IFNaA(C1-Q91)/ This construct contains a hybrid form of IFNaA and pSAC35 475 D(L93-E166); R23K.A113V IFNaD fused downstream of mature HSA. 103 2877 pSAC35:KT.Insulin.HSA Killer toxin signal peptide fused to synthetic gene pScCHSA 581 coding for a single-chain insulin with C-terminal HSA 104 2878 pSAC35:AP.Insulin.HSA Acid phospatase signal peptide fused to synthetic pSAC35 582 gene coding for a single-chain insulin with C- terminal HSA. 105 2882 pSac35.alphaMFprepro.In- MFα-1 prepro signal followed by GYG insulin pSAC35 583 sulin(GYG).HSA followed by mature HSA. 106 2885 pSac35.alphaMFpreproEEA.In- Yeast MFα-1 prepro signal followed by GYG insulin pSAC35 584 sulin(GYG).HSA follwed by mature HSA. 107 2891 pGAP.alphaMF.Insulin(GYG).HSA Synthetic gene coding for a single-chain insulin with pYPGaf 585 HSA at C-terminus. The signal peptide of HSA/kex2 is used for this construct. 108 2897 pGAP.Insulin(KR.GGG.KR).HSA Long-acting insulin analog using a synthetic gene pYPGaf 586 coding for a single-chain insulin with HSA at C- terminus. Contains a modified loop for processing resulting in correctly disulfide bonded insulin coupled to HSA 109 2900 pSAC:GLP-1(7-36)x2.HSA GLP-1(7-36) is tandemly repeated and then fused pScCHSA 421 downstream of the HSA/tex2 signal sequence and upstream of mature HSA. 110 2901 pSAC35:IL22.A18-P202.HSA Amino acids A18-P202 of IL22 fused downstream pSAC35 587 of HSA/kex2 leader and upstream of mature HSA. 111 2902 pSAC35: A 14 amino acid peptide of Somatostatin, an pScCHSA 588 Somatostatin(S14(A-G)).HSA inhibitor of growth hormone, synthesized as a C- terminal HSA fusion. Somatostatin has an alanine to glycine change at amino acid 1 of SEQ ID NO: 665. 112 2903 pSAC35:HSA.A18-P202.IL22 Amino acids A18-P202 of IL22 fused downstream pSAC35 589 of full length HSA. 113 2904 pSAC35:GLP-1(9-36).GLP- Amino acids E100 to R127 of preproglucagon (SEQ pScCHSA 422 1(7-36).HSA ID NO: 429) (hereinafter, this particular mutant is referred to as GLP-1(9-36)) is fused downstream from the HSA/kex2 signal sequence and upstream from GLP-1(7-36), and mature HSA. 114 2908 pSAC35:HSA.HCE1P80 Mature HSA fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 pSAC35 590 leader and upstream of HCE1P80. 115 2909 pSAC35:HSA.HDRMI82 Mature HSA fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 pSAC35 591 leader sequence and upstream of HDRMI82. 116 2910 pSAC35:HSA.RegIV Mature HSA fused downstream of the HSA/kex2 pSAC35 592 leader sequence and upstream of RegIV. 117 2930 pC4.MPIF.Insulin(GYG).HSA Insulin is downstream of an MPIF signal peptide pC4 593 and upstream of mature HSA. 118 2931 pC4.HSA.Insulin(GYG) Synthetic gene coding for a mature single-chain pC4 594 insulin fused downstream of the modified HSA A14 leader and mature HSA. 119 2942 pSac35.TA57.Insulin(GYG).HSA The TA57 Propeptide fused to a single chain insulin pScNHSA 595 (GYG), and then mature HSA. 120 2945 pSAC35:GLP-1(7- Amino acids H98 to R127 of preproglucagon (SEQ pScCHSA 423 36(A8S)).GLP-1(7-36).HSA ID NO: 430) is mutated at position 99 from alanine to serine (hereinafter, this particular mutant is referred to as GLP-1(7-36(A8S)), which is fused downstream from the HSA/kex2 signal sequence and upstream from GLP-1(7-36), and mature HSA. 121 2964 pSAC35:GLP-1(7-36)x2.HSA GLP-1(7-36) is tandemly repeated as a dimer and pSAC35 424 fused downstream from the HSA/kex2 leader sequence and upstream from mature HSA. 122 2982 pSAC35:GLP-1(7-36(A8G).GLP- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is fused pScCHSA 425 1(7-36).HSA downstream from the HSA/kex2 signal sequence and upstream from GLP-1(7-36) and mature HSA. 123 2986 pSac35.y3SP.TA57PP.Insulin The TA57 Propeptide fused to a single chain insulin pScCHSA 596 (GYG).HSA (GYG), and then mature HSA. 124 3025 pSAC35:INU.Insulin.HSA Inulinase signal peptide is fused upstream of single pScCHSA 597 chain insulin (GYG) and HSA. 125 3027 pSAC35:INV.GLP-1(7- Invertase signal peptide followed by GLP-1(7- pSAC35 598 36A8G)x2.HSA 36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) tandemly repeated as a dimer, followed by mature HSA. 126 3028 pSAC35:INV.GLP-1(7- Invertase signal peptide followed by GLP-1(7- pSAC35 599 36(A8G)).GLP-1(7-36).HSA 36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), then GLP-1(7- 36(A8G)), and then mature HSA. 127 3045 pSAC35:DeltaKex.GLP-1(7- HSA/kex2 signal sequence, minus the last six amino pSAC35 600 36A8G)x2.HSA acids of the leader, is fused to GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) which is tandemly repeated as a dimer, followed by mature HSA. 128 3046 pSAC35:Delta Kex.GLP-1(7- HSA/kex2 signal sequence, minus the last six amino pSAC35 601 36A8G).GLP-1(7-36).HSA acids of the leader, is fused to GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), GLP-1(7-36), and mature HSA. 129 3049 pC4.HSA.HCE1P80.D92- Amino acids D92 to L229 of HCE1P80 are fused pC4 602 L229 downstream of the full length HSA. 130 3050 pC4.HSA.HCE1P80.A20- Amino acids A20-L229 of HCE1P80 are fused pC4 603 L229 downstream of the full length human HSA 131 3051 pSAC35.HSA.HCE1P80.D92- Amino acids D92 to L229 of HCE1P80, a member pSAC35 604 L229 of the C1q family of proteins, are fused downstream of the full length human HSA 132 3052 pSAC35.HSA.HCE1P80.A20- Amino acids A20-L229 of HCE1P80 are fused pSAC35 605 L229 downstream of the full length human HSA 133 3053 pC4.HSA.HDALV07.K101- The globular domain of adiponectin (amino acids pC4 606 N244 K101-N244) has been inserted downstream of full length human HSA 134 3055 pSAC35.HSA.HDALV07(GD) Full length HSA followed by amino acids K101- pSAC35 607 N244 of HDALV07(GD)/Adiponectin. 135 3056 pSAC35.HSA.HDALV07.MP Full length HSA followed by amino acids Q18 to pSAC35 608 N244 of HDALV07. 136 3069 pSAC35:INU.GLP-1(7- The inulinase signal sequence is fused to GLP-1(7- pSAC35 609 36(A8G))x2.HSA 36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), which is tandemly repeated as a dimer and fused to mature HSA. 137 3070 pSAC35:KT.GLP-1(7- GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is tandemly pSAC35 447 36(A8G))x2.HSA repeated as a dimer and fused upstream from mature HSA and downstream from the killer toxin signal sequence. 138 3071 pSAC35:MAF.GLP-1(7- The yeast mating factor α-1 (hereinafter MFα-1) pSAC35 610 36(A8G))x2.HSA signal sequence is fused to tandemly repeated copies of GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), which are fused to mature HSA. 139 3072 pSAC35:AP.GLP-1(7- The acid phosphatase signal sequence is fused to pSAC35 611 36(A8G))x2.HSA tandemly repeated copies of GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), which are fused to mature HSA. 140 3085 pSAC35:MAF.GLP-1(7- The yeast mating factor α-1 (hereinafter MFα-1) pSAC35 612 36(A8G).GLP-1(7-36).HSA signal sequence is fused to GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), GLP-1(7-36), and mature HSA. 141 3086 pSAC35:INU.GLP-1(7- The inulinase signal sequence is fused to GLP-1(7- pSAC35 613 36(A8G)).GLP-1(7-36).HSA 36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), GLP-1(7-36), and mature HSA. 142 3087 pSAC35:AP.GLP-1(7- The acid phosphatase signal sequence is fused to pSAC35 614 36(A8G)).GLP-1(7-36).HSA GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698), GLP-1(7- 36), and mature HSA. 143 3088 pSAC35.HSA.C-Peptide HSA/kex2 signal peptide, followed by HSA, pSAC35 615 followed by the C-Peptide sequence. 144 3106 pSACHSA.HCBOG68 mature HCBOG68 fused downstream of mature pSAC35 616 HSA and the HSA/kex2 leader sequence. 145 3108 pSAC35HSA.PYY Mature PYY fused downstream of mature HSA and pSAC35 617 the HSA/kex2 leader. 146 3109 pSAC35HSA.PYY3-36 HSA/kex2 leader followed by mature HSA and then pSAC35 618 PYY3-36 (SEQ ID NO: 693). 147 3117 pC4:PYY3-36/HSA HSA leader followed by PYY3-36 (SEQ ID pC4 619 NO: 694) and mature HSA. 148 3118 pSAC35:PYY3-36/HSA HSA/kex2 leader followed by PYY3-36 (SEQ ID pSAC35 620 NO: 695) and mature HSA. 149 3133 pSec35.ySP.TA57PP.In- Variant TA57 propeptide leader followed by single pSAC35 621 sulin(GYG).HSA chain insulin, followed by mature HSA. 150 3134 pSac35.ySP.TA57PP + Variant TA57 propeptide leader followed by single pSAC35 622 S.Insulin(GYG).HSA chain insulin, followed by mature HSA. 151 3140 pSAC35:GLP1(mut)DAHK.HSA GLP-1(7-36(A8G)) (SEQ ID NO: 698) is linked to pSAC35 623 mature HSA by a 16 amino acid linker derived from the N-terminus of HSA. The HSA/kex2 signal sequence is used. 152 3141 pSAC35:Wntl0b/HSA HSA/kex2 leader followed by amino acids N29 to pSAC35 624 K389 of Wntl0b followed by mature HSA. 153 3149 pSAC35.HSA.C-peptide Full length HSA fused to amino acids E7 to Q37 of pSAC35 625 tandem SEQ ID NO: 700, tandemly repeated. 154 3165 pSAC35:HSA.IFNa HSA fused upstream of IFNα and downstream of the pSAC35 452 also named CID 3165, HSA/kex2 leader. pSAC35:HSA.INFα 155 3197 pC4.MPIF.Insulin(EAE).HSA A single-chain insulin is downstream of the MPIF pC4 626 signal peptide and upstream of mature human HSA. 156 3198 pSac35.INV.insulin(EAE).HSA Single-Chain insulin is downstream of the invertase pSAC35 627 signal peptide and upstream of mature human HSA 157 3232 pSAC35:CART/HSA HSA/kex2 leader followed by processed active cocaine- pSAC35 628 amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) (amino acids V69 through L116) followed by mature HSA. 158 3270 pSAC35:adipokine/HSA HSA/kex2 leader followed by adipokine followed by pSAC35 629 mature HSA. 159 3281 pSAC35.PY3-36(x2)/HSA PYY3-36 tandem repeat (x2) fused upstream of pSAC35 630 HSA and downstream of the HSA/kex2 signal peptide. 160 3282 pSAC35:HSA/PYY3-36(x2) PYY3-36 tandem repeat (x2) fused downstream of pSAC35 631 mature HSA and HSA/kex2 leader. 161 3309 pSAC:KT.GLP-1(7- Killer toxin leader sequence followed by GLP-1(7- pSAC35 834 36(A8G))x2.MSA.E25-A608 36(A8G) followed by mature mouse serum albumin. Fusion No. SEQ ID NO: X SEQ ID NO: Z SEQ ID NO: A SEQ ID NO: B Leader Sequence 1 1 139 208 209 HSA 2 2 140 210 211 HSA 3 3 141 212 213 HSA 4 4 142 214 215 HSA 5 5 143 216 217 HSA/kex2 6 6 144 218 219 HSA/kex2 7 7 145 220 221 Native TR6 8 8 146 222 223 HSA 9 9 147 224 225 HSA/kex2 10 10 148 226 227 HSA/kex2 11 11 149 228 229 HSA 12 12 150 230 231 HSA 13 13 151 232 233 HSA 14 14 152 234 235 HSA/kex2 15 15 153 236 237 HSA/kex2 16 16 154 HSA/kex2 17 17 155 238 239 HSA 18 18 156 240 241 HSA 19 19 157 242 243 TR6 20 20 158 244 245 Native TR6 leader 21 21 159 246 247 HSA 22 22 160 248 249 HSA/kex2 23 23 161 250 251 HSA 24 24 162 252 253 HSA/kex2 25 25 163 254 255 HSA 26 26 164 256 257 Native IFNb leader 27 27 165 HSA 28 28 166 Native IFNb leader 29 29 167 HSA 30 30 168 258 259 Native leptin 31 31 169 260 261 HSA 32 32 170 262 263 HSA/kex2 33 33 171 264 265 HSA/kex2 34 34 172 266 267 HSA/kex2 35 35 173 268 269 HSA 36 36 174 271 272 HSA/kex2 37 37 175 273 274 HSA 38 38 176 275 276 HSA/kex2 39 39 177 277 278 HSA/kex2 40 40 178 279 280 HSA 41 41 179 281 282 HSA/kex2 42 42 180 283 284 Native resistin 43 43 181 285 Native resistin 44 44 182 286 287 HSA 45 45 183 288 289 HSA 46 46 184 290 291 invertase 47 47 185 292 293 MPIF 48 48 186 294 295 HSA 49 49 187 HSA 50 50 188 HSA 51 51 189 296 297 MFα-1 52 52 190 298 299 MPIF 53 53 191 300 301 Native HLDOU18 54 54 192 Native HLDOU18 55 55 193 302 303 HSA 56 56 194 304 305 Native IFNα2 leader 57 57 195 306 307 Native HWHGZ51 58 58 196 308 309 Native HWHGZ51 59 59 197 310 311 invertase 60 60 198 312 313 HSA/kex2 61 61 199 314 315 HSA/kex2 62 62 200 316 317 HSA/kex2 63 63 201 318 319 HSA/kex2 64 64 202 HSA 65 65 203 HSA/kex2 66 66 204 320 321 Native HLDOU18 67 67 205 322 323 HSA/kex2 68 68 206 324 325 HSA/kex2 69 69 207 Native IFNβ leader 70 480 632 Native IFNβ 71 481 633 Modified HSA (A14) leader 72 482 634 Modified HSA (S14) leader 73 483 635 Modified HSA (G14) leader 74 484 636 Modified HSA (A14) leader 75 485 637 Modified HSA (S14) leader 76 486 638 Modified HSA (G14) leader 77 487 639 707 708 HSA/kex2 78 488 640 709 710 HSA 79 489 641 711 712 HSA/kex2 80 490 642 713 714 HSA 81 491 643 715 716 Invertase 82 492 644 717 718 invertase 83 493 645 719 720 invertase 84 494 646 721 722 invertase 85 495 647 Modified HSA (A14) 86 496 648 Modified HSA (S14) 87 497 649 Modified HSA (G14) 88 498 650 723 724 HSA/kex2 89 499 651 HSA/kex2 90 412 426 433 434 HSA/kex2 91 413 427 435 436 HSA/kex2 92 500 652 Modified HSA/kex2, lacking the Kex2 site. 93 501 653 725 726 MFα-1 94 502 654 727 728 HSA/kex2 95 503 655 729 730 HSA/kex2 96 504 656 731 732 HSA/kex2 97 505 657 733 734 invertase 98 456 457 458 459 HSA/kex2 99 461 462 463 464 HSA/kex2 100 466 467 468 469 HSA/kex2 101 471 472 473 474 HSA/kex2 102 476 477 478 479 HSA/kex2 103 506 658 735 736 Killer toxin 104 507 659 Acid phosphatase 105 508 660 MFα-1 106 509 661 Yeast MFα-1 107 510 662 737 738 HSA/kex2 108 511 663 739 740 HSA/kex2 109 414 428 437 438 HSA/kex2 110 512 664 741 742 HSA/kex2 111 513 665 743 744 HSA/kex2 112 514 666 745 746 HSA 113 415 429 439 440 HSA/kex2 114 515 667 747 748 HSA/kex2 115 516 668 749 750 HSA/kex2 116 517 669 751 752 HSA/kex2 117 518 670 753 754 MPIF 118 519 671 755 756 Modified HSA (A14) leader 119 520 672 757 758 TA57 propeptide 120 416 430 441 442 HSA/kex2 121 417 431 443 444 HSA/kex2 122 418 432 445 446 HSA/kex2 123 521 673 759 760 TA57 propeptide 124 522 674 761 762 inulinase 125 523 675 763 764 invertase 126 524 676 765 766 invertase 127 524 676 767 768 HSA/kex2 last six amino acids 128 524 676 769 770 HSA/kex2 last six amino acids 129 525 677 771 772 HSA 130 526 678 773 774 HSA 131 527 679 775 776 HSA 132 528 680 777 778 HSA 133 529 681 779 780 HSA 134 530 682 781 782 HSA 135 531 683 783 784 HSA 136 532 684 785 786 inulinase 137 448 449 450 451 Killer toxin 138 533 685 787 788 MFα-1 139 534 686 789 790 Acid phosphatase 140 535 687 791 792 MFα-1 141 536 688 793 794 inulinase 142 537 689 795 796 Acid phosphatase 143 538 690 797 798 HSA/kex2 144 539 691 HSA/kex2 145 540 692 HSA/kex2 146 541 693 HSA/kex2 147 542 694 799 800 HSA 148 543 695 801 802 HSA/kex2 149 544 696 803 804 TA57 variant 1 150 545 697 805 806 TA57 variant 2 151 546 698 807 808 HSA/kex2 152 547 699 809 810 HSA/kex2 153 548 700 811 812 HSA 154 453 454 HSA/kex2 155 549 701 MPIF 156 550 702 invertase 157 551 703 813 814 HSA/kex2 158 552 704 815 816 HSA/kex2 159 553 705 817 818 HSA/kex2 160 554 706 819 820 HSA/kex2 161 833 835 836 837 Killer toxin

Table 2 provides a non-exhaustive list of polynucleotides which encode an albumin fusion protein of the invention. The first column, “Fusion No.” assigns a fusion number to each polynucleotide. Column 2, “Construct ID” provides a unique numerical identifier for the corresponding polynucleotide of the invention. The Construct Ids (or CIDs) may be used to refer to polynucleotides which encode albumin fusion proteins comprising a Therapeutic protein portion corresponding to Therapeutic Protein:X identified in the corresponding row of Table 1. The “Construct Name” column (column 3) provides the name of a given albumin fusion construct.

The fourth column in Table 2, “Description” provides a general description of a given albumin fusion construct, and the fifth column, “Expression Vector” lists the vector into which the polynucleotide corresponding to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a given albumin fusion protein was cloned. Vectors are known in the art, and are available commercially or described elsewhere. For example, as described in the Examples, an “expression cassette” comprising, or alternatively consisting of, one or more of (1) a polynucleotide encoding a given albumin fusion protein, (2) a leader sequence, (3) a promoter region, and (4) a transcriptional terminator, may be assembled in a convenient cloning vector and subsequently be moved into an alternative vector, such as, for example, an expression vector including, for example, a yeast expression vector or a mammalian expression vector. In one embodiment, for expression in S. cervisiae, an expression cassette comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pSAC35. In another embodiment, for expression in CHO cells, an expression cassette comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pC4. In a further embodiment, a polynucleotide comprising or alternatively consisting of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pC4:HSA. In a still further embodiment, for expression in NS0 cells, an expression cassette comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pEE12. Other useful cloning and/or expression vectors will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Column 6, “SEQ ID NO:Y,” provides the full length amino acid sequence of representative albumin fusion proteins of the invention. In most instances, SEQ ID NO: Y shows the unprocessed form of the albumin fusion protein encoded in other words, SEQ ID NO: Y shows the signal sequence, a HSA portion, and a therapeutic portion all encoded by a particular construct, Specifically contemplated by the present invention are all polynucleotides that encode SEQ ID NO: Y. When these polynucleotides are used to express the encoded protein from a cell, the cell's natural secretion and processing steps produces a protein that lacks the signal sequence listed in column 4 and/or 11 of Table 2. The specific amino acid sequence of the listed signal sequence is shown later in the specification or is well known in the art. Thus, most preferred embodiments of the present invention include the albumin fusion protein produced by a cell (which would lack the leader sequence shown in column 4 and/or 11 Table 2). Also most preferred are polypeptides comprising SEQ ID NO:Y without the specific leader sequence listed in column 4 and/or 11 of Table 2. Compositions comprising these two preferred embodiments, including pharmaceutical compositions, are also preferred. Moreover, it is well within the ability of the skilled artisan to replace the signal sequence listed in column 4 and/or 11 of Table 2 with a different signal sequence, such as those described later in the specification to facilitate secretion of the processed albumin fusion protein.

The seventh column, “SEQ ID NO:X.” provides the parent nucleic acid sequence from which a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein portion of a given albumin fusion protein may be derived. In one embodiment, the parent nucleic acid sequence from which a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may be derived comprises the wild type gene sequence encoding a Therapeutic protein shown in Table 1. In an alternative embodiment, the parent nucleic acid sequence from which a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may be derived comprises a variant or derivative of a wild type gene sequence encoding a Therapeutic protein shown in Table 1, such as, for example, a synthetic codon optimized variant of a wild type gene sequence encoding a Therapeutic protein.

The eighth column, “SEQ ID NO:Z,” provides a predicted translation of the parent nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:X). This parent sequence can be a full length parent protein used to derive the particular construct, the mature portion of a parent protein, a variant or fragment of a wild type protein, or an artificial sequence that can be used to create the described construct. One of skill in the art can use this amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Z to determine which amino acid residues of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a given construct are provided by the therapeutic protein. Moreover, it is well within the ability of the skilled artisan to use the sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:Z to derive the construct described in the same row. For example, if SEQ ID NO:Z corresponds to a full length protein, but only a portion of that protein is used to generate the specific CID, it is within the skill of the art to rely on molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, to amplify the specific fragment and clone it into the appropriate vector.

Amplification primers provided in columns 9 and 10, “SEQ ED NO:A” and “SEQ ID NO:B” respectively, are exemplary primers used to generate a polynucleotide comprising or alternatively consisting of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the Therapeutic protein portion of a given albumin fusion protein. In one embodiment of the invention, oligonucleotide primers having the sequences shown in columns 9 and/or 10 (SEQ ID NOS:A and/or B) are used to PCR amplify a polynucleotide encoding the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein using a nucleic acid molecule comprising or alternatively consisting of the nucleotide sequence provided in column 7 (SEQ ID NO:X) of the corresponding row as the template DNA. PCR methods are well-established in the art. Additional useful primer sequences could readily be envisioned and utilized by those of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in Table 3, certain albumin fusion constructs disclosed in this application have been deposited with the ATCC®. The ATCC is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA. The ATCC deposits were made pursuant to the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure.

TABLE 3 Construct ID Construct Name ATCC Deposit No./ Date 2053 pEE12: IFNb-HSA PTA-3764 also named pEE12.1:IFNβ-HSA Oct. 4, 2001 2054 pEE12: HSA-IFNb PTA-3941 Dec. 19, 2001 2249 pSAC35: IFNa2-HSA PTA-3763 also named pSAC23:IFNα2-HSA Oct. 4, 2001 2250 pSAC35: 1-HSA.INSULIN (GYG) PTA-3916 also named pSAC35.HSA.INSULING (GYG).F1-N62 Dec. 07, 2001 2255 pSAC35: INSULIN (GYG).HSA PTA-3917 also named pSAC35.INSULING (GYG).F1-N62.HSA Dec. 07, 2001 2276 pSAC35: HSA.INSULIN (GGG) PTA-3918 also named pSAC35.HSA.INSULING (GGG) .F1-N58 Dec. 07, 2001 2343 pSAC35.INV-IFNA2.HSA PTA-3940 Dec. 19, 2001 2381 pC4:HSA-IFNa2 (C17-E181) PTA-3942 Dec. 19, 2001 2382 pC4:IFNa2-HSA PTA-3939 Dec. 19, 2001 2492 pC4.IFNb (deltaM22).HSA PTA-3943 Dec. 19, 2001 3070 pSAC35: KT.GLP-1 (7-36(A8G)) x2.HSA PTA-4671 Sep. 16, 2002 3165 pSAC35: HSA.IFNa PTA 4670 also named CID 3165, pSAC35:HSA.INFα Sep. 16, 2002

Albumin fusion constructs may routinely be isolated from the deposit by techniques known in the art and described elsewhere herein.

“Expression cassettes” containing one or more of (1) a polynucleotide encoding a given albumin fusion protein, (2) a leader sequence, (3) a promoter region, and (4) a transcriptional terminator can routinely be moved or “subcloned” from one vector into another. Fragments to be subcloned may be generated by methods known in the art, such as, for example, per amplification (e.g., using oligonucleotide primers having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:A or B), and/or restriction enzyme digestion.

In preferred embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are capable of a therapeutic activity and/or biological activity corresponding to the therapeutic activity and/or biological activity of the therapeutic protein corresponding to the therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein listed in the corresponding row of Table 1. In further preferred embodiments, the therapeutically active protein portions of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are fragments or variants of the protein encoded by the sequence shown in SEQ ED NO:X column of Table 2, and are capable of the therapeutic activity and/or biologic activity of the corresponding therapeutic protein.

Polypeptide And Polynucleotide Fragments And Variants

Fragments

The present invention is further directed to fragments of the therapeutic proteins described in Table 1, albumin proteins, and/or albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

The present invention is also directed to polynucleotides encoding fragments of the Therapeutic proteins described in Table 1, albumin proteins, and/or albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Even if deletion of one or more amino acids from the N-terminus of a protein results in modification or loss of one or more biological functions of the Therapeutic protein, albumin protein, and/or albumin fusion protein of the invention, other Therapeutic activities and/or functional activities (e.g., a biological activity (e.g., as provided in Table 1, column 2, for the corresponding therapeutic protein), ability to multimerize, ability to bind a ligand) may still be retained. For example, the ability of polypeptides with N-terminal deletions to induce and/or bind to antibodies which recognize the complete or mature forms of the polypeptides generally will be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the complete polypeptide are removed from the N-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking N-terminal residues of a complete polypeptide retains such immunologic activities can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known in the art. It is not unlikely that a mutein with a large number of deleted N-terminal amino acid residues may retain some biological or immunogenic activities. In fact, peptides composed of as few as six amino acid residues may often evoke an immune response.

Accordingly, fragments of a Therapeutic protein corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, include the full length protein as well as polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the amino terminus of the amino acid sequence of the reference polypeptide (i.e., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2). In particular, N-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula m-q, where q is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in a reference polypeptide (e.g., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2), and m is defined as any integer ranging from 2 to q-6. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

In addition, fragments of serum albumin polypeptides corresponding to an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, include the full length protein as well as polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the amino terminus of the amino acid sequence of the reference polypeptide (i.e., serum albumin, or a serum albumin portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2). In particular, N-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula m-585, where 585 is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in serum albumin (SEQ ID NO:327), and m is defined as any integer ranging from 2 to 579. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. In additional embodiments, N-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula in to 609, where 609 is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in full length human serum albumin (SEQ ID NO:379), and m is defined as any integer ranging from 2 to 603. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Moreover, fragments of albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include the full length albumin fusion protein as well as polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the amino terminus of the albumin fusion protein (e.g., an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2; or an albumin fusion protein having the amino acid sequence disclosed in column 6 of Table 2). In particular, N-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula m-q, where q is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in the albumin fusion protein, and in is defined as any integer ranging from 2 to q-6. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Also as mentioned above, even if deletion of one or more amino acids from the N-terminus or C-terminus of a reference polypeptide (e.g., a Therapeutic protein; serum albumin protein; or albumin fusion protein of the invention) results in modification or loss of one or more biological functions of the protein, other functional activities (e.g., a biological activity (e.g., as provided in Table 1, column 2, for the corresponding therapeutic protein), ability to multimerize, ability to bind a ligand) and/or Therapeutic activities may still be retained. For example the ability of polypeptides with C terminal deletions to induce and/or bind to antibodies which recognize the complete or mature forms of the polypeptide generally will be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the complete or mature polypeptide are removed from the C-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking the N-terminal and/or C-terminal residues of a reference polypeptide retains Therapeutic activity can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and/or otherwise known in the art.

The present invention further provides polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the carboxy terminus of the amino acid sequence of a Therapeutic protein corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2). In particular, C-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula 1-n, where n is any whole integer ranging from 6 to q-1, and where q is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in a reference polypeptide (e.g., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

In addition, the present invention provides polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the carboxy terminus of the amino acid sequence of an albumin protein corresponding to an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., serum albumin or an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2). In particular, C-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula 1-n, where n is any whole integer ranging from 6 to 584, where 584 is the whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in serum albumin (SEQ ID NO:327) minus 1. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. In particular, C-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula 1 to n, where n is any whole integer ranging from 6 to 608, where 608 is the whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in serum albumin (SEQ ID NO:379) minus 1. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Moreover, the present invention provides polypeptides having one or more residues deleted from the carboxy terminus of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, in particular, C-terminal deletions may be described by the general formula 1-n, where n is any whole integer ranging from 6 to q-1, and where q is a whole integer representing the total number of amino acid residues in an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

In addition, any of the above described N- or C-terminal deletions can be combined to produce a N- and C-terminal deleted reference polypeptide. The invention also provides polypeptides having one or more amino acids deleted from both the amino and the carboxyl termini, which may be described generally as having residues m-n of a reference polypeptide (e.g., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of en albumin fusion protein of the invention, or a Therapeutic protein portion encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2, or scrum albumin (e.g., SEQ ID NO:327), or an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, or an albumin protein portion encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2, or an albumin fusion protein, or an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct of the invention) where n and m are integers as described above. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

The present application is also directed to proteins containing polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a reference polypeptide sequence (e.g., a Therapeutic protein referred to in Table 1, or a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, or a Therapeutic protein portion encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2, or serum albumin (e.g., SEQ ID NO:327), or an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, or an albumin protein portion encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2, or an albumin fusion protein, or an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct of the invention) set forth herein, or fragments thereof. In preferred embodiments, the application is directed to proteins comprising polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to reference polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of N- and C-terminal deletions as described above. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

Preferred polypeptide fragments of the invention are fragments comprising, or alternatively, consisting of, an amino acid sequence that displays a Therapeutic activity and/or functional activity (e.g. a biological activity such as that provided in Table 1, column 2, for the corresponding therapeutic protein) of the polypeptide sequence of the Therapeutic protein or serum albumin protein of which the amino acid sequence is a fragment.

Other preferred polypeptide fragments are biologically active fragments. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of the polypeptide of the present invention. The biological activity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable activity.

Variants

“Variant” refers to a polynucleotide or nucleic acid differing from a reference nucleic acid or polypeptide, but retaining essential properties thereof. Generally, variants are overall closely similar, and, in many regions, identical to the reference nucleic acid or polypeptide.

As used herein, “variant”, refers to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, albumin portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, or albumin fusion protein of the invention differing in sequence from a Therapeutic protein (e.g. see “therapeutic” column of Table 1), albumin protein, and/or albumin fusion protein, respectively, but retaining at least one functional and/or therapeutic property thereof as described elsewhere herein or otherwise known in the art. Generally, variants are overall very similar, and, in many regions, identical to the amino acid sequence of the Therapeutic protein corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein, albumin protein corresponding to an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein, and/or albumin fusion protein. Nucleic acids encoding these variants are also encompassed by the invention.

The present invention is also directed to proteins which comprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%, identical to, for example, the amino acid sequence of a Therapeutic protein corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., the amino acid sequence of a Therapeutic protein:X disclosed in Table 1; or the amino acid sequence of a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 1 and 2, or fragments or variants thereof), albumin proteins corresponding to an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., the amino acid sequence of an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 1 and 2; the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:327; or fragments or variants thereof), and/or albumin fusion proteins. Fragments of these polypeptides are also provided (e.g., those fragments described herein). Further polypeptides encompassed by the invention are polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides which hybridize to the complement of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention under stringent hybridization conditions (e.g., hybridization to filter bound DNA in 6× Sodium chloride/Sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45 degrees Celsius, followed by one or more washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at about 50-65 degrees Celsius), under highly stringent conditions (e.g., hybridization to filter bound DNA in 6× sodium chloride/Sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45 degrees Celsius, followed by one or more washes in 0.1×SSC, 0.2% SDS at about 68 degrees Celsius), or under other stringent hybridization conditions which are known to those of skill in the art (see, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds., 1989 Current protocol in Molecular Biology, Green publishing associates, Inc., and John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, at pages 6.3.1-6.3.6 and 2.10.3). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence, it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subject polypeptide is identical to the query sequence except that the subject polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a query amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the subject sequence may be inserted, deleted, or substituted with another amino acid. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino- or carboxy-terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, the amino acid sequence of an albumin fusion protein of the invention or a fragment thereof (such as a Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein or an albumin portion of the albumin fusion protein), can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determining the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245 (1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are either both nucleotide sequences or both amino acid sequences. The result of said global sequence alignment is expressed as percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB amino acid alignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Window Size=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty=0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino acid sequence, whichever is shorter.

If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence due to N- or C-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correction must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does not account for N- and C-terminal truncations of the subject sequence when calculating global percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the N- and C-termini, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of residues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminal of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with a corresponding subject residue, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a residue is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This final percent identity score is what is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only residues to the N- and C-termini of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, are considered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score. That is, only query residue positions outside the farthest N- and C-terminal residues of the subject sequence.

For example, a 90 amino acid residue subject sequence is aligned with a 100 residue query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletion occurs at the N-terminus of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a matching/alignment of the first 10 residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% of the sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini not matched/total number of residues in the query sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched the final percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 residue subject sequence is compared with a 100 residue query sequence. This time the deletions are internal deletions so there are no residues at the N- or C-termini of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected. Once again, only residue positions outside the N- and C-terminal ends of the subject sequence, as displayed in the FASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence are manually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for the purposes of the present invention.

The variant will usually have at least 75% (preferably at least about 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%) sequence identity with a length of normal HA or Therapeutic protein which is the same length as the variant. Homology or identity at the nucleotide or amino acid sequence level is determined by BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis using the algorithm employed by the programs blastp, blastn, blastx, tblastn and tblastx (Karlin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 2264-2268 (1990) and Altschul, J. Mol. Evol. 36: 290-300 (1993), fully incorporated by reference) which are tailored for sequence similarity searching.

The approach used by the BLAST program is to first consider similar segments between a query sequence and a database sequence, then to evaluate the statistical significance of all matches that are identified and finally to summarize only those matches which satisfy a preselected threshold of significance. For a discussion of basic issues in similarity searching of sequence databases, see Altschul et al., (Nature Genetics 6: 119-129 (1994)) which is fully incorporated by reference. The search parameters for histogram, descriptions, alignments, expect (i.e., the statistical significance threshold for reporting matches against database sequences), cutoff, matrix and filter are at the default settings. The default scoring matrix used by blastp, blastx, tblastn, and tblastx is the BLOSUM62 matrix (Henikoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 10915-10919 (1992), fully incorporated by reference). For blastn, the scoring matrix is set by the ratios of M (i.e., the reward score for a pair of matching residues) to N (i.e., the penalty score for mismatching residues), wherein the default values for M and N are 5 and 4, respectively. Four blastn parameters may be adjusted as follows: Q=10 (gap creation penalty); R=10 (gap extension penalty); wink=1 (generates word hits at every winktk position along the query); and gapw=16 (sets the window width within which gapped alignments are generated). The equivalent Blastp parameter settings were Q=9; R=2; wink=1; and gapw=32. A Bestfit comparison between sequences, available in the GCG package version 10.0, uses DNA parameters GAP=50 (gap creation penalty) and LEN=3 (gap extension penalty) and the equivalent settings in protein comparisons are GAP=8 and LEN=2.

The polynucleotide variants of the invention may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotide variants containing alterations which produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred. Moreover, polypeptide variants in which less than 50, less than 40, less than 30, less than 20, less than 10, or 5-50, 5-25, 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination are also preferred. Polynucleotide variants can be produced for a variety of reasons, e.g., to optimize codon expression for a particular host (change codons in the human mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host, such as, yeast or E. coli).

Functional Activity

“A polypeptide having functional activity” refers to a polypeptide capable of displaying one or more known functional activities associated with the full-length, pro-protein, and/or mature form of a Therapeutic protein. Such functional activities include, but are not limited to, biological activity (e.g., a biological activity as provided in Table 1, column 2, for the corresponding therapeutic protein), antigenicity [ability to bind (or compete with a polypeptide for binding) to an anti-polypeptide antibody], immunogenicity (ability to generate antibody which binds to a specific polypeptide of the invention), ability to form multimers with polypeptides of the invention, and ability to bind to a receptor or ligand for a polypeptide.

“A polypeptide having biological activity” refers to a polypeptide exhibiting activity similar to, but not necessarily identical to, an activity of a Therapeutic protein of the present invention, including mature forms, as measured in a particular biological assay, with or without dose dependency. In the case where dose dependency does exist, it need not be identical to that of the polypeptide, but rather substantially similar to the dose-dependence in a given activity as compared to the polypeptide of the present invention (i.e., the candidate polypeptide will exhibit greater activity or not more than about 25-fold less and, preferably, not more than about tenfold less activity, and most preferably, not more than about three-fold less activity relative to the polypeptide of the present invention).

In preferred embodiments, an albumin fusion protein of the invention has at least one biological and/or therapeutic activity associated with the Therapeutic protein portion (or fragment or variant thereof) when it is not fused to albumin.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be assayed for functional activity (e.g., biological activity) using or routinely modifying assays known in the art, as well as assays described herein. Additionally, one of skill in the art may routinely assay fragments of a Therapeutic protein corresponding to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein, for activity using assays referenced in its corresponding row of Table 1. Further, one of skill in the art may routinely assay fragments of an albumin protein corresponding to an albumin protein portion of an albumin fusion protein, for activity using assays known in the art and/or as described in the Examples section below.

For example, in one embodiment where one is assaying for the ability of an albumin fusion protein to bind or compete with a Therapeutic protein for binding to an anti-Therapeutic polypeptide antibody and/or anti-albumin antibody, various immunoassays known in the art can be used, including but not limited to, competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidal gold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots, precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutination assays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays, immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresis assays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected by detecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, the primary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondary antibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment, the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art for detecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, where a binding partner (e.g., a receptor or a ligand) of a Therapeutic protein is identified, binding to that binding partner by an albumin fusion protein which comprises that Therapeutic protein as the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion can be assayed, e.g., by means well-known in the art, such as, for example, reducing and non-reducing gel chromatography, protein affinity chromatography, and affinity blotting. See generally, Phizicky et al., Microbiol. Rev. 59:94-123 (1995). In another embodiment, the ability of physiological correlates of an albumin fusion protein to bind to a substrate(s) of the Therapeutic polypeptide corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion can be routinely assayed using techniques known in the art.

In an alternative embodiment, where the ability of an albumin fusion protein to multimerize is being evaluated, association with other components of the multimer can be assayed, e.g., by means well-known in the art, such as, for example, reducing and non-reducing gel chromatography, protein affinity chromatography, and affinity blotting. See generally, Phizicky et al., supra.

In preferred embodiments, an albumin fusion protein comprising all or a portion of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, has at least one biological and/or therapeutic activity (e.g., to specifically bind a polypeptide or epitope) associated with the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) when it is not fused to albumin. In other preferred embodiments, the biological activity and/or therapeutic activity of an albumin fusion protein comprising all or a portion of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein is the inhibition (i.e., antagonism) or activation (i.e., agonism) of one or more of the biological activities and/or therapeutic activities associated with the polypeptide that is specifically bound by antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein.

Albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be characterized in a variety of ways. In particular, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be assayed for the ability to specifically bind to the same antigens specifically hound by the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein using techniques described herein or routinely modifying techniques known in the art.

Assays for the ability of the albumin fusion proteins (e.g., comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) to (specifically) bind a specific protein or epitope may be performed in solution (e.g., Houghten, Bio/Techniques 13:412-421 (1992)), on beads (e.g., Lam, Nature 354:82-84 (1991)), on chips (e.g., Fodor, Nature 364:555-556 (1993)), on bacteria (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), on spores (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,698; 5,403,484; and 5,223,409), on plasmids (e.g., Cull et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:1865-1869 (1992)) or on phage (e.g., Scott and Smith, Science 249:386-390 (1990); Devlin, Science 249:404-406 (1990); Cwirla et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6378-6382 (1990); and Felici, J. Mol. Biol. 222:301-310 (1991)) (each of these references is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). Albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody may also be assayed for their specificity and affinity for a specific protein or epitope using or routinely modifying techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art.

The albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be assayed for cross-reactivity with other antigens (e.g., molecules that have sequence/structure conservation with the molecule(s) specifically bound by the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein of the invention) by any method known in the art.

Immunoassays which can be used to analyze (immunospecific) binding and cross-reactivity include, but are not limited to, competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescent immunoassays, and protein A immunoassays, to name but a few. Such assays are routine and well known in the art (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley &. Sons, Inc., New York, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Exemplary immunoassays are described briefly below (but are not intended by way of limitation).

Immunoprecipitation protocols generally comprise lysing a population of cells in a lysis buffer such as RIPA buffer (1% NP-40 or Triton X-100, 1% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SOS, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 M sodium phosphate at pH 7.2, 1% Trasylol) supplemented with protein phosphatase and/or protease inhibitors (e.g., EDTA, PMSF, aprotinin, sodium vanadate), adding the albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) to the cell lysate, incubating for a period of time (e.g., 1 to 4 hours) at 40 degrees C., adding sepharose beads coupled to an anti-albumin antibody, for example, to the cell lysate, incubating for about an hour or more at 40 degrees C., washing the beads in lysis buffer and resuspending the beads in SOS/sample buffer. The ability of the albumin fusion protein to immunoprecipitate a particular antigen can be assessed by, e.g., western blot analysis. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the binding of the albumin fusion protein to an antigen and decrease the background (e.g., pre-clearing the cell lysate with sepharose beads). For further discussion regarding immunoprecipitation protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al., eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.16.1.

Western blot analysis generally comprises preparing protein samples, electrophoresis of the protein samples in a polyacrylamide gel (e.g., 8%-20% SOS-PAGE depending on the molecular weight of the antigen), transferring the protein sample from the polyacrylamide gel to a membrane such as nitrocellulose, PVDF or nylon, blocking the membrane in blocking solution (e.g., PBS with 3% BSA or non-fat milk), washing the membrane in washing buffer (e.g., PBS-Tween 20), applying the albumin fusion protein of the invention (diluted in blocking buffer) to the membrane, washing the membrane in washing buffer, applying a secondary antibody (which recognizes the albumin fusion protein, e.g., an anti-human serum albumin antibody) conjugated to an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) or radioactive molecule (e.g., 32P or 125I) diluted in blocking buffer, washing the membrane in wash buffer, and detecting the presence of the antigen. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected and to reduce the background noise. For further discussion regarding western blot protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.8.1.

ELISAs comprise preparing antigen, coating the well of a 96-well microtiter plate with the antigen, washing away antigen that did not bind the wells, adding the albumin fusion protein (e.g., comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) of the invention conjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) to the wells and incubating for a period of time, washing away unbound or non-specifically bound albumin fusion proteins, and detecting the presence of the albumin fusion proteins specifically bound to the antigen coating the well. In ELISAs the albumin fusion protein does not have to be conjugated to a detectable compound; instead, a second antibody (which recognizes albumin fusion protein) conjugated to a detectable compound may be added to the well. Further, instead of coating the well with the antigen, the albumin fusion protein may be coated to the well. In this case, the detectable molecule could be the antigen conjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase). One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected as well as other variations of ELISAs known in the art. For further discussion regarding ELISAs see, e.g., Ausubel at al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol, 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 11.2.1.

The binding affinity of an albumin fusion protein to a protein, antigen, or epitope and the off-rate of an albumin fusion protein-protein/antigen/epitope interaction can be determined by competitive binding assays. One example of a competitive binding assay is a radioimmunoassay comprising the incubation of labeled antigen (e.g., 3H or 125I) with the albumin fusion protein of the invention in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabeled antigen, and the detection of the antibody bound to the labeled antigen. The affinity of the albumin fusion protein for a specific protein, antigen, or epitope and the binding off-rates can be determined from the data by Scatchard plot analysis. Competition with a second protein that binds the same protein, antigen or epitope as the albumin fusion protein, can also be determined using radioimmunoassays. In this case, the protein, antigen or epitope is incubated with an albumin fusion protein conjugated to a labeled compound (e.g., 3H or 125I) in the presence of increasing amounts of an unlabeled second protein that binds the same protein, antigen, or epitope as the albumin fusion protein of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, BIAcore kinetic analysis is used to determine the binding on and off rates of albumin fusion proteins of the invention to a protein, antigen or epitope. BIAcore kinetic analysis comprises analyzing the binding and dissociation of albumin fusion proteins, or specific polypeptides, antigens or epitopes from chips with immobilized specific polypeptides, antigens or epitopes or albumin fusion proteins, respectively, on their surface.

Antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may also be described or specified in terms of their binding affinity for a given protein or antigen, preferably the antigen which they specifically bind. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−2 M, 10−2 M, 5×10−3 M, 10−3 M, 5×10−4 M, 10−4 M. More preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−5 M, 10−5 M, 5×10−6 M, 10−6M, 5×10−7 M, 107 M, 5×10−8 M or 10−8 M. Even more preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−9 M, 10−9 M, 5×10−10 M, 10−10 M, 5×10−11 M, 10−11, 5×10−12 M, 10−12 M, 5×10−13 M, 10−13 M, 5×10−14 M, 10−14 M, 5×10−15 M, or 10−15 M. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, has an affinity for a given protein or epitope similar to that of the corresponding antibody (not fused to albumin) that binds a Therapeutic protein, taking into account the valency of the albumin fusion protein (comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) and the valency of the corresponding antibody. In addition, assays described herein (see Examples and Table 1) and otherwise known in the art may routinely be applied to measure the ability of albumin fusion proteins and fragments, variants and derivatives thereof to elicit biological activity and/or Therapeutic activity (either in vitro or in vivo) related to either the Therapeutic protein portion and/or albumin portion of the albumin fusion protein. Other methods will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Albumin

As described above, an albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and at least a fragment or variant of human serum albumin, which are associated with one another, preferably by genetic fusion or chemical conjugation.

The terms, human serum albumin (HSA) and human albumin (HA) are used interchangeably herein. The terms, “albumin and “serum albumin” are broader, and encompass human serum albumin (and fragments and variants thereof) as well as albumin from other species (and fragments and variants thereof).

As used herein, “albumin” refers collectively to albumin protein or amino acid sequence, or an albumin fragment or variant, having one or more functional activities (e.g., biological activities) of albumin. In particular, “albumin” refers to human albumin or fragments thereof (see EP 201 239, EP 322 094 WO 97/24445, WO95/23857) especially the mature form of human albumin as shown in FIG. 5A-D and SEQ ID NO:327, or albumin from other vertebrates or fragments thereof, or analogs or variants of these molecules or fragments thereof.

In preferred embodiments, the human serum albumin protein used in the albumin fusion proteins of the invention contains one or both of the following sets of point mutations with reference to SEQ ID NO:327: Leu-407 to Ala, Leu-408 to Val, Val-409 to Ala, and Arg-410 to Ala; or Arg-410 to A, Lys-413 to Gln, and Lys-414 to Gln (see, e.g., International Publication No. WO95/23857, hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein). In even more preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins of the invention that contain one or both of above-described sets of point mutations have improved stability/resistance to yeast Yap3p proteolytic cleavage, allowing increased production of recombinant albumin fusion proteins expressed in yeast host cells.

As used herein, a portion of albumin sufficient to prolong the therapeutic activity or shelf-life of the Therapeutic protein refers to a portion of albumin sufficient in length or structure to stabilize or prolong the therapeutic activity of the protein so that the shelf life of the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is prolonged or extended compared to the shelf-life in the non-fusion state. The albumin portion of the albumin fusion proteins may comprise the full length of the HA sequence as described above or as shown in FIG. 5A-D, or may include one or more fragments thereof that are capable of stabilizing or prolonging the therapeutic activity. Such fragments may be of 10 or more amino acids in length or may include about 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or more contiguous amino acids from the HA sequence or may include part or all of specific domains of HA. For instance, one or more fragments of HA spanning the first two immunoglobulin-like domains may be used.

The albumin portion of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be a variant of normal HA. The Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be variants of the Therapeutic proteins as described herein. The term “variants” includes insertions, deletions and substitutions, either conservative or non conservative, where such changes do not substantially alter one or more of the oncotic, useful ligand-binding and non-immunogenic properties of albumin, or the active site, or active domain which confers the therapeutic activities of the Therapeutic proteins.

In particular, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may include naturally occurring polymorphic variants of human albumin and fragments of human albumin, for example those fragments disclosed in EP 322 094 (namely HA (Pn), where n is 369 to 419). The albumin may be derived from any vertebrate, especially any mammal, for example human, cow, sheep, or pig. Non-mammalian albumins include, but are not limited to, hen and salmon. The albumin portion of the albumin fusion protein may be from a different animal than the Therapeutic protein portion.

Generally speaking, an HA fragment or variant will be at least 100 amino acids long, preferably at least 150 amino acids long. The HA valiant may consist of alternatively comprise at least one whole domain of HA, for example domains 1 (amino acids 1-194 of SEQ ID NO:327), 2 (amino acids 195-387 of SEQ ID NO:327), 3 (amino acids 388-585 of SEQ ID NO:327), 1+2 (1-387 of SEQ ID NO:327), 2+3 (195-585 of SEQ ID NO:327) or 1+3 (amino acids 1-194 of SEQ ID NO:327 amino acids 388-585 of SEQ ID NO:327). Each domain is itself made up of two homologous subdomains namely 1-105, 120-194, 195-291, 316-387, 388-491 and 512-585, with flexible inter-subdomain linker regions comprising residues Lys106 to Glu119, Glu292 to Val315 and Glu492 to Ala511.

Preferably, the albumin portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises at least one subdomain or domain of HA or conservative modifications thereof. If the fusion is based on subdomains, some or all of the adjacent linker is preferably used to link to the Therapeutic protein moiety.

Antibodies that Specifically Bind Therapeutic Proteins are Also Therapeutic Proteins

The present invention also encompasses albumin fusion proteins that comprise at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that specifically binds a Therapeutic protein disclosed in Table 1. It is specifically contemplated that the term “Therapeutic protein” encompasses antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein (e.g., as Described in column 1 of Table 1) and fragments and variants thereof. Thus an albumin fusion protein of the invention may contain at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein, and/or at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein.

Antibody Structure and Background

The basic antibody structural unit is known to comprise a tetramer. Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or inure amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each chain defines a constant region primarily responsible for effector function. Human light chains are classified as kappa and lambda light chains. Heavy chains are classified as mu, delta, gamma, alpha, or epsilon, and define the antibody's isotype as IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, and IgE, respectively. See generally, Fundamental Immunology Chapters 3-5 (Paul, W., ed., 4th ed. Raven Press, N.Y. (1998)) (incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes). The variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair form the antibody binding site.

Thus, an intact IgG antibody has two binding sites. Except in bifunctional or bispecific antibodies, the two binding sites are the same.

The chains all exhibit the same general structure of relatively conserved framework regions (FR) joined by three hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions or CDRs. The CDR regions, in general, are the portions of the antibody which make contact with the antigen and determine its specificity. The CDRs from the heavy and the light chains of each pair are aligned by the framework regions, enabling binding to a specific epitope. From N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and heavy chains variable regions comprise the domains FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR4. The variable regions are connected to the heavy or light chain constant region. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is in accordance with the definitions of Kabat Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1987 and 1991)), or Chothia & Lesk J Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987); Chothia et al. Nature 342:878-883 (1989).

As used herein, “antibody” refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that specifically binds an antigen (e.g., a molecule containing one or more CDR regions of an antibody). Antibodies that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein include, but are not limited to, monoclonal, multispecific, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies (e.g., single chain Fvs), Fab fragments, F(ab′) fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodies specific to antibodies of the invention), and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above (e.g., VH domains, VL domains, or one or more CDR regions).

Antibodies that Bind Therapeutic Proteins

The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins that comprise at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic Protein (e.g., as disclosed in Table 1) or fragment or variant thereof

Antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) may be from any animal origin, including birds and mammals. Preferably, the antibodies are human, murine (e.g., mouse and rat), donkey, sheep, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, or chicken antibodies. Most preferably, the antibodies are human antibodies. As used herein, “human” antibodies include antibodies having the amino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodies isolated from human immunoglobulin libraries and xenomice or other organisms that have been genetically engineered to produce human antibodies.

The antibody molecules that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule. In preferred embodiments, the antibody molecules that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein are IgG1. In other preferred embodiments, the immunoglobulin molecules that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein are IgG2. In other preferred embodiments, the immunoglobulin molecules that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of en albumin fusion protein are IgG4.

Most preferably the antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein are human antigen-binding antibody fragments of the present invention and include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs (scFv), single-chain antibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv) and fragments comprising either a VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibody fragments, including single-chain antibodies, may comprise the variable region(s) alone or in combination with the entirety or a portion of the following: hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains.

The antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may be monospecific, bispecific, trispecific or of greater multispecificity. Multispecific antibodies may be specific for different epitopes of a Therapeutic protein or may be specific for both a Therapeutic protein as well as for a heterologous epitope, such as a heterologous polypeptide or solid support material. See, e.g., PCT publications WO 93/17715; WO 92/08802; WO 91/00360; WO 92/05793; Tutt, et al., J. Immunol. 147:60-69 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,893; 4,714,681; 4,925,648; 5,573,920; 5,601,819; Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148:1547-1553 (1992).

Antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) may be bispecific or bifunctional which means that the antibody is an artificial hybrid antibody having two different heavy/light chain pairs and two different binding sites. Bispecific antibodies can be produced by a variety of methods including fusion of hybridomas or linking of Fab′ fragments. See, e.g., Songsivilai & Lachmann Clin. Exp. Immunol. 79: 315-321 (1990), Kostelny et al. J Immunol. 148:1547-1553 (1992). In addition, bispecific antibodies may be formed as “diabodies” (Holliger et al. “Diabodies': small bivalent and bispecific antibody fragments” PNAS USA 90:6444-6448 (1993)) or “Janusins” (Traunecker et al. “Bispecific single chain molecules (Janusins) target cytotoxic lymphocytes on HIV infected cells” EMBO J 10:3655-3659 (1991) and Traunecker et al. “Janusin: new molecular design for bispecific reagents” Int J Cancer Suppl 7:51-52 (1992)).

The present invention also provides albumin fusion proteins that comprise, fragments or variants (including derivatives) of an antibody described herein or known elsewhere in the art. Standard techniques known to those of skill in the art can be used to introduce mutations in the nucleotide sequence encoding a molecule of the invention, including, for example, site-directed mutagenesis and PCR-mediated mutagenesis which result in amino acid substitutions. Preferably, the variants (including derivatives) encode less than 50 amino acid substitutions, less than 40 amino acid substitutions, less than 30 amino acid substitutions, less than 25 amino acid substitutions, less than 20 amino acid substitutions, less than 15 amino acid substitutions, less than 10 amino acid substitutions, less than 5 amino acid substitutions, less than 4 amino acid substitutions, less than 3 amino acid substitutions, or less than 2 amino acid substitutions relative to the reference VH domain, VHCDR1, VHCDR2, VHCDR3, VL domain, VLCDR1, VLCDR2, or VLCDR3. In specific embodiments, the variants encode substitutions of VHCDR3. In a preferred embodiment, the variants have conservative amino acid substitutions at one or more predicted non-essential amino acid residues.

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may be described or specified in terms of the epitope(s) or portion(s) of a Therapeutic protein which they recognize or specifically bind. Antibodies which specifically bind a Therapeutic protein or a specific epitope of a Therapeutic protein may also be excluded. Therefore, the present invention encompasses antibodies that specifically bind Therapeutic proteins, and allows for the exclusion of the same. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, binds the same epitopes as the unfused fragment or variant of that antibody.

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may also be described or specified in terms of their cross-reactivity. Antibodies that do not bind any other analog, ortholog, or homolog of a Therapeutic protein are included. Antibodies that bind polypeptides with at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, at least 55%, and at least 50% sequence identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a Therapeutic protein are also included in the present invention. In specific embodiments, antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein cross-react with murine, rat and/or rabbit homologs of human proteins and the corresponding epitopes thereof. Antibodies that do not bind polypeptides with less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 85%, less than 80%, less than 75%, less than 70%, less than 65%, less than 60%, legs than 55%, and less than 50% sequence identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a Therapeutic protein are also included in the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the above-described cross-reactivity is with respect to any single specific antigenic or immunogenic polypeptide, or combination(s) of 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the specific antigenic and/or immunogenic polypeptides disclosed herein. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein has similar or substantially identical cross reactivity characteristics compared to that particular antibody.

Further included in the present invention are antibodies which bind polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides which hybridize to a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein under stringent hybridization conditions (as described herein). Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be described or specified in terms of their binding affinity to a polypeptide of the invention. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−2 M, 10−2 M, 5×10−3 M, 10−3 M, 5×10−4 M, 10−4 M. More preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−5 M, 10−5 M, 5×10−6 M, 10−6M, 5×10−7 M, 107 M, 5×10−8 M or 10−8 M. Even more preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−9 M, 10−9 M, 5×10−10 M, 10−10 M, 5×10−11 M, 10−11, 5×10−12 M, 10−10-12 M, 5×10−13 M, 10−13 M, 5×10−14 M, 10−14 M, 5×10−15 M, or 10−15 M. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, has an affinity for a given protein or epitope similar to that of the corresponding antibody (not fused to albumin) that binds a Therapeutic protein, taking into account the valency of the albumin fusion protein (comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) and the valency of the corresponding antibody.

The invention also provides antibodies that competitively inhibit binding of an antibody to an epitope of a Therapeutic protein as determined by any method known in the art for determining competitive binding, for example, the immunoassays described herein. In preferred embodiments, the antibody competitively inhibits binding to the epitope by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, competitively inhibits binding of a second antibody to an epitope of a Therapeutic protein as well as the fragment or variant of the antibody comprised by the fusion protein competitively inhibits binding of said second antibody to an epitope of a Therapeutic protein. In other preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, competitively inhibits binding of a second antibody to an epitope of a Therapeutic protein by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention may act as agonists or antagonists of the Therapeutic protein. For example, the present invention includes antibodies which disrupt the receptor/ligand interactions with the polypeptides of the invention either partially or fully. The invention features both receptor-specific antibodies and ligand-specific antibodies. The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which do not prevent ligand binding but prevent receptor activation. Receptor activation (i.e., signaling) may be determined by techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art. For example, receptor activation can be determined by detecting the phosphorylation (e.g., tyrosine or serine/threonine) of the receptor or its substrate by immunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis (for example, as described supra). In specific embodiments, antibodies are provided that inhibit ligand activity or receptor activity by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50% of the activity in absence of the antibody. In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, has similar or substantially similar characteristics with regard to preventing ligand binding and/or preventing receptor activation compared to an un-fused fragment or variant of the antibody that binds the Therapeutic protein.

The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which both prevent ligand binding and receptor activation as well as antibodies that recognize the receptor-ligand complex, and, preferably, do not specifically recognize the unbound receptor or the unbound ligand. Likewise, included in the invention are neutralizing antibodies which bind the ligand and prevent binding of the ligand to the receptor, as well as antibodies which bind the ligand, thereby preventing receptor activation, but do not prevent the ligand from binding the receptor. Further included in the invention are antibodies which activate the receptor. These antibodies may act as receptor agonists, i.e., potentiate or activate either all or a subset of the biological activities of the ligand-mediated receptor activation, for example, by inducing dimerization of the receptor. The antibodies may be specified as agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for biological activities comprising the specific biological activities of the Therapeutic proteins (e.g. as disclosed in Table 1). The above antibody agonists can be made using methods known in the art. See, e.g., PCT publication WO 96/40281; U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,097; Deng et al., Blood 92(6):1981-1988 (1998); Chen et al., Cancer Res. 58(16):3668-3678 (1998); Harrop et al., J. Immunol. 161(4):1786-1794 (1998); Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214 (1998); Yoon et al., J. Immunol. 160(7):3170-3179 (1998); Prat et al., J. Cell. Sci, 111(Pt 2):237-247 (1998); Pitard et al., J. Immunol. Methods 205(2)177-190 (1997); Liautard et al., Cytokine 9(4):233-241 (1997); Carlson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272(17):11295-11301 (1997); Taryman et al., Neuron 14(4):755-762 (1995); Muller et al., Structure 6(9):1153-1167 (1998); Bartunek et al., Cytokine 8(1):14-20 (1996) (which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties). In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, have similar or substantially identical agonist or antagonist properties as an un-fused fragment or variant of the antibody that binds the Therapeutic protein.

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be used, for example, to purify, detect, and target Therapeutic proteins, including both in in vitro and in viva diagnostic and therapeutic methods. For example, the antibodies have utility in immunoassays for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring levels of the Therapeutic protein in biological samples. See, e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Likewise, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, may be used, for example, to purify, detect, and target Therapeutic proteins, including both in in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein include derivatives that are modified, i.e., by the covalent attachment of any type of molecule to the antibody. For example, but not by way of limitation, the antibody derivatives include antibodies that have been modified, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation, phosphylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to a cellular ligand or other protein, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including, but not limited to specific chemical cleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin, etc. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non, classical amino acids. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be modified as described above.

Methods Of Producing Antibodies That Bind Therapeutic Proteins

The antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be generated by any suitable method known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies to an antigen-of-interest can be produced by various procedures well known in the art. For example, a Therapeutic protein may be administered to various host animals including, but not limited to, rabbits, mice, rats, etc. to induce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies specific for the antigen. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, and include but are not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacterium parvum. Such adjuvants are also well known in the art.

Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using a wide variety of techniques known in the art including the use of hybridoma, recombinant, and phage display technologies, or a combination thereof, For example, monoclonal antibodies can be produced using hybridoma techniques including those known in the art and taught, for example, in Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling, et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties). The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein is not limited to antibodies produced through hybridoma technology. The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody that is derived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or phage clone, and not the method by which it is produced.

Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies using hybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art. In a non-limiting example, mice can be immunized with a Therapeutic protein or fragment or variant thereof or a cell expressing such a Therapeutic protein or fragment or variant thereof. Once an immune response is detected, e.g., antibodies specific for the antigen are detected in the Moose serum, the mouse spleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. The splenocytes are then fused by well known techniques to any suitable myeloma cells, for example cells from cell line SP20 available from the ATCC. Hybridomas are selected and cloned by limited dilution. The hybridoma clones are then assayed by methods known in the art for cells that secrete antibodies capable of binding a polypeptide of the invention. Ascites fluid, which generally contains high levels of antibodies, can be generated by immunizing mice with positive hybridoma clones.

Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of generating monoclonal antibodies as well as antibodies produced by the method comprising culturing a hybridoma cell secreting an antibody wherein, preferably, the hybridoma is generated by fusing splenocytes isolated from a mouse immunized with an antigen of the invention with myeloma cells and then screening the hybridomas resulting from the fusion for hybridoma clones that secrete an antibody able to bind a polypeptide of the invention.

Another well known method for producing both polyclonal and monoclonal human B cell lines is transformation using Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Protocols for generating EBV-transformed B cell lines are commonly known in the art, such as, for example, the protocol outlined in Chapter 7.22 of Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan et al., Eds., 1994, John Wiley & Sons, NY, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. The source of B cells for transformation is commonly human peripheral blood, but B cells for transformation may also be derived from other sources including, but not limited to, lymph nodes, tonsil, spleen, tumor tissue, and infected tissues. Tissues are generally made into single cell suspensions prior to EBV transformation. Additionally, steps may be taken to either physically remove or inactivate T cells (e.g., by treatment with cyclosporin A) in B cell-containing samples, because T cells from individuals seropositive for anti-EBV antibodies can suppress B cell immortalization by EBV.

In general, the sample containing human B cells is innoculated with EBV, and cultured for 3.4 weeks. A typical source of EBV is the culture supernatant of the B95-8 cell line (ATCC #VR-1492). Physical signs of EBV transformation can generally be seen towards the end of the 3-4 week culture period. By phase-contrast microscopy, transformed cells may appear large, clear, hairy and tend to aggregate in tight clusters of cells. Initially, EBV lines are generally polyclonal. However, over prolonged periods of cell cultures, EBV lines may become monoclonal or polyclonal as a result of the selective outgrowth of particular B cell clones. Alternatively, polyclonal EBV transformed lines may be subcloned (e.g., by limiting dilution culture) or fused with a suitable fusion partner and plated at limiting dilution to obtain monoclonal B cell lines. Suitable fusion partners for EBV transformed cell lines include mouse myeloma cell lines (e.g., SP2/0, X63-Ag8.653), heteromyeloma cell lines (human×mouse; e.g, SPAM-8, SBC-H20, and CB-F7), and human cell lines (e.g., GM 1500, SKO-007, RPMI 8226, and KR-4). Thus, the present invention also provides a method of generating polyclonal or monoclonal human antibodies against polypeptides of the invention or fragments thereof, comprising EBV-transformation of human B cells.

Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated by known techniques. For example, Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of the invention may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of immunoglobulin molecules, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce E(ab)2 fragments). F(ab)2 fragments contain the variable region, the light chain constant region and the CH1 domain of the heavy chain.

For example, antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein can also be generated using various phage display methods known in the art. In phage display methods, functional antibody domains are displayed on the surface of phage particles which carry the polynucleotide sequences encoding them. In a particular embodiment, such phage can be utilized to display antigen binding domains expressed from a repertoire or combinatorial antibody library (e.g., human or murine). Phage expressing an antigen binding domain that binds the antigen of interest can be selected or identified with antigen, e.g., using labeled antigen or antigen bound or captured to a solid surface or bead. Phage used in these methods are typically filamentous phage including fd and M13 binding domains expressed from phage with Fab, Fv or disulfide stabilized Fv antibody domains recombinantly fused to either the phage gene III or gene VIII protein. Examples of phage display methods that can be used to make antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein include those disclosed in Brinkman et al., J. Immunol. Methods 182:41-50 (1995); Ames et al., J. Immunol. Methods 184:177-186 (1995); Kettleborough et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:952-958 (1994); Persie at al., Gene 187 9-18 (1997); Burton et al., Advances in Immunology 57:191-280 (1994); PCT application No. PCT/GB91/01134; PCT publications WO 90/02809; WO 91/10737; WO 92/01047; WO 92/18619: WO 93/11236; WO 95/15982; WO 95/20401; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,426; 5,223,409; 5,403,484; 5,580,717; 5,427,908; 5,750,753; 5,821,047; 5,571,698; 5,427,908; 5,516,637; 5,780,225; 5,658,727; 5,733,743 and 5,969,108; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As described in the above references, after phage selection, the antibody coding regions from the phage can be isolated and used to generate whole antibodies, including human antibodies, or any other desired antigen binding fragment, and expressed in any desired host, including mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast, and bacteria, e.g., as described in detail below. For example, techniques to recombinantly produce Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments can also be employed using methods known in the art such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 92/22324; Mullinax et al., BioTechniques 12(6):864-869 (1992); and Sawai et al., AJRI 134:26-34 (1995); and Better et al., Science 240:1041-1043 (1988) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties).

Examples of techniques which can be used to produce single-chain Fvs and antibodies include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,778 and 5,258,498; Huston et al., Methods in Enzymology 203:46.88 (1991); Shu et al., PNAS 90:7995-7999 (1993); and Skerra et al., Science 240:1038-1040 (1988). For some uses, including in vivo use of antibodies in humans and in vitro detection assays, it may be preferable to use chimeric, humanized, or human antibodies. A chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions of the antibody are derived from different animal species, such as antibodies having a variable region derived from a murine monoclonal antibody and a human immunoglobulin constant region. Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. See e.g., Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Gullies et al., (1989) J. Immunol. Methods 125:191-202; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,715; 4,816,567; and 4,816,397, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Humanized antibodies are antibody molecules from non-human species antibody that hinds the desired antigen having one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the non-human species and a framework regions from a human immunoglobulin molecule. Often, framework residues in the human framework regions will be substituted with the corresponding residue from the CDR donor antibody to alter, preferably improve, antigen binding. These framework substitutions are identified by methods well known in the art, e.g., by modeling of the interactions of the CDR and framework residues to identify framework residues important for antigen binding and sequence comparison to identify unusual framework residues at particular positions. (See, e.g., Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.) Antibodies can be humanized using a variety of techniques known in the art including, for example, CDR-grafting (EP 239,400; PCT publication WO 91/09967; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539; 5,530,101; and 5,585,089), veneering or resurfacing (EP 592,106; EP 519,596; Padlan, Molecular Immunology 28(4/5):489-498 (1991); Studnicka et al., Protein Engineering 7(6):805-814 (1994); Roguska et al., PNAS 91:969-973 (1994)), and chain shuffling (U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332).

Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable for therapeutic treatment of human patients. Human antibodies can be made by a variety of methods known in the art including phage display methods described above using antibody libraries derived from human immunoglobulin sequences. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and 4,716,111; and PCT publications WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893, WO 98/16654, WO 96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Human antibodies can also be produced using transgenic mice which are incapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, but which can express human immunoglobulin genes. For example, the human heavy and light chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introduced randomly or by homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells. Alternatively, the human variable region, constant region, and diversity region may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition to the human heavy and light chain genes. The mouse heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately or simultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci by homologous recombination. In particular, homozygous deletion of the JH region prevents endogenous antibody production. The modified embryonic stem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts to produce chimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then bred to produce homozygous offspring which express human antibodies. The transgenic mice are immunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., all or a portion of a polypeptide of the invention. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen can be obtained from the immunized, transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology. The human immunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrange during B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switching and somatic mutation. Thus, using such a technique, it is possible to produce therapeutically useful IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies. For an overview of this technology for producing human antibodies, see Lonberg and Hussar, Int. Rev. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995). For a detailed discussion of this technology for producing human antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies and protocols for producing such antibodies, see, e.g., PCT publications WO 98/24893; WO 92/01047; WO 96/34096; WO 96/33735; European Patent No. 0 598 877; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,923; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,569,825; 5,661,016; 5,545,806; 5,814,318; 5,885,793; 5,916,771; 5,939,598; 6,075,181; and 6,114,598, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In addition, companies such as Abgenix, Inc. (Freemont, Calif.) and Genpharm (San Jose, Calif.) can be engaged to provide human antibodies directed against a selected antigen using technology similar to that described above.

Completely human antibodies which recognize a selected epitope can be generated using a technique referred to as “guided selection.” In this approach a selected non-human monoclonal antibody, e.g., a mouse antibody, is used to guide the selection of a completely human antibody recognizing the same epitope. (Jespers et al., Bio/technology 12:899-903 (1988)).

Polynucleotides Encoding Antibodies

The invention further provides polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antibody and fragments thereof. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides that hybridize under stringent or alternatively, under lower stringency hybridization conditions, e.g., as defined supra, to polynucleotides that encode an antibody, preferably, that specifically binds to a Therapeutic protein, and more preferably, an antibody that binds to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of a “Therapeutic protein:X” as disclosed in the “SEQ ID NO: Z” column of Table 2.

The polynucleotides may be obtained, and the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotides determined, by any method known in the art. For example, if the nucleotide sequence of the antibody is known, a polynucleotide encoding the antibody may be assembled from chemically synthesized oligonucleotides (e.g., as described in Kutmeier et al., BioTechniques 17:242 (1994)), which, briefly, involves the synthesis of overlapping oligonucleotides containing portions of the sequence encoding the antibody, annealing and ligating of those oligonucleotides, and then amplification of the ligated oligonucleotides by PCR.

Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding an antibody may be generated from nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clone containing a nucleic acid encoding a particular antibody is not available, but the sequence of the antibody molecule is known, a nucleic acid encoding the immunoglobulin may be chemically synthesized or obtained from a suitable source (e.g., an antibody cDNA library, or a cDNA library generated from, or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+ RNA, isolated from, any tissue or cells expressing the antibody, such as hybridoma cells selected to express an antibody) by PCR amplification using synthetic primers hybridizable to the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sequence or by cloning using art oligonucleotide probe specific for the particular gene sequence to identify, e.g., a cDNA clone from a cDNA library that encodes the antibody. Amplified nucleic acids generated by PCR may then be cloned into replicable cloning vectors using any method well known in the art (See Example 46).

Once the nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the antibody is determined, the nucleotide sequence of the antibody may be manipulated using methods well known in the art for the manipulation of nucleotide sequences, e.g., recombinant DNA techniques, site directed mutagenesis, PCR, etc. (see, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1990, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. and Ausubel et al., eds., 1998, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY, which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entireties), to generate antibodies having a different amino acid sequence, for example to create amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions.

In a specific embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the heavy and/or light chain variable domains may be inspected to identify the sequences of the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) by methods that are well know in the art, e.g., by comparison to known amino acid sequences of other heavy and light chain variable regions to determine the regions of sequence hypervariability. Using routine recombinant DNA techniques, one or more of the CDRs may be inserted within framework regions, e.g., into human framework regions to humanize a non-human antibody, as described supra. The framework regions may be naturally occurring or consensus framework regions, and preferably human framework regions (see, e.g., Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 278: 457-479 (1998) for a listing of human framework regions). Preferably, the polynucleotide generated by the combination of the framework regions and CDRs encodes an antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide of the invention. Preferably, as discussed supra, one or more amino acid substitutions may be made within the framework regions, and, preferably, the amino acid substitutions improve binding of the antibody to its antigen. Additionally, such methods may be used to make amino acid substitutions or deletions of one or more variable region cysteine residues participating in an intrachain disulfide bond to generate antibody molecules lacking one or more intrachain disulfide bonds. Other alterations to the polynucleotide are encompassed by the present invention and within the skill of the art.

In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81:851-855 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 312:604-608 (1984); Takeda et al., Nature 314:452-454 (1985)) by splicing genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. As described supra, a chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions are derived from different animal species, such as those having a variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulin constant region, e.g., humanized antibodies.

Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, Science 242:423-42 (1988); Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988); and Ward et al., Nature 334:544-54 (1989)) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide. Techniques for the assembly of functional Fv fragments in E. coli may also be used (Skerra et al., Science 242:1038-1041 (1988)).

Recombinant Expression of Antibodies

Recombinant expression of an antibody, or fragment, derivative or analog thereof, (e.g., a heavy or light chain of an antibody or a single chain antibody), requires construction of an expression vector containing a polynucleotide that encodes the antibody. Once a polynucleotide encoding an antibody molecule or a heavy or light chain of an antibody, or portion thereof (preferably containing the heavy or light chain variable domain), of the invention has been obtained, the vector for the production of the antibody molecule may be produced by recombinant DNA technology using techniques well known in the art. Thus, methods for preparing a protein by expressing a polynucleotide containing an antibody encoding nucleotide sequence are described herein. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences and appropriate transcriptional and translational control signals. These methods include, for example, in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. The invention, thus, provides replicable vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antibody molecule of the invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or a heavy or light chain variable domain, operably linked to a promoter. Such vectors may include the nucleotide sequence encoding the constant region of the antibody molecule (see, e.g., PCT Publication WO 86/05807; PCT Publication WO 89/03036; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,464) and the variable domain of the antibody may be cloned into such a vector for expression of the entire heavy or light chain.

The expression vector is transferred to a host cell by conventional techniques and the transfected cells are then cultured by conventional techniques to produce an antibody. Thus, the invention includes host cells containing a polynucleotide encoding an antibody of the invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or a single chain antibody, operably linked to a heterologous promoter. In preferred embodiments for the expression of double-chained antibodies, vectors encoding both the heavy and light chains may be co-expressed in the host cell for expression of the entire immunoglobulin molecule, as detailed below.

A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized to express the antibody molecules of the invention. Such host-expression systems represent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest may be produced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells which may, when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotide coding sequences, express an antibody molecule of the invention in situ. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing antibody coding sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing antibody coding sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3 cells) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter). Preferably, bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, and more preferably, eukaryotic cells, especially for the expression of whole recombinant antibody molecule, are used for the expression of a recombinant antibody molecule. For example, mammalian cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), in conjunction with a vector such as the major intermediate early gene promoter element from human cytomegalovirus is an effective expression system for antibodies (Foecking et al., Gene 45:101 (1986); Cockett et al., Bio/Technology 8:2 (1990)).

In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the antibody molecule being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of an antibody molecule, vectors which direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable, Such vectors include, but are not limited, to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., EMBO J. 2:1791 (1983)), in which the antibody coding sequence may be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lac Z coding region so that a fusion protein is produced; ON vectors (Inouye & Inouye, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109 (1985): Van Heeke & Schuster, J. Biol. Chem., 24:5503-5509 (1989)); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption and binding to matrix glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The antibody coding sequence may be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter).

In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the antibody coding sequence of interest may be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in A vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing the antibody molecule in infected hosts. (e.g., see Logan & Shenk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:355-359 (1984)). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of inserted antibody coding sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (see Bittner et al. Methods in Enzymol. 153:51-544 (1987)).

In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen which modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products may be important for the function of the protein. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian host cells include but are not limited to C140, VERY, BHK, Hela, COS, MDCK, 293, 3T3, WI38, and in particular, breast cancer cell lines such as, for example, BT483, Hs578T, HTB2, BT20 and T47D, and normal mammary gland cell line such as, for example, CRL7030 and Hs578Bst.

For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably express the antibody molecule may be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells may be allowed so grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method may advantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the antibody molecule. Such engineered cell lines may be particularly useful in screening and evaluation of compounds that interact directly or indirectly with the antibody molecule.

A number of selection systems may be used, including but not limited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., Cell 11:223 (1977)), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska & Szybalski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:202 (1992)), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., Cell 22:817 (1980)) genes can be employed in tk−, hgprt− or aprt− cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for the following genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler et al., Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:357 (1980); O'Hare et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527 (1981)); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072 (1981)); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside 0-418 Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505; Wu et al., Biotherapy 3:87-95 (1991); Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993); Mulligan, Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217 (1993); May, 1993, TIB TECH 11(5):155-215 (1993)); and hygro, which confers resistance to hypromycin (Santerre et al., Gene 30:147 (1984)). Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology may be routinely applied to select the desired recombinant clone, and such methods are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); Kriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY (1990); and in Chapters 12 and 13, Dracopoli et al. (eds), Current Protocols in Human Genetics, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1994); Colberre-Garapin et al., J. Mol. Biol. 150:1 (1981), which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The expression levels of an antibody molecule can be increased by vector amplification (for a review, see Bebbington and Henschel, The use of vectors based on gene amplification for the expression of cloned genes in mammalian cells in DNA cloning, Vol. 3. (Academic Press, New York, 1987)). When a marker in the vector system expressing antibody is amplifiable, increase in the level of inhibitor present in culture of host cell will increase the number of copies of the marker gene. Since the amplified region is associated with the antibody gene, production of the antibody will also increase (Crouse et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:257 (1983)).

Vectors which use glutamine synthase (GS) or DHFR as the selectable markers can be amplified in the presence of the drugs methionine sulphoximine or methotrexate, respectively. An advantage of glutamine synthase based vectors are the availability of cell lines (e.g., the murine myeloma cell line, NS0) which are glutamine synthase negative. Glutamine synthase expression systems can also function in glutamine synthase expressing cells (e.g. Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells) by providing additional inhibitor to prevent the functioning of the endogenous gene. A glutamine synthase expression system and components thereof are detailed in PCT publications: WO87/04462; WO86/05807; WO89/01036; WO89/10404; and WO91/06657 which are incorporated in their entireties by reference herein. Additionally, glutamine synthase expression vectors that may be used according to the present invention are commercially available from suppliers, including, for example Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Portsmouth, N.H.). Expression and production of monoclonal antibodies using a GS expression system in murine myeloma cells is described in Bebbington at al., Bio/technology 10:169 (1992) and in Biblia and Robinson Biotechnol. Prog. 11:1 (1995) which are incorporated in their entireties by reference herein.

The host cell may be co-transfected with two expression vectors of the invention, the first vector encoding a heavy chain derived polypeptide and the second vector encoding a light chain derived polypeptide. The two vectors may contain identical selectable markers which enable equal expression of heavy and light chain polypeptides. Alternatively, a single vector may be used which encodes, and is capable of expressing, both heavy and light chain polypeptides. In such situations, the light chain should be placed before the heavy chain to avoid an excess of toxic free heavy chain (Proudfoot, Nature 322:52 (1986); Kohler, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:2197 (1980)). The coding sequences for the heavy and light chains may comprise cDNA or genomic DNA.

Once an antibody molecule of the invention has been produced by an animal, chemically synthesized, or recombinantly expressed, it may be purified by any method known in the art for purification of an immunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigen after Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation, differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for the purification of proteins. In addition, the antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention or fragments thereof can be fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences described herein or otherwise known in the art, to facilitate purification.

Modifications of Antibodies

Antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein or fragments or variants can be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide to facilitate purification. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acid sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector (QIAGEN, Inc 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311), among others, many of which are commercially available. As described in Gentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), for instance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of the fusion protein. Other peptide tags useful for purification include, but are not limited to, the “HA” tag, which corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)) and the “flag” tag.

The present invention further encompasses antibodies or fragments thereof conjugated to a diagnostic or therapeutic agent. The antibodies can be used diagnostically to, for example, monitor the development or progression of a tumor as part of a clinical testing procedure to, e.g., determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can be facilitated by coupling the antibody to a detectable substance. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, radioactive materials, positron emitting metals using various positron emission tomographies, and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. The detectable substance may be coupled or conjugated either directly to the antibody (or fragment thereof) or indirectly, through an intermediate (such as, for example, a linker known in the art) using techniques known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 for metal ions which can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics according to the present invention. Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylchohnesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes lumina, examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin; and examples of suitable radioactive material include 125I, 131I, 111In or 99Tc. Other examples of detectable substances have been described elsewhere herein.

Further, an antibody of the invention may be conjugated to a therapeutic moiety such as a cytotoxin, e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidal agent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g., alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213Bi. A cytotoxin or cytotoxic agent includes any agent that is detrimental to cells. Examples include paclitaxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogs or homologs thereof. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g., mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine).

The conjugates of the invention can be used for modifying a given biological response, the therapeutic agent or drug moiety is not to be construed as limited to classical chemical therapeutic agents. For example, the drug moiety may be a protein or polypeptide possessing a desired biological activity. Such proteins may include, for example, a toxin such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria toxin; a protein such as tumor necrosis factor, alpha-interferon, β-interferon, nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, tissue plasminogen activator, an apoptotic agent, e.g., TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, AIM I (See, International Publication No. WO 97/33899), AIM II (See, International Publication No. WO 97/34911), Fas Ligand (Takahashi et al., lot. Immunol., 6:1567-1574 (1994)), VEGI (See, international Publication No. WO 99/23105), a thrombotic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent, e.g., angiostatin or endostatin; or, biological response modifiers such as, for example, lymphokines, interleukin-1 (“IL-1”), interleukin-2 (“IL-2”), interleukin-6 (“IL-6”); granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (“GM-CSF”), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (“G-CSF”), or other growth factors.

Antibodies may also be attached to solid supports, which are particularly useful for immunoassays or purification of the target antigen. Such solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass, cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene.

Techniques for conjugating such therapeutic moiety to antibodies are well known. See, for example, Arnon et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies For Immunotargeting Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies And Cancer Therapy, Reisfeld et al. (eds.), pp. 243-56 (Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1985); Hellstrom et al., “Antibodies For Drug Delivery”, in Controlled Drug Delivery (2nd Ed.), Robinson et al. (eds.), pp. 623-53 (Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1987); Thorpe, “Antibody Carriers Of Cytotoxic Agents In Cancer Therapy: A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies '84: Biological And Clinical Applications, Pinchera et al. (eds.), pp. 475-506 (1985); “Analysis, Results, And Future Prospective Of The Therapeutic Use Of Radiolabeled Antibody In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies For Cancer Detection And Therapy, Baldwin et al. (eds.), pp. 303-16 (Academic Press 1985), and Thorpe et al., “The Preparation And Cytotoxic Properties Of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates”, Immunol. Rev. 62:119-58 (1982).

Alternatively, an antibody can be conjugated to a second antibody to form an antibody heteroconjugate as described by Segal in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

An antibody, with or without a therapeutic moiety conjugated to it, administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic factor(s) and/or cytokine(s) can be used as a therapeutic.

Antibody-Albumin Fusion

Antibodies that bind to a Therapeutic protein and that may correspond to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein X” column of Table 1, or a fragment or variant thereof.

In specific embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VH domain. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, one, two or three VH CDRs. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VH CDRs. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VH CDR2. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VH CDR3.

In specific embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VL domain. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, one, two or three VL CDRs. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VL CDRs. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VL CDR2. In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, the VL CDR3.

In other embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody than immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, one, two, three, four, five, or six VH and/or VL CDRs.

In preferred embodiments, the fragment or variant of an antibody that immunospecifically binds a Therapeutic protein and that corresponds to a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein comprises, or alternatively consists of, an scFv comprising the VH domain of the Therapeutic antibody, linked to the VL domain of the therapeutic antibody by a peptide linker such as (Gly4Ser)3 (SEQ ID NO:378).

Immunophenotyping

The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) may be utilized for immunophenotyping of cell lines and biological samples. Therapeutic proteins of the present invention may be useful as cell-specific markers, or more specifically as cellular markers that are differentially expressed at various stages of differentiation and/in maturation of particular cell types. Monoclonal antibodies (or albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) directed against a specific epitope, or combination of epitopes, will allow for the screening of cellular populations expressing the marker. Various techniques can be utilized using monoclonal antibodies (or albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) to screen for cellular populations expressing the marker(s), and include magnetic separation using antibody-coated magnetic beads, “panning” with antibody attached to a solid matrix (i.e., plate), and flow cytometry (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,660; and Morrison et al., Cell, 96:737-49 (1999)).

These techniques allow for the screening of particular populations of cells, such as might be found with hematological malignancies (i.e., minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemic patients) and “non-self” cells in transplantations to prevent Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD). Alternatively, these techniques allow for the screening of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells capable of undergoing proliferation and/or differentiation, as might be found in human umbilical cord blood.

Characterizing Antibodies that Bind a Therapeutic Protein and Albumin Fusion Proteins Comprising a Fragment or Variant of an Antibody that Binds a Therapeutic Protein

The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) may be characterized in a variety of ways. In particular, Albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be assayed for the ability to specifically bind to the same antigens specifically bound by the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein corresponding to the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein using techniques described herein or routinely modifying techniques known in the art.

Assays for the ability of the antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) to (specifically) bind a specific protein or epitope may be performed in solution (e.g., Houghten, Bio/Techniques 13:412-421 (1992)), on beads (e.g., Lam, Nature 354:82-84 (1991)), on chips (e.g., Fodor, Nature 364:555-556 (1993)), on bacteria (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), on spores (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,698; 5,403,484; and 5,223,409), on plasmids (e.g., Cull et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 8, 9:1865-1869 (1992)) or on phage (e.g., Scott and Smith, Science 249:386-390 (1990); Devlin, Science 249:404-406 (1990); Cwirla et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6378-6382 (1990); and Felici, J. Mol. Biol. 222:301-310 (1991)) (each of these references is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) may also be assayed for their specificity and affinity for a specific protein or epitope using or routinely modifying techniques described herein or otherwise known the art.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be assayed for cross-reactivity with other antigens (e.g., molecules that have sequence/structure conservation with the molecule(s) specifically bound by the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein of the invention) by any method known in the art.

Immunoassays which can be used to analyze (immunospecific) binding and cross-reactivity include, but are not limited to, competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescent immunoassays, and protein A immunoassays, to name, but a few. Such assays are routine and well known in the art (see, e.g., Ausubel at al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Exemplary immunoassays are described briefly below (but are not intended by way of limitation).

Immunoprecipitation protocols generally comprise lysing a population of cells in a lysis buffer such as RIPA buffer (1% NP-40 or Triton X-100, 1% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS. 0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 M sodium phosphate at pH 7.2, 1% Trasylol) supplemented with protein phosphatase and/or protease inhibitors (e.g., EDTA, PMSF, aprotinin, sodium vanadate), adding an antibody of the invention or albumin fusion protein of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) to the cell lysate, incubating for a period of time (e.g., 1 to 4 hours) at 40 degrees C., adding protein A and/or protein G sepharose beads (or beads coated with an appropriate anti-idiotypic antibody or anti-albumin antibody in the ease when an albumin fusion protein comprising at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody) to the cell lysate, incubating for about an hour or more at 40 degrees C., washing the beads in lysis buffer and resuspending the beads in SDS/sample buffer. The ability of the antibody or albumin fusion protein of the invention to immunoprecipitate a particular antigen can be assessed by, e.g., western blot analysis. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the binding of the antibody or albumin fusion protein to an antigen and decrease the background (e.g., pre-clearing the cell lysate with sepharose beads). For further discussion regarding immunoprecipitation protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.16.1.

Western blot analysis generally comprises preparing protein samples, electrophoresis of the protein samples in a polyacrylamide gel (e.g., 8%-20% SDS-PAGE depending on the molecular weight of the antigen), transferring the protein sample from the polyacrylamide gel to a membrane such as nitrocellulose, PVDF or nylon, blocking the membrane in blocking solution (e.g., PBS with 3% BSA or non-fat milk), washing the membrane in washing buffer (e.g., PBS-Tween 20), applying the antibody or albumin fusion protein of the invention (diluted in blocking buffer) to the membrane, washing the membrane in washing buffer, applying a secondary antibody (which recognizes the albumin fusion protein, e.g., an anti-human serum albumin antibody) conjugated to an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) or radioactive molecule (e.g., 32P or 125I) diluted in blocking buffer, washing the membrane in wash buffer, and detecting the presence of the antigen. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected and to reduce the background noise. For further discussion regarding western blot protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.8.1.

ELISAs comprise preparing antigen, coating the well of a 96-well microtiter plate with the antigen, washing away antigen that did not bind the wells, adding the antibody or albumin fusion protein (comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein) of the invention conjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) to the wells and incubating for a period of time, washing away unbound or non-specifically bound albumin fusion proteins, and detecting the presence of the antibody or albumin fusion proteins specifically bound to the antigen coating the well. In ELISAs the antibody or albumin fusion protein does not have to be conjugated to a detectable compound; instead, a second antibody (which recognizes the antibody or albumin fusion protein, respectively) conjugated to a detectable compound may be added to the well. Further, instead of coating the well with the antigen, antibody or the albumin fusion protein may be coated to the well. In this case, the detectable molecule could be the antigen conjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase). One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected as well as other variations of ELISAs known in the art. For further discussion regarding ELISAs see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 11.2.1.

The binding affinity of an albumin fusion protein to a protein, antigen, or epitope and the off-rate of an antibody- or albumin fusion protein-protein/antigen/epitope interaction can be determined by competitive binding assays. One example of a competitive binding assay is a radioimmunoassay comprising the incubation of labeled antigen (e.g., 3H or 125I) with the antibody or albumin fusion protein of the invention in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabeled antigen, and the detection of the antibody bound to the labeled antigen. The affinity of the antibody or albumin fusion protein of the invention for a specific protein, antigen, or epitope and the binding off-rates can be determined from the data by Scatchard plot analysis. Competition with a second protein that binds the same protein, antigen or epitope as the antibody or albumin fusion protein, can also be determined using radioimmunoassays. In this ease, the protein, antigen or epitope is incubated with an antibody or albumin fusion protein of the invention conjugated to a labeled compound (e.g., 5H or 125I) in the presence of increasing amounts of an unlabeled second protein that binds the same protein, antigen, or epitope as the albumin fusion protein of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, BIAcore kinetic analysis is used to determine the binding on and off rates of antibody or albumin fusion proteins of the invention to a protein, antigen or epitope. BIAcore kinetic analysis comprises analyzing the binding and dissociation of antibodies, albumin fusion proteins, or specific polypeptides, antigens or epitopes from chips with immobilized specific polypeptides, antigens or epitopes, antibodies or albumin fusion proteins, respectively, on their surface.

Therapeutic Uses

The present invention is further directed to antibody-based therapies which involve administering antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein to an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, patient for treating one or more of the disclosed diseases, disorders, or conditions. Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof as described herein), nucleic acids encoding antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof and anti-idiotypic antibodies as described herein), albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, and nucleic acids encoding such albumin fusion proteins. The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein can be used to treat, inhibit or prevent diseases, disorders or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditions described herein. The treatment and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein includes, but is not limited to, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases, disorders or conditions, antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or as described herein.

In a specific and preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to antibody-based therapies which involve administering antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein to an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, patient for treating one or more diseases, disorders, or conditions, including but not limited to: neural disorders, immune system disorders, muscular disorders, reproductive disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular disorders, renal disorders, proliferative disorders, and/or cancerous diseases and conditions, and/or as described elsewhere herein. Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, antibodies of the invention (e.g., antibodies directed to the full length protein expressed on the cell surface of a mammalian cell; antibodies directed to an epitope of a Therapeutic protein and nucleic acids encoding antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof and anti-idiotypic antibodies as described herein). The antibodies of the invention can be used to treat, inhibit or prevent diseases, disorders or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditions described herein. The treatment and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein includes, but is not limited to, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases, disorders or conditions. Antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or as described herein.

A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be used therapeutically includes binding Therapeutic proteins locally or systemically in the body or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated by complement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approaches are described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use the antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein for diagnostic, monitoring or therapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be advantageously utilized in combination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or with lymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors (such as, e.g., IL-2, IL-3 and IL-7), for example, which serve to increase the number or activity of effector cells which interact with the antibodies.

The antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein may be administered alone or in combination with other types of treatments (e.g., radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and anti-tumor agents). Generally, administration of products of a species origin or species reactivity (in the case of antibodies) that is the same species as that of the patient is preferred. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, human antibodies, fragments derivatives, analogs, or nucleic acids, are administered to a human patient for therapy or prophylaxis.

It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivo inhibiting and/or neutralizing antibodies against Therapeutic proteins, fragments or regions thereof, (or the albumin fusion protein tam relate of such an antibody) for both immunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related to polynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragments thereof, of the present invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, will preferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention, including fragments thereof. Preferred binding affinities include dissociation constants or Kd's less than 5×10−2 M, 10−2 M, 5×10−3 M, 10−3 M, 5×10−4 M, 10−4 M. More preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−5 M, 10−5 M, 5×10−6 M, 10−6M, 5×10−7 M, 107 M, 5×10−8 M or 10−8 M. Even more preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10−9 M, 10−9 M, 5×10−10 M, 10−10 M, 5×10−11 M, 10−11, 5×10−12 M, 10−12 M, 5×10−13 M, 10−13 M, 5×10−14 M, 10−14 M, 5×10−15 M, or 10−15 M.

Gene Therapy

In a specific embodiment, nucleic acids comprising sequences encoding antibodies that bind therapeutic proteins or albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein are administered to treat, inhibit or prevent a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein, by way of gene therapy. Gene therapy refers to therapy performed by the administration to a subject of an expressed or expressible nucleic acid. In this embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acids produce their encoded protein that mediates a therapeutic effect.

Any of the methods for gene therapy available in the art can be used according to the present invention. Exemplary methods are described in more detail elsewhere in this application.

Demonstration of Therapeutic or Prophylactic Activity

The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are preferably tested in vitro, and then in vivo for the desired therapeutic or prophylactic activity, prior to use in humans, for example, in vitro assays to demonstrate the therapeutic or prophylactic utility of a compound or pharmaceutical composition include, the effect of a compound on a cell line or a patient tissue sample. The effect of the compound or composition on the cell line and/or tissue sample can be determined utilizing techniques known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited to, rosette formation assays and cell lysis assays. In accordance with the invention, in vitro assays which can be used to determine whether administration of a specific compound is indicated, include in vitro cell culture assays in which a patient tissue sample is grown in culture, and exposed to or otherwise administered a compound, and the effect of such compound upon the tissue sample is observed.

Therapeutic/Prophylactic Administration and Composition

The invention provides methods of treatment, inhibition and prophylaxis by administration to a subject of an effective amount of a compound or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, preferably an antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the compound is substantially purified (e.g., substantially free from substances that limit its effect or produce undesired side-effects). The subject is preferably an animal, including but not limited to animals such as cows, pigs, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, etc., and is preferably a mammal, and most preferably human.

Formulations and methods of administration that can be employed when the compound comprises a nucleic acid or an immunoglobulin are described above; additional appropriate formulations and routes of administration can be selected from among those described herein below.

Various delivery systems are known and can be used to administer a compound of the invention, e.g., encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable of expressing the compound, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g., Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4-432 (1987)), construction of a nucleic acid as part of a retroviral or other vector, etc. Methods of introduction include but are not limited to, intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, and oral routes. The compounds or compositions may be administered by any convenient route, for example by infusion or bolus injection, by absorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e.g., oral mucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administered together with other biologically active agents. Administration can be systemic or local. In addition, it may be desirable to introduce the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention into the central nervous system by any suitable route, including intraventricular and intrathecal injection; intraventricular injection may be facilitated by an intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to a reservoir, such as an Ommaya reservoir. Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent.

In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention locally to the area in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and not by way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topical application, e.g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery, by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or by means of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes, or fibers. Preferably, when administering a protein, including an antibody, of the invention, care must be taken to use materials to which the protein does not absorb.

In another embodiment, the compound or composition can be delivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science 249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327; see generally ibid.)

In yet another embodiment, the compound or composition can be delivered in a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref, Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used (see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla. (1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, New York (1984); Ranger et al., J. Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61 (1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228:190 (1985); During et al., Ann. Neurol. 25:351 (1989); Howard et al., J. Neurosurg. 71:105 (1989)). In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target, e.g., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)).

Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

In a specific embodiment where the compound of the invention is a nucleic acid encoding a protein, the nucleic acid can be administered in vivo to promote expression of its encoded protein, by constructing it as part of an appropriate nucleic acid expression vector and administering it so that it becomes intracellular, e.g., by use of a retroviral vector (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or by direct injection, or by use of microparticle bombardment (e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids or cell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, or by administering it in linkage to a homeobox-like peptide which is known to enter the nucleus (see e.g., Joliot et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:1864-1868 (1991)), etc. Alternatively, a nucleic acid can be introduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNA for expression, by homologous recombination.

The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly in humans. The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water is a preferred carrier when the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. The composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E.W. Martin. Such compositions will contain a therapeutically effective amount of the compound, preferably in purified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper administration to the patient. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated in accordance with routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition adapted for intravenous administration to human beings. Typically, compositions for intravenous administration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such as lignocaine to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of active agent. Where the composition is to be administered by infusion, it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where the composition is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to administration.

The compounds of the invention can be formulated as neutral or salt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed with anions such as those derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic, oxalic, tartaric acids, etc., and those formed with cations such as those derived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferric hydroxides, isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, procaine, etc.

The amount of the compound of the invention which will be effective in the treatment, inhibition and prevention of a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a Therapeutic protein can be determined by standard clinical techniques. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed in the formulation will also depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the disease or disorder, and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances. Effective doses may be extrapolated from dose-response curves derived from in vitro or animal model test systems.

For antibodies, the dosage administered to a patient is typically 0.1 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Preferably, the dosage administered to a patient is between 0.1 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of the patient's body weight, more preferably 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Generally, human antibodies have a longer half-life within the human body than antibodies from other species due to the immune response to the foreign polypeptides. Thus, lower dosages of human antibodies and less frequent administration is often possible. Further, the dosage and frequency of administration of antibodies of the invention may be reduced by enhancing uptake and tissue penetration (e.g., into the brain) of the antibodies by modifications such as, for example, lipidation.

Diagnosis and Imaging

Labeled antibodies and derivatives and analogs thereof that bind a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) (including albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein), can be used for diagnostic purposes to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with the aberrant expression and/or activity of the Therapeutic protein or fragments or variants thereof. The invention provides for the detection of aberrant expression of a Therapeutic protein, comprising (a) assaying the expression of the Therapeutic protein in cells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodies specific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed Therapeutic protein expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of aberrant expression.

The invention provides a diagnostic assay for diagnosing a disorder, comprising (a) assaying the expression of the Therapeutic protein in cells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodies specific to the Therapeutic protein or albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment of variant of an antibody specific to a Therapeutic protein, and (b) comparing the level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed Therapeutic protein gene expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of a particular disorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively high amount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicate a predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide a means for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actual clinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allow health professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressive treatment earlier thereby preventing the development or further progression of the cancer.

Antibodies of the invention or albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment of variant of an antibody specific to a Therapeutic protein can be used to assay protein levels in a biological sample using classical immunohistological methods known to those of skill in the art (e.g., see Jalkanen et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen et al., J. Cell Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase; radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99Tc); luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

One facet of the invention is the detection and diagnosis of a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of a Therapeutic protein or fragment or variant thereof in an animal, preferably a mammal and most preferably a human. In one embodiment, diagnosis comprises: (a) administering (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally) to a subject an effective amount of a labeled molecule which specifically binds to the polypeptide of interest; (b) waiting for a time interval following the administering for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentially concentrate at sites in the subject where the Therapeutic protein is expressed (and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared to background level); (c) determining background level; and (d) detecting the labeled molecule in the subject, such that detection of labeled molecule above the background level indicates that the subject has a particular disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of the therapeutic protein. Background level can be determined by various methods including, comparing the amount of labeled molecule detected to a standard value previously determined for a particular system.

It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99 mTc. The labeled antibody or antibody fragment, or albumin fusion protein comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein will then preferentially accumulate at the location of cells which contain the specific Therapeutic protein. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)).

Depending on several variables, including the type of label used and the mode of administration, the time interval following the administration for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentially concentrate at sites in the subject and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared to background level is 6 to 48 hours or 6 to 24 hours or 6 CO 12 hours. In another embodiment the time interval following administration is 5 to 20 days or 5 to 10 days.

In an embodiment, monitoring of the disease or disorder is carried out by repeating the method for diagnosing the disease or disease, for example, one month after initial diagnosis, six months after initial diagnosis, one year after initial diagnosis, etc.

Presence of the labeled molecule can be detected in the patient using methods known in the art for in vivo scanning. These methods depend upon the type of label used. Skilled artisans will be able to determine the appropriate method for detecting a particular label. Methods and devices that may be used in the diagnostic methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, computed tomography (CT), whole body scan such as position emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sonography.

In a specific embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a radioisotope and is detected in the patient using a radiation responsive surgical instrument (Thurston et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,050). In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a fluorescent compound and is detected in the patient using a fluorescence responsive scanning instrument. In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a positron emitting metal and is detected in the patent using positron emission-tomography. In yet another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a paramagnetic, label and is detected in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Antibodies that specifically detect the albumin fusion protein but not albumin or the therapeutic protein alone are a preferred embodiment. These can be used to detect the albumin fusion protein as described throughout the specification.

Kits

The present invention provides kits that can be used in the above methods. In one embodiment, a kit comprises an antibody, preferably a purified antibody, in one or more containers. In a specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain a substantially isolated polypeptide comprising an epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with an antibody included in the kit. Preferably, the kits of the present invention further comprise a control antibody which does not react with the polypeptide of interest. In another specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain a means for detecting the binding of an antibody to a polypeptide of interest (e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substrate such as a fluorescent compound, an enzymatic substrate, a radioactive compound or a luminescent compound, or a second antibody which recognizes the first antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substrate).

In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the kit is a diagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antibodies specific against proliferative and/or cancerous polynucleotides and polypeptides. Such a kit may include a control antibody that does not react with the polypeptide of interest. Such a kit may include a substantially isolated polypeptide antigen comprising an epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with at least one anti-polypeptide antigen antibody. Further, such a kit includes means for detecting the binding of said antibody to the antigen (e.g. the antibody may be conjugated to a fluorescent compound such as fluorescein or rhodamine which can be detected by flow cytometry). In specific embodiments, the kit may include a recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized polypeptide antigen. The polypeptide antigen of the kit may also be attached to a solid support.

In a more specific embodiment the detecting means of the above-described kit includes a solid support to which said polypeptide antigen is attached. Such a kit may also include a non-attached reporter-labeled anti-human antibody. In this embodiment, binding of the antibody to the polypeptide antigen can be detected by binding of the said reporter-labeled antibody.

In an additional embodiment, the invention includes a diagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antigens of the polypeptide of the invention. The diagnostic kit includes a substantially isolated antibody specifically immunoreactive with polypeptide or polynucleotide antigens, and means for detecting the binding of the polynucleotide or polypeptide antigen to the antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody is attached to a solid support. In a specific embodiment, the antibody may be a monoclonal antibody. The detecting means of the kit may include a second, labeled monoclonal antibody. Alternatively, or in addition, the detecting means may include a labeled, competing antigen.

In one diagnostic configuration, test serum is reacted with a solid phase reagent having a surface-bound antigen obtained by the methods of the present invention. After binding with specific antigen antibody to the reagent and removing unbound serum components by washing, the reagent is reacted with reporter-labeled anti-human antibody to bind reporter to the reagent in proportion to the amount of bound anti-antigen antibody on the solid support. The reagent is again washed to remove unbound labeled antibody, and the amount of reporter associated with the reagent is determined. Typically, the reporter is an enzyme which is detected by incubating the solid phase in the presence of a suitable fluorometric, luminescent or calorimetric substrate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.).

The solid surface reagent in the above assay is prepared by known techniques for attaching protein material to solid support material, such as polymeric beads, dip sticks, 96-well plate or filter material. These attachment methods generally include non-specific adsorption of the protein to the support or covalent attachment of the protein, typically through a free amine group, to a chemically reactive group on the solid support, such as an activated carboxyl, hydroxyl, or aldehyde group. Alternatively, streptavidin coated plates can be used in conjunction with biotinylated antigen(s).

Thus, the invention provides an assay system or kit for carrying out this diagnostic method. The kit generally includes a support with surface-bound recombinant antigens, and a reporter-labeled anti-human antibody for detecting surface-bound anti-antigen antibody.

Albumin Fusion Proteins

The present invention relates generally to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a metabolic/endocrine disease or disorder. In other embodiments, the present invention relates to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a disease, disorder, and/or condition associated with aberrant insulin secretion and/or action. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a disease, disorder, and/or condition associated with diabetes. In a highly preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing Type II Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) and/or a condition associated with NIDDM. In another highly preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing Type I insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and/or a condition associated with IDDM.

In further embodiments, the present invention relates to albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a condition including, but not limited to, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hyperketonuria, retinopathy (e.g., diabetic retinopathy), mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, atherosclerosis, ulcers, heart disease, stroke, anemia, gangrene (e.g., of the feet and hands), impotence, infection, cataract, poor kidney function, malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system, impaired white blood cell function, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

As used herein, “albumin fusion protein” refers to a protein formed by the fusion of at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) to at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof). An albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and at least a fragment or variant of human serum albumin, which are associated with one another, preferably by genetic fusion (i.e., the albumin fusion protein is generated by translation of a nucleic acid in which a polynucleotide encoding all or a portion of a Therapeutic protein is joined in-frame with a polynucleotide encoding all or a portion of albumin). The Therapeutic protein and albumin protein, once part of the albumin fusion protein, may each be referred to as a “portion”, “region” or “moiety” of the albumin fusion protein.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 1 or Table 2. Polynucleotides encoding these albumin fusion proteins are also encompassed by the invention.

Preferred albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, albumin fusion proteins encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of: a polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof); a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) generated as described in Table 2 or in the Examples; or a nucleic acid molecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of albumin (or a fragment or variant thereof) joined in frame to at least one polynucleotide encoding at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof), further comprising, or alternatively consisting of, for example, one or more of the following elements: (1) a functional self-replicating vector (including but not limited to, a shuttle vector, an expression vector, an integration vector, and/or a replication system), (2) a region for initiation of transcription (e.g., a promoter region, such as for example, a regulatable or inducible promoter, a constitutive promoter), (3) a region for termination of transcription, (4) a leader sequence, and (5) a selectable marker.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising at least one molecule of a Therapeutic protein disclosed in Table 1. In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein disclosed in Table 1. In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising a mature polypeptide sequence of a Therapeutic protein disclosed in Table 1. In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising at least one human serum albumin polypeptide sequence. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising at least a fragment or variant of human serum albumin. In a still further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising a mature human albumin polypeptide sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein encoded by a polynucleotide or albumin fusion construct described in Table 2.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein (e.g., as described in Table 1) and a serum albumin protein. In other embodiments, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment of a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. In other embodiments, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active variant of a Therapeutic protein and a serum albumin protein. By “biologically active” and/or “therapeutically active” fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein of the invention is meant a polypeptide that possesses one or more known biological and/or therapeutic activities associated with a therapeutic protein such as one or more of the Therapeutic proteins described herein or otherwise known in the art (e.g., as described in columns 2 or 4 of Table 1 for a particular reference protein, and/or below under section heading “Biological Activities”). Biological and/or therapeutic activity of a fusion protein, or a Therapeutic protein, or a fragment or variant thereof, may routinely be determined using assays described herein (e.g., in Table, 1, column 3, and/or the Examples section) and/or by using or routinely modifying assays/methods known in the art. In preferred embodiments, the serum albumin protein component of the albumin fusion protein is the mature portion of serum albumin.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein, and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment of serum albumin. By “biologically active” and/or “therapeutically active” fragment or variant of human serum albumin is meant a polypeptide that possesses one or more known biological and/or therapeutic activities associated with human serum albumin such as maintaining osmolarity (Yeh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:1904-1908 (1992)), slow in viva clearance from the circulation by the liver and, therefore, a long half-life (Yeh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:1904-1908 (1992); Waldmann, T. A., Albumin Structure, Function and Uses, pp. 255-273 (1977)), and a carrier. In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a Therapeutic protein and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active variant of serum albumin. In a preferred embodiment, the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is the mature portion of the Therapeutic protein.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment or variant of a Therapeutic protein and a biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragment or variant of serum albumin. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an albumin fusion protein comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the mature portion of a therapeutic protein and the mature portion of serum albumin.

In a preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein comprises HA as the N-terminal portion, and a Therapeutic protein as the C-terminal portion. In alternative preferred embodiments, an albumin fusion protein comprises HA as the C-terminal portion, and a Therapeutic protein as the N-terminal portion may also be used.

In another embodiment, the albumin fusion protein has a Therapeutic protein fused to both the N-terminus and the C-terminus of albumin. In one embodiment, the Therapeutic proteins fused at the N- and C-termini are the same Therapeutic protein. In another embodiment, the fragments or variants of Therapeutic proteins fused at the N- and C-termini are from the same Therapeutic protein. In an alternative embodiment, the Therapeutic proteins fused at the N- and C-termini are different Therapeutic proteins. In a preferred embodiment, where the Therapeutic proteins fused at the N- and C-termini are different Therapeutic proteins, these Therapeutic proteins are useful in treating or preventing the same or related disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. as listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1). En another preferred embodiment, the Therapeutic proteins fused at the N- and C-termini are different Therapeutic proteins which may be used to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent diseases or disorders (e.g. as listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1) which are known in the art to commonly occur in patients simultaneously, concurrently, or consecutively, and/or which commonly mew in patients in association with one another.

For example, albumin fusion proteins of the invention containing multiple Therapeutic protein portions fused at the N- and C-termini of albumin may include, but are not limited to, GLP1-HSA-GLP-1, GLP1-HSA-Exendin 4, Exendin 4-HSA-Exendin 4, Exendin 4-HSA-GLP1, GLP1-HSA-Insulin, Exendin 4-HSA-Insulin, Insulin-HSA-Insulin, Insulin-HSA-GLP1, Insulin-HSA-Exendin 4, GLP1-HSA-Resistin, Exendin 4-HSA-Resistin, Insulin-HSA-Resistin, Resistin-HSA-Resistin, Resistin-HSA-GLP1, Resistin-HSA-Exendin 4, Resistin-HSA-Insulin, GLP1-HSA-Leptin, Exendin 4-HSA-Leptin, Insulin-HSA-Leptin, Resistin-HSA-Leptin, Leptin-HSA-Leptin, Leptin-HSA GLP1, Leptin-HSA-Exendin 4, Leptin-HSA-Insulin, Leptin-HSA-Resistin, GLP1-HSA-IGF1, IGF1-HSA-IGF1, Exendin 4-HSA-IGF1, Resistin-HSA-IGF1, Leptin-HSA-IGF1, IGF1-HSA-GLP1, IGF1-HSA-Exendin 4, IGF1-HSA-Insulin, IGF1-HSA-Resistin, IGF1-HSA-Leptin, HCEIP80-HSA-HCEIP80, IGF1-HSA-HCEIP80, GLF1-HSA-HCEIP80, Exendin 4-HSA-HCEIP80, Insulin-HSA-HCEIP80, Resistin-HSA-HCEIP80, Leptin-HSA-HCEIP80, HCEIP80-HSA-IGF1, HCEIP80-HSA-GLP1, HCEIP80-HSA-Exendin 4, HCEIP80-HSA-Insulin, HCEIP80-HSA-Resistin, HCEIP80-HSA-Leptin, HCEIP80-HSA-HLDOU18, IGF1-HSA-HLDOU18, GLP1-HSA-HLDOU18, Exendin 4-HSA-HLDOU18, Insulin-HSA-HLDOU18, Resistin-HSA-HLDOU18, Leptin-HSA-HLDOU18, HLDOU18-HSA-HCEIP80, HLDOU18-HSA-GLP1, HLDOU18-HSA-GLP1, HLDOU18-HSA-Exendin 4, HLDOU18-HSA-Insulin, HLDOU18-HSA-Resistin, HLDOU18-HSA-Leptin, and HLDOU18-HSA-HLDOU18, HCEIP80-HSA-RegIV, IGF1-HSA-RegIV, GLP1-HSA-RegIV, Exendin 4-HSA-RegIV, Insulin-HSA-RegIV, Resistin-HSA-RegIV, Leptin-HSA-RegIV, HLDOU18-HSA-RegIV, RegIV-HSA-HCEIP80, RegIV-HSA-IGF1, RegIV-HSA-GLP1, RegIV-HSA-Exendin 4, RegIV-HSA-Insulin, RegIV-HSA-Resistin, RegIV-HSA-Leptin, RegIV-HSA-HLDOU18, RegIV-HSA-RegIV, HCEIP80-HSA-HDRMI82, IGF1-HSA-HDRMI82, GLP1-HSA-HDRMI82, Exendin 4-HSA-HDRMI82, Insulin-HSA-HDRMI82, Resistin-HSA-HDRMI82, Leptin-HSA-HDRMI82, HLDOU18-HSA-HDRMI82, RegIV-HSA-HDRMI82, HDRMI82-HSA-HCEIP80, HDRMI82-HSA-IGF1, HDRMI82-HSA-GLP1, HDRMI82-HSA-Exendin 4, HDRMI82-HSA-Insulin, HDRMI82-HSA-Resistin, HDRMI82-HSA-Leptin, HDRMI82-HSA-HLDOU18, HDRMI82-HSA-RegIV, HDRMI82-HSA-HDRMI82, HCEIP80-HSA-IFNa, IGF1-HSA-IFNa, GLP1-HSA-IFNa, Exendin 4-HSA-IFNa, insulin-HSA-IFNa, Resistin-HSA-IFNa, Leptin-HSA-IFNa, HLDOU18-HSA-IFNa, RegIV-HSA-IFNa, HDRMI82-HSA-IFNa, IFNa-HSA-HCEIP80, IFNa-HSA-IGF1, IFNa-HSA-GLP1, IFNa-HSA-Exendin 4, IFNa-HSA-Insulin, IFNa-HSA-Resistin, IFNa-HSA-Leptin, IFNa-HSA-HLDOU18, IFNa-HSA-RegIV, IFNa-HSA-HDRMI82, IFNa-HSA-IFNa, IL22-HSA-IL-22, IL22-HSA-insulin, IL22-HSA-GLP-1, IL22-HSA-Exendin-4, IL22-HSA-HLDOU18, IL22-HSA-Resistin, IL22-HSA-Leptin, IL22-HSA-HCEIP80, IL22-HSA-IGF1, IL22-HSA-IFNa, IL22-HSA-RegIV, IL22-HSA-HDRMI82, insulin-HSA-IL22, GLP1-HSA-IL22, Exendin-4-HSA-IL22, HLDOU18-HSA-IL22, Resistin-HSA-IL22, Leptin-HSA-IL22, HCEIP80-IL22, IGF1-HSA-IL22, IFNa-HSA-IL22, RegIV-HSA-IL22, and HDRMI82-HSA-IL22.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention encompass proteins containing one, two, three, four, or more molecules of a given Therapeutic protein X or variant thereof fused to the N- or C-terminus of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, and/or to the N- and/or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof. Molecules of a given Therapeutic protein X or variants thereof may be in any number of orientations, including, but not limited to, a ‘head to head’ orientation (e.g., wherein the N-terminus of one molecule of a Therapeutic protein X is fused to the N-terminus of another molecule of the Therapeutic protein X), or a ‘head to tail’ orientation (e.g., wherein the C-terminus of one molecule of a Therapeutic protein X is fused to the N-terminus of another molecule of Therapeutic protein X).

In one embodiment, one, two, three, or more tandemly oriented Therapeutic protein X polypeptides (or fragments or variants thereof) are fused to the N- or C-terminus of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, and/or to the N- and/or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof.

In a specific embodiment, one, two, three, four, five, or more tandemly oriented molecules of GLP1 are fused to the N- or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof. For example, one, two, three, four, five, or more tandemly oriented molecules of GLP1 (including, but not limited to, molecules of GLP1 comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acids His-98 to Arg-127) are fused to the N- or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof. Exemplary fusion proteins of the invention containing multiple protein portions of GLP1, include, but are not limited to, GLP1-GLP1-HSA, HSA-GLP1-GLP1, GLP1-GLP1-GLP1-HSA, HSA-GLP1-GLP1-GLP1, GLP1-GLP1-GLP1-GLP1-HSA, HSA-GLP1-GLP1-GLF1-GLP1.

In another specific embodiment, one, two, three, four, five, or more tandemly oriented molecules of GLP-1 are fused to the N- or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof. For example, one, two, three, four, five, or more tandemly oriented molecules of GLP-1 (including, but not limited to, molecules of GLP-1 comprising, or alternatively consisting of, amino acids 7 to 36, with residue 8 being mutated from an Alanine to a Glycine) (See for Example, the mutants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,618, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety) are fused to the N- or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof. Exemplary fusion proteins of the invention containing multiple protein portions of GLP-1, include, but are not limited to, GL1-GLP1-HSA, HSA-GLP1-GLP1, GLP1mutant-GLP1mutant-HSA, HSA-GLP1mutant-GLP1mutant, GLP1mutant-GLP1-HSA, HSA-GLP1mutant-GLP1, GLP1-GLP1mutant-HSA, or HSA-GLP1-GLP1mutant. Particularly preferred embodiments are GLP-1 tandem fusions such as construct ID #3070 and the protein encoded by such construct.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention further encompass proteins containing one, two, three, four, or more molecules of a given Therapeutic protein X or variant thereof fused to the N- or C-terminus of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, and/or to the N- and/or C-terminus of albumin or variant thereof, wherein the molecules are joined through peptide linkers. Examples include those peptide tinkers described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,627 (hereby incorporated by reference). Albumin fusion proteins comprising multiple Therapeutic protein X polypeptides separated by peptide linkers may be produced using conventional recombinant DNA technology. Linkers are particularly important when fusing a small peptide to the large HSA molecule. The peptide itself can be a linker by fusing tandem copies of the peptide (see for example GLP-1) or other known linkers can be used. Constructs that incorporate linkers are described in Table 2 or are apparent when examining SEQ ID NO:Y.

Further, albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be produced by fusing a Therapeutic protein X or variants thereof to the N-terminal and/or C-terminal of albumin or variants thereof in such a way as to allow the formation of intramolecular and/or intermolecular multimeric forms. In one embodiment of the invention, albumin fusion proteins may be in monomeric or multimeric forms (i.e., timers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers). In a further embodiment of the invention, the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein may be in monomeric form or multimeric form (i.e., dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers). In a specific embodiment, the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein is in multimeric form (i.e., (timers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers), and the albumin protein portion is in monomeric form.

In addition to albumin fusion protein in which the albumin portion is fused N-terminal and/or C-terminal of the Therapeutic protein portion, albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be produced by inserting the Therapeutic protein or peptide of interest (e.g., a Therapeutic protein X as disclosed in Table 1, or an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein or a fragment or variant thereof) into an internal region of HA. For instance, within the protein sequence of the HA molecule a number of loops or turns exist between the end and beginning of α-helices, which are stabilized by disulphide bonds. The loops, as determined from the crystal structure of HA (PDB identifiers 1AO6, 1BJ5, 1BKE, 1BM0, 1E7E to 1E7I and 1UOR) for the most part extend away from the body of the molecule. These loops are useful for the insertion, or internal fusion, of therapeutically active peptides, particularly those requiring a secondary structure to be functional, or Therapeutic proteins, to essentially generate an albumin molecule with specific biological activity.

Loops in human albumin structure into which peptides or polypeptides may be inserted to generate albumin fusion proteins of the invention include; Val54-Asn61, Thr76-Asp89, Ala92-Glu100, Gln170-Ala176, His 247-Glu252, Gln 266-Glu277, Glu 280-His288, Ala362-Glu368, Lys439-Pro447, Val462-Lys475, Thr478-Pro486, and Lys560-Thr566. In more preferred embodiments, peptides or polypeptides are inserted into the Val54-Asn61, Gln170-Ala176, and/or Lys560-Thr566 loops of mature human albumin (SEQ ID NO:327).

Peptides to be inserted may be derived from either phage display or synthetic peptide libraries screened for specific biological activity or from the active portions of a molecule with the desired function. Additionally, random peptide libraries may be generated within particular loops or by insertions of randomized peptides into particular loops of the HA molecule and in which all possible combinations of amino acids are represented.

Such library(s) could be generated on HA or domain fragments of HA by one of the following methods:

a. randomized mutation of amino acids within one or more peptide loops of HA or HA domain fragments. Either one, more or all the residues within a loop could be mutated in this manner;

b. replacement of, or insertion into one or more loops of HA or HA domain fragments internal fusion) of a randomized peptide(s) of length X, (where X is an amino acid and n is the number of residues;

c. N-, C- or N- and C-terminal peptide/protein fusions in addition to (a) and/or (b).

The HA or HA domain fragment may also be made multifunctional by grafting the peptides derived from different screens of different loops against different targets into the same HA or HA domain fragment.

In preferred embodiments, peptides inserted into a loop of human serum albumin are peptide fragments or peptide variants of the Therapeutic proteins disclosed in Table 1. More particularly, the invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins which comprise peptide fragments or peptide variants at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 amino acids in length inserted into a loop of human serum albumin. The invention also encompasses albumin fusion proteins which comprise peptide fragments or peptide variants at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 amino acids fused to the N-terminus of human serum albumin. The invention also encompasses albumin fusion proteins which comprise peptide fragments or peptide variants at least 7 at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, or at least 40 amino acids fused to the C-terminus of human serum albumin. For example, short peptides described in Table 1 and 2 (e.g., Therapeutic Y) can be inserted into the albumin loops.

Generally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may have one HA-derived region and one Therapeutic protein-derived region. Multiple regions of each protein, however, May be used to make an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Similarly, more than one Therapeutic protein may be used to make an albumin fusion protein of the invention. For instance, a Therapeutic protein may be fused to both the N- and C-terminal ends of the HA. In such a configuration, the Therapeutic protein portions may be the same or different Therapeutic protein molecules. The structure of bifunctional albumin fusion proteins may be represented as: X-HA-Y or Y-HA-X.

For example, an anti-BLyS™ scFv-HA-IFNα-2b fusion may be prepared to modulate the immune response to IFNα-2b by anti-BLyS™ scFv. An alternative is making a bi (or even multi) functional dose of HA-fusions e.g. HA-IFNα-2b fusion mixed with HA-anti-BLyS™ scFv fusion or other HA-fusions in various ratio's depending on function, half-life etc.

Bi- or multi-functional albumin fusion proteins may also be prepared to target the Therapeutic protein portion of a fusion to a target organ or cell type via protein or peptide at the opposite terminus of HA.

As an alternative to the fusion of known therapeutic molecules, the peptides could be obtained by screening libraries constructed as fusions to the N—, C— or N- and C-termini of HA, or domain fragment of HA, of typically 6, 8, 12, 20 or 25 or X (where X is an amino acid (aa) and n equals the number of residues) randomized amino acids, and in which all possible combinations of amino acids were represented. A particular advantage of this approach is that the peptides may be selected in situ on the HA molecule and the properties of the peptide would therefore be as selected for rather than, potentially, modified as might be the case for a peptide derived by any other method then being attached to HA.

Additionally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may include a linker peptide between the fused portions to provide greater physical separation between the moieties and thus maximize the accessibility of the Therapeutic protein portion, for instance, for binding to its cognate receptor. The linker peptide may consist of amino acids such that it is flexible or more rigid.

The linker sequence may be cleavable by a protease or chemically to yield the growth hormone related moiety. Preferably, the protease is one which is produced naturally by the host, for example the S. cerevisiae protease kex2 or equivalent proteases.

Therefore, as described above, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may have the following formula R1-L-R2; R2-L-R1; or R1-L-R2-L-R1, wherein R1 is at least one Therapeutic protein, peptide or polypeptide sequence, and not necessarily the same Therapeutic protein, L is a linker and R2 is a serum albumin sequence.

In preferred embodiments, Albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprising a Therapeutic protein have extended shelf life compared to the shelf life the same Therapeutic protein when not fused to albumin. Shelf-life typically refers to the time period over which the therapeutic activity of a Therapeutic protein in solution or in some other storage formulation, is stable without undue toss of therapeutic activity. Many of the Therapeutic proteins are highly labile in their unfused state. As described below, the typical shelf-life of these Therapeutic proteins is markedly prolonged upon incorporation into the albumin fusion protein of the invention.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention with “prolonged” or “extended” shelf-life exhibit greater therapeutic activity relative to a standard that has been subjected to the same storage and handling conditions. The standard may be the unfused full-length Therapeutic protein. When the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein is an analog, a variant, or is otherwise altered or does not include the complete sequence for that protein, the prolongation of therapeutic activity may alternatively be compared to the unfused equivalent of that analog, variant, altered peptide or incomplete sequence. As an example, an albumin fusion protein of the invention may retain greater than about 100% of the therapeutic activity, or greater than about 105%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 150% or 200% of the therapeutic activity of a standard when subjected to the same storage and handling conditions as the standard when compared at a given time point.

Shelf-life may also be assessed in terms of therapeutic activity remaining after storage, normalized to therapeutic activity when storage began. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention with prolonged or extended shelf-life as exhibited by prolonged or extended therapeutic activity may retain greater than about 50% of the therapeutic activity, about 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% or more of the therapeutic activity of the equivalent unfused Therapeutic protein when subjected to the same conditions.

Expression of Fusion Proteins

A particular embodiment of the invention comprises a DNA construct encoding a signal sequence effective for directing secretion in yeast, particularly a yeast-derived signal sequence (especially one which is homologous to the yeast host), and the fused molecule of the first aspect of the invention, there being no yeast-derived pro sequence between the signal and the mature polypeptide.

As discussed herein, an albumin fusion protein comprising a leader sequence may be secreted from a host cell and may be processed into a mature form by host cell machinery. In one embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may comprise the wild type signal sequence of a given Therapeutic protein portion. In a further embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may comprise the wild type signal sequence of HSA. In another embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may contain a chimeric signal sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the chimeric signal sequence comprises, or alternatively consists of, the full length HSA signal sequence or a portion thereof. In a further embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may contain the wild type signal sequence of invertase, “INV”. In an additional embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may contain the wild type signal sequence of mating factor alpha, “MAF”. In a still further embodiment, prior to protein processing, the albumin fusion protein of the invention may contain the wild type signal sequence of Myeloid Progenitor Inhibitory Factor, “MPIF” (see GenBank Accession Number AAB51134).

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase signal is a preferred example of a yeast-derived signal sequence.

Conjugates of the kind prepared by Poznansky et al., (FEBS Lett. 239:18 (1988)), in which separately-prepared polypeptides are joined by chemical cross-linking, are not contemplated.

The present invention also includes a cell, preferably a yeast cell transformed to express an albumin fusion protein of the invention. In addition to the transformed host cells themselves, the present invention also contemplates a culture of those cells, preferably a monoclonal (clonally homogeneous) culture, or a culture derived from a monoclonal culture, in a nutrient medium. If the polypeptide is secreted, the medium will contain the polypeptide, with the cells, or without the cells if they have been filtered or centrifuged away. Many expression systems are known and may be used, including bacteria (for example E. coli and Bacillus subtilis), yeasts (for example Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactic and Pichia pastoris, filamentous fungi (for example Aspergillus), plant cells, animal cells and insect cells.

Preferred yeast strains to be used in the production of albumin fusion proteins are D88, DXY1 and BXP10. D88 [leu2-3, leu2-122, can1, pra1, ubc4] is a derivative of parent strain AH22his+ (also known as DBI; see, e.g., Sleep et al., Biotechnology 8:42-46 (1990)). The strain contains a Leu2 mutation which allows for auxotrophic selection of 2 micron-based plasmids that contain the LEU2 gene. D88 also exhibits a derepression of PRB1 in glucose excess. The PRB1 promoter is normally controlled by two checkpoints that monitor glucose levels and growth stage. The promoter is activated in wild type yeast upon glucose depletion and entry into stationary phase. Strain D88 exhibits the repression by glucose but maintains the induction upon entry into stationary phase. The PRA1 gene encodes a yeast vacuolar protease, YscA endoprotease A, that is localized in the ER. The UBC4 gene is in the ubiquitination pathway and is involved in targeting short lived and abnormal proteins for ubiquitin dependant degradation. Isolation of this ubc4 mutation was found to increase the copy number of an expression plasmid in the cell and cause an increased level of expression of a desired protein expressed from the plasmid (see, e.g., International Publication No. WO99/00504, hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein).

DXY1, a derivative of D88, has the following genotype: [leu2-3, leu2-122, can1, pra1, ubc4, ura3::yap3]. In addition to the mutations isolated in D88, this strain also has a knockout of the YAP3 protease. This protease causes cleavage of mostly di-basic residues (RR, RK, KR, KK) but can also promote cleavage at single basic residues in proteins. Isolation of this yap3 mutation resulted in higher levels of full length HSA production (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,386 and Kerry-Williams et al., Yeast 14:161-169 (1998), hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference herein).

BXP10 has the following genotype: leu2-3, let2-122, can1, pra1, ubc4, ura3, yap3::URA3, lys2, hsp150::LYS2, pmt1::URA3. In addition to the mutations isolated in DXY1, this strain also has a knockout of the PMT1 gene and the HSP150 gene. The PMT1 gene is a member of the evolutionarily conserved family of dolichyl-phosphate-D-mannose protein O-mannosyltransferases (Pmts). The transmembrane topology of Pmt1p suggests that it is an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum with a role in O-linked glycosylation. This mutation serves to reduce/eliminate O-linked glycosylation of HSA fusions (see, e.g., International Publication No. WO00/44772, hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein). Studies revealed that the Hsp150 protein is inefficiently separated from rHA by ion exchange chromatography. The mutation in the HSP150 gene removes a potential contaminant that has proven difficult to remove by standard purification techniques. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,423, hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

The desired protein is produced in conventional ways, for example from a coding sequence inserted in the host chromosome or on a free plasmid. The yeasts are transformed with a coding sequence for the desired protein in any of the usual ways, for example electroporation. Methods for transformation of yeast by electroporation are disclosed in Becker & Guarente (1990) Methods Enzymol. 194, 182.

Successfully transformed cells, i.e., cells that contain a DNA construct of the present invention, can be identified by well known techniques. For example, cells resulting from the introduction of an expression construct can be grown to produce the desired polypeptide. Cells can be harvested and lysed and their DNA content examined for the presence of the DNA using a method such as that described by Southern (1975) J. Mol. Biol. 98, 503 or Berent et al. (1985) Biotech. 3, 208. Alternatively, the presence of the protein in the supernatant can be detected using antibodies.

Fusion of albumin to the Therapeutic protein may be achieved by genetic manipulation, such that the DNA coding for HA, or a fragment thereof, is joined to the DNA coding for the Therapeutic protein. In one embodiment, an exemplary reference nucleic acid sequence from which a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein portion of the corresponding albumin fusion protein comprises the wild type sequence encoding a Therapeutic protein shown in Table 1. In an alternative embodiment, an exemplary reference nucleic acid sequence from which a polynucleotide encoding a Therapeutic protein portion of the corresponding albumin fusion protein comprises a variant or derivative of a wild type sequence encoding a Therapeutic protein shown in Table 1, such as, for example, a synthetic codon optimized variant of a wild type coding sequence for a Therapeutic protein. In a further embodiment oligonucleotide primers may be used in overlapping PCR reactions known in the art to generate mutations within a template DNA sequence. A suitable host is then transformed or transfected with the fused nucleotide sequences, so arranged on a suitable plasmid as to express a fusion polypeptide. The expression may be effected in vitro from, for example, prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, or in vivo e.g., from a transgenic organism.

Expression vectors are known in the art, and are available commercially or described herein. For example, as describes in the Examples, an “expression cassette” containing one or more of: (1) a polynucleotide encoding a given albumin fusion protein, (2) a leader sequence, (3) a promoter region, and (4) a transcriptional terminator, may be assembled in a convenient cloning vector and subsequently be moved into the appropriate vector. In one embodiment, for expression in S. cervisiae, an expression cassette containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pSAC35. In another embodiment, for expression in CHO cells, an expression cassette comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pC4. In a further embodiment, a polynucleotide containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pC4:HSA. In a still further embodiment, for expression in NS0 cells, an expression cassette containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein is cloned into pEE12. The invention also encompasses embodiments making use of other vectors and/or host systems that are known in the art and that may be routinely applied to express the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Useful yeast plasmid vectors include pRS403-406 and pRS413-416 and are generally available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif. 92037, USA. Plasmids pRS403, pRS404, pRS405 and pRS406 are Yeast Integrating plasmids (Yips) and incorporate the yeast selectable markers HIS3, 7RP1, LEU12 and URA3. Plasmids pRS413-416 are Yeast Centromere plasmids (Ycps).

Preferred vectors for making albumin fusion proteins for expression in yeast include pPPC0005, pScCHSA, pScNHSA, and pC4:HSA which are described in detail in Example 2, FIG. 3 shows a map of the pPPC0005 plasmid that can be used as the base vector into which polynucleotides encoding Therapeutic proteins may be cloned to form HA-fusions. It contains a PRR1 S. cerevisiae promoter (PRB1p), a Fusion leader sequence (FL), DNA encoding HA (rHA) and an ADH1 S. cerevisiae terminator sequence. The sequence of the fusion leader sequence consists of the first 19 amino acids of the signal peptide of human serum albumin (SEQ ID NO:410) and the last five amino acids of the mating factor alpha 1 promoter (SLDKR, see EP-A-387 319) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The plasmids, pPPC0005, pScCHSA, pScNHSA, and pC4:HSA were deposited on Apr. 11, 2001 at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 and given accession numbers ATCC PTA-3278, PTA-3276, PTA-3279, and PTA-3277, respectively. Another vector useful for expressing an albumin fusion protein in yeast the pSAC35 vector which is described in Sleep et al., BioTechnology 8:42 (1990) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another yeast promoter that can be used to express the albumin fusion protein is the MET25 promoter. See, for example, Dominik Mumburg, Rolf Muller and Martin Funk. Nucleic Acids Research, 1994, Vol. 22, No. 25, pp. 5767-5768. The Met25 promoter is 383 bases long (bases −382 to −1) and the genes expressed by this promoter are also known as Met15, Met17, and YLR303W. A preferred embodiment uses the sequence below, where, at the 5′ end of the sequence below, the Not 1 site used in the cloning is underlined and at the 3′ end, the ATG start cotton is underlined:

(SEQ ID NO: 831)       GCGGCCGCCGGATGCAAGGGTTCGAATCCCTTAGCTCTCATTATTTTTTGCTTTTTCTCTTGAGGTCACATGATCG CAAAATGGCAAATGGCACGTGAAGCTGTCGATATTGGGGAACTGTGGTGGTTGGCAAATGACTAATTAAGTTAGTCAAGGC GCCATCCTCATGAAAACTGTGTAACATAATAACCGAAGTGTCGAAAAGGTGGCACCTTGTCCAATTGAACACGCTCGATGA AAAAAATAAGATATATATAAGGTTAAGTAAAGCGTCTGTTAGAAAGGAAGTTTTTCCTTTTTCTTGCTCTCTTGTCTTTTCAT CTACTATTTCCTTCGTGTAATACAGGGTCGTCAGATACATAGATACAATTCTATTACCCCCATCCATACAATG

A variety of methods have been developed to operably link DNA to vectors via complementary cohesive termini, For instance, complementary homopolymer tracts can be added to the DNA segment to be inserted to the vector DNA. The vector and DNA segment are then joined by hydrogen bonding between the complementary homopolymeric tails to form recombinant DNA molecules.

Synthetic linkers containing one or more restriction sites provide an alternative method of joining the DNA segment to vectors. The DNA segment, generated by endonuclease restriction digestion, is treated with bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase or E. coli DNA polymerase I, enzymes that remove protruding, gamma-single-stranded termini with their 3′ 5′-exonucleolytic activities, and till in recessed 3′-ends with their polymerizing activities.

The combination of these activities therefore generates blunt-ended DNA segments. The blunt-ended segments are then incubated with a large molar excess of linker molecules in the presence of an enzyme that is able to catalyze the ligation of blunt-ended DNA molecules, such as bacteriophage T4 DNA ligase. Thus, the products of the reaction are DNA segments carrying polymeric linker sequences at their ends. These DNA segments are then cleaved with the appropriate restriction enzyme and ligated to an expression vector that has been cleaved with an enzyme that produces termini compatible with those of the DNA segment.

Synthetic linkers containing a variety of restriction endonuclease sites are commercially available from a number of sources including International Biotechnologies Inc, New Haven, Conn., USA.

A desirable way to modify the DNA in accordance with the invention, if, for example, HA variants are to be prepared, is to use the polymerase chain reaction as disclosed by Saiki et al. (1988) Science 239, 487-491. In this method the DNA to be enzymatically amplified is flanked by two specific oligonucleotide primers which themselves become incorporated into the amplified DNA. The specific primers may contain restriction endonuclease recognition sites which can be used for cloning into expression vectors using methods known in the art.

Exemplary genera of yeast contemplated to be useful in the practice of the present invention as hosts for expressing the albumin fusion proteins are Pichia (Hansenula), Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Torulopsis, Torulaspora, Schizosaccharamyces, Citeromyces, Pachysolen, Debaromyces, Metschunikowia, Rhodosporidium, Leucosporidium, Botryoascus, Sporidiobolus, Endomycopsis, and the like. Preferred genera are those selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharmyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia and Torulaspora. Examples of Saccharomyces spp. are S. cerevisiae, S. italicus and S. rouxii.

Examples of Kluyveromyces spp. are K. fragilis, K. lactis and K. marxianus. A suitable Torulaspora species is T. delbrueckii. Examples of Pichia (Hansenula) spp. are P. angusta (formerly H. polymorpha), P. anomata (formerly H. anomaia) and P. pastoris. Methods for the transformation of S. cerevisiae are taught generally in EP 251 744, EP 258 067 and WO 90/01063, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferred exemplary species of Saccharomyces include S. cerevisiae, S. italicus, S. diastaticus, and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Preferred exemplary species of Kluyveromyces include K. fragilis and R. lactis. Preferred exemplary species of Hansenula include H. polymorpha (now Pichia angusta), H. anomala (now Pichia anomala), and Pichia capsulata. Additional preferred exemplary species of Pichia include P. pastoris. Preferred exemplary species of Aspergillus include A. niger and A. nidulans. Preferred exemplary species of Yarrowia include Y. lipolytica. Many preferred yeast species are available from the ATCC. For example, the following preferred yeast species are available from the ATCC and are useful in the expression of albumin fusion proteins: Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen, teleomorph strain BY4743 yap3 mutant (ATCC Accession No. 4022731); Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen, teleomorph strain BY4743 hsp150 mutant (ATCC Accession No. 4021266); Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen, teleomorph strain BY4743 pmt1 mutant (ATCC Accession No. 4023792); Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen, teleomorph (ATCC Accession Nos. 20626; 44773; 44774; and 62995); Saccharomyces diastaticus Andrews et Gilliland ex van der Walt, teleomorph (ATCC Accession No. 62987); Kluyveromyces lactis (Dombrowski) van der Walt, teleomorph (ATCC Accession No. 76492); Pichia angusta (Teunisson et al.) Kurtzman, teleomorph deposited as Hansenula polymorpha de Morals et Maia, teleomorph (ATCC Accession No. 26012); Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, anamorph (ATCC Accession No. 9029); Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, anamorph (ATCC Accession No. 16404); Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter, anamorph (ATCC Accession Na 48756); and Yarrowia lipolytica (Wickerham et al.) van der Walt et von Arx, teleomorph (ATCC Accession No. 201847).

Suitable promoters for S. cerevisiae include those associated with the PGKI gene, GAL1 or GAL10 genes, CYCI, PHO5, TRPI, ADHI, ADH2, the genes for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, triose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, glucokinase, alpha-mating factor pheromone, [a mating factor pheromone], the PRBI promoter, the GUT2 promoter, the GPD1 promoter, and hybrid promoters involving hybrids of parts of 5′ regulatory regions with parts of 5′ regulatory regions of other promoters or with upstream activation sites (e.g. the promoter of EP-A-258 067).

Convenient regulatable promoters for use in Schizosaccharomyces pombe are the thiamine-repressible promoter from the nmt gene as described by Maundrell (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10857-10864 and the glucose repressible jbp1 gene promoter as described by Hoffman & Winston (1990) Genetics 124, 807-816.

Methods of transforming Pichia for expression of foreign genes are taught in, for example, Gregg et al. (1993), and various Phillips patents (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,467, incorporated herein by reference), and Pichia expression kits are commercially available from Invitrogen BV, Leek, Netherlands, and Invitrogen Corp., San Diego, Calif. Suitable promoters include AOX1 and AOX2. Gleeson et al. (1986) J. Gen. Microbiol. 132, 3459-3465 include information on Hansenula vectors and transformation, suitable promoters being MOX1 and FMD1; whilst EP 361 991, Fleer et al. (1991) and other-publications from Rhone-Poulenc Rorer teach how to express foreign proteins in Kluyveromyces spp., a suitable promoter being PGKI.

The transcription termination signal is preferably the 3′ flanking sequence of a eukaryotic gene which contains proper signals fur transcription termination and polyadenylation. Suitable 3′ flanking sequences may, for example, be those of the gene naturally linked to the expression control sequence used, i.e., may correspond to the promoter. Alternatively, they may be different in which case the termination signal of the S. cerevisiae ADHI gene is preferred.

The desired albumin fusion protein may be initially expressed with a secretion leader sequence, which may be any leader effective in the yeast chosen. Leaders useful in yeast include any of the following:

    • a) the MPIF-1 signal sequence (e.g., amino acids 1-21 of GenBank Accession number AAB51134) MKVSVAALSCLMLVTALGSQA (SEQ ID NO:825)
    • b) the stanniocalcin signal sequence (MLQNSAVLLLLVISAS A, SEQ ID NO:340)
    • c) the pre-pro region of the HSA signal sequence (e.g., MKWVTFISLLFLFSSAYSRGVFRR, SEQ ID NO:410)
    • d) the pre region of the HSA signal sequence (e.g., MKWVTFISLLFLESSAYS, SEQ ID NO:411) or variants thereof, such as, for example, MKWVSEISLEFLESSAYS, (SEQ ID NO:408)
    • e) the invertase signal sequence (e.g., MLLQAFLFLLAGFAAKISA, SEQ ID NO:393)
    • f) the yeast mating factor alpha signal sequence (e.g., MRFPSIFTAVLAFAAS SALAAPVNTTTEDETAQIPAEAVIGYSDLEGDFDVAVLPFSNSTNNGLLFINTTIASIAAK EEGVSLEKR, SEQ ID NO:394 or MRFPSIFTAVLAFAASSALAAPVNTTTEDETAQIPAEAVIGYSDLEGDFDVAVLPESNSTNNGLLFINTTIASIAAK EEGVSLEKR, SEQ ID NO:394)
    • g) K. lactis killer toxin leader sequence
    • h) a hybrid signal sequence (e.g., MKWVSFISLLFLFSSAYSRSLEKR, SEQ ID NO:395)
    • i) an HSA/MFα-1 hybrid signal sequence (also known as HSA/kex2) (e.g., MKWVSFISLLFLESSAYSRSLDKR, SEQ ID NO:396)
    • j) a K. lactis killer/MFα-1 fusion leader sequence (e.g., MNIFYIFLFLLSFVQGSLDKR, SEQ ID NO:409)
    • k) the Immunoglobulin Ig signal sequence (e.g., MGWSCIILFLVATATGVHS, SEQ ID NO:380)
    • l) the Fibulin B precursor signal sequence (e.g., MERAAPSRRVPLPLLLLGGLALLAAGVDA, SEQ ID NO:381)
    • m) the clusterin precursor signal sequence (e.g., MMKTLLLFVGLLLTWESGQVLG, SEQ ID NO:382)
    • n) the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 signal sequence (e.g., MLPLCLVAALLLAAGEGPSLG, SEQ ID NO:383)
    • o) variants of the pre-pro-region of the HSA signal sequence such as, for example, MKWVSFISLLFLFSSAYSRGVFRR (SEQ ID NO:407),
      • MKWVTFISLLFLPAGVLG (SEQ ID NO:384),
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFSGVLG (SEQ ID NO:385),
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVLG (SEQ ID NO:386),
    • Modified HSA leader HSA #64
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFAGVSG (SEQ ID NO:826);
      • Modified HSA leader HSA #66
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVSG (SEQ ID NO:827);
      • Modified HSA (A14) leader
      • MKWVTFISLEFLEAGVSG (SEQ ID NO:387);
      • Modified HSA (S14) leader (also known as modified HSA #65)
      • MKWVTFISLIFLESGVSG (SEQ ID NO:388),
    • Modified HSA (G14) leader—
      • MKWVTFISLLFLPGGVSG (SEQ ID NO:389), or MKWVTFISLLFFGGVLGDLHKS (SEQ ID NO:390)
    • p) a consensus signal sequence (MPTWAWWLFLVLLLALWAPARG, SEQ ID NO:341)
    • q) acid phosphatase (PH05) leader (e.g., MFKSVVYSILAASLANA SEQ ID NO:828)
    • r) the pre-sequence of MFoz-1
    • s) the pre-sequence of 0 glucanase (BGL2)
    • t) killer toxin leader
    • u) the presequence of killer toxin
    • v) k. lactis killer toxin prepro (29 amino adds; 16 amino acids of pre and 13 amino acids of pro) MNIFYIPEFLLSFVQGLEHTFIRRGSLDKR (SEQ ID NO:829)
    • w) S. diastaticus glucoamylase II secretion leader sequence
    • x) S. carisbergensis α-galactosidase (MELD secretion leader sequence Candida glucoamylase leader sequence
    • z) The hybrid leaders disclosed in EP-A-387 319 (herin incorporated by reference)
    • aa) the gp67 signal sequence (in conjunction with baculoviral expression systems) (e.g., amino acids 1-19 of GenBank Accession Number AAA72759) or
    • bb) the natural leader of the therapeutic protein X;
    • cc) S. cerevisiae invertase (SUC2) leader, as disclosed in JP 62-096086 (granted as 911036516, herein incorporate by reference); or
    • dd) Inulinase—MKLAYSLLLPLAGVSASVINYKR (SEQ ID NO:830).
    • ee) A modified TA57 propeptide leader variant #1—MKLKTVRSAVLSSLFASQVLGQPIDDTESQTESVNLMADDTESAFATQTNSGGLDVVGLISMAKR (SEQ ID NO:821)
    • ff) A modified TA57 propeptide leader variant #2—MKLKTVRSAVLSSLFASQVLGQPIDDTESQTTSVNLMADDTESAFATQTN SGGLDVVGLISMAEEGEPKR (SEQ ID NO:822)

Additional Methods of Recombinant and Synthetic Production of Albumin Fusion Proteins

The present invention also relates to vectors containing a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, host cells, and the production of albumin fusion proteins by synthetic and recombinant techniques. The vector may be, for example, a phage, plasmid, viral, or retroviral vector. Retroviral vectors may be replication competent or replication defective. In the latter case, viral propagation generally will occur only in complementing host cells.

The polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be joined to a vector containing a selectable marker for propagation in a host. Generally, a plasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate, such as a calcium phosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a virus, it may be packaged in vitro using an appropriate packaging cell line anti then transduced into host cells.

The polynucleotide insert should be operatively linked to an appropriate promoter, such as the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. coli toe, tip, phoA and lac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters and promoters of retroviral LTRs, to name a few. Other suitable promoters will be known to the skilled artisan. The expression constructs will further contain sites for transcription initiation, termination, and, in the transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. The coding portion of the transcripts expressed by the construe's will preferably include a translation initiating codon at the beginning and a termination codon (UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at the end of the polypeptide to be translated.

As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include at least one selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase, G418, glutamine synthase, or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, and tetracycline, kanamycin or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria. Representative examples of appropriate hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris (ATCC Accession No. 201178)); insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, NSO, 293, and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums and conditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.

Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria include pQE70, pQE60 and pQE-9, available from QIAGEN, Inc.; pBluescript vectors, Phagescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc.; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 available from Pharmacia Biotech, Inc. Among preferred eukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from Stratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia. Preferred expression vectors for use in yeast systems include, but are not limited to pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalph, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, pPIC9K, and PAO815 (all available from invitrogen, Carlbad, Calif.). Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

In one embodiment, polynucleotides encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be fused to signal sequences which will direct the localization of a protein of the invention to particular compartments of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell and/or direct the secretion of a protein of the invention from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. For example, in E. coli, one may wish to direct the expression of the protein to the periplasmic space. Examples of signal sequences or proteins (or fragments thereof) to which the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be fused in order to direct the expression of the polypeptide to the periplasmic space of bacteria include, but are not limited to, the pelB signal sequence, the maltose binding protein (MBP) signal sequence, MBP, the ompA signal sequence, the signal sequence of the periplasmic E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin B-subunit, and the signal sequence of alkaline phosphatase. Several vectors are commercially available for the construction of fusion proteins which will direct the localization of a protein, such as the pMAL series of vectors (particularly the pMAL-p series) available from New England Biolabs. In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be fused to the pelB pectate lyase signal sequence to increase the efficiency of expression and purification of such polypeptides in Gram-negative bacteria. See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,195 and 5,846,818, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Examples of signal peptides that may be fused to an albumin fusion protein of the invention in order to direct its secretion in mammalian cells include, but are not limited to:

    • a) the MPIF-1 signal sequence (e.g., amino acids 1-21 of GenBank Accession number AAB51134) MKVSVAALSCLMLVTALGSQA (SEQ ID NO:825)
    • b) the stanniocalcin signal sequence (MLQNSAVLLLLVISASA, SEQ ID NO:340)
    • c) the pre-pro region of the HSA signal sequence (e.g., MKWVTFISLLFLFSSAYSRGVFRR, SEQ ID NO:410)
    • d) the pre-pro region of the HSA signal sequence (e.g., MKWVTFISLLFLFSSAYS, SEQ ID NO:411) or variants thereof, such as, for example, MKWVSFISLLFLPSSAYS, (SEQ ID NO:408)
    • e) the invertase signal sequence (e.g., MLLQAFLFLLAGFAAKISA, SEQ ID NO:393)
    • f) the yeast mating factor alpha signal sequence (e.g., MRFPSIFTAVLAFAASSALAAPVNTTTEDETAQIPAEAVIGYSDLEGDFDVAVLPFSNSTNNGLLFINTTIASIAAK EEGVSLEKR, SEQ ID NO:394 or MRFPSIFTAVLAFAASSALAAPVNTTTDETAQIPAEAVIGYSDLEGDFDVAVLPFSNSTNNGLLFINTFIASIAAK EEGVSLDKR, SEQ ID NO:394)
    • g) K. lactis killer toxin leader sequence
    • h) a hybrid signal sequence (e.g., MKWVSFISLLFLESSAYSRSLEKR, SEQ ID NO:395)
    • i) an HSA/MFα-1 hybrid signal sequence (also known as HSA/kex2) (e.g., MKWVSFISLLFLFSSAYSRSLDKR, SEQ ID NO:396)
    • j) a K. lactis killer/MFα-1 fusion leader sequence (e.g. MNIFYIFLFLLSFVQGSLDKR, SEQ ID NO:409)
    • k) the Immunoglobulin Ig signal sequence (e.g., MGWSCILFLVATATGVHS, SEQ ID NO:380)
    • l) the Fibulin B precursor signal sequence (e.g., MERAAPSRRVPLPLLLLGGLALLAAGVDA, SEQ ID NO:381)
    • m) the clusterin precursor signal sequence (e.g., MMKTLLLFVGLLLTWESGQVLG, SEQ ID NO:382)
    • n) the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 signal sequence (e.g., MLPLCLVAALLLAAGPGPSLG, SEQ ID NO:383)
    • o) variants of the pre-pro-region of the HSA signal sequence such as, for example, MKWVSFISLLFLFSSAYSRGVFRR (SEQ ID NO:407),
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFAGVLG (SEQ NO:384),
      • MKWVIFISLLLFLFSGVLG (SEQ ID NO:385),
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVLG (SEQ ID NO:386),
      • Modified HSA leader HSA #64
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFAGVSG (SEQ ID NO:826);
      • Modified HSA leader HSA #66
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVSG (SEQ ID NO:827);
      • Modified HSA (A14) leader—
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFAGVSG (SEQ ED NO:387);
      • Modified USA (S14) leader (also known as modified HSA #65)
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFSGVSG (SEQ ID NO:388),
      • Modified HSA (G14) leader—
      • MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVSG (SEQ ID NO:389), or MKWVTFISLLFLFGGVLGDLHKS (SEQ ID NO:390)
    • p) a consensus signal sequence (MPTWAWWLFLVLLLALWAPARG, SEQ ID NO:341)
    • q) acid phosphatase (PH05) leader (e.g., MFKSVVYSILAASLANA SEQ ID NO:828)
    • r) the pre-sequence of MFoz-1
    • s) the pre-sequence of 0 glucanase (BCL2)
    • t) killer toxin leader
    • u) the presequence of killer toxin
    • v) k. lactis killer toxin prepro (29 amino acids; 16 amino acids of pre and 13 amino acids of pro) MNIFYIFLFLLSFVQGLEHTHRRGSLDKR (SEQ ID NO:829)
    • w) S. diastaticus glucoamylase II secretion leader sequence
    • x) S. carlsbergensis α-galactosidase (MEL1) secretion leader sequence Candida glucoamylase leader sequence
    • z) The hybrid leaders disclosed in EP-A-387 319 (herein incorporated by reference)
    • aa) the gp67 signal sequence (in conjunction with baculoviral expression systems) (e.g., amino acids 1-19 of GenBank Accession Number AAA72759) or
    • bb) the natural leader of the therapeutic protein X;
    • cc) S. cerevisiae invertase (SUC2) leader, as disclosed in JP 62-096086 (granted as 911036516, herein incorporate by reference); or
    • dd) Inulinase—MKLAYSLLLPLAGVSASVINYKR (SEQ ID NO:830).
    • ee) A modified TA57 propeptide leader variant #1—TVRSAVLSSLFASQVLGQPIDDTESQTTSVNLMADDTESAFATQTNSGGLDVVGLISMAKR (SEQ ID NO:821)
    • ff) A modified TA57 propeptide leader variant #2—KLKTVRSAVLSSLFASQVLGQPIDDTESQTTSVNLMADDTESAFATQTN SGGLDVVGLISMAEEGEPKR (SEQ ID NO:822)

Vectors which use glutamine synthase (GS) or DHFR as the selectable markers can be amplified in the presence of the drugs methionine sulphoximine or methotrexate, respectively. An advantage of glutamine synthase based vectors are the availability of cell lines (e.g., the murine myeloma cell line, NSO) which are glutamine synthase negative. Glutamine synthase expression systems can also function in glutamine synthase expressing cells (e.g., Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells) by providing additional inhibitor to prevent the functioning of the endogenous gene. A glutamine synthase expression system and components thereof are detailed in PCT publications: WO87/04462; WO86/05807; WO89/01036; WO89/10404; and WO91/06657, which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference herein. Additionally, glutamine synthase expression vectors can be obtained from Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Portsmouth, N.H.). Expression and production of monoclonal antibodies using a GS expression system in murine myeloma cells is described in Bebbington et al., Bio/technology 10:169 (1992) and in Biblia and Robinson Biotechnol. Prog. 11:1 (1995) which are herein incorporated by reference.

The present invention also relates to host cells containing the above-described vector constructs described herein, and additionally encompasses host cells containing nucleotide sequences of the invention that are operably associated with one or more heterologous control regions (e.g., promoter and/or enhancer) using techniques known of in the art. The host cell can be a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian cell (e.g., a human derived cell), or a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell, or the host cell can be a prokaryotic cell, such as a bacterial cell. A host strain may be chosen which modulates the expression of the inserted gene sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Expression from certain promoters can be elevated in the presence of certain inducers; thus expression of the genetically engineered polypeptide may be controlled. Furthermore, different host cells have characteristics and specific mechanisms for the translational and post-translational processing and modification (e.g., phosphorylation, cleavage) of proteins. Appropriate cell lines can be chosen to ensure the desired modifications and processing of the foreign protein expressed.

Introduction of the nucleic acids and nucleic acid constructs of the invention into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection, or other methods. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In Molecular Biology (1986). It is specifically contemplated that the polypeptides of the present invention may in fact be expressed by a host cell lacking a recombinant vector.

In addition to encompassing host cells containing the vector constructs discussed herein, the invention also encompasses primary, secondary, and immortalized host cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, that have been engineered to delete or replace endogenous genetic material (e.g., the coding sequence corresponding to a Therapeutic protein may be replaced with an albumin fusion protein corresponding to the Therapeutic protein), and/or to include genetic material (e.g., heterologous polynucleotide sequences such as for example, an albumin fusion protein of the invention corresponding to the Therapeutic protein may be included). The genetic material operably associated with the endogenous polynucleotide may activate, alter, and/or amplify endogenous polynucleotides.

In addition, techniques known in the art may be used to operably associate heterologous polynucleotides (e.g., polynucleotides encoding an albumin protein, or a fragment or variant thereof) and/or heterologous control regions (e.g., promoter and/or enhancer) with endogenous polynucleotide sequences encoding a Therapeutic protein via homologous recombination (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; International Publication Number WO 96/29411; International Publication Number WO 94/12650; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989), the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties).

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, hydrophobic charge interaction chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification.

In preferred embodiments the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using Anion Exchange Chromatography including, but not limited to, chromatography on Q-sepharose, DEAE sepharose, poros HQ, poros DEAE, Toyopearl Q, Toyopearl QAE, Toyopearl DEAE, Resource/Source Q and DEAE, Fractogel Q and DEAE columns.

In specific embodiments the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using Cation Exchange Chromatography including, but not limited to, SP-Sepharose, CM sepharose, poros HS, poros CM, Toyopearl SP, Toyopearl CM, Resource/Source S and CM, Fractogel S and CM columns and their equivalents and comparables.

In specific embodiments the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography including, but not limited to, Phenyl, Butyl, Methyl, Octyl, Hexyl-sepharose, poros Phenyl, Butyl, Methyl, Octyl, Hexyl Toyopearl Phenyl, Butyl, Methyl, Octyl, Hexyl Resource/Source Phenyl, Butyl, Methyl, Octyl, Hexyl, Fractogel Phenyl, Butyl, Methyl, Octyl, Hexyl columns and their equivalents and comparables.

In specific embodiments the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using Size Exclusion Chromatography including, but not limited to, sepharose S100, S200, S300, superdex resin columns and their equivalents and comparables.

In specific embodiments the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using Affinity Chromatography including, but not limited to, Mimetic Dye affinity, peptide affinity and antibody affinity columns that are selective for either the HSA or the “fusion target” molecules.

In preferred embodiments albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using one or more Chromatography methods listed above. In other preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins of the invention are purified using one or more of the following Chromatography columns, Q sepharose FF column, SP Sepharose FF column, Q Sepharose High Performance Column, Blue Sepharose FF column, Blue Column, Phenyl Sepharose FE column, DEAE Sepharose FF, or Methyl Column.

Additionally, albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be purified using the process described in PCT International Publication WO 00/44772 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. One of skill in the art could easily modify the process described therein for use in the purification of albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Albumin fusion proteins of the present invention may be recovered from: products of chemical synthetic procedures; and products produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example, bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect, and mammalian cells, Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may be non-glycosylated. In addition, albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also include an initial modified methionine residue, in some cases as a result of host-mediated processes. Thus, it is well known in the art that the N-terminal methionine encoded by the translation initiation codon generally is removed with high efficiency from any protein after translation in all eukaryotic cells. While the N-terminal methionine on most proteins also is efficiently removed in most prokaryotes, for some proteins, this prokaryotic removal process is inefficient, depending on the nature of the amino acid to which the N-terminal methionine is covalently linked.

In one embodiment, the yeast Pichia pastoris is used to express albumin fusion proteins of the invention in a eukaryotic system. Pichia pastoris is a methylotrophic yeast which can metabolize methanol as its sole carbon source. A main step in the methanol metabolization pathway is the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using O2. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme alcohol oxidase. In order to metabolize methanol as its sole carbon source, Pichia pastoris must generate high levels of alcohol oxidase due, in part, to the relatively low affinity of alcohol oxidase for O2. Consequently, in a growth medium depending on methanol as a main carbon source, the promoter region of one of the two alcohol oxidase genes (AOX1) is highly active. In the presence of methanol, alcohol oxidase produced front the AOX1 gene comprises up to approximately 30% of the total soluble protein in Pichia pastoris. See Ellis, S. B., et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:1111-21 (1985); Koutz, P. J., et al., Yeast 5:167-77 (1989); Tschopp, J. F., et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 15:3859-76 (1987). Thus, a heterologous coding sequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide of the present invention, under the transcriptional regulation of all or part of the AOX1 regulatory sequence is expressed at exceptionally high levels in Pichia yeast grown in the presence of methanol.

In one example, the plasmid vector pPIC9K is used to express DNA encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention, as set forth herein, in a Pichea yeast system essentially as described in “Pichia Protocols: Methods in Molecular Biology,” D. R. Higgins and J. Cregg, eds. The Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1998. This expression vector allows expression and secretion of a polypeptide of the invention by virtue of the strong AMU promoter linked to the Pichia pastoris alkaline phosphatase (PHO) secretory signal peptide (i.e., leader) located upstream of a multiple cloning site.

Many other yeast vectors could be used in place of pPIC9K, such as, pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalpha, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pPIC3.5K, and PAO815, as one skilled in the art would readily appreciate, as long as the proposed expression construct provides appropriately located signals for transcription, translation, secretion (if desired), and the like, including an in-frame AUG as required.

In another embodiment, high-level expression of a heterologous coding sequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, may be achieved by cloning the heterologous polynucleotide of the invention into an expression vector such as, for example, pGAPZ or pGAPZalpha, and growing the yeast culture in the absence of methanol.

In a preferred embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is processed by a host cell and secreted into the surrounding culture medium. Processing of the nascent albumin fusion protein that occurs in the secretory pathways of the host used for expression may include, but is not limited to signal peptide cleavage; formation of disulfide bonds; proper folding; addition and processing of carbohydrates (such as for example, N- and O-linked glycosylation); specific proteolytic cleavages; and assembly into multimeric proteins. An albumin fusion protein of the invention is preferably in the processed form. In a most preferred embodiment, the “processed form of an albumin fusion protein” refers to an albumin fusion protein product which has undergone N-terminal signal peptide cleavage, herein also referred to as a “mature albumin fusion protein”.

In addition, albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be chemically synthesized using techniques known in the art (e.g., see Creighton, 1983, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Principles, W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y., and Hunkapiller et al., Nature, 310:105-111 (1984)). For example, a polypeptide corresponding to a fragment of a polypeptide can be synthesized by use of a peptide synthesizer. Furthermore, if desired, nonclassical amino acids or chemical amino acid analogs can be introduced as a substitution or addition into the polypeptide sequence. Non-classical amino acids include, but are not limited to, to the D-isomers of the common amino acids, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, a-amino isobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, g-Abu, e-Ahx, 6-amino hexanoic acid, Aib, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citrulline, homocitrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, 1-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, b-alanine, fluoro-amino acids, designer amino acids such as b-methyl amino acids, Ca-methyl amino acids, Na-methyl amino acids, and amino acid analogs in general. Furthermore, the amino acid can be D (dextrorotary) or L (levorotary).

The invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins of the present invention which are differentially modified during or after translation, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to an antibody molecule or other cellular ligand, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including but not limited, to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, NaBH4; acetylation, formylation, oxidation, reduction; metabolic synthesis in the presence of tunicamycin; etc.

Additional post-translational modifications encompassed by the invention include, for example, e.g., N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, processing of N-terminal or C-terminal ends), attachment of chemical moieties to the amino acid backbone, chemical modifications of N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, and addition or deletion of an N-terminal methionine residue as a result of procaryotic host cell expression. The albumin fusion proteins may also be modified with a detectable label, such as an enzymatic, fluorescent, isotopic or affinity label to allow for detection and isolation of the protein.

Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminal; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin; and examples of suitable radioactive material include iodine (151I, 125I, 125I, 131I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (111In, 112In, 113mIn, 115mIn), technetium (99Tc, 99mTc), thallium (201Ti), gallium (68Ga, 67Ga), palladium (103Pd), molybdenum (99Mo), xenon (133Xe), fluorine (18F), 153Sm, 177Lu, 159Gd, 149Pm, 140La, 175Yb, 166Ho, 90Y, 47Sc, 186Re, 188Re, 142Pr, 105Rh, and 97Ru.

In specific embodiments, albumin fusion proteins of the present invention or fragments or variants thereof are attached to macrocyclic chelators that associate with radiometal ions, including but not limited to, 177Lu, 90Y, 16Ho, and 153Sm, to polypeptides. In a preferred embodiment, the radiometal ion associated with the macrocyclic chelators is 111In. In another preferred embodiment, the radiometal ion associated with the macrocyclic chelator is 90Y. In specific embodiments, the macrocyclic chelator is 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). In other specific embodiments, DOTA is attached to an antibody of the invention or fragment thereof via linker molecule. Examples of linker molecules useful for conjugating DOTA to a polypeptide are Commonly known in the art—see, for example, DeNardo et al., Clin Cancer Res. 4(10).2483-90 (1998); Peterson et al., Bioconjug. Chem. 10(4).553-7 (1999); and Zimmerman et al, Nucl. Med. Biol. 26(8):943-50 (1999); which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

As mentioned, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be modified by either natural processes, such as post-translational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Polypeptides of the invention may be branched, for example, as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched, and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from posttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cysteine, formation of pyroglummate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristylation, oxidation, pegylation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, for instance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); POST-TRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, pgs. 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al., Meth. Enzymol. 182:626-646 (1990); Rattan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 663:48-62 (1992)).

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and antibodies that bind a Therapeutic protein or fragments or variants thereof can be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide to facilitate purification. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acid sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311), among others, many of which are commercially available. As described in Gentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), for instance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of the fusion protein. Other peptide tags useful for purification include, but are not limited to, the “HA” tag, which corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)) and the “flag” tag.

Further, an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be conjugated to a therapeutic moiety such as a cytotoxin, e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidal agent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g., alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213131. A cytotoxin or cytotoxic agent includes any agent that is detrimental to cells. Examples include paclitaxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, coichicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, and puromycin and analogs or homologs thereof. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g., mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine).

The conjugates of the invention can be used for modifying a given biological response, the therapeutic agent or drug moiety is not to be construed as limited to classical chemical therapeutic agents. For example, the drug moiety may be a protein or polypeptide possessing a desired biological activity. Such proteins may include, for example, a toxin such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria toxin; a protein such as tumor necrosis factor, alpha-interferon, β-interferon, nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, tissue plasminogen activator, an apoptotic agent, e.g., TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, AIM I (See, International Publication No WO 97/33899), AIM II (See, International Publication No. WO 97/34911), Fas Ligand (Takahashi et al., Int. Immunol., 6:1567-1574 (1994)). VEGI (See, International Publication No. WO 99/23105), a thrombotic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent, e.g., angiostatin or endostatin; or, biological response modifiers such as, for example, lymphokines, interleukin-1 (“IL-1”), interleukin-2 (“IL-2”), interleukin-6 (“IL-6”), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (“GM-CSF”), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (“G-CSF”), or other growth factors. Techniques for conjugating such therapeutic moiety to proteins (e.g., albumin fusion proteins) are well known in the art.

Albumin fusion proteins may also be attached to solid supports, which are particularly useful for immunoassays or purification of polypeptides that are bound by, that bind to, or associate with albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Such solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass, cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene.

Albumin fusion proteins, with or without a therapeutic moiety conjugated to it, administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic factor(s) and/or cytokine(s) can be used as a therapeutic.

In embodiments where the albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises only the VH domain of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, it may be necessary and/or desirable to coexpress the fusion protein with the VL domain of the same antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, such that the VH-albumin fusion protein and VL protein will associate (either covalently or non-covalently) post-translationally.

In embodiments where the albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises only the VL domain of an antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, it may be necessary and/or desirable to coexpress the fusion protein with the VH domain of the same antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein, such that the VL-albumin fusion protein and VI-1 protein will associate (either covalently or non-covalently) post-translationally.

Some Therapeutic antibodies are bispecific antibodies, meaning the antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein is an artificial hybrid antibody having two different heavy/light chain pairs and two different binding sites. In order to create an albumin fusion protein corresponding to that Therapeutic protein, it is possible to create an albumin fusion protein which has an scFv fragment fused to both the N- and C-terminus of the albumin protein moiety. More particularly, the scFv fused to the N-terminus of albumin would correspond to one of the heavy/light (VH/VL) pairs of the original antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein and the scFv fused to the C-terminus of albumin would correspond to the other heavy/light (VH/VL) pair of the original antibody that binds a Therapeutic protein.

Also provided by the invention are chemically modified derivatives of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention which may provide additional advantages such as increased solubility, stability and circulating time of the polypeptide, or decreased immunogenicity (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337). The chemical moieties for derivitization may be selected from water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol, ethylene glycol/propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol and the like. The albumin fusion proteins may be modified at random positions within the molecule, or at predetermined positions within the molecule and may include one, two, three or more attached chemical moieties.

The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa (the semi “about” indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling and manufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired, the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol to a Therapeutic protein or analog). For example, the polyethylene glycol may have an average molecular weight of about 200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500, 9000, 9500, 10,000, 10,500, 11,000, 11,500, 12,000, 12,500, 13,000, 13,500, 14,000, 14,500, 15,000, 15,500, 16,000, 16,500, 17,000, 17,500, 18,000, 18,500, 19,000, 19,500, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, 45,000, 50,000, 55,000, 60,000, 65,000, 70,000, 75,000, 80,000, 85,000, 90,000, 95,000, or 100,000 kDa.

As noted above, the polyethylene glycol may have a branched structure. Branched polyethylene glycols are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,575; Morpurgo et al., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 56:59-72 (1996); Vorobjev et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides 1812745-2750 (1999); and Caliceti et al., Bioconjug. Chem. 10:638-646 (1999), the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties) should be attached to the protein with consideration of effects on functional or antigenic domains of the protein. There are a number of attachment methods available to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, the method disclosed in EP 0 401 384 (coupling PEG to G-CSF), herein incorporated by reference; see also Malik et al., Exp. Hentatol. 20:1028-1035 (1992), reporting pegylation of GM-CSF using tresyl chloride. For example, polyethylene glycol may be covalently bound through amino acid residues via reactive group, such as a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to which an activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acid residues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and the N-terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group may include aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminal amino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactive group for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecules. Preferred for therapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachment at the N-terminus or lysine group.

As suggested above, polyethylene glycol may be attached to proteins via linkage to any of a number of amino acid residues. For example, polyethylene glycol can be linked to proteins via covalent bonds to lysine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine residues. One or more reaction chemistries may be employed to attach polyethylene glycol to specific amino acid residues (e.g., lysine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine) of the protein or to more than one type of amino acid residue (e.g., lysine, histidine, aspanic acid, glutamic acid, cysteine and combinations thereof) of the protein.

One may specifically desire proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus. Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the present composition, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycol molecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to protein (polypeptide) molecules in the reaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and the method of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein. The method of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i.e., separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary) may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from a population of pegylated protein molecules. Selective proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus modification may be accomplished by reductive alkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available for derivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reaction conditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at the N-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved.

As indicated above, pegylation of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be accomplished by any number of means. For example, polyethylene glycol may be attached to the albumin fusion protein either directly or by an intervening linker. Linkerless systems for attaching polyethylene glycol to proteins are described in Delgado et al., Crit. Rev. Thera. Drug Carrier Sys. 9:249-304 (1992); Francis et al., Intern. J. of Hematol. 68:1-18 (1998); U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,531; U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,052; WO 95/06058; and WO 98/32466, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

One system for attaching polyethylene glycol directly to amino acid residues of proteins without an intervening, linker employs tresylated MPEG, which is produced by the modification of monmethoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) using tresylchloride (ClSO2CH2CF3). Upon reaction of protein with tresylated MPEG, polyethylene glycol is directly attached to amine groups of the protein. Thus, the invention includes protein-polyethylene glycol conjugates produced by reacting proteins of the invention with a polyethylene glycol molecule having a 2,2,2-trifluoreothane sulphonyl group.

Polyethylene glycol can also be attached to proteins using a number of different intervening linkers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,460, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses urethane linkers for connecting polyethylene glycol to proteins. Protein-polyethylene glycol conjugates wherein the polyethylene glycol is attached to the protein by a linker can also be produced by reaction of proteins with compounds such as MPEG-succinimidylsuccinate, MPEG activated with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole, MPEG-2,4,5-trichloropenylcarbonate, MPEG-p-nitrophenolcarbonate, and various MPEG-succinate derivatives. A number of additional polyethylene glycol derivatives and reaction chemistries for attaching polyethylene glycol to proteins are described in International Publication No. WO 98/32466, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Pegylated protein products produced using the reaction chemistries set out herein are included within the scope of the invention.

The number of polyethylene glycol moieties attached to each albumin fusion protein of the invention (i.e., the degree of substitution) may also vary. For example, the pegylated proteins of the invention may be linked, on average, to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, or more polyethylene glycol molecules. Similarly, the average degree of substitution within ranges such as 1-3, 2-4, 3-5, 4-6, 5-7, 6-8, 7-9, 8-10, 9-11, 10-12, 11-13, 12-14, 13-15, 14-16, 15-17, 16-18, 17-19, or 18-20 polyethylene glycol moieties per protein molecule. Methods for determining the degree of substitution are discussed, for example, in Delgado et al., Crit. Rev. Thera. Drug Carrier Sys. 9:249-304 (1992).

The polypeptides of the invention can be recovered and purified front chemical synthesis and recombinant cell cultures by standard methods which include, but are not limited to, ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification. Well known techniques for refolding protein may be employed to regenerate active conformation when the polypeptide is denatured during isolation and/or purification.

The presence and quantity of albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be determined using ELISA, a well known immunoassay known in the art. In one ELISA protocol that would be useful for detecting/quantifying albumin fusion proteins of the invention, comprises the steps of coating an ELISA plate with an anti-human serum albumin antibody, blocking the plate to prevent non-specific binding, washing the ELISA plate, adding a solution containing the albumin fusion protein of the invention (at one or more different concentrations), adding a secondary anti-Therapeutic protein specific antibody coupled to a detectable label (as described herein or otherwise known in the art), and detecting the presence of the secondary antibody. In an alternate version of this protocol, the ELISA plate might be coated with the anti-Therapeutic protein specific antibody and the labeled secondary reagent might be the anti-human albumin specific antibody.

Uses of the Polynucleotides

Each of the polynucleotides identified herein can be used in numerous ways as reagents. The following description should be considered exemplary and utilizes known techniques.

The polynucleotides of the present invention are useful to produce the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. As described in more detail below, polynucleotides of the invention (encoding albumin fusion proteins) may be used in recombinant DNA methods useful in genetic engineering to make cells, cell lines, or tissues that express the albumin fusion protein encoded by the polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Polynucleotides of the present invention are also useful in gene therapy. One goal of gene therapy is to insert a normal gene into an organism having a defective gene, in an effort to correct the genetic defect. The polynucleotides disclosed in the present invention offer a means of targeting such genetic defects in a highly accurate manner. Another goal is to insert a new gene that was not present in the host genome, thereby producing a new trait in the host cell. Additional non-limiting examples of gene therapy methods encompassed by the present invention are more thoroughly described elsewhere herein (see, e.g., the sections labeled “Gene Therapy”, and Examples 47 and 48).

Uses of the Polypeptides

Each of the polypeptides identified herein can be used in numerous ways. The following description should be considered exemplary and utilizes known techniques.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention are useful to provide immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) (e.g., immunohistochemistry assays such as, for example, ABC immunoperoxidase (Hsu et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29:577-580 (1981)) or cell type(s) (e.g., immunocytochemistry assays).

Albumin fusion proteins can be used to assay levels of polypeptides in a biological sample using classical immunohistological methods known to those of skill in the art (e.g., see Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other methods useful for detecting protein gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable assay labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase; radioisotopes, such as iodine (131I, 125I, 123I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (115mIn, 113mIn, 112In, 111In), and technetium (99Tc, 99mTc), thallium (201Ti), gallium (68Ga, 67Ga), palladium (103Pd), molybdenum (99Mo), xenon (133Xe), fluorine (18F), 153Sm, 177Lu, 159Gd, 149Pm, 140La, 175Yb, 166Ho, 90Y, 47Sc, 186Re, 188Re, 142Pr, 105Rh, 99Ru; luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention can also be detected in vivo by imaging. Labels or markers for in viva imaging of protein include those detectable by X-radiography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or electron spin relaxation (ESR). For X-radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes such as barium or cesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not overtly harmful to the subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with a detectable characteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may be incorporated into the albumin fusion protein by labeling of nutrients given to a cell line expressing the albumin fusion protein of the invention.

An albumin fusion protein which has been labeled with an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as a radioisotope (for example, 131I, 112In, 99mTc, (131I, 125I, 123I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (115mIn, 113mIn, 112In, 111In), and technetium (99Tc, 99mTc), thallium (201Ti), gallium (68Ga, 67Ga), palladium (103Pd), molybdenum (99Mo), xenon (133Xe), fluorine (18F, 153Sm, 177Lu, 159Gd, 149Pm, 140La, 175Yb, 166Ho, 90Y, 47Sc, 186Re, 188Re, 142Pr, 105Rh, 97Ru), a radio-opaque substance, or a material detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, is introduced (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally) into the mammal to be examined for immune system disorder. It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99mTc. The labeled albumin fusion protein will then preferentially accumulate at locations in the body (e.g., organs, cells, extracellular spaces or matrices) where one or more receptors, ligands or substrates (corresponding to that of the Therapeutic protein used to make the albumin fusion protein of the invention) are located. Alternatively, in the case where the albumin fusion protein comprises at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody, the labeled albumin fusion protein will then preferentially accumulate at the locations in the body (e.g., organs, cells, extracellular spaces or matrices) where the polypeptides/epitopes corresponding to those bound by the Therapeutic antibody (used to make the albumin fusion protein of the invention) are located. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)). The protocols described therein could easily be modified by one of skill in the art for use with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific delivery of albumin fusion proteins of the invention to cells by administering albumin fusion proteins of the invention (e.g., polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or antibodies) that are associated with heterologous polypeptides or nucleic acids. In one example, the invention provides a method for delivering a Therapeutic protein into the targeted cell. In another example, the invention provides a method for delivering a single stranded nucleic acid (e.g., antisense or ribozymes) or double stranded nucleic acid (e.g., DNA that can integrate into the cell's genome or replicate episomally and that can be transcribed) into the targeted cell.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering albumin fusion proteins of the invention in association with toxins or cytotoxic prodrugs.

By “toxin” is meant one or more compounds that bind and activate endogenous cytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins, modified toxins, catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules or enzymes not normally present in or on the surface of a cell that under defined conditions cause the cell's death. Toxins that may be used according to the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes known in the art, compounds such as, for example, antibodies (or complement fixing containing portions thereof) that bind an inherent or induced endogenous cytotoxic effector system, thymidine kinase, endonuclease, RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheria toxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweed antiviral protein, alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. “Toxin” also includes a cytostatic or cytocidal agent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g., alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213Bi, or other radioisotopes such as, for example, 103Pd, 133Xe, 131I, 68Ge, 57Co, 65Zn, 85Sr, 32P, 35S, 90Y, 153Sm, 153Gd, 169Yb, 51Cr, 54Mn, 75Se, 113Sn, 90Yttrium, 117Tin, 186Rhenium, 166Holmium, and 166Rhenium; luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering polypeptides of the invention or antibodies of the invention in association with the radioisotope 90Y. In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering polypeptides of the invention or antibodies of the invention in association with the radioisotope 111In. In a further specific embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering polypeptides of the invention or antibodies of the invention in association with the radioisotope 131I.

Techniques known in the art may be applied to label polypeptides of the invention. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, the use of bifunctional conjugating agents (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,065; 5,714,631; 5,696,239; 5,652,361; 5,505,931; 5,489,425; 5,435,990; 5,428,139; 5,342,604; 5,274,119; 4,994,560; and 5,808,003; the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

The albumin fusion proteins of the present invention are useful for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and/or prognosis of various disorders in mammals, preferably humans. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, those described in column 4 of Table 1 corresponding to a Therapeutic protein of interest, and/or as described under the section heading “Biological Activities,” below.

Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method of a disorder, which involves (a) assaying the expression level of a certain polypeptide in cells or body fluid of an individual using an albumin fusion protein of the invention; and (b) comparing the assayed polypeptide expression level with a standard polypeptide expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of a disorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively high amount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicate a predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide a means for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actual clinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allow health professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressive treatment earlier thereby preventing the development or further progression of the cancer.

Moreover, albumin fusion proteins of the present invention can be used to treat or prevent diseases or conditions such as, for example, neural disorders, immune system disorders, muscular disorders, reproductive disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular disorders, renal disorders, proliferative disorders, and/or cancerous diseases and conditions. For example, patients can be administered a polypeptide of the present invention in an effort to replace absent or decreased levels of the polypeptide (e.g., insulin), to supplement absent or decreased levels of a different polypeptide (e.g., hemoglobin S for hemoglobin B, SOD, catalase, DNA repair proteins), to inhibit the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., an oncogene or tumor suppressor), to activate the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., by binding to a receptor), to reduce the activity of a membrane bound receptor by competing with it for free ligand (e.g., soluble TNF receptors used in reducing inflammation), or to bring about a desired response (e.g., blood vessel growth inhibition, enhancement of the immune response to proliferative cells or tissues).

In particular, albumin fusion proteins comprising of at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody can also be used to treat disease (as described supra, and elsewhere herein). For example, administration of an albumin fusion protein comprising of at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody can bind, and/or neutralize the polypeptide to which the Therapeutic antibody used to make the albumin fusion protein specifically binds, and/or reduce overproduction of the polypeptide to which the Therapeutic antibody used to make the albumin fusion protein specifically binds. Similarly, administration of an albumin fusion protein comprising of at least a fragment or variant of a Therapeutic antibody can activate the polypeptide to which the Therapeutic antibody used to make the albumin fusion protein specifically binds, by binding to the polypeptide bound to a membrane (receptor).

At the very least, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention of the present invention can be used as molecular weight markers on SDS-PAGE gels or on molecular sieve gel filtration columns using methods well known to those of skill in the art. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention can also be used to raise antibodies, which in turn may be used to measure protein expression of the Therapeutic protein, albumin protein, and/or the albumin fusion protein of the invention from a recombinant cell, as a way of assessing transformation of the host cell, or in a biological sample. Moreover, the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention can be used to test the biological activities described herein.

Diagnostic Assays

The compounds of the present invention are useful for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and/or prognosis of various disorders in mammals, preferably humans. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, those described for each Therapeutic protein in the corresponding row of Table 1 and herein under the section headings “Immune Activity,” “Blood Related Disorders,” “Hyperproliferative Disorders,” “Renal Disorders,” “Cardiovascular Disorders,” “Respiratory Disorders,” “Anti-Angiogenesis Activity,” “Diseases at the Cellular Level,” “Wound Heating and Epithelial Cell Proliferation,” “Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases,” “Endocrine Disorders,” “Reproductive System Disorders,” “Infectious Disease,” “Regeneration,” and/or “Gastrointestinal Disorders,” infra.

For a number of disorders, substantially altered (increased or decreased) levels of gene expression can be detected in tissues, cells or bodily fluids (e.g., sera, plasma, urine, semen, synovial fluid or spinal fluid) taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to a “standard” gene expression level, that is, the expression level in tissues or bodily fluids from an individual not having the disorder. Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method useful during diagnosis of a disorder, which involves measuring the expression level of the gene encoding a polypeptide in tissues, cells or body fluid from an individual and comparing the measured gene expression level with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the gene expression level(s) compared to the standard is indicative of a disorder. These diagnostic assays may be performed in vivo or in vitro, such as, for example, on blood samples, biopsy tissue or autopsy tissue.

The present invention is also useful as a prognostic indicator, whereby patients exhibiting enhanced or depressed gene expression will experience a worse clinical outcome.

By “assaying the expression level of the gene encoding a polypeptide” is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuring or estimating the level of a particular polypeptide (e.g. a polypeptide corresponding to a Therapeutic protein disclosed in Table 1) or the level of the mRNA encoding the polypeptide of the invention in a first biological sample either directly (e.g., by determining or estimating absolute protein level or mRNA level) or relatively (e.g., by comparing to the polypeptide level or mRNA level in a second biological sample). Preferably, the polypeptide expression level or mRNA level in the first biological sample is measured or estimated and compared to a standard polypeptide level or mRNA level, the standard being taken from a second biological sample obtained from an individual not having the disorder or being determined by averaging levels from a population of individuals not having the disorder. As will be appreciated in the art, once a standard polypeptide level or mRNA level is known, it can be used repeatedly as a standard for comparison.

By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained from an individual, cell line, tissue culture, or other source containing polypeptides of the invention (including portions thereof) or mRNA. As indicated, biological samples include body fluids (such as sera, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) and tissue sources found to express the full length or fragments thereof of a polypeptide or mRNA. Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals are well known in the art. Where the biological sample is to include mRNA, a tissue biopsy is the preferred source.

Total cellular RNA can be isolated from a biological sample using any suitable technique such as the single-step guanidinium-thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method described in Chomczynski and Sacchi, Anal. Biochem. 162:156-159 (1987). Levels of mRNA encoding the polypeptides of the invention are than assayed using any appropriate method. These include Northern blot analysis, S1 nuclease mapping, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription in combination with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and reverse transcription in combination with the ligase chain reaction (RT-LCR).

The present invention also relates to diagnostic assays such as quantitative and diagnostic assays for detecting levels of polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins of the invention, in a biological sample (e.g., cells and tissues), including determination of normal and abnormal levels of polypeptides. Thus, for instance, a diagnostic assay in accordance with the invention for detecting abnormal expression of polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins compared to normal control tissue samples may be used to detect the presence of tumors. Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a polypeptide that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins of the present invention in a sample derived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays. Assaying polypeptide levels in a biological sample can occur using any art-known method.

Assaying polypeptide levels in a biological sample can occur using a variety of techniques. For example, polypeptide expression in tissues can be studied with classical immunohistological methods (Jalkanen et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976.985 (1985); Jalkanen, M., et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other methods useful for detecting polypeptide gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase, and radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99mTc), and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

The tissue or cell type to be analyzed will generally include those which are known, or suspected, to express the gene of interest (such as, for example, cancer). The protein isolation methods employed herein may, for example, be such as those described in Harlow and Lane (Harlow, E. and Lane, D., 1988, “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The isolated cells can be derived from cell culture or from a patient. The analysis of cells taken from culture may be a necessary step in the assessment of cells that could be used as part of a cell-based gene therapy technique or, alternatively, to test the effect of compounds on the expression of the gene.

For example, albumin fusion proteins may be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detect the presence of polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins of the present invention. This can be accomplished, for example, by immunofluorescence techniques employing a fluorescently labeled albumin fusion protein coupled with light microscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetric detection.

In a preferred embodiment, albumin fusion proteins comprising at least a fragment or variant of an antibody that specifically binds at least a Therapeutic protein disclosed herein (e.g., the Therapeutic proteins disclosed in Table 1) or otherwise known in the art may be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detect the presence of gene products or conserved variants or peptide fragments thereof. This can be accomplished, for example, by immunofluorescence techniques employing a fluorescently labeled antibody coupled with light microscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetric detection.

The albumin fusion proteins of the present invention may, additionally, be employed histologically, as in immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy or non-immunological assays, for in situ detection of polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention. In situ detection may be accomplished by removing a histological specimen from a patient, and applying thereto a labeled antibody or polypeptide of the present invention. The albumin fusion proteins are preferably applied by overlaying the labeled albumin fusion proteins onto a biological sample. Through the use of such a procedure, it is possible to determine not only the presence of the polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins, but also its distribution in the examined tissue. Using the present invention, those of ordinary skill will readily perceive that any of a wide variety of histological methods (such as staining procedures) can be modified in order to achieve such in situ detection.

Immunoassays and non-immunoassays that detect polypeptides that bind to, are bound by, or associate with albumin fusion proteins will typically comprise incubating a sample, such as a biological fluid, a tissue extract, freshly harvested cells, or lysates of cells which have been incubated in cell culture, in the presence of a detectably labeled antibody capable of binding gene products or conserved variants or peptide fragments thereof, and detecting the bound antibody by any of a number of techniques well-known in the art.

The biological sample may be brought in contact with and immobilized onto a solid phase support or carrier such as nitrocellulose, or other solid support which is capable of immobilizing cells, cell particles or soluble proteins. The support may then be washed with suitable buffers followed by treatment with the delectably labeled albumin fusion protein of the invention. The solid phase support may then be washed with the buffer a second time to remove unbound antibody or polypeptide. Optionally the antibody is subsequently labeled. The amount of bound label on solid support may then be detected by conventional means.

By “solid phase support or carrier” is intended any support capable of binding a polypeptide (e.g., an albumin fusion protein, or polypeptide that binds, is bound by, or associates with an albumin fusion protein of the invention.) Well-known supports or carriers include glass, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, nylon, amylases, natural and modified celluloses, polyacrylamides, gabbros, and magnetite. The nature of the carrier can be either soluble to some extent or insoluble for the purposes or the present invention. The support material may have virtually any possible structural configuration so long as the coupled molecule is capable of binding to a polypeptide. Thus, the support configuration may be spherical, as in a bead, or cylindrical, as in the inside surface of a test tube, or the external surface of a rod. Alternatively, the surface may be flat such as a sheet, test strip, etc. Preferred supports include polystyrene beads. Those skilled in the art will know many other suitable carriers for binding antibody or antigen, or will be able to ascertain the same by use of routine experimentation.

The binding activity of a given lot of albumin fusion protein may be determined according to well known methods. Those skilled in the art will be able to determine operative and optimal assay conditions for each determination by employing routine experimentation.

In addition to assaying polypeptide levels in a biological sample obtained from an individual, polypeptide can also be detected in vivo by imaging. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to image diseased or neoplastic cells.

Labels or markers for in vivo imaging of albumin fusion proteins of the invention include those detectable by X-radiography, NMR, MRI, CAT-scant or ESR. For X-radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes such as barium or cesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not overtly harmful to the subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with a detectable characteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may be incorporated into the albumin fusion protein by labeling of nutrients of a cell line (or bacterial or yeast strain) engineered.

Additionally, albumin fusion proteins of the invention whose presence can be detected, can be administered. For example, albumin fusion proteins of the invention labeled with a radio-opaque or other appropriate compound can be administered and visualized in vivo, as discussed, above for Labeled antibodies. Further, such polypeptides can be utilized for in vitro diagnostic procedures.

A polypeptide-specific antibody or antibody fragment which has been labeled with an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as a radioisotope (for example, 131I, 112In, 99mTc), a radio-opaque substance, or a material detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, is introduced (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally) into the mammal to be examined for a disorder. It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99mTc. The labeled albumin fusion protein will then preferentially accumulate at the locations in the body which contain a polypeptide or other substance that binds to, is bound by or associates with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)).

One of the ways in which an albumin fusion protein of the present invention can be delectably labeled is by linking the same to a reporter enzyme and using the linked product in an enzyme immunoassay (ETA) (Voller, A., “The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)”, 1978, Diagnostic Horizons 2:1-7, Microbiological Associates Quarterly Publication, Walkersville, Md.); Voller et al., J. Clin. Pathol. 31:507-520 (1978); Butler, J. E., Meth. Enzymol 73:482-523 (1981); Maggio, E. (ed.), 1980, Enzyme Immunoassay, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.; Ishikawa, E. et al., (eds.), 1981, Enzyme Immunoassay, Kgaku Shoin, Tokyo). The reporter enzyme which is bound to the antibody will react with an appropriate substrate, preferably a chromogenic substrate, in such a manner as to produce a chemical moiety which can be detected, for example, by spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or by visual means. Reporter enzymes which can be used to delectably label the antibody include, but are not limited to, malate dehydrogenase, staphylococcal nuclease, delta-5-steroid isomerase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate, dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, asparaginase, glucose oxidase, beta-galactosidase, ribonuclease, urease, catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucoamylase and acetylcholinesterase. Additionally, the detection can be accomplished by colorimetric methods which employ a chromogenic substrate for the reporter enzyme. Detection may also be accomplished by visual comparison of the extent of enzymatic reaction of a substrate in comparison with similarly prepared standards.

Albumin fusion proteins may also be radiolabeled and used in any of a variety of other immunoassays. For example, by radioactively labeling the albumin fusion proteins, it is possible to the use the albumin fusion proteins in a radioimmunoassay (RIA) (see, for example, Weintraub, B., Principles of Radioimmunoassays, Seventh Training Course on Radioligand Assay Techniques. The Endocrine Society, March, 1986, which is incorporated by reference herein). The radioactive isotope can be detected by means including, but not limited to, a gamma counter, a scintillation counter, or autoradiography.

Additionally, chelator molecules, are known in the art and can be used to label the Albumin fusion proteins. Chelator molecules may be attached Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to facilitate labeling said protein with metal ions including radionuclides or fluorescent labels. For example, see Subramanian, R. and Meares, C. F., “Bifunctional Chelating Agents for Radiometal-labeled monoclonal Antibodies,” in Cancer Imaging with Radiolabeled Antibodies (D. M. Goldenberg, Ed.) Kluwer Academic Publications, Boston; Saji, H., “Targeted delivery of radiolabeled imaging and therapeutic agents: bifunctional radiopharmaceuticals.” Crit. Rev. Titer. Drug Carrier Syn. 16:209-244 (1999); Srivastava S. C. and Mease R. C., “Progress in research on ligands, nuclides and techniques for labeling monoclonal antibodies.” Int. J. Rad. Appl. Instrum. B 18:589-603 (1991); and Liu, S, and Edwards, D. S., “Bifunctional chelators for therapeutic lanthanide radiopharmaceticals.” Bioconjug. Chem. 12:7-34 (2001). Any chelator which can be covalently bound to said Albumin fusion proteins may be used according to the present invention. The chelator may further comprise a linker moiety that connects the chelating moiety to the Albumin fusion protein.

In one embodiment, the Albumin fusion protein of the invention are attached to an acyclic chelator such as diethylene triamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid (DPTA), analogues of DPTA, and derivatives of DPTA. As non-limiting examples, the chelator may be 2-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-6-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (1B4M-DPTA, also known as MX-DTPA), 2-methyl-6-(rho-nitrobenzyl)-1,4,7-triazaheptane-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid (nitro-1B4 M-DTPA or nitro-MX-DTPA); 2-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-cyclohexyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (CHX-DTPA), or N-[2-amino-3-(rho-nitrophenyl)propyl]-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-N,N′,N″-pentaacetic acid (nitro-CHX-A-DTPA), in another embodiment, the Albumin fusion protein of the invention are attached to an acyclic terpyridine chelator such as 6,6″-bis[[N,N,N″,N″-tetra(carboxymethyl)amino]methyl]-4′-(3-amino-4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (TMT-amine).

In specific embodiments, the macrocyclic chelator which is attached to the Albumin fusion protein of the invention is 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). In other specific embodiments, the DOTA is attached to the Albumin fusion protein of the invention via a linker molecule. Examples of linker molecules useful for conjugating DOTA to a polypeptide are commonly known in the art—see, for example, DeNardo et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 4(10):2483-90, 1998; Peterson et al., Bioconjug. Chem. 10(4):553-7, 1999; and Zimmerman et al., Nucl. Med. Biol. 26(8):943-50, 1999 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,652,361 and 5,756,065, which disclose chelating agents that may be conjugated to antibodies, and methods for malting and using them, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Though U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,652,361 and 5,756,065 focus on conjugating chelating agents to antibodies, one skilled in the art could readily adapt the method disclosed therein in order to conjugate chelating agents to other polypeptides.

Bifunctional chelators based on macrocyclic ligands in which conjugation is via an activated arm, or functional group, attached to the carbon backbone of the ligand can be employed as described by M. Moi et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 49:2639 (1989) (2-p-nitrobenzyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodoclecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid); S. V. Deshpande et al., J. Nucl. Med. 31:473 (1990); G. Ruser et al., Bioconj. Chem., 1:345 (1990); C. J. Broan et al., J. C. S. Chem. Comm. 23:1739 (1990); and C. J. Anderson et al., J. Nucl. Med. 36:850 (1995).

In one embodiment, a macrocyclic dictator, such as polyazamacrocyclic chelators, optionally containing one or more carboxy, amino, hydroxamate, phosphonate, or phosphate groups, are attached to the Albumin fusion protein of the invention. In another embodiment, the chelator is a chelator selected from the group consisting of DOTA, analogues of DOTA, and derivatives of DOTA.

In one embodiment, suitable dictator molecules that may be attached to the Albumin fusion protein of the invention include DOXA (1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclodoclecanetriacetic acid), NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononanetriacetic acid), TETA (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanetetraacetic acid), and THT (4′-(3-amino-4-methoxy-phenyl)-6,6″-bis(N′,N″-dicarboxymethyl-N-methylhydrazino)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine), and analogs and derivatives thereof. See, e.g., Ohmono et al., J. Med. Chem. 35: 157-162 (1992); Kung et al., J. Nucl. Med. 25: 326-332 (1984); Jurisson et al., Chem. Rev. 93:1137-1156 (1993); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,080. Other suitable chelators include chelating agents disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,647,447; 4,687,659; 4,885,363; EP-A-71564; WO89/00557; and EP-A-232751.

In another embodiment, suitable macrocyclic carboxylic acid chelators which can be used in the present invention include 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA); 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecanc-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (15N4); 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (9N3); 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (12N3); and 6-bromoacetamido-benzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (BAT).

A preferred chelator that can be attached to the Albumin Fusion protein of the invention is α-(5-isothiocyanato-2-methoxyphenyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid, which is also known as MeO-DOTA-NCS. A salt or ester of α-(5-isothiocyanato-2-methoxyphenyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid may also be used.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators such as those described are covalently attached may be labeled (via the coordination site of the chelator) with radionuclides that are suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic, or both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Examples of appropriate metals include Ag, At, Au, Bi, Cu, Ga, Ho, In, Lu, Pb, Pd, Pm, Pr, Rb, Re, Rh, Sc, Sr, Tc, TI, Y, and Yb. Examples of the radionuclide used for diagnostic purposes are Fe, Gd, 111In, 67Ga, or 68Ga. In another embodiment, the radionuclide used for diagnostic purposes is 111In, or 67Ga. Examples of the radionuclide used for therapeutic purposes are 166Ho, 165Dy, 90Y, 115mIn, 52Fe, or 72Ga. In one embodiment, the radionuclide used for diagnostic purposes is 166Ho or 90Y. Examples of the radionuclides used for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes include 153Sm, 177Lu, 159Gd, 175Yb, or 47Sc. In one embodiment, the radionuclide is 153Sm, 177Lu, 175Yb, or 159Gd.

Preferred metal radionuclides include 90Y, 99mTc, 111In, 47Sc, 67Ga, 51Cr, 177mSn, 67Cu, 167Tm, 97Ru, 88Re, 177Lu, 199Au, 47Sc, 67Ga, 51Cr, 177mSn, 67Cu, 167Tm, 95Ru, 168Re, 177Lu, 199Au, 203Pb and 141Ce.

In a particular embodiment, Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators are covalently attached may be labeled with a metal ion selected from the group consisting of 90Y, 111In, 177Lu, 166Ho, 215Bi, and 225Ac.

Moreover, γ-emitting radionuclides, such as 99mTc, 67Ga, and 169Yb have been approved or under investigation for diagnostic imaging, while β-emitters, such as 67Cu, 171Ag, 186Re, and 90Y are useful for the applications in tumor therapy. Also other useful radionuclides include γ-emitters, such as 99mTc, 111In, 67Ga, and 169Yb, and β-emitters, such as 67Cu, 111Ag, 186Re, 188Re and 90Y, as well as other radionuclides of interest such as 211At, 212Bi, 177Lu, 86Rb, 105Sm, 198Au, 149Pm, 85Sr, 142Pr, 214Pr, 109Pd, 166Ho, 208Tl, and 44Sc. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators are covalently attached may be labeled with the radionuclides described above.

In another embodiment, Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators are covalently attached may be labeled with paramagnetic metal ions including ions of transition and lanthanide metal, such as metals having atomic numbers of 21-29, 42, 43, 44, or 57-71, in particular ions of Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. The paramagnetic metals used in compositions for magnetic resonance imaging include the elements having atomic numbers of 22 to 29, 42, 44 and 58-70.

In another embodiment. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators are covalently attached may be labeled with fluorescent metal ions including lanthanides, in particular La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu (e.g., 152Eu), Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.

In another embodiment, Albumin fusion proteins of the invention to which chelators are covalently attached may be labeled with heavy metal-containing reporters may include atoms of Mo, Bi, Si, and W.

It is also possible to label the albumin fusion proteins with a fluorescent compound. When the fluorescently labeled antibody is exposed to light of the proper wave length, its presence can then be detected due to fluorescence. Among the most commonly used fluorescent labeling compounds are fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, aliophycocyanin, ophthaldehyde and fluorescamine.

The albumin fusion protein can also be detectably labeled using fluorescence emitting metals such as 152Eu, or others of the lanthanide series. These metals can be attached to the antibody using such metal chelating groups as diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

The albumin fusion proteins can also can be detectably labeled by coupling it to a chemiluminescent compound. The presence of the chemiluminescent-tagged albumin fusion protein is then determined by detecting the presence of luminescence that arises during the course of a chemical reaction. Examples of particularly useful chemiluminescent labeling compounds are luminol, isoluminol, theromatic acridinium ester, imidazole, acridinium salt and oxalate ester.

Likewise, a bioluminescent compound may be used to label albumin fusion proteins of the present invention. Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence found in biological systems in, which a catalytic protein increases the efficiency of the chemiluminescent reaction. The presence of a bioluminescent protein is determined by detecting the presence of luminescence. Important bioluminescent compounds for purposes of labeling are luciferin, luciferase and aequorin.

Transgenic Organisms

Transgenic organisms that express the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also included in the invention. Transgenic organisms are genetically modified organisms into which recombinant, exogenous or cloned genetic material has been transferred. Such genetic material is often referred to as a transgene. The nucleic acid sequence of the transgene may include one or more transcriptional regulatory sequences and other nucleic acid sequences such as introns, that may be necessary for optimal expression and secretion of the encoded protein. The transgene may be designed to direct the expression of the encoded protein in a manner that facilitates its recovery from the organism or from a product produced by the organism, e.g. from the milk, blood, urine, eggs, hair or seeds of the organism. The transgene may consist of nucleic acid sequences derived from the genome of the same species or of a different species than the species of the target animal. The transgene may be integrated either at a locus of a genome where that particular nucleic acid sequence is not otherwise normally found or at the normal locus for the transgene.

The term “germ cell line transgenic organism” refers to a transgenic organism in which the genetic alteration or genetic information was introduced into a germ line cell, thereby conferring the ability of the transgenic organism to transfer the genetic information to offspring. If such offspring in fact possess some or all of that alteration or genetic information, then they too are transgenic organisms. The alteration or genetic information may be foreign to the species of organism to which the recipient belongs, foreign only to the particular individual recipient, or may be genetic information already possessed by the recipient. In the last case, the altered or introduced gene may be expressed differently than the native gene.

A transgenic organism may be a transgenic animal or a transgenic plant. Transgenic animals can be produced by a variety of different methods including transfection, electroporation, microinjection, gene targeting in embryonic stem cells and recombinant viral and retroviral infection (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866; U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,397; Mullins et al. (1993) Hypertension 22(4):630-633; Brenin et al. (1997) Surg. Oncol. 6(2)99-110; Tuan (ed.), Recombinant Gene Expression Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology No. 62, Humana Press (1997)). The method of introduction of nucleic acid fragments into recombination competent mammalian cells can be by any method which favors co-transformation of multiple nucleic acid molecules. Detailed procedures for producing transgenic animals are readily available to one skilled in the art, including the disclosures in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,743 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,307.

A number of recombinant or transgenic mice have been produced, including those which express an activated oncogene sequence (U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866); express simian SV40 T-antigen (U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,915); lack the expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,490); exhibit dopaminergic dysfunction (U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,719); express at least one human gene which participates in blood pressure control (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,489); display greater similarity to the conditions existing in naturally occurring Alzheimer's disease (U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,936); have a reduced capacity to mediate cellular adhesion (U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,307); possess a bovine growth hormone gene (Clutter et al. (1996) Genetics 143(4):1753-1760); or, are capable of generating a fully human antibody response (McCarthy (1997) The Lancet 349(9049):405).

While mice and rats remain the animals of choice for most transgenic experimentation, in some instances it is preferable or even necessary to use alternative animal species. Transgenic procedures have been successfully utilized in a variety of non-murine animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, monkeys, chimpanzees, hamsters, rabbits, cows and guinea pigs (see, e.g., Kim et al. (1997) Mol. Reprod. Dev. 46(4):515-526; Houdebine (1995) Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 35(6):609-617; Petters (1994) Reprod. Dev. 6(5):643-645; Schnieke et al. (1997) Science 278(5346):2130-2133; and Alma (1997) J. Animal Science 75(21:578-585).

To direct the secretion of the transgene-encoded protein of the invention into the milk of transgenic mammals, it may be put under the control of a promoter that is preferentially activated in mammary epithelial cells. Promoters that control the genes encoding milk proteins are preferred, for example the promoter for casein, beta lactoglobulin, whey acid protein, or lactalbumin (see, e.g., DiTullio (1992) BioTechnology 10:74-77; Clark et al. (1989) BioTechnology 7:487-492; Gorton et al. (1987) BioTechnology 5:1183-1187; and Seedier et al. (1992) FEES Letts. 297:13). The transgenic mammals of choice would produce large volumes of milk and have long lactating periods, for example goats, cows, camels or sheep.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention can also be expressed in a transgenic plant, e.g. a plant in which the DNA transgene is inserted into the nuclear or plastidic genome. Plant transformation procedures used to introduce foreign nucleic acids into plant cells or protoplasts are known in the art. See, in general, Methods in Enzymology Vol. 153 (“Recombinant DNA Part D”) 1987, Wu and Grossman Eds., Academic Press and European Patent Application EP 693554. Methods for generation of genetically engineered plants are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,184, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,852, and European Patent Application EP 693 554, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Pharmaceutical or Therapeutic Compositions

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention or formulations thereof may be administered by any conventional method including parenteral (e.g. subcutaneous or intramuscular) injection or intravenous infusion. The treatment may consist of a single dose or a plurality of doses over a period of time.

While it is possible for an albumin fusion protein of the invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to present it as a pharmaceutical formulation, together with one or more acceptable carriers. The carrier(s) must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the albumin fusion protein and not deleterious to the recipients thereof. Typically, the carriers will be water or saline which will be sterile and pyrogen free. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention are particularly well suited to formulation in aqueous carriers such as sterile pyrogen free water, saline or other isotonic solutions because of their extended shelf-life in solution. For instance, pharmaceutical compositions of she invention may be formulated well in advance in aqueous form, for instance, weeks or months or longer time periods before being dispensed.

In instances where aerosol administration is appropriate, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be formulated as aerosols using standard procedures. The term “aerosol” includes any gas-borne suspended phase of an albumin fusion protein of the instant invention which is capable of being inhaled into the bronchioles or nasal passages. Specifically, aerosol includes a gas-borne suspension of droplets of an albumin fusion protein of the instant invention, as may be produced in a metered dose inhaler or nebulizer, or in a mist sprayer. Aerosol also includes a dry powder composition of a compound of the instant invention suspended in air or other carrier gas, which may be delivered by insufflation from an inhaler device, for example. See Ganderton & Jones, Drug Delivery to the Respiratory Tract, Ellis Horwood (1987); Gonda (1990) Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 6:273-313; and Raeburn et al., (1992) Pharmacol. Toxicol. Methods 27:143-159.

The formulations of the invention are also typically non-immunogenic, in part, because of the use of the components of the albumin fusion protein being derived from the proper species. For instance, for human use, both the Therapeutic protein and albumin portions of the albumin fusion protein will typically be human. In some cases, wherein either component is non human-derived, that component may be humanized by substitution of key amino acids so that specific epitopes appear to the human immune system to be human in nature rather than foreign.

The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. Such methods include the step of bringing into association the albumin fusion protein with the carrier that constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation appropriate for the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampules, vials or syringes, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilised) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example water for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders. Dosage formulations may contain the Therapeutic protein portion at a lower molar concentration or lower dosage compared to the non-fused standard formulation for the Therapeutic protein given the extended serum half-life exhibited by many of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

As an example, when an albumin fusion protein of the invention comprises growth hormone as one or more of the Therapeutic protein regions, the dosage form can be calculated on the basis of the potency of the albumin fusion protein relative to the potency of hGH, while taking into account the prolonged serum half-life and shelf-life of the albumin fusion proteins compared to that of native hGH. Growth hormone is typically administered at 0.3 to 30.0 IU/kg/week, for example 0.9 to 12.0 IU/kg/week, given in three or seven divided doses for a year or more. In an albumin fusion protein consisting of full length HA fused to full length GH, an equivalent dose in terms of units would represent a greater weight of agent but the dosage frequency can be reduced, for example to twice a week, once a week or less.

Formulations or compositions of the invention may be packaged together with, or included in a kit with, instructions or a package insert referring to the extended shelf-life of the albumin fusion protein component. For instance, such instructions or package inserts may address recommended storage conditions, such as time, temperature and light, taking into account the extended or prolonged shelf-life of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Such instructions or package inserts may also address the particular advantages of the albumin fusion proteins of the inventions, such as the ease of storage for formulations that may require use in the field, outside of controlled hospital, clinic or office conditions. As described above, formulations of the invention may be in aqueous form and may be stored under less than ideal circumstances without significant loss of therapeutic activity.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention can also be included in nutraceuticals. For instance, certain albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be administered in natural products, including milk or milk product obtained from a transgenic mammal which expresses albumin fusion protein. Such compositions can also include plant or plant products obtained from a transgenic plant which expresses the albumin fusion protein. The albumin fusion protein can also be provided in powder or tablet form, with or without other known additives, carriers, fillers and diluents. Nutraceuticals are described in Scott Hegenhart, Food Product Design, December 1993.

The invention also provides methods of treatment and/or prevention of diseases or disorders (such as, for example, any one or more of the diseases or disorders disclosed herein) by administration to a subject of an effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention or a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention (“albumin fusion polynucleotide”) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide will be formulated and dosed in a fashion consistent with good medical practice, taking into account the clinical condition of the individual patient (especially the side effects of treatment with the albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide alone), the site of delivery, the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factors known to practitioners. The “effective amount” for purposes herein is thus determined by such considerations.

As a general proposition, the total pharmaceutically effective amount of the albumin fusion protein administered parenterally per dose will be in the range of about 1 ug/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day of patient body weight, although, as noted above, this will be subject to therapeutic discretion. More preferably, this dose is at least 0.01 mg/kg/day, and most preferably for humans between about 0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day for the hormone. If given continuously, the albumin fusion protein is typically administered at a dose rate of about 1 ug/kg/hour to about 50 ug/kg/hour, either by 1-4 injections per day or by continuous subcutaneous infusions, for example, using a mini-pump. An intravenous bag solution may also be employed. The length of treatment needed to observe changes and the interval following treatment for responses to occur appears to vary depending on the desired effect.

Albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides can be are administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any. The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.

Albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are also suitably administered by sustained-release systems. Examples of sustained-release albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides are administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion. Additional examples of sustained-release albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides include suitable polymeric materials (such as, for example, send-permeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or mirocapsules), suitable hydrophobic materials (for example as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, and sparingly soluble derivatives (such as, for example, a sparingly soluble salt).

Sustained-release matrices include polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547-556 (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 15:167-277 (1981), and Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., Id.) or poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988).

Sustained-release albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides also include liposomally entrapped albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention (see generally, Langer, Science 249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 317-327 and 353-365 (1989)). Liposomes containing the albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide are prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, the liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which the lipid content is greater than about 30 mol. percent cholesterol, the selected proportion being adjusted for the optimal Therapeutic.

In yet an additional embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are delivered by way of a pump (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)).

Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

For parenteral administration, in one embodiment, the albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide is formulated generally by mixing it at the desired degree of purity, in a unit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion), with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, i.e., one that is non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatible with other ingredients of the formulation. For example, the formulation preferably does not include oxidizing agents and other compounds that are known to be deleterious to the Therapeutic.

Generally, the formulations time prepared by contacting the albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide uniformly and intimately with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both. Then, if necessary, the product is shaped into the desired formulation. Preferably the carrier is a parenteral carrier, more preferably a solution that is isotonic with the blood of the recipient. Examples of such carrier vehicles include water, saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution, Non-aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils and ethyl oleate are also useful herein, as well as liposomes.

The carrier suitably contains minor amounts of additives such as substances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Such materials are non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, succinate, acetic acid, and other organic acids or their salts; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about ten residues) polypeptides, e.g., polyarginine or tripeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including cellulose or its derivatives, glucose, manose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates, poloxamers, or PEG.

The albumin fusion protein is typically formulated in such vehicles at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml, preferably 1-10 mg/ml, at a pH of about 3 to 8. It will be understood that the use of certain of the foregoing excipients, carriers, or stabilizers will result in the formation of polypeptide salts.

Any pharmaceutical used for therapeutic administration can be sterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes (e.g., 0.2 micron membranes). Albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

Albumin fusion proteins and/ca polynucleotides ordinarily will be stored in unit or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules or vials, as an aqueous solution or as a lyophilized formulation for reconstitution. As an example of a lyophilized formulation, 10-ml vials are filled with 5 ml of sterile-filtered 1% (w/v) aqueous albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide solution, and the resulting mixture is lyophilized. The infusion solution is prepared by reconstituting the lyophilized albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide using bacteriostatic Water-for-Injection.

In a specific and preferred embodiment, the Albumin fusion protein formulations comprises 0.01 M sodium phosphate, 0.15 mM sodium chloride, 0.16 micromole sodium octanoate/milligram of fusion protein, 15 micrograms/milliliter polysorbate 811, pH 7.2. In another specific and preferred embodiment, the Albumin fusion protein formulations consists 0.01 M sodium phosphate, 0.15 mM sodium chloride, 0.76 micromole sodium octanoate/milligram of fusion protein, 15 micrograms/milliliter polysorbate 80, pH 7.2. The pH and buffer are chosen to match physiological conditions and the salt is added as a tonicifier. Sodium octanoate has been chosen due to its reported ability to increase the thermal stability of the protein in solution. Finally, polysorbate has been added as a generic surfactant, which lowers the surface tension of the solution and lowers non-specific adsorption of the albumin fusion protein to the container closure system.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers tilled with one or more of the ingredients of the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention. Associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides may be employed in conjunction with other therapeutic compounds.

The albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with adjuvants. Adjuvants that may be administered with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention include, but are not limited to, alum, alum plus deoxycholate (ImmunoAg), MTP-PE (Biocine Corp.), QS21 (Genentech, Inc.), BCG (e.g., THERACYS®), MPL and nonviable preparations of Corynebacterium pervum. In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered in combination with alum. In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered in combination with QS-21. Further adjuvants that may be administered with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention include, but are not limited to, Monophosphoryl lipid immunomodutator, AdjuVax 100a, QS-21, QS-18, CRL1005, Aluminum salts, MF-59, and Virosomal adjuvant technology. Vaccines that may be administered with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention include, but are not limited to, vaccines directed toward protection against MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio, varicella, tetanus/diptheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Haemtophilus influenzae B, whooping cough, pneumonia, influenza, Lyme's Disease, rotavirus, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, poliomyelitis, rabies, typhoid fever, and pertussis. Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also procedures in which the combined agents are administered separately but simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into the same individual. Administration “in combination” further includes the separate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first, followed by the second.

Therapeutic Compositions Alone or in Combination

The albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. Albumin fusion protein and/or polynucleotide agents that may be administered in combination with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention, include but are not limited to, GLP-1, insulin (including an insulin fragment or variant), an insulin secretagogue, IGF-1, an IGF-1 secretagogue, an insulin sensitizer (e.g., a Thiazolidinedione, or Resistin antagonist (e.g., anti-resistin antibody)), a beta cell growth factor, an alpha glucosidase inhibitor, a sulfonylureas, biguanide, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics, steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, conventional immunotherapeutic agents, and/or therapeutic treatments described below. Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also procedures in which the combined agents are administered separately but simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into the same individual. Administration “in combination” further includes the separate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first, followed by the second. In preferred embodiments, this administration immediately prior to, during, or immediately after nutrient consumption (e.g., a meal).

In preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 or fragments or variants thereof (including fusion proteins containing GLP-1 peptides, fragments and/or variants). Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, AC-2993 (Exendin-4), insulinotropin (GLP-1-(7-37)), and NNC 90-1170.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination one or more with beta-cell growth factors. Beta, cell growth factors (Stewart et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 86(3);984-988 (2001)) that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, betacellulin, exendin-4, glucagons-like peptide-1, hepatocyte growth factors, insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-11, islet neogenesis-associated protein, placental lactogen, PTH-related protein, and cytokeratin 20 (Anastasi et al., Eur J Endocrinol 141(6):644-52 (1999)). In another preferred embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with RegIV (The RegIV gene and protein have also been identified by the names “Colon Specific Gene” and “Colon Specific Protein”, respectively. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,494, U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,722, and PCT Publication No. WO96/39541).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more beta-cell growth factors is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Alpha-Glucosidase inhibitors that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, miglitol (Glyset), acarbose (Precose), voglibose (Basen; Glustat).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more alpha-glucosidase inhibitors is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with one or more insulin and related agents. Insulin and related agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, Insulin Mixtures (Humulin 50/50, Humulin 70/30, Novolin 70/30), intermediate acting insulin (Humulin L, Humulin N, Betin II Lente, Iletin II NPH, Novolin L, Novolin N), long acting insulin (Humulin U, Lantus), rapid acting insulin (Humalog, Insulin lispro, Insulin Aspart), short acting insulin (Humulin R, Iletin II Regular, Novolin R, Novolin BR), AERx Insulin Inhaler, Basulin (Insulin Hamel), Inhaled Insulin, Insulin detemir (long-acting insulin, N,N-304), Macrulin (oral insulin), Mecasermin (Somazon), Oral Insulin, Oralin (Oralgen, RapidMist), and Transfersulin (insulin, Transfersome).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more insulin and related agents is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes. In a highly preferred embodiment a composition of the invention is administered in combination with insulin and/or related molecules (e.g., insulin fragments and variants, and insulin secretagogues).

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention ise administered in combination with one or more hormone inhibitors. Hormone inhibitors that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, BAY-27-9955 and pegvisomant (Somavert, Trovert).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more hormone inhibitors is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) or prevention of conditions associated with diabetes mellitus, for example, diabetic retinopathy.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with the mature (secreted) portion, the cysteine rich region(s), the precursor polypeptide, the propeptide polypeptide, or any fragment thereof, of one or more of the polypeptides selected from the group: TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-3b, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-8, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11, BMP-12, 13 MP-13, BMP-14, BMP-15, BMP-15, GDF-1, GDF-3, GDF-8, GDF-9, and MIS.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), acetohexamide (Dymelor), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), gliclazide (Adianor), and glipentide (Staticum).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more sulfonylureas is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiment, composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more biguanides. Biguanides that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, metformin (Glucophage) and a combination of metformin with glibenclamide (Glucovance, Glucophage+Glyburide).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with biguanides is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with one or more Thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Thiazolidinediones that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, rosiglitazone maleate (Avandia), pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos), isaglitazone (MCC-555, RWJ241947), and troglitazone (Rezulin, Romozin, Prelay, Noscal.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more Thiazolidinediones is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with Resistin antagonists and/or anti-Resistin antibodies.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more other insulin sensitizers. Other Insulin Sensitizers that may be administered in combination with a Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, Bexarotene. (Targretin), Chiro inositol (INS-1), Chromium picolinate (Chromax Plus; Chromax), Vanadium (KP-102, LP-100), and PPAR-gamma Activators which include, but are not limited to, GI-262570 (GW-2570), GW-409544 (GW-544), and KRP-297.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with Resistin antagonists and/or anti-Resistin antibodies.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more insulin sensitizers is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more non-sulfonylureas including Meglitinides. Non-Sulfonylureas that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, repaglinide (Prandin, Aculin), rateglinide (Starlix), BTS 67582, Mitiglinide (KAD-1229), and ProBeta.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more non-sulfonylureas is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more immunomodulators. Immunomodulators that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, AI-401, CDP-571 (anti-TNF monoclonal antibody), CG-1088, Diamyd (diabetes vaccine), ICM3 (anti-ICAM-3 monoclonal antibody), linomide (Roquinimex), NBI-6024 (altered peptide ligand), TM-27, VX-740 (HMR-3480), caspase 8 protease inhibitors, thalidomide, hOKT3gamma1 (Ala-ala) (anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody), Oral Interferon-Alpha, oral lactobacillus, and LymphoStat-B™.

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more immunomodulators is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of autoimmune diabetes, i.e. IDDM Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.

In still other preferred embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more of the following: bromocriptine (Ergoset), etomoxir, iloprost (Endoprost), acetylcholine, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and antagonists of resistin (Steppan et al., Nature 409(6818):307-12 2001)) and is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of diabetes mellitus, i.e., IDDM and/or NIDDM and/or a condition associated with diabetes.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/of polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants that may be administered with a compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, warfarin sodium (e.g., COUMADIN®), dicumarol, 4-hydroxycoumarin, anisindione (e.g., MIRADON™), acenocoumarol (e.g., nicoumalone, SINTHROME™), indan-1,3-dione, phenprocoumon (e.g., MARCUMAR™), ethyl biscoumacetate (e.g., TROMEXAN™), and aspirin. In a specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with heparin and/or warfarin. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with warfarin. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with warfarin and aspirin. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with heparin. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with heparin and aspirin.

In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more thrombolytic drugs. Thrombolytic drugs that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, plasminogen, lys-plasminogen, alpha2-antiplasmin, streptokinae (e.g., KABIKINASE™), antiresplace (e.g., EMINASE™), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, altevase, ACTIVASE™), urokinase (e.g., ABBOKINASE™), sauruplase, (Prourokinase, single chain urokinase), and aminocaproic acid (e.g., AMICAR™). In a specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with tissue plasminogen activator and aspirin.

In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more antiplatelet drugs. Antiplatelet drugs that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, aspirin, dipyridamole (e.g., PERSANTINE™), and ticlopidine (e.g., TICLID™).

In specific embodiments, the use of one or more anti-coagulants, thrombolytic and/or antiplatelet drugs in combination with a composition of the invention is contemplated for the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, unstable angina. In specific embodiments, the use of one or more anticoagulants, thrombolytic drugs and/or antiplatelet drugs in combination with a composition of the invention is contemplated for the prevention of occlusion of saphenous grafts, for reducing the risk of periprocedural thrombosis as might accompany angioplasty procedures, for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation including nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, for reducing the risk of embolism associated with mechanical heart valves and or mitral valves disease. Other uses for a composition of the invention, alone or in combination with one or more antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and/or thrombolytic drugs, include, but are not limited to, the prevention of occlusions in extracorporeal devices (e.g., intravascular canulas, vascular access shunts in hemodialysis patients, hemodialysis machines, and cardiopulmonary bypass machines).

In certain embodiments, a composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with one or more antiretroviral agents, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and/or protease inhibitors (PIs). NRTIs that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include, but are not limited to, RETROVIR™ (zidovudine/AZT), VIDEX™ (didanosine/ddI), (zalcitabine/ddC), ZERIT™ (stavudine/d4T), EPIVIR™ (lamivudine/3TC), and COMBIVIR™ (zidovudine/lamivudine). NNRTIs that may be administered in combination with the a composition of the invention, includes, but are not limited to, VIRAMUNE™ (nevirapine), RESCRIPTORT™ (delavirdine), and SUSTIVA™ (efavirenz). Protease inhibitors that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include, but are not limited to, CRIXIVAN™ (indinavir), NORVIR™ (ritonavir), INVIRASE™ (saquinavir), and VIRACEPT™ (nelfinavir). In a specific embodiment, one or more antiretroviral agents, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and/or protease inhibitors may be used in any combination with a composition of the invention to treat AIDS and/or to prevent or treat HIV infection.

Additional NRTIs that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include LODENOSINE™ (F-ddA; an acid-stable adenosine NRTI; Triangle/Abbott; COVIRACIL™ (emtricitabine/FTC; structurally related to lamivudine (3TC) but with 3- to 10-fold greater activity in vitro; Triangle/Abbott); dOTC (BCH-10652, also structurally related to lamivudine but retains activity against a substantial proportion of lamivudine-resistant isolates; Biochem Pharma); Adefovir (refused approval for anti-HIV therapy by FDA; Gilead Sciences); PREVEON® (Adefovir Dipivoxil, the active prodrug of adefovir; its active form is PMEA-pp); TENOFOVIR™ (bis-POC PMPA, a PMPA prodrug; Gilead); DAPD/DXG (active metabolite of DAPD; Triangle/Abbott); D-D4FC (related to 3TC, with activity against AZT/3TC-resistant virus); GW420867X (Glaxo Wellcome); ZIAGEN™ (abacavir/159U89; Glaxo Wellcome Inc); CS-87 (3′azido-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine; WO 99/66936); and S-acyl-2-thioethyl (SATE)-bearing prodrug forms of β-L-FD4C and β-L-FddC (WO 98/17281).

Additional NRTIs that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include COACTINON™ (Emivirine/MKC-442, potent NNRTI of the HEPT class; Triangle/Abbott); CAPRAVIRINE™ (AG-1549/S-1153, a next generation NNRTI with activity against viruses containing the K103N mutation; Agouron); PNU-142721 (has 20- to 50-fold greater activity than its predecessor delavirdine and is active agaist K103N mutants; Pharmacia & Upjohn); DPC-961 and DPC-963 (second-generation derivatives of efavirenz, designed to be active against viruses with the K103N mutation; DuPont); GW 420867X (has 25-fold greater activity than HBY097 and is active against K103N mutants; Glaxo Wellcome); CALANOLIDE A (naturally occurring agent from the latex tree; active against viruses containing either or both the Y181C and K103N mutations); and Propolis (WO 99/49830).

Additional protease inhibitors that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include LOPINAVIR™ (ABT378/r; Abbott Laboratories); BMS-232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myres Squibb); TIPRANAVIR™ (PNU-140690, a non-peptic dihydropyrone; Pharmacia & Upjohn); PD-178390 (a nonpeptidic dihydropyrone; Parke-Davis); BMS 232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myers Squibb); L-756,423 (an indinavir analog; Merck); DMP-450 (a cyclic urea compound; Avid & DuPont); AG-1776 (a peptidomimetic with in vitro activity against protease inhibitor-resistant viruses; Agouron); VX-175/GW-433908 (phosphate prodrug of amprenavir; Vertex & Glaxo Welcome); CGP61755 (Ciba); and AGENERASE™ (amprenavir; Glaxo Wellcome Inc.).

Additional antiretroviral agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include one or more fusion inhibitors/gp41 binders. Fusion inhibitors/gp41 hinders include T-20 (a peptide from residues 643-678 of the HIV gp41 transmembrane protein ectodomain which binds to gp41 in its resting state and prevents transformation to the fusogenic state; Trimeris) and T-1249 (a second-generation fusion inhibitor; Trimeris).

Additional antiretroviral agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include fusion inhibitors/chemokine receptor antagonists. Fusion inhibitors/chemokine receptor antagonists include CXCR4 antagonists such as AMD 3100 (a bicyclam), SDF-1 and its analogs, and ALX40-4C (a cationic peptide), T22 (an 18 amino acid peptide; Trimeris) and the T22 analogs T134 and T140; CCR5 antagonists such as RANTES (9-68), AOP-RANTES, NNY-RANTES, and TAK-779; and CCR5/CXCR4 antagonists such as NSC 651016 (a distamycin analog). Also included are CCR2F1, CCR3, and CCR6 antagonists. Chemokine receptor agonists such as RANTES, SDF-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, etc., may also inhibit fusion.

Additional antiretroviral agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include integrate inhibitors. Integrate inhibitors include dicaffeoylquinic (DFQA) acids; L-chicoric acid (a dicaffeoyltartaric (DCTA) acid); quinalizarin (QLC) and related anthraquinones; ZINTEVIR™ (AR 177, an oligonucleotide that probably acts at cell surface rather than being a true integrase inhibitor; Arondex); and naphthols such as those disclosed in WO 98/50347.

Additional antiretroviral agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include hydroxyurea-like compounds such as BCX-34 (a purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor; Biocryst); ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as DIDOX™ (Molecules for Health); inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitors such as VX-497 (Vertex); and mycopholic acids such as CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil; Roche).

Additional antiretroviral agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include inhibitors of viral integrase, inhibitors of viral genome nuclear translocation such as arylene bis(methylketone) compounds; inhibitors of HIV entry such as AOP-RANTES, NNY-RANTES, RANTES-IgG fusion protein, soluble complexes of RANTES and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and AMD-3100; nucleocapsid zinc finger inhibitors such as dithiane compounds; targets of HIV Tat and Rev; and pharmacoenhancers such as ABT-378.

Other antiretroviral therapies and adjunct therapies that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include one or more cytokines and/or lymphokines such as, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, SDP-1α, IL-2, PROLEUKIN™ (aldesleukin/L2-7001; Chiron), IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-13; interferons such as IFN-α2a; antagonists of TNFs, NFκB, GM-CSE, M-CSF, and IL-10; agents that modulate immune activation such as cyclosporin and prednisone; vaccines such as Remune™ (HIV Immunogen), APL 400-003 (Apollon), recombinant gp120 and fragments, bivalent (B/E) recombinant envelope glycoprotein, rgp120CM235, MN rgp120, SF-2 rgp120, gp120/soluble CD4 complex, Delta JR-FL protein, branched synthetic peptide derived from discontinuous gp120 C3/C4 domain, fusion-competent immunogens, and Gag, Pol, Nef, and Tat vaccines; gene-based therapies such as genetic suppressor elements (GSEs; WO 98/54366), and intrakines (genetically modified CC chemokines targeted to the ER to block surface expression of newly synthesized CCR5 (Yang et al., PNAS 94:11567-72 (1997): Chen et al., Nat. Med. 3:1110-16 (1997)); antibodies such as the anti-CXCR4 antibody 12G5, the anti-CCR5 antibodies 2D7, 5C7, PA8, PA9, PAJ0, PA11, PA12, and PA14, the anti-CD4 antibodies Q4120 and RPA-T4, the anti-CCR3 antibody 7B11, the anti-gp120 antibodies 17b, 48d, 447-52D, 257-D, 2684) and 50.1, anti-Tat antibodies, anti-TNF-α antibodies, and monoclonal antibody 33A; aryl hydrocarbon (AB) receptor agonists and antagonists such as TCDD, 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl, 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, and α-naphthoflavone (WO 98/30213); and antioxidants such as γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine ethyl ester (γ-GCE; WO 99/56764).

In a further embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered in combination with an antiviral agent. Antiviral agents that may be administered with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, ribavirin, amantadine, remantidine, maxamine, or thyrnalfasin. Specifically, interferon albumin fusion protein can be administered in combination with any of these agents. Moreover, interferon alpha albumin fusion protein can also be administered with any of these agents, and preferably, interferon alpha 2a or 2b albumin fusion protein can be administered with any of these agents. Furthermore, interferon beta albumin fusion protein can also be administered with any of these agents. Additionally, any of the IFN hybrids albumin fusion proteins can be administered in combination with any of these agents.

In a most preferred embodiment, interferon albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin. In a further preferred embodiment, interferon alpha albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin. In a further preferred embodiment, interferon alpha 2a albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin. In a further preferred embodiment, interferon alpha 2b albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin. In a further preferred embodiment, interferon beta albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin. In a further preferred embodiment, hybrid interferon albumin fusion protein is administered in combination with ribavirin.

In other embodiments, a composition of the invention may be administered in combination with anti opportunistic infection agents. Anti-opportunistic agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention, include, but are not Limited to, TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, ATOVAQUONE™, ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, ETHAMBUTOL™, RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™, AZITHROIVIYCIN™, GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, CIDOFOVIR™, FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, RETOCONAZOLE™, ACYCLOVIR™, FAMCICOLVIR™, PYRIMETHAMINE™, LEUCOVORIN™, NEUPOGEN™ (filgrastim/G-CSF), and LEUKINE™ (sargramostim/GM-CSF). In a specific embodiment, composition of the invention are used in any combination with TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, and/or ATOVAQUONE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is used in any combination with ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, and/or ETHAMBUTOL™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium avium complex infection. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is used in any combination with RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™, and/or AZITHROMYCIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is used in any combination with GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, and/or CIDOFOVIR™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection. In another specific embodiment, a Composition of the invention is used in any combination with FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, and/or KETOCONAZOLE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic fungal infection. In another specific embodiment, a Composition of the invention is used in any combination with ACYCLOVIR™ and/or FAMCICOLVIR™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic herpes simplex virus type I and/or type II infection. In another specific embodiment, a Composition of the invention is used in any combination with PYRIMETHAMINE™ and/or LEUCOVORIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Toxoplasma gondii infection. In another specific embodiment, a Composition of the invention is used in any combination with LEUCOVORIN™ and/or NEUPOGEN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic bacterial infection.

In a further embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with an antibiotic agent. Antibiotic agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, amoxicillin, beta-lactamases, aminoglycosides, beta-lactam (glycopeptide), beta-lactamases, Clindamycin, chloramphenicol, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, metronidazole, penicillins, quinolones, rapamycin, rifampin, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracyclines, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin.

In other embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more immunostimulants. Immunostimulants that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, levamisole (e.g., ERGAMISOL™), isoprinosine (e.g., INOSIPLEX™), interferons (e.g., interferon alpha), and interleukins (e.g., IL-2).

In other embodiments, a Composition of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered in combination with one or more immunosuppressive agents. Immunosuppressive agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, steroids, cyclosporine, cyclosporine analogs, cyclophosphamide methylprednisone, prednisone, azathioprine, FK-506, 15-deoxyspergualin, and other immunosuppressive agents that act by suppressing the function of responding T cells. Other immunosuppressive agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, prednisolone, methotrexate, thalidomide, methoxsalen, rapamycin, leflunomide, mizoribine (BREDININ™), brequinar, deoxyspergualin, and azaspirane (SKF 105685), ORTHOCLONE OKT® 3 (muromonab-CD3), SANDIMMUNE™, NEORAL™, SANGDYA™ (cyclosporine), PROGRAF® (FK506, tacrolimus), CELLCEPT® (mycophenolate motefil, of which the active metabolite is mycophenolic acid), IMURAN™ (azathioprine), glucocorticosteroids, adrenocortical steroids such as DELTASONE™ (prednisone) and HYDELTRASOL™ (prednisolone), FOLEX™ and MEXATE™ (methotrxate), OXSORALEN-ULTRA™ (methoxsalen) and RAPAMUNE™ (sirolimus). In a specific embodiment, immunosuppressants may be used to prevent rejection of organs or bone marrow transplantation.

In an additional embodiment, albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered alone or in combination with one or more intravenous immune globulin preparations. Intravenous immune globulin preparations that may be administered with the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention include, but not limited to, GAMMAR™, IVEEGAM™, SANDOGLOBULIN™, GAMMAGARD ATGAM™ (antithymocyte glubulin), and GAMIMUNE™. In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered in combination with intravenous immune globulin preparations in transplantation therapy (e.g., bone marrow transplant).

In another embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention are administered alone or as part of a combination therapy, either in vivo to patients or in vitro to cells, for the treatment of cancer. In a specific embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins, particularly IL-2-albumin fusions, are administered repeatedly doting passive immunotherapy for cancer, such as adoptive cell transfer therapy for metastatic melanoma as described in Dudley et al. (Science Express, 19 Sep. 2002, at www.scienceexpress.org, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

In certain embodiments, a Compositions of the invention (i.e., albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides of the invention) is administered alone or in combination with an anti-inflammatory agent. Anti-inflammatory agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, corticosteroids (e.g., betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, floctafenine, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac, tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid, and tolmetin.), as well as antihistamines, aminoarylcarboxylic acid derivatives, arylacetic acid derivatives, arylbutyric acid derivatives, arylcarboxylic acids, arylproplartic acid derivatives, pyrazoles, pyrazolones, salicylic acid derivatives, thiazinecarboxamides, e-acetamidocaproic acid, S-adenosylmethionine, 3-amino-4-hydroxybutyric acid, amixetrine, bendazac, benzydamine, bucolome, difenpiramide, ditazol, emorfazone, guaiazulene, nabumetone, nimesulide, orgotein, oxaceprol, paranyline, perisoxal, pifoxime, proquazone, proxazole, and tenidap.

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered alone or in combination with an anti-angiogenic agent. Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, Angiostatin (Entremed, Rockville, Md.), Troponin-1 (Boston Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.), anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid and derivatives thereof, paclitaxel (Taxol), Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2, VEGI, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2, and various forms of the lighter “d group” transition metals.

Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species. Such transition metal species may form transition metal complexes. Suitable complexes of the above-mentioned transition metal species include oxo transition metal complexes.

Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxo vanadium complexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitable vanadate complexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes such as, for example, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodium orthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadyl acetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydrates such as vanadyl sulfate mono and trihydrates.

Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes also include oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstate and tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes include ammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, and tungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide and tungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes include molybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitable molybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodium molybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates. Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum (VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include, for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten and molybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, for example, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also be utilized within the context of the present invention. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, platelet factor 4; prolamine sulphate; sulphated chide derivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murata et al., Cancer Res. 51:22-26 (1991)); Sulphated Polysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex (SP-PG) (the function of this compound may be enhanced by the presence of steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine; modulators of matrix metabolism, including for example, proline analogs, cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4-dehydroproline, Thiaproline, alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate; 4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone; Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J. Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326 (1992)); Chymostatin ('Tomkinson et al., Biochem I. 286:475-480 (1992)); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate; Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557, (1990)); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin. Invest. 79:1440-1446 (1987)); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin (Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664 (1987)); Bisantrene (National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium (N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”; (Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, (1992)); and metalloproteinase inhibitors such as B B94.

Additional anti-angiogenic factors that may also be utilized within the context of the present invention include Thalidomide, (Celgene, Warren, N.J.); Angiostatic steroid; AGM-1470 (Breen et al., J. Pediatr. Surg. 28:445-51 (1993)); an integrin alpha v beta 3 antagonist (Storgard et al., J Clin. Invest. 103:47-54 (1999)); carboxynaminolmidazole; Carhoxyamidotriazole (CAI) (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.); Conbretastatin A-4 (CA4P) (OXiGENE, Boston, Mass.); Squalamine (Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.); TNP-470, (Tap Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, Ill.); ZD-0101 AstraZeneca (London, UK); APRA (CT2584); Benefin, Byrostatin-1 (SC339555); CGP-41251 (PKC 412); CM101; Dexrazoxane (ICRF187); DMXAA; Endostatin; Flavopridiol; Genestein; GTE; lmmTher; Iressa (ZDI 839); Octreotide (Somatostatin); Panmin; Penacillamine; Photopoint; PI-88; Prinomastat (AG-3340) Purlytin; Suradista (ECE26644); Tamoxifen (Nolvadex); Tazarotene; Tetrathicanolybdate; Xeloda (Capecitabine); and 5-Fluorouracil.

Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administed in combination with a compound of the invention may work through a variety of mechanisms including, but not limited to, inhibiting proteolysis of the extracellular matrix, blocking the function of endothelial cell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules, by antagonizing the function of angiogenesis inducers such as growth factors, and inhibiting integrin receptors expressed on proliferating endothelial cells. Examples of anti-angiogenic inhibitors that interfere with extracellular matrix proteolysis and which may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, AG-3340 (Agouron, La Jolla, Calif.), BAY-12-9566 (Bayer, West Haven, Conn.), BMS-275291 (Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J.), CGS-27032A (Novartis, East Hanover, N.J.), Marimastat (British Biotech, Oxford, UK), and Metastat (Aererna, St-Foy, Quebec). Examples of anti-angiogenic inhibitors that act by blocking the function of endothelial cell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules and which may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, EMD-121974 (Merck KcgaA Darmstadt, Germany) and Vitaxin (Ixsys, La Jolla, Calif./Medimmune, Gaithersburg, Md.). Examples of anti-angiogenic agents that act by directly antagonizing or inhibiting angiogenesis inducers and which may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, Angiozyme (Ribozyme, Boulder, Colo.), Anti-VEGF antibody (Genentech, S. San Francisco, Calif.), PTK-78717K-225846 (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), SU-101 (Sugen, S. San Francisco, Calif.), SU-5416 (Sugen/Pharmacia Upjohn, Bridgewater, N.J.), and SU-6668 (Sugen). Other anti-angiogenic agents act to indirectly inhibit angiogenesis. Examples of indirect inhibitors of angiogenesis which may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, IM-862 (Cytran, Kirkland, Wash.), Interferon-alpha, IL-12 (Roche, Nutley, N.J.), and Pentosan polysulfate (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.).

In particular embodiments, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for the treatment (e.g., amelioration) and/or prevention of an autoimmune disease, such as for example, an autoimmune disease described herein.

In a particular embodiment, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with one or more anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for the treatment (amelioration) and/or prevention of arthritis. In a more particular embodiment, the use of a composition of the invention in combination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for the treatment (amelioration) and/or prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide of the present invention are administered in combination with an angiogenic protein, or polynucleotides encoding an angiogenic protein. Examples of angiogenic proteins that may be administered with the compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, VEGF-1, VEGF-2, VEGF-3, epidermal growth factor alpha and beta, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, colony stimulating factor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor, and nitric oxide synthase.

In additional embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. Chemotherapeutic agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to alkylating agents such as nitrogen mustards (for example, Mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, Cyclophosphamide Ifosfamide, Melphalan (L-sarcolysin), and Chlorambucil), ethylenimines and methylmelamines (for example, Hexamethylmelamine and Thiotepa), alkyl sulfonates (for example, Busulfan), nitrosoureas (for example, Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine (CCNU), Semustine (methyl-CCNU), and Streptozocin (streptozotocin)), triazenes (for example, Dacarbazine (DTIC; dimethyltriazenoimidazolecarboxamide)), folic acid analogs (for example, Methotrexate (amethopterin)), pyrimidine analogs (for example, Fluorouacil (5-fluorouracil; 5-FU), Floxuridine (fluorodeoxyuridine; FudR), and Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside)), purine analogs and related inhibitors (for example, Mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine; 6-MP), Thioguanine (6-thioguanine; TO), and Pentostatin (2′-deoxycoformycin)), vinca alkaloids (for example, Vinblastine (VLB, vinblastine sulfate)) and Vincristine (vincristine sulfate)), epipodophyllotoxins (for example, Etoposide and Teniposide), antibiotics (for example, Dactinomycin (actinomycin D), Daunorubicin (daunomycin; rubidomycin), Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Plicamycin (mithramycin), and Mitomycin (mitomycin C), enzymes (for example, L-Asparaginase), biological response modifiers (for example, Interferon-alpha and interferon-alpha-2b), platinum coordination compounds (for example, Cisplatin (cis-DDP) and Carboplatin), anthracenedione (Mitoxantrone), substituted ureas (for example, Hydroxyurea), methylhydrazine derivatives (for example, Procarbazine (N-methylhydrazine; adrenocorticosteroids (for example, Prednisone), progestins (for example, Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Medroxyprogesterone, Medroxyprogesterone acetate, and Megestrol acetate), estrogens (for example, Diethylstilbestrol (DES), Diethylstilbestrol diphosphate, Estiadiol, and Ethinyl estradiol), antiestrogens (for example, Tamoxifen), androgens (Testosterone proprionate, and Fluoxymesterone), antiandrogens (for example, Flutamide), gonadotropin-releasing horomone analogs (for example, Leuprolide), other hormones and hormone analogs (for example, methyltestosterone, estramustine, estramustine phosphate sodium, chlorotrianisene, and testolactone), and others (for example, dicarbazine, glutamic acid, and mitotane).

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more of the following drugs: infliximab (also known as Remicade™ Centocor, Inc.), Trocade (Roche, RO-32-3555), Leflunomide (also known as Arava™ from Hoechst Marion Roussel), Kineret™ (an IL-1 Receptor antagonist also known as Anakinra from Amgen, Inc.)

In a specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or combination of one or more of the components of CHOP. In one embodiment, a compositions of the invention is administered in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies, human monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies. In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies and CHOP, or anti-CD20 antibodies and any combination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. In a specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with Rituximab. In a further embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered with Rituximab and CHOP, or Rituximab and any combination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. In a specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with tositumomab. In a further embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered with tositumomab and CHOP, or tositumomab and any combination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. The anti-CD20 antibodies may optionally be associated with radioisotopes, toxins or cytotoxic prodrugs.

In another specific embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination Zevalin™. In a further embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered with Zevalin™ and CHOP, or Zevalin™ and any combination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. Zevalin™ may be associated with one or more radisotopes. Particularly preferred isotopes are 90Y and 111In.

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more cytokines. Cytokines that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL12, IL13, IL15, anti-CD40, CD40L, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In another embodiment, a Composition of the invention may be administered with an interleukin, including, but not limited to, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-1, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, and IL-21.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more members of the TNF family. TNF, TNF-related or TNF-like molecules that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, soluble forms of TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha, also known as TNF-beta), LT-beta (found in complex heterotrimer LT-alpha2-beta), OPGL, FasL, CD27L, CD30L, CD40L, 4-IBBL, DcR3, OX40L, TNF-gamma (International Publication No. WO 96/14328), AIM-I (International Publication No. WO 97/33899), endokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/07880), OPG, and neutrokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/18921, OX40, and nerve growth factor (NGF), and soluble forms of Fas, CD30, CD27, CD40 and 4-IBB, TR2 (International Publication No. WO 96/34095), DR3 (International Publication No. WO 97/33904), DR4 (International Publication No. WO 98/32856), TR5 (International Publication No. WO 98/30693), TRANK, TR9 (International Publication No. WO 98/56892) TR10 (International Publication No. WO 98/54202), 312C2 (International Publication No. WO 98/06842), and TR12, and soluble forms CD154, CD70, and CD153.

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more angiogenic proteins. Angiogenic proteins that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, Glioma Derived Growth Factor (GDGF), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-399816; Platelet Derived Growth Factor-A (PDGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-682110; Platelet Derived Growth Factor-B (PDGF-B), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-282317; Placental Growth Factor (PIGF), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 92/06194; Placental Growth Factor-2 (PIGF-2), as disclosed in Hauser et al., Growth Factors, 4:259-268 (1993); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 90/13649; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP 506477; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 (VEGF-2), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 96/39515; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B (VEGF-3); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B-186 (VEGF-B 186), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 96/26736; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 98/02543; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 98/07832; and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-E (VEGF-E), as disclosed in German Patent Number DE19639601. The above mentioned references are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more Fibroblast Growth Factors. Fibroblast Growth Factors that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, FGF-1, FGF-2, FGF-3, FGF-4, FGF-5, FGF-6, FGF-7, FGF-8, FGF-9, FGF-10, FGF-11, FGF-12, FGF-13, FGF-14, and FGF-15.

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more hematopoietic growth factors. Hematopoietic growth factors that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (sargramostim, LEUKINE™, PROKINE™), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (filgrastim, NEUPOGEN™), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF, CSF-1) erythropoietin (epoetin alfa, EPOGEN™, PROCRIT™), stem cell factor (SCF, c-kit ligand, steel factor), megakaryocyte colony stimulating factor, PIXY321 (a GMCSF/IL-3 fusion protein), interleukins, especially any one or more of IL-1 through IL-12, interferon-gamma, or thrombopoietin.

In certain embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more adrenergic blockers, such as, for example, acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, and timolol.

In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with an antiarrhythmic drug (e.g., adenosine, amidoarone, bretylium, digitalis, digoxin, digitoxin, diliazem, dtisopyramide, esmolol, flecamide, lidocaine, mexiletine, moricizine, phenyloin, procainamide, N-acetyl procainamide, propafenone, propranolol, quinidine, sotalol, tocamide, and verapamil).

In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more diuretic agents, such as carbonic anhydrase-inhibiting agents (e.g., acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, and methazolamide), osmotic diuretics (e.g., glycerin, isosorbide, mannitol, and urea), diuretics that inhibit Na+-K+-2Cl symport (e.g., furosemide, bumetanide, azosemide, piretanide, tripamide, ethacrynic acid, muzolimine, and torsemide), thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics (e.g., bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, methylclothiazide, polythiazide, trichormethiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide, metolazone, and quinethazone), potassium sparing diuretics (e.g., amiloride and triamterene), and mineralcorticoid receptor antagonists (e.g., spironolactone, canrenone, and potassium canrenoate).

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disorders. Treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disorders include, but are not limited to, 127I, radioactive isotopes of iodine such as 131I and 123I; recombinant growth hormone, such as HUMATROPE™ (recombinant somatropin); growth hormone analogs such as PROTROPIN™ (somatrem); dopamine agonists such as PARLODEL™ (bromocriptine); somatostatin analogs such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide); gonadotropin preparations such as PREGNYL™, A.P.L.™ and PROFASI™ (chorionic gonadotropin (CG)), PERGONAL™ (menotropins), and METRODIN™ (urofollitropin (uFSH)); synthetic human gonadotropin releasing hormone preparations such as FACTREL™ and LUTREPULSE™ (gonadorelin hydrochloride), synthetic gonadotropin agonists such as LUPRON™ (leuprolide acetate), SUPPRELIN™ (histrelin acetate), SYNAREL™ (nafarelin acetate), and ZOLADEX™ (goserelin acetate); synthetic preparations of thyrotropin-releasing hormone such as RELEFACT TRH™ and THYPINONE™ (protirelin); recombinant human TSH such as THYROGEN™; synthetic preparations of the sodium salts of the natural isomers of thyroid hormones such as L-T4™, SYNTHROID™ and LEVOTHROID™ (levothyroxine sodium), L-T3™, CYTOMEL™ and TRIOSTAT™ (liothyroine sodium), and THYROLAR™ (liotrix); antithyroid compounds such as 6-n-propylthiouracil (propylthiouracil), 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole and TAPAZOLE™ (methimazole), NEO-MERCAZOLE™ (carbimazole); beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists such as propranolol and esmolol; Ca2+ channel blockers; dexamethasone and iodinated radiological contrast agents such as TELEPAQUE™ (iopanoic acid) and ORAGRAFIN™ (sodium ipodate).

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disorders include, but are not limited to, estrogens or congugated estrogens such as ESTRACE™ (estradiol), ESTINYL™ (ethinyl estradiol), PREMARIN™, ESTRATAB™, ORTHO EST™, OGIEN™ and estiopipate (estrone), ESTROVIS™ (quinestrol), ESTRADERM™ (estradiol), DELESTROGEN™ and VALERGEN™ (estradiol valerate), DEPO-ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE™ and ESTROJECT LA™ (estradiol cypionate); antiestrogens such as NOLVADEX™ (tamoxifen), SEROPHENE™ and CLOMID™ (clomiphene); progestins such as DURALUTIN™ (hydroxyprogesterone caproate), MPA™ and DEPO-PROVERA™ (medroxyprogesterone acetate), PROVERA™ and CYCRIN™ (MPA), MEGACE™ (megestrol acetate), NORLUTIN™ (norethindrone), and NORLUTATE™ and AYGESTIN™ (norethindrone acetate); progesterone implants such as NORPLANT SYSTEM™ (subdermal implants of norgestrel); antiprogestins such as RU 486™ (mifepristone); hormonal contraceptives such as ENOVID™ (norethynodrel plus mestranol), PROGESTASERT™ (intrauterine device that releases progesterone), LOESTRIN™, BREVICON™, MODICON™, GENORA™, NELONA™, NORINYL™, OVACON-35™ and OVACON-50™ (ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone), LEVLEN™, NORDETTE™, TRI-LEVLEN™ and TRIPHASIL-21™ (ethinyl estradiolflevonorgestrel) LO/OVRAL™ and OVRAL™ (ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel), DEMULEN™ (ethinyl estradiol/ethynodiol diacetate), NORINYL™, ORTHO-NOVUM™, NORETHIN™, GENORA™, and NELOVA™ (norethindrone/mestranol), DESOGEN™ and ORTHO-CEPT™ (ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel), ORTHO-CYCLEN™ and ORTHO-TRICYCLEN™ (ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate), MICRONOR™ and NOR-QD™ (norethindrone), and OVRETTE™ (norgestrel).

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disorders include, but are not limited to, testosterone esters such as methenolone acetate and testosterone undecanoate; parenteral and oral androgens such as TESTOJECT-50™ (testosterone), TESTEX™ (testosterone propionate), DELATESTRYL™ (testosterone enanthate), DEPO-TESTOSTERONE™ (testosterone cypionate), DANOCRINE™ (danazol), HALOTESTIN™ (fluoxymesterone), ORETON METHYL™, TESTRED™ and VIRILON™ (methyltestosterone), and OXANDRIN™ (oxandrolone); testosterone transdermal systems such as TESTODERM™; androgen receptor antagonist and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as ANDROCUR™ (cyproterone acetate), EULEXIN™ (flutamide), and PROSCAR™ (finasteride); adrenocorticotropic hormone preparations such as CORTROSYN™ (cosyntropin); adrenocortical steroids and their synthetic analogs such as ACLOVATE™ (alclometasone dipropionate), CYCLOCORT™ (amcinonide), BECLOVENT™ and VANCERIL™ (beclomethosone dipropionate), CELESTONE™ (betamethasone), BENISONE™ and UTICORT™ (betamethasone benzoate), DIPROSONE™ (betamethasone dipropionate), CELESTONE PHOSPHATE™ (betamethasone sodium phosphate), CELESTONE SOLUSPAN™ (betamethasone sodium phosphate and acetate), BETA-VAL™ and VALISONE™ (betamethasone valerate), TEMOVATE™ (clobetasol propionate), CLODERM™ (clocortolone pivalate), CORTEF™ and HYDROCORTONE™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone)), HYDROCORTONE ACETATE™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) acetate), LOCOID™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) butyrate), HYDROCORTONE PHOSPHATE™ (conisol (hydrocortisone) sodium phosphate), A-HYDROCORT™ and SOLU CORTEF™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) sodium succinate), WESTCORT™ (cortisol (hydrocotisone) valerate), CORTISONE ACETATE™ (cortisone acetate), DESOWEN™ and TRIDESILON™ (desonide), TOPICORT™ (desoximetasone), DECADRON™ (dexamethasone), DECADRON LA™ (dexamethasone acetate), DECADRON PHOSPHATE™ and HEXADROL PHOSPHATE™ (dexamethasone sodium phosphate), FLORONE™ and MAXIFLOR™ (diflorasone diacetate), FLORINEF ACETATE™ (fludrocortisone acetate), AEROBID™ and NASALIDE™ (flunisolide), FLUONID™ and SYNALAR™ (fluocinolone acetonide), LIDEX™ (fluocinonide), FLUOR-OP™ and FML™ (fluorometholone), CORDRAN™ (flurandrenolide), HALOG™ (halcinonide), HMS LIZUIFILM™ (medrysone), MEDROL™ (methylprednisolone), DEPO-MEDROL™ and MEDROL ACETATE™ (methylprednisone acetate), A-METHAPRED™ and SOLUMEDROL™ tmethylprednisolone sodium succinate), ELOCON™ (mometasone furoate). HALDRONE™ (parantethasone acetate), DELTA-CORTEF™ (prednisolone), ECONOPRED™ (prednisolone acetate), HYDELTRASOL™ (prednisolone sodium phosphate), HYDELTRA-T.B.A™ (prednisulone tebutate), DELTASONE™ (prednisone), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT™ (triamcinolone), KENALOG™ (triamcinolone acetonide), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT DIACETATE™ (triamcinolone diacetate), and ARISTOSPAN™ (triamcinolone hexacetonide); inhibitors of biosynthesis and action of adrenocortical steroids such as CYTADREN™ (aminoglutethimide), NIZORAL™ (ketoconazole), MODRASTANE™ (trilostane), and METOPIRONE™ (metyrapone); bovine, porcine or human insulin or mixtures thereof; insulin analogs; recombinant human insulin such as HUMULIN™ and NOVOLIN™; oral hypoglycemic agents such as ORAMIDE™ and ORINASE™ (tolbutamide), DIABINESE™ (chlorpropamide), TOLAMIDE™ and TOLINASE™ (tolazamide), DYMELOR™ (acetohexamide), glibenclamide, MICRONASE™, DIBETA™ and GLYNASE™ (glyburide), GLUCOTROL™ (glipizide), and DIAMICRON™ (gliclazide), GLUCOPHAGE™ (metformin), ciglitazone, pioglitazone, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors; bovine or porcine glucagon; somatostatins such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide); and diazoxides such as PROGLYCEM™ (diazoxide).

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disorders include, but are not limited to, bovine, porcine or human insulin or mixtures thereof; insulin analogs; recombinant human insulin such as HUMULIN™ and NOVOLIN™; oral hypoglycemic agents such as ORAMIDE™ and ORINASE™ (tolbutamide), DIABINESE™ (chlorpropamide), TOLAMIDE™ and TOLINASE™ (tolazamide), DYMELOR™ (acetohexamide), glibenclamide, MICRONASE™, DIBETA™ and GLYNASE™ (glyburide), GLUCOTROL™ (glipizide), and DIAMICRON™ (gliclazide), GLUCOPHAGE™ (metformin), PRECOSE™ (acarbose), AMARYL™ (glimepiride), and ciglitazone; thiazolidinediones (TZDs) such as rosiglitazone, AVANDIA™ (rosiglitazone maleate) ACTOS™ (piogliatazone), and troglitazone; alpha-glucosidase inhibitors; bovine or porcine glucagon; somatostatins such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide); and diazoxides such as PROGLYCEM™ (diazoxide).

In still other embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more of the following: a biguanide antidiabetic agent, a glitazone antidiabetic agent, and a sulfonylurea antidiabetic agent.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more treatments for uterine motility disorders. Treatments for uterine motility disorders include, but are not limited to, estrogen drugs such as conjugated estrogens (e.g., PREMARIN® and ESTRATAB®), estradiols (e.g., CLIMARA® and ALORA®), estropipate, and chlorotrianisene; progestin drugs (e.g., AMEN® (medroxyprogesterone), MICRONOR® (norethidrone acetate), PROMETRIUM® progesterone, and megestrol acetate); and estrogen/progesterone combination therapies such as, for example, conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone (e.g., PREMPRO™ and PREMPHASE®) and norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estsradiol (e.g., FEMHRT™).

In an additional embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more drugs effective in treating iron deficiency and hypochromic anemias, including but not limited to, ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate, FEOSOL™), ferrous fumarate (e.g., FFOSTAT™), ferrous gluconate (e.g., FERGON™), polysaccharide-iron complex (e.g., NIFEREX™), iron dextran injection (e.g., INFED®), cupric sulfate, pyroxidine, riboflavin. Vitamin B12, cyanobalamin injection (e.g., REDISOL™, RUBRAMIN PC™), hydroxocobalamin, folic acid (e.g., FOLVITE™), leucovorin (folinic acid, 5-CHOH4PteGlu, citrovorum factor) or WELLCOVORIN (Calcium salt of leucovorin), transferrin or ferritin.

In certain embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more agents used to treat psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric drugs that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, antipsychotic agents (e.g., chlorpromazine, chlorprothixene, clozapine, fluphenazine, halopelidol, loxapine, mesoridazine, molindone, olanzapine, perphenarine, pimozitle, quetiapine, rispelidone, thioridazine, thiothixene, trifluopcrazine, and triflupromazine), antimanic agents (e.g., carbamazepine, divalproex sodium, lithium carbonate, and lithium citrate), antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, amoxapine, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, imipramine, isocarboxazid, maprotiline, mirtazapine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, phenelzine, protriptyline, sertraline, tranylcypromine, trazodone, trimipramine, and venlafaxine), antianxiety agents (e.g., alprazolam, buspirone, chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, diazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, and prazepam), and stimulants (e.g., d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, and pemoline).

In other embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more agents used to treat neurological disorders. Neurological agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, antiepileptic agents (e.g., carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, phenobarbital, phenyloin, primidone, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine, topiramate, zonisamide, diazepam, lorazepam, and clonazepam), antiparkinsonian agents (e.g., levodopa/carbidopa, selegiline, amantidine, bromocriptine, pergolide, ropinirole, pramipexole, benztropine; biperiden; ethopropazine; procyclidine; trihexyphenidyl, tolcapone), and ALS therapeutics (e.g., riluzole).

In another embodiment, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more vasodilating agents and/or calcium channel blocking agents. Vasodilating agents that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., papaverine, isoxsuprine, benazepril, captopril, cilazapril, enalapril, enalaprilat, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, spirapril, trandolapril, and nylidrin), and nitrates (e.g., isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and nitroglycerin). Examples of calcium channel blocking agents that may be administered in combination with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to amlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, flunarizine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, and verapamil.

In certain embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more treatments for gastrointestinal disorders. Treatments for gastrointestinal disorders that may be administered with a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, H2 histamine receptor antagonists (e.g., TAGAMET™ (cimetidine), ZANTAC™ (ranitidine), PEPCID™ (famotidine), and AXID™ (nizatidine)); inhibitols of H+, K+ ATPase (e.g., PREVACID™ (lansoprazole) and PRILOSEC™ (omeprazole)); Bismuth compounds (e.g., PEPTO-BISMOL™ (bismuth subsalicylate) and DE-NOL™ (bismuth subcitrate)); various antacids; sucralfate; prostaglandin analogs (e.g., CYTOTEC™ (misoprostol)); muscarinic cholinergic antagonists; laxatives (e.g., surfactant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline and osmotic laxatives); antidiarrheal agents (e.g., LOMOTIL™ (diphenoxylate), MOTOFEN™ (diphenoxin), and IMODIUM™ (loperamide hydrochloride)), synthetic analogs of somatostatin such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide), antiemetic agents (e.g., ZOFRAN™ (ondansetron), KYTRIL™ (granisetron hydrochloride), tropisetron, dolasetron, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine, thiethylperazine, triflupromazine, domperidone, haloperidol, droperidol, trimethobenzamide, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, dronabinol, and nabilone); D2 antagonists (e.g., metoclopramide, trimethobenzamide and chlorpromazine); bile salts; chenodeoxycholic acid; ursodeoxycholic acid; and pancreatic enzyme preparations such as pancreatin and pancrelipase.

In additional embodiments, a composition of the invention is administered in combination with one or more other therapeutic or prophylactic regimens, such as, for example, radiation therapy.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Optionally associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration.

Gene Therapy

Constructs encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as a part of a gene therapy protocol to deliver therapeutically effective doses of the albumin fusion protein. A preferred approach for in vivo introduction of nucleic acid into a cell is by use of a viral vector containing nucleic acid, encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Infection of cells with a viral vector has the advantage that a large proportion of the targeted cells can receive the nucleic acid. Additionally, molecules encoded within the viral vector, e.g., by a cDNA contained in the viral vector, are expressed efficiently in cells which have taken up viral vector nucleic acid.

Retrovirus vectors and adeno-associated virus vectors can be used as a recombinant gene delivery system for the transfer of exogenous nucleic acid molecules encoding albumin fusion proteins in vivo. These vectors provide efficient delivery of nucleic acids into cells, and the transferred nucleic acids are stably integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the host. The development of specialized cell lines (termed “packaging cells”) which produce only replication-defective retroviruses has increased the utility of retroviruses for gene therapy, and defective retroviruses are characterized for use in gene transfer for gene therapy purposes (for a review see Miller, A. D. (1990) Blood 76:27 1). A replication defective retrovirus can be packaged into virions which can be used to infect a target cell through the use of a helper virus by standard techniques. Protocols for producing recombinant retroviruses and for infecting cells in vitro or in vivo with such viruses can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, F. M. et al., (eds.) Greene Publishing Associates, (1989), Sections 9.10-9.14 and other standard laboratory manuals.

Another viral gene delivery system useful in the present invention uses adenovirus derived vectors. The genome of an adenovirus can be manipulated such that it encodes and expresses a gene product of interest but is inactivated in terms of its ability to replicate in a normal lytic viral life cycle. See, for example, Berkner et al., BioTechniques 6:616 (1988); Rosenfeld et al., Science 252:431-434 (1991); and Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992). Suitable adenoviral vectors derived from the adenovirus strain Ad type 5 d1324 or other strains of adenovirus (e.g., Ad2, Ad3, Ad7 etc.) are known to those skilled in the art. Recombinant adenoviruses can be advantageous in certain circumstances in that they are not capable of infecting nondividing cells and can be used to infect a wide variety of cell types, including epithelial cells (Rosenfeld et al., (1992) cited supra). Furthermore, the virus particle is relatively stable and amenable to purification and concentration, and as above, can be modified so as to affect the spectrum of infectivity. Additionally, introduced adenoviral DNA (and foreign DNA contained therein) is not integrated into the genome of a host cell but remains episomal, thereby avoiding potential problems that can occur as a result of insertional mutagenesis in situations where introduced DNA becomes integrated into the host genome (e.g., retroviral DNA). Moreover, the carrying capacity of the adenoviral genome for foreign DNA is large (up to 8 kilobases) relative to other gene delivery vectors (Berkner et al., cited supra; Haj-Ahmand et al., J. Virol. 57:267 (1986)).

In another embodiment, non-viral gene delivery systems of the present invention rely on endocytic pathways for the uptake of the subject nucleotide molecule by the targeted cell. Exemplary gene delivery systems of this type include liposomal derived systems, poly-lysine conjugates, and artificial viral envelopes. In a representative embodiment, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be entrapped in liposomes bearing positive charges on their surface (e.g., lipofectins) and (optionally) which are tagged with antibodies against cell surface antigens of the target tissue (Mizuno et al., (1992) No Shinkei Geka 20:547-551; PCT publication WO91/06309; Japanese patent application 1047381; and European patent publication EP-A-43075).

Gene delivery systems for a gene encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be introduced into a patient by any of a number of methods. For instance, a pharmaceutical preparation of the gene delivery system can be introduced systemically, e.g. by intravenous injection, and specific transduction of the protein in the target cells occurs predominantly from specificity of transfection provided by the gene delivery vehicle, cell-type or tissue-type expression due to the transcriptional regulatory sequences controlling expression of the receptor gene, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, initial delivery of the recombinant gene is more limited with introduction into the animal being quite localized. For example, the gene delivery vehicle can be introduced by catheter (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,470) or by Stereotactic injection (e.g. Chen et al. (1994) PNAS 91: 3054-3057). The pharmaceutical preparation of the gene therapy construct can consist essentially of the gene delivery system in an acceptable diluent, or can comprise a slow release matrix in which the gene delivery vehicle is imbedded. Where the albumin fusion protein can be produced intact from recombinant cells, e.g. retroviral vectors, the pharmaceutical preparation can comprise one or more cells which produce the albumin fusion protein.

Additional Gene Therapy Methods

Also encompassed by the invention are gene therapy methods for treating or preventing disorders, diseases and conditions. The gene therapy methods relate to the introduction of nucleic acid (DNA, RNA and antisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to achieve expression of an albumin fusion protein of the invention. This method requires a polynucleotide which codes for an albumin fusion protein of the present invention operatively linked to a promoter and any other genetic elements necessary for the expression of the fusion protein by the target tissue. Such gene therapy and delivery techniques are known in the art, see, for example, WO90/11092, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Thus, for example, cells from a patient may be engineered with a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention ex vivo, with the engineered cells then being provided to a patient to be treated with the fusion protein of the present invention. Such methods are well-known in the art. For example, see Benlldegrun et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 85: 207-216 (1993); Ferrantini et al., Cancer Research 53: 1107-1112 (1993); Ferrantini et al., J. Immunology 153: 4604-4615 (1994); Kaido et al., Int. J. Cancer 60: 221-229 (1995); Ogura et al., Cancer Research 50: 5102-5106 (1990); Santodonato et al., Human Gene Therapy 7:1-10 (1996); Santodonato et al., Gene Therapy 4:1246-1255 (1997); and Zhang et al., Cancer Gene Therapy 3: 31-38 (1996)), which are herein incorporated by reference. In one embodiment, the cells which are engineered are arterial cells. The arterial cells may be reintroduced into the patient through direct injection to the artery, the tissues surrounding the artery, or through catheter injection.

As discussed in more detail below, the polynucleotide constructs can be delivered by any method that delivers injectable materials to the cells of an animal, such as, injection into the interstitial space of tissues (heart, muscle, skin, lung, liver, and the like). The polynucleotide constructs may be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid or aqueous carrier.

In one embodiment, polynucleotides encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention is delivered as a naked polynucleotide. The term “naked” polynucleotide, DNA or RNA refers to sequences that are free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote or facilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. However, polynucleotides encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention can also be delivered in liposome formulations and lipofectin formulations and the like can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and 5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference.

The polynucleotide vector constructs used in the gene therapy method are preferably constructs that will not integrate into the host genome nor will they contain sequences that allow for replication. Appropriate vectors include pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from Stratagene; pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia; and pEF1/V5, pcDNA3.1, and pRc/CMV2 available from Invitrogen. Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

Any strong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used for driving the expression of the polynucleotide sequence. Suitable promoters include adenoviral promoters, such as the adenoviral major late promoter; or heterologous promoters, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) promoter; inducible promoters, such as the MMT promoter, the metallothionein promoter; heat shock promoters; the albumin promoter; the ApoAI promoter; human globin promoters; viral thymidine kinase promoters, such as the Herpes Simplex thymidine kinase promoter; retroviral LTRs; the b-actin promoter; and human growth hormone promoters. The promoter also may be the native promoter for the gene corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Unlike other gene therapy techniques, one major advantage of introducing naked nucleic acid sequences into target cells is the transitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis in the cells. Studies have shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can be introduced into cells to provide production of the desired polypeptide for periods of up to six months.

The polynucleotide construct can be delivered to the interstitial space of tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone, cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis, ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connective tissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellular, fluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organ tissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagen fibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissue ensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly the space occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid of the lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscle tissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may be conveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising these cells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent, non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery and expression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completely differentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skin fibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in their ability to take up and express polynucleotides.

For the naked nucleic acid sequence injection, an effective dosage amount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 mg/kg body weight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be from about 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site of injection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequence can readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and may depend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.

The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route of injection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, other parenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosol formulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues, throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked DNA constructs can be delivered to arteries during angioplasty by the catheter used in the procedure.

The naked polynucleotides are delivered by any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the delivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, and so-called “gene guns”. These delivery methods are known in the art.

The constructs may also be delivered with delivery vehicles such as viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin, precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in the art.

In certain embodiments, the polynucleotide constructs are complexed in a liposome preparation. Liposomal preparations for use in the instant invention include cationic (positively charged), anionic (negatively charged) and neutral preparations. However, cationic liposomes are particularly preferred because a tight charge complex can be formed between the cationic liposome and the polyanionic nucleic acid. Cationic liposomes have been shown to mediate intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA (Feigner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference); mRNA (Malone et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:6077-6081 (1989), which is herein incorporated by reference); and purified transcription factors (Delis et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265:10189-10192 (1990), which is herein incorporated by reference), in functional form.

Cationic liposomes are readily available. For example, N[1-2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) liposomes are particularly useful and are available under the trademark Lipofectin, from GIBCO BRL, Grand island, N.Y. (See, also, Feigner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference). Other commercially available liposomes include transfectace (DDAB/DOPE) and DOTAP/DOPE (Boehringer).

Other cationic liposomes can be prepared from readily available materials using techniques well known in the art. See, e.g. PCT Publication No. WO 90/11092 (which is herein incorporated by reference) for a description of the synthesis of DOTAP (1,2-bis(oleoyloxy)-3-(trimethylammonio)propane) liposomes. Preparation of DOTMA Liposomes is explained in the literature, see, e.g., Feigner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference. Similar methods can be used to prepare liposomes from other cationic lipid materials.

Similarly, anionic and neutral liposomes are readily available, such as front Avanti Polar Lipids (Birmingham, Ala.), or can be easily prepared using readily available materials. Such materials include phosphatidyl, choline, cholesterol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), among others. These materials can also be mixed with the DOTMA and DOTAP starting materials in appropriate ratios. Methods for making liposomes using these materials are well known in the art.

For example, commercially dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) can be used in various combinations to make conventional liposomes, with or without the addition of cholesterol. Thus, for example, DOPG/DOPC vesicles can be prepared by drying 50 mg cacti of DOPG and DOPC under a stream of nitrogen gas into a sonication vial. The sample is placed under a vacuum pump overnight and is hydrated the following day with deionized water. The sample is then sonicated for 2 hours in a capped vial, using a Heat Systems model 350 sonicator equipped with an inverted cup (bath type) probe at the maximum setting while the bath is circulated at 15EC. Alternatively, negatively charged vesicles can be prepared without sonication to produce multilamellar vesicles or by extrusion through nucleopore membranes to produce unilamellar vesicles of discrete size. Other methods are known and available to those of skill in the art.

The liposomes can comprise multilamellar vesicles (MLVs), small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), or large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), with SUVs being preferred. The various liposome-nucleic acid complexes are prepared using methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Straubinger et al., Methods of Immunology (1983), 101:512-527, which is herein incorporated by reference. For example, MLVs containing nucleic acid can be prepared by depositing a thin film of phospholipid on the walls of a glass tube and subsequently hydrating with a solution of the material to be encapsulated. SUVs are prepared by extended sonication of MLVs to produce a homogeneous population of unilamellar liposomes. The material to be entrapped is added to a suspension of preformed MLVs and then sonicated. When using liposomes containing cationic lipids, the dried lipid film is resuspended in an appropriate solution such as sterile water or an isotonic buffer solution such as 10 mM Tris/NaCl, sonicated, and then the preformed liposomes are mixed directly with the DNA. The Liposome and DNA form a very stable complex due to binding of the positively charged liposomes to the cationic DNA. SUVs find use with small nucleic acid fragments. LUVs are prepared by a number of methods, well known in the art. Commonly used methods include Ca2+-EDTA chelation (Papahadjopoulos et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 394:483 (1975); Wilson et al., Cell 17:77 (1979)); ether injection (Deamer et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 443:629 (1976); Ostro et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 76:836 (1977); Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76:3348 (1979)); detergent dialysis (Enoch et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76:145 (1979)); and reverse-phase evaporation (REV) (Fraley et al., J. Biol. Chem. 255:10431 (1980); Szoka et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sri. USA 75:145 (1978); Schaefer-Ridder et al., Science 215:166 (1982)), which are herein incorporated by reference.

Generally, the ratio of DNA to Liposomes will be from about 10:1 to about 1:10. Preferably, the ration will be from about 5:1 to about 1:5. More preferably, the ration will be about 3:1 to about 1:3. Still more preferably, the ratio will be about 1:1.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,954 (which is herein incorporated by reference) reports on the injection of genetic material, complexed with cationic liposomes carriers, into mice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,355, 4,946,787, 5,049,386, 5,459,127, 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, and international publication no. WO 94/9469 (which are herein incorporated by reference) provide cationic lipids for use in transfecting DNA into cells and mammals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, and international publication no. WO 94/9469 provide methods for delivering DNA-cationic lipid complexes to mammals.

In certain embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo Of in vivo, using a retroviral particle containing RNA which comprises a sequence encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention. Retroviruses from which the retroviral plasmid vectors may be derived include, but are not limited to, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus, spleen necrosis virus, Rous sarcoma Virus, Harvey Sarcoma Virus, avian leukosis virus, gibbon ape leukemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Myeloproliferative Sarcoma Virus, and mammary tumor virus.

The retroviral plasmid vector is employed to transduce packaging cell lines to form producer cell lines. Examples of packaging cells which may be transfected include, but are not limited to, the PE501, PA317, R-2, R-AM, PAI2, T19-14×, VT-19-17-H2, RCRE, RCRIP, GP+E-86, GP-1-envAm12, and DAN cell lines as described in Miller, Human Gene Therapy 1:5-14 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The vector may transduce the packaging cells through any means known in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to, electroporation, the use of liposomes, and CaPO4 precipitation. In one alternative, the retroviral plasmid vector may be encapsulated into a liposome, or coupled to a lipid, and then administered to a host.

The producer cell line generates infectious retroviral vector particles which include polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention. Such retroviral vector particles then may be employed, to transduce eukaryotic cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The transduced eukaryotic cells will express a fusion protein of the present invention.

In certain other embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, with polynucleotide contained in an adenovirus vector. Adenovirus can be manipulated such that it encodes and expresses fusion protein of the present invention, and at the same time is inactivated in terms of its ability to replicate in a normal lytic viral life cycle. Adenovirus expression is achieved without integration of the viral DNA into the host cell chromosome, thereby alleviating concerns about insertional mutagenesis. Furthermore, adenoviruses have been used as live enteric vaccines for many years with an excellent safety profile (Schwartz et al. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 109:233-238 (1974)). Finally, adenovirus mediated gene transfer has been demonstrated in a number of instances including transfer of alpha-1-antitrypsin and CI-1R to the lungs of cotton rats (Rosenfeld et al., Science 252:431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992)). Furthermore, extensive studies to attempt to establish adenovirus as a causative agent in human cancer were uniformly negative (Green et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76:6606 (1979)).

Suitable adenoviral vectors useful in the present invention are described, for example, in Kozarsky and Wilson, Curt. Opin. Genet. Devel. 3:499-503 (1993); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992); Engelhardt et al., Human Genet. Ther. 4:759-769 (1993); Yang et al., Nature Genet. 7:362-369 (1994); Wilson et al., Nature 365:691-692 (1993); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,224, which are herein incorporated by reference. For example, the adenovirus vector Ad2 is useful and can be grown in human 293 cells. These cells contain the E1 region of adenovirus and constitutively express E1a and E1b, which complement the defective adenoviruses by providing the products of the genes deleted from the vector. In addition to Ad2, other varieties of adenovirus (e.g., Ad3, Ad5, and Ad7) are also useful in the present invention.

Preferably, the adenoviruses used in the present invention are replication deficient. Replication deficient adenoviruses require the aid of a helper virus and/or packaging cell line to form infectious particles. The resulting virus is capable of infecting cells and can express a polynucleotide of interest which is operably linked to a promoter, but cannot replicate in most cells. Replication deficient adenoviruses may be deleted in one or more of all or a portion of the following genes: E1a, E1b, E3, E4, E2a, or L1 through L5.

In certain other embodiments, the cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, using an adeno-associated virus (AAV). AAVs are naturally occurring defective viruses that require helper viruses to produce infectious particles (Muzyczka, N., Curr. Topics in Microbiol. Immunol. 158:97 (1992)). It is also one of the few viruses that may integrate its DNA into non-dividing cells. Vectors containing as little as 300 base pairs of AAV can be packaged and can integrate, but space for exogenous DNA is limited to about 4.5 kb. Methods for producing and using such AAVs are known in the art. Sec, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,139,941, 5,173,414, 5,354,678, 5,436,146, 5,474,935, 5,478,745, and 5,589,377.

For example, an appropriate AAV vector for use in the present invention will include all the sequences necessary for DNA replication, encapsidation, and host-cell integration. The polynucleotide construct is inserted into the AAV vector using standard cloning methods, such as those found in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989). The recombinant AAV vector is then transfected into packaging cells which are infected with a helper virus, using any standard technique, including lipofection, electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, etc. Appropriate helper viruses include adenoviruses, cytomegaloviruses, vaccinia viruses, or herpes viruses. Once the packaging cells are transfected and infected, they will produce infectious AAV viral particles which contain the polynucleotide construct. These viral particles are then used to transduce eukaryotic cells, either ex vivo or in vivo. The transduced cells will contain the polynucleotide construct integrated into its genome, and will express a fusion protein of the invention.

Another method of gene therapy involves operably associating heterologous control regions and endogenous polynucleotide sequences (e.g. encoding a polypeptide of the present invention) via homologous recombination (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; International Publication No. WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication No. WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989), which are herein incorporated by reference. This method involves the activation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which is not normally expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower level than desired.

Polynucleotide constructs are made, using standard techniques known in the art, which contain the promoter with targeting sequences flanking the promoter. Suitable promoters are described herein. The targeting sequence is sufficiently complementary to an endogenous sequence to permit homologous recombination of the promoter-targeting sequence with the endogenous sequence. The targeting sequence will be sufficiently near the 5′ end of the desired endogenous polynucleotide sequence so the promoter will be operably linked to the endogenous sequence upon homologous recombination.

The promoter and the targeting sequences can be amplified using PCR. Preferably, the amplified promoter contains distinct restriction enzyme sites on the 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the first targeting sequence contains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′ end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end of the second targeting sequence contains the same restriction site as the 3′ end of the amplified promoter. The amplified promoter and targeting sequences are digested and ligated together.

The promoter-targeting sequence construct is delivered to the cells, either as naked polynucleotide, or in conjunction with transfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences, viral particles, whole viruses, lipofection, precipitating agents, etc., described in more detail above. The P promoter-targeting sequence can be delivered by any method, included direct needle injection, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, particle accelerators, etc. The methods are described in more detail below.

The promoter-targeting sequence construct is taken up by cells. Homologous recombination between the construct and the endogenous sequence takes place, such that an endogenous sequence is placed under the control of the promoter. The promoter then drives the expression of the endogenous sequence.

The polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention may contain a secretory signal sequence that facilitates secretion of the protein. Typically, the signal sequence is positioned in the coding region of the polynucleotide to be expressed towards or at the 5′ end of the coding region. The signal sequence may be homologous or heterologous to the polynucleotide of interest and may be homologous or heterologous to the cells to be transfected. Additionally, the signal sequence may be chemically synthesized using methods known in the art.

Any mode of administration of any of the above-described polynucleotides constructs can be used so long as the mode results in the expression of one or more molecules in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. This includes direct needle injection, systemic injection, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators (i.e., “gene guns”), gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps (e.g., Alza minipumps), oral or suppositorial solid (tablet or pill) pharmaceutical formulations, and decanting or topical applications during surgery. For example, direct injection of naked calcium phosphate-precipitated plasmid into rat liver and rat spleen or a protein-coated plasmid into the portal vein has resulted in gene expression of the foreign gene in the rat livers (Kaneda et al., Science 243:375 (1989)).

A preferred method of local administration is by direct injection. Preferably, an albumin fusion protein of the present invention complexed with a delivery vehicle is administered by direct injection into or locally within the area of arteries. Administration of a composition locally within the area of arteries refers to injecting the composition centimeters and preferably, millimeters within arteries,

Another method of local administration is to contact a polynucleotide construct of the present invention in or around a surgical wound. For example, a patient can undergo surgery and the polynucleotide construct can be coated on the surface of tissue inside the wound or the construct can be injected into areas of tissue inside the wound.

Therapeutic compositions useful in systemic administration, include fusion proteins of the present invention complexed to a targeted delivery vehicle of the present invention. Suitable delivery vehicles for use with systemic administration comprise liposomes comprising ligands for targeting the vehicle to a particular site. In specific embodiments, suitable delivery vehicles for use with systemic administration comprise liposomes comprising albumin fusion proteins of the invention for targeting the vehicle to a particular site.

Preferred methods of systemic administration, include intravenous injection, aerosol, oral and percutaneous (topical) delivery. Intravenous injections can be performed using methods standard in the art Aerosol delivery can also be performed using methods standard in the art (see, for example, Stribling et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 189:11277-11281 (1992), which is incorporated herein by reference). Oral delivery can be performed by complexing a polynucleotide construct of the present invention to a carrier capable of withstanding degradation by digestive enzymes in the gut of an animal. Examples of such carriers, include plastic capsules or tablets, such as those known in the art. Topical delivery can be performed by mixing a polynucleotide construct of the present invention with a lipophilic reagent (e.g., DMSO) that is capable of passing into the skin.

Determining an effective amount of substance to be delivered can depend upon a number of factors including, for example, the chemical structure and biological activity of the substance, the age and weight of the animal, the precise condition requiring treatment and its severity, and the route of administration. The frequency of treatments depends upon a number of factors, such as the amount of polynucleotide constructs administered per dose, as well as the health and history of the subject. The precise amount, number of doses, and timing of doses will be determined by the attending physician or veterinarian.

Albumin fusion proteins of the present invention can be administered to any animal, preferably to mammals and birds. Preferred mammals include humans, dogs, cats, mice, rats, rabbits sheep, cattle, horses and pigs, with humans being particularly preferred.

Biological Activities

Assays described herein or otherwise known in the art may be applied or routinely modified to test for one or more biological activities (e.g., as described in Table 1, column 2, and in Examples 28-35, for example, Example 28: ['H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay, Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines, Example 30: Assaying for Glycosuria, Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice, Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice, Example 33: Pancreatic Beta-Cell Transplantation Combination Therapy, Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM, Example 35: In vitro H4IIe SEAP Reporter Assays Establishing Involvement in Insulin Action) of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention (including fragments and/or variants of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention) and/or of the biologically active and/or therapeutically active fragments and/or variants of the Therapeutic protein portion of albumin fusion proteins of the invention. If an albumin fusion protein and/or therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein exhibits an activity in a particular assay, it is likely that the Therapeutic protein corresponding to the fusion protein may be involved in the diseases associated with the biological activity. Thus, the fusion protein could be used to treat the associated disease or disorder.

The present invention encompasses methods of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a disease, disorder and/or a condition associated with the disease or disorder, comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention. In preferred embodiments, the present invention encompasses a method of treating or preventing a disease or disorder listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1, comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention that comprises a Therapeutic protein portion corresponding to a Therapeutic protein (or fragment or variant thereof) disclosed in the “Therapeutic Protein: X” column of Table 1 (in the same row as the disease or disorder to be treated is listed in the “Preferred Indication Y” column of Table 1) in an amount effective to treat or prevent the disease or disorder.

In certain embodiments, an albumin fusion protein of the present invention may be used to diagnose and/or prognose diseases and/or disorders associated with the tissue(s) in which the gene corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein of the invention is expressed.

In another preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be used to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent a metabolic endocrine disease or disorder. In a highly preferred embodiment, the metabolic/endocrine disease or disorder is diabetes and/of a condition associated with diabetes. As a non-limiting example, a “Therapeutic protein” may be one that regulates glucose uptake by cells, that binds specifically to a particular cell type (e.g., normal adipocytes, myotubes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta cells of the Islet of Langerhans, and/or abnormal (e.g., cancer cell or insulin-resistant adipocytes, myotubes, and hepatocytes)), that enhances insulin sensitivity in insulin-responsive tissues, and/or that regulates hepatic glucose output, and therefore may be used to target a compound (drug, or cytotoxic agent) to that cell type specifically,

Thus, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a metabolic/endocrine disorder comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

Malfunctioning of any step(s) in insulin secretion and/or action can lead to many metabolic/endocrine disorders (e.g., the dysregulation of oxygen utilization, adipogenesis, glycogenesis, lipogenesis, glucose uptake, protein synthesis, thermogenesis, and maintenance of the basal metabolic rate) and is associated with diseases and/or disorders that include, but are not limited to, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, insulin deficiency, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperketonemia, and diabetes. In preferred embodiments, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to treat or prevent an insulin related disease in disorder, and/or a condition associated with an insulin related disease or disorder. In specific embodiments and albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered to treat or prevent a disease, disorder, or condition, characterized by a state of insulin resistance. Disorders characterized by insulin resistance that can be treated (e.g., ameliorated), prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed using a fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, NIDDM, obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, heart disease, renal failure, androgen excess, and liver cirrhosis or liver disease, injury and/or a complication associated with transplantation.

In further, specific embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to treat or prevent hyperinsulinemia or a disorder or a condition associated with hyperinsulinemia.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of increasing the sensitivity of a cell to insulin comprising contacting a cell with an albumin fusion protein of the invention. In one embodiment, this method is performed in vitro. In another embodiment this method is performed in vitro. In specific embodiments, the cell contacted according to this method is a liver cell, an adipocyte, a kidney cell, a skin cell, a bone cell, or a skeletal muscle cell.

In a preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be used to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent diabetes mellitus and/or a condition associated with diabetes mellitus. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing diabetes mellitus and/or one or more conditions associated with diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a condition associated with diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such a treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Conditions that may be treated or prevented using an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, obesity, cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, atherosclerosis, microvascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Cardiovascular Disorders” section below), blood vessel blockage, gangrene, impotence (e.g., due to diabetic neuropathy or blood vessel blockage), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, kidney disease (e.g., renal failure, nephropathy and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Renal Disorders” section below), diabetic neuropathy, nerve disease and nerve damage (e.g., due to diabetic neuropathy), vision impairment (e.g., diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and blindness), seizures, mental confusion, drowsiness, nonketotic hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma, dyslipidemia (e.g., hyperlipidemia), hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, ketoacidosis, endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperinsulinemia, insulin insensitivity, insulin resistance, and/or an endocrine disorder as described in the “Endocrine Disorders” section below), ulcers, impaired wound healing, infection (e.g., an infectious disease or disorder as described in the “Infectious Diseases” section below, especially of the urinary tract and skin), carpal tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren's contracture, and/or an immune system disease or disorder (e.g., anemia, impaired white blood cell function, and/or an immune system disease or disorder as described in the “Immune Activity” section below).

In a most preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be used to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent type II diabetes and/or a condition associated with type II diabetes. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing type II diabetes mellitus and/or one or more conditions associated with type II diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a condition associated with type II diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such a treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Conditions that may be treated or prevented using an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, obesity, cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, atherosclerosis, microvascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Cardiovascular Disorders” section below), blood vessel blockage, gangrene, impotence (e.g., due to diabetic neuropathy or blood vessel blockage), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, kidney disease (e.g., renal failure, nephropathy and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Renal Disorders” section below), diabetic neuropathy, nerve disease and nerve damage (e.g., due to diabetic neuropathy), vision impairment (e.g., diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and blindness), seizures, mental confusion, drowsiness, nonketotic hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma, dyslipidemia (e.g., hyperlipidemia), hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, ketoacidosis, endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperinsulinemia, insulin insensitivity, insulin resistance, and/or an endocrine disorder as described in the “Endocrine Disorders” section below), ulcers, impaired wound healing, infection (e.g., an infectious disease or disorder as described in the “Infectious Diseases” section below, especially of the urinary tract and skin), carpal tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren's contracture, and/or an immune system disease or disorder (e.g., anemia, impaired white blood cell function, and/or an immune system disease or disorder as described in the “Immune Activity” section below).

In another preferred embodiment, the “Therapeutic protein” portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be used to treat (e.g., ameliorate) or prevent type I diabetes and/or a condition associated with type I diabetes. Accordingly, in another preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing type I diabetes mellitus and/or one or more conditions associated with type I diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of treating (e.g., ameliorating) or preventing a condition associated with type I diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a patient in which such a treatment or prevention is desired an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Conditions that may be treated or prevented using an albumin fusion protein of the invention include, but are not limited to, obesity, cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, atherosclerosis, microvascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Cardiovascular Disorders” section below), blood vessel blockage, gangrene, impotence (e.g., clue to diabetic neuropathy or blood vessel blockage), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, kidney disease (e.g., renal failure, nephropathy and/or other diseases and disorders as described in the “Renal Disorders” section below), diabetic neuropathy, nerve disease and nerve damage (e.g., due to diabetic neuropathy), vision impairment (e.g., diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and blindness), seizures, mental confusion, drowsiness, nonketotic hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma, dyslipidemia (e.g., hyperlipidemia), hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, ketoacidosis, endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperinsulinemia, insulin insensitivity, insulin resistance, and/or an endocrine disorder as described in the “Endocrine Disorders” section below), ulcers, impaired wound healing, infection (e.g., an infectious disease or disorder as described in the “Infectious Diseases” section below, especially of the urinary tract and skin), carpal tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren's contracture, and/or an immune system disease or disorder (e.g., anemia, impaired white blood cell function, and/or an immune system disease or disorder as described in the “Immune Activity” section below).

In an additional embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to modulate (e.g., increase) the effect of insulin on blood glucose levels.

In a most preferred embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to modulate or maintain glucose homeostasis.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake in a cell using a fusion protein of the invention, comprising contacting a fusion protein of the invention with the cell in which an increase in glucose uptake is desired. In specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake into a cell using a fusion protein of the invention in vitro. In other specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake into a cell using a fusion protein of the invention in viva. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake into a adipose cells. In other preferred embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake into a skeletal cell. In other preferred embodiments, the invention provides a method of increasing glucose uptake into a liver cells

In a preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent a disease and disorder associated with aberrant glucose metabolism or glucose uptake into cells.

In another preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to regulate glucose metabolism. In a highly preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention, is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to increase glucose metabolism.

In one embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to lower glucose production in liver and/or other cells.

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to reduce gluconeogenesis in liver and/or other cells.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of decreasing glucose production of a cell comprising contacting a cell with a fusion protein of the invention. In one embodiment, this method is performed in vitro. In another embodiment this method is performed in vitro. In specific embodiments, the cell contacted according to this method is a liver cell, an adipocyte, a kidney cell, or a muscle cell.

In another preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient (preferably a human) to treat or prevent a disease or disorder selected from the group: glycogen storage disease (e.g., glycogenoses), hepatitis, gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver, degenerative or necrotic liver disease, alcoholic liver diseases, fibrosis, liver regeneration, and cholesterol metabolism, and hepatocarcinomas.

In a further preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to treat or prevent hyperglycemia and/or a condition associated with hyperglycemia. Conditions associated with hyperglycemia that can be treated or prevented using fusion proteins of the invention include, for example, type II and/or type I diabetes menials, obesity, kidney disease or impaired kidney function, nerve disease and/or damage (e.g., mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, and malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system) retinopathy, cataract, heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, gangrene (e.g., of the feet and hands), impotence, infections, cataract, impaired white blood cell function, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and diabetic ketoacidosis. In a further preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered in combination (e.g., concomitantly or serially) with a bolus administration of another diabetes Therapeutic (e.g., a bolus insulin treatment at time of food consumption) to modulate post-prandial hyperglycemia.

In other embodiments, embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to treat or prevent dyslipidemia or a condition associated with dyslipidemia.

In other embodiments, embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to treat or prevent hyperlipidemia or a condition associated with hyperlipidemia.

In other embodiments, embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to treat or prevent hyperketonemia or a condition associated with hyperketonemia.

In a highly preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to treat or prevent obesity or a condition associated with obesity.

In a preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to limit weight gain.

In another peter led embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient for the patient to lose weight.

In other preferred embodiments, embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to suppress appetite.

In other preferred embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to increase appetite.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of activating the leptin receptor using a fusion protein of the invention. In specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of activating the leptin receptor using a fusion protein of the invention in vitro. In other specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of activating the leptin receptor using a fusion protein of the invention in vivo.

In other preferred embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to alter or regulate nutritional partitioning in the patient. In one embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered according to this method to reduce fat mass. In another embodiment, an albumin fusion protein of the invention is administered according to this method to increase muscle mass.

In other preferred embodiments, a fusion protein of the invention is administered to a patient to promote weight gain.

In another preferred embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent cardiovascular disease. In one embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent heart disease. In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent atherosclerosis. In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent hypertension or a condition associated with hypertension. In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent coronary artery disease or a condition associated with coronary artery disease.

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention can be used to treat or prevent neurological diseases, including but not limited to, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and/or as described herein under the section heading “Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases”.

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent a neuropathy, neural injury, or a condition associated with a neuropathy or neural injury. Neuropathies that can be treated or prevented using a composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, retinopathy, autonomic neuropathy, parasympathetic neuropathy, and polyneuropathy. In a preferred embodiment, a composition of the invention is used to treat or prevent a paraympathetic neuropathy or parasympathetic neural injury and/or a condition associated with paraympathetic neuropathy or parasympathetic neural injury. In a highly preferred embodiment, a composition of the invention is used to treat or prevent a hepatic paraympathetic neuropathy or hepatic parasympathetic neural injury, and/or a condition associated with a hepatic paraympathetic neuropathy or hepatic parasympathetic neural injury.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of differentiating pancreatic ductal epithelial cells into insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells. In specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of differentiating pancreatic ductal epithelial cells into insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells using a fusion protein of the invention in vitro. In other specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of differentiating pancreatic ductal epithelial cells into insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells using a fusion protein of the invention in vivo. In still another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of inducing proliferation of insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells using a fusion protein of the invention. In specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of inducing proliferation of insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells using a fusion protein of the invention in vitro. In other specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of inducing proliferation of insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells using a fusion protein of the invention in vivo.

In a further preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of activating GSK3 kinase activity using a fusion protein of the invention. In specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of activating GSK3 kinase activity using a fusion protein of the invention in vitro. In other specific embodiments, the invention provides a method of activating GSK3 kinase activity using a fusion protein of the invention in vivo.

The fusion proteins of the invention are useful in the treatment (e.g., amelioration), prevention, diagnosis, and/or detection of diseases and/or disorders associated with activities that include, but are not limited to, prohormone activation in the pancreatic, muscle, and fat tissues, cellular signaling in the pancreatic, muscle, and fat tissues, cellular proliferation in the pancreas, cellular differentiation of the pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and the fibroblasts in the stromal-vasculature in fat tissue, cell migration, and neurotransmitter activity.

In preferred embodiments, fusion proteins of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders relating to diseases and disorders of the endocrine system (see, for example, “Endocrine Disorders” section below), the nervous system (see, for example, “Neurological Disorders” section below), the immune system (see, for example, “Immune Activity” section below), respiratory system (see, for example, “Respiratory Disorders” section below), cardiovascular system (see, for example, “Cardiovascular Disorders” section below), reproductive system (see, for example, “Reproductive System Disorders” section below) digestive system (see, for example, “Gastrointestinal Disorders” section below), diseases and/or disorders relating to cell proliferation (see, for example, “Hyperproliferative Disorders” section below), and/or diseases or disorders relating to the blood (see, for example, “Blood-Related Disorders” section below).

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent inflammatory and/or autoimmune disorders, including but not limited to, lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and/or as described herein under the section heading “Immune Activity”.

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to treat or prevent of a disease, disorder, and/or condition involving aberrant cellular proliferation, including but not limited to a preneoplastic disorder (e.g., hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia), a neoplastic disorder (e.g., cancer of the liver, lung, and colon), and/or as described herein under the section headings “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Diseases at the Cellular Level”.

In a further embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention is used to promote wound healing or tissue regeneration, such as described below under the section headings “Wound Healing and Epithelial Cell Proliferation” and “Regeneration”.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is an insulin albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a GLP1 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is an Exendin-4 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a HLDOU18 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a resistin albumin fusion proteins.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin Fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a leptin albumin fusion proteins.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a HCEIP80 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is an IGF1 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is an IFNa albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a RegIV albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a HDRMI82 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a IL-22 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a IL-22 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is Interferon beta albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a TR6 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is TNFR2 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is ACE2 inhibitor albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is an interferon hybrid albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a HWHGZ51 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a C17 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a somatostatin albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a HDALV07 albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a C peptide albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a Win10b albumin fusion protein.

In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion protein administered according to the methods of the present invention is a CART albumin fusion protein.

The fusion proteins of the present invention can be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and/or treatment of one or more diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the endocrine system (see, for example, “Endocrine Disorders” section below). In other embodiments, a fusion protein of the present invention can be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment of one or more diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the digestive system (see, for example, “Gastrointestinal Disorders” section below). In other embodiments, a fusion protein of the present invention can be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment of one or more diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the nervous system (see, for example, “Neurological Disorders” section below), the immune system (see, for example, “Immune Activity” section below), respiratory system (see, for example, “Respiratory Disorders” section below), cardiovascular system (see, for example, “Cardiovascular Disorders” section below), reproductive system (see, for example, “Reproductive System Disorders” section below), diseases, disorders, and/or conditions relating to cell proliferation (see, for example, “Hyperproliferative Disorders” section below), and/or diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the blood (see, for example, “Blood-Related Disorders” section below).

In certain embodiments, an albumin fusion protein of the present invention may be used to diagnose and/or prognose diseases and/or disorders associated with the tissue(s) in which the gene corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein of the invention is expressed.

Thus, fusion proteins of the invention and polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are useful in the diagnosis, detection and/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders associated with activities that include, but are not limited to, prohormone activation, neurotransmitter activity, cellular signaling, cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation, and cell migration.

More generally, fusion proteins of the invention and polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful for the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders associated with the following systems.

Endocrine Disorders

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/or prognose disorders and/or diseases related to hormone imbalance, and/or disorders or diseases of the endocrine system.

Hormones secreted by the glands of the endocrine system control physical growth, sexual function, metabolism, and other functions. Disorders may be classified in two ways: disturbances in the production of hormones, and the inability of tissues to respond to hormones. The etiology of these hormone imbalance or endocrine system diseases, disorders or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer and some autoimmune diseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy, injury or toxins), or infectious. Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as a marker or detector of a particular disease or disorder related to the endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance.

Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance and/or diseases encompass disorders of uterine motility including, but not limited to: complications with pregnancy and labor (e.g., pre-tetra labor, post-term pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and slow or stopped labor); and disorders and/or diseases of the menstrual cycle (e.g., dysmenorrhea and endometriosis).

Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/or diseases include disorders and/or diseases of the pancreas, such as, for example, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, congenital pancreatic agenesis, pheochromocytoma—islet cell tumor syndrome; disorders and/or diseases of the adrenal glands such as, for example, Addison's Disease, corticosteroid deficiency, virilizing disease, hirsutism, Cushing's Syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma; disorders and/or diseases of the pituitary gland, such as, for example, hyperpituitarism, hypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, pituitary adenoma, panhypopituitarism, acromegaly, gigantism; disorders and/or diseases of the thyroid, including but not limited to, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Plummer's disease, Graves' disease (toxic diffuse goiter), toxic nodular goiter, thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis, subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, and silent lymphocytic thyroiditis), Pendred's syndrome, myxedema, cretinism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroid hormone coupling defect, thymic aplasia, Hurthle cell turnouts of the thyroid, thyroid cancer, thyroid carcinoma, Medullary thyroid carcinoma; disorders and/or diseases of the parathyroid, such as, for example, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism; disorders and/or diseases of the hypothalamus.

In addition, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/or diseases may also include disorders and/or diseases of the testes or ovaries, including cancer. Other disorders and/or diseases of the testes or ovaries further include, for example, ovarian cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, vanishing testes syndrome (bilateral anorchia), congenital absence of Leydig's cells, cryptorchidism, Noonan's syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, capillary haemangioma of the testis (benign), neoplasias of the testis and neo-testis.

Moreover, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/or diseases may also include disorders and/or diseases such as, for example, polyglandular deficiency syndromes, pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, multiple Endocrine neoplasia, and disorders and/or cancers of endocrine tissues.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat endocrine diseases and/or disorders associated with the tissue(s) in which the Therapeutic protein corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin protein of the invention is expressed.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/or prognose gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory diseases and/or conditions, infections, cancers (e.g., intestinal neoplasms (carcinoid tumor of the small intestine, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small intestine, small bowl lymphoma)), and ulcers, such as peptic ulcers.

Gastrointestinal disorders include dysphagia, odynophagia, inflammation of the esophagus, peptic esophagitis, gastric reflux, submucosal fibrosis and stricturing, Mallory-Weiss lesions, leiomyomas, lipomas, epidermal cancers, adeoncarcinomas, gastric retention disorders, gastroenteritis, gastric atrophy, gastric/stomach cancers, polyps of the stomach, autoimmune disorders such as pernicious anemia, pyloric stenosis, gastritis (bacterial, viral, eosinophilic, stress-induced, chronic erosive, atrophic, plasma cell, and Ménétrier's), and peritoneal diseases (e.g., chyloperioneum, hemoperitoneum, mesenteric cyst, mesenteric lymphadenitis, mesenteric vascular occlusion, panniculitis, neoplasms, peritonitis, pneumoperitoneum, bubphrenic abscess.).

Gastrointestinal disorders also include disorders associated with the small intestine, such as malabsorption syndromes, distension, irritable bowel syndrome, sugar intolerance, celiac disease, duodenal ulcers, duodenitis, tropical sprue, Whipple's disease, intestinal lymphangiectasia, Crohn's disease, appendicitis, obstructions of the ileum, Meckel's diverticulum, multiple diverticula, failure of complete rotation of the small and large intestine, lymphoma, and bacterial and parasitic diseases (such as Traveler's diarrhea, typhoid and paratyphoid, cholera, infection by Roundworms (Ascariasis lumbricoides), Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale), Threadworms (Enterobius vermicularis), Tapeworms (Taenia saginata, Echinococcus granulosus, Diphyllobothrium spp., and T. solium).

Liver diseases and/or disorders include intrahepatic cholestasis (alagille syndrome, biliary liver cirrhosis), fatty liver (alcoholic fatty liver, reye syndrome), hepatic vein thrombosis, hepatolentricular degeneration, hepatomegaly, hepatopulmonary syndrome, hepatorenal syndrome, portal hypertension (esophageal and gastric varices), liver abscess (amebic liver abscess), liver cirrhosis (alcoholic, biliary and experimental), alcoholic liver diseases (fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis), parasitic (hepatic echinococcosis, fascioliasis, amebic liver abscess), jaundice (hemolytic, hepatocellular, and cholestatic), cholestasis, portal hypertension, liver enlargement, ascites, hepatitis (alcoholic hepatitis, animal hepatitis, chronic hepatitis (autoimmune, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, drug induced), toxic hepatitis, viral human hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E), Wilson's disease, granulomatous hepatitis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension, varices, hepatic encephalopathy, primary binary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, hepatocellular adenoma, hemangiomas, bile stones, liver failure (hepatic encephalopathy, acute liver failure), and liver neoplasms (angiomyolipoma, calcified liver metastases, cystic liver metastases, epithelial tumors, fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, hepatobiliary cystadenoma, hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, liver cancer, liver hemangioendothelioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, mesenchymal tumors of liver, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, benign liver tumors (Hepatic cysts [Simple cysts, Polycystic liver disease, Hepatobiliary cystadenoma, Choledochal cyst], Mesenchymal tumors [Mesenchymal hamartoma, Infantile hemangioendothelioma, Hemangioma, Peliosis hepatis, Lipomas, Inflammatory pseudotumor, Miscellaneous], Epithelial tumors [Bile duct epithelium (Bile duct hamartoma, Bile duct adenoma), Hepatocyte (Adenoma, Focal nodular hyperplasia, Nodular regenerative hyperplasia)], malignant liver tumors [hepatocellular, hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocellular, cholangiocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, tumors of blood vessels, angiosarcoma, Karposi's sarcoma, hemangioendothelioma, other tumors, embryonal sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, carcinosarcoma, teratoma, carcinoid, squamous carcinoma, primary lymphoma]), peliosis hepatis, erythrohepatic porphyria, hepatic porphyria (acute intermittent porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda), Zellweger syndrome).

Pancreatic diseases and/or disorders include acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis (acute necrotizing pancreatitis, alcoholic pancreatitis), neoplasms (adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, cystadenocarcinoma, insulinoma, gastrinoma, and glucagonoma, cystic neoplasms, islet-cell tumors, pancreoblastoma), and other pancreatic diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, cyst (pancreatic pseudocyst, pancreatic fistula, insufficiency)).

Gallbladder diseases include gallstones (cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis), postcholecystectomy syndrome, diverticulosis of the gallbladder, acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, bile duct tumors, and mucocele.

Diseases and/or disorders of the large intestine include antibiotic-associated colitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, acquired megacolon, abscesses, fungal and bacterial infections, anorectal disorders (e.g., fissures, hemorrhoids), colonic diseases (colitis, colonic neoplasms [colon cancer, adenomatous colon polyps (e.g., villous adenoma), colon carcinoma, colorectal cancer], colonic diverticulitis, colonic diverticulosis, megacolon [Hirschsprung disease, toxic megacolon]; sigmoid diseases [proctocolitis, sigmoin neoplasms]), constipation, Crohn's disease, diarrhea (infantile diarrhea, dysentery), duodenal diseases (duodenal neoplasms, duodenal obstruction, duodenal ulcer, duodenitis), enteritis (enterocolitis), HIV enteropathy, ileal diseases (ileal neoplasms, ileitis), immunoproliferative small intestinal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), intestinal atresia, parasitic diseases (anisakiasis, balantidiasis, biastocystis infections, cryptosporidiosis, dientattioehiasis, amebic dysentery, giardiasis), intestinal fistula (rectal fistula), intestinal neoplasms (cecal neoplasms, colonic neoplasms, duodenal neoplasms, deal neoplasms, intestinal polyps, jejunal neoplasms, rectal neoplasms), intestinal obstruction (afferent loop syndrome, duodenal obstruction, impacted feces, intestinal pseudo-obstruction [cecal volvulus], intussusception), intestinal perforation, intestinal polyps (colonic polyps, gardner syndrome, peutz-jeghers syndrome), jejunal diseases (jejunal neoplasms), malabsorption syndromes (blind loop syndrome, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, short bowl syndrome, tropical sprue, whipple's disease), mesenteric vascular occlusion, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, protein-losing enteropathies (intestinal lymphagiectasis), rectal diseases (anus diseases, fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids, proctitis, rectal fistula, rectal prolapse, rectocele), peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcer, peptic esophagitis, hemorrhage, perforation, stomach ulcer, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome), postgastrectomy syndromes (dumping syndrome), stomach diseases (e.g., achlorhydria, duodenogastric reflux (bile reflux), gastric antral vascular ectasia, gastric fistula, gastric outlet obstruction, gastritis (atrophic or hypertrophic), gastroparesis, stomach dilatation, stomach diverticulum, stomach neoplasms (gastric cancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma, hyperplastic gastric polyp), stomach rupture, stomach ulcer, stomach volvulus), tuberculosis, visceroptosis, vomiting (e.g., hematemesis, hyperemesis gravidarum, postoperative nausea and vomiting) and hemorrhagic colitis.

Further diseases and/or disorders of the gastrointestinal system include biliary tract diseases, such as, gastroschisis, fistula (e.g., biliary fistula, esophageal fistula, gastric fistula, intestinal fistula, pancreatic fistula), neoplasms (e.g., biliary tract neoplasms, esophageal neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal neoplasms, pancreatic neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas, pancreatic cystic neoplasms, pancreatoblastoma, and peritoneal neoplasms), esophageal disease (e.g., buttons diseases, candidiasis, glycogenic acanthosis, ulceration, barrett esophagus varices, atresia, cyst, diverticulum (e.g., Zenker's diverticulum), fistula (e.g., tracheoesophageal fistula), motility disorders (e.g., CREST syndrome, deglutition disorders, achalasia, spasm, gastroesophageal reflux), neoplasms, perforation (e.g., Boerhaave syndrome, Mallory-Weiss syndrome), stenosis, esophagitis, diaphragmatic hernia (e.g., hiatal hernia); gastrointestinal diseases, such as, gastroenteritis (e.g., cholera morbus, norwalk virus infection), hemorrhage (e.g., hematemesis, melena, peptic ulcer hemorrhage), stomach neoplasms (gastric cancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma, stomach cancer)), hernia (e.g., congenital diaphragmatic hernia, femoral hernia, inguinal hernia, obturator hernia, umbilical hernia, ventral hernia), and intestinal diseases (e.g., cecal diseases (appendicitis, cecal neoplasms)).

Regeneration

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used to differentiate, proliferate, and attract cells, leading to the regeneration of tissues. (See, Science 276:59-87 (1997)). The regeneration of tissues could be used to repair, replace, or protect tissue damaged by congenital defects, trauma (wounds, burns, incisions, or ulcers), age, disease (e.g. osteoporosis, osteocarthritis, periodontal disease, liver failure), surgery, including cosmetic plastic surgery, fibrosis, reperfusion injury, or systemic cytokine damage.

Tissues that could be regenerated using the present invention include organs (e.g., pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium), muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac), vasculature (including vascular and lymphatics), nervous, hematopoietic, and skeletal (bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament) tissue. Preferably, regeneration occurs without or decreased scarring. Regeneration also may include angiogenesis.

Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may increase regeneration of tissues difficult to heal. For example, increased tendon/ligament regeneration would quicken recovery time after damage. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could also be used prophylactically in an effort to avoid damage. Specific diseases that could be treated include of tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other tendon or ligament defects. A further example of tissue regeneration of non-healing wounds includes pressure ulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical, and traumatic wounds.

Similarly, nerve and brain tissue could also be regenerated by using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, to proliferate and differentiate nerve cells. Diseases that could be treated using this method include central and peripheral nervous system diseases, neuropathies, or mechanical and traumatic disorders (e.g., spinal cord disorders, head trauma, cerebrovascular disease, and stoke). Specifically, diseases associated with peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy (e.g., resulting from chemotherapy or other medical therapies), localized neuropathies, and central nervous system diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome), could all be treated using the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Wound Healing and Epithelial Cell Proliferation

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for utilizing fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate epithelial cell proliferation and basal keratinocytes for the purpose of wound healing, and to stimulate hair follicle production and healing of dermal wounds. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be clinically useful in stimulating wound healing including surgical wounds, excisional wounds, deep wounds involving damage of the dermis and epidermis, eye tissue wounds, dental tissue wounds, oral cavity wounds, diabetic ulcers, dermal ulcers, cubitus ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, burns resulting from heat exposure or chemicals, and other abnormal wound healing conditions such as uremia, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and complications associated with systemic treatment with steroids, radiation therapy and antineoplastic drugs and antimetabolites. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to promote dermal reestablishment subsequent to dermal loss

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to increase the adherence of skin grafts to a wound bed and to stimulate re-epithelialization from the wound bed. The following are types of grafts that fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to increase adherence to a wound bed: autografts, artificial skin, allografts, autodermic graft, autoepdermic grafts, avacular grafts, Blair-Brown grafts, bone graft, brephoplastic grafts, cutis graft, delayed graft, dermic graft, epidermic graft, fascia graft, full thickness graft, heterologous graft, xenograft, homologous graft, hyperplastic graft, lamellar graft, mesh graft, mucosal graft, Ollier-Thiersch graft, omenpal graft, patch graft, pedicle graft, penetrating graft, split skin graft, thick split graft. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, can be used to promote skin strength and to improve the appearance of aged skin.

It is believed that fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, will also produce changes in hepatocyte proliferation, and epithelial cell proliferation in the lung, breast, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could promote proliferation of epithelial cells such as sebocytes, hair follicles, hepatocytes, type II pneumocytes, mucin-producing goblet cells, and other epithelial cells and their progenitors contained within the skin, lung, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may promote proliferation of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and basal keratinocytes.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could also be used to reduce the side effects of gut toxicity that result from radiation, chemotherapy treatments or viral infections. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may have a cytoprotective effect on the small intestine mucosa. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may also stimulate healing of mucositis (mouth ulcers) that result from chemotherapy and viral infections.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could further be used in full regeneration of skin in full and partial thickness skin defects, including burns, (i.e., repopulation of hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands), treatment of other skin defects such as psoriasis. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to treat epidermolysis bullosa, a defect in adherence of the epidermis to the underlying dermis which results in frequent, open and painful blisters by accelerating reepitbelialization of these lesions. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could also be used to treat gastric and doudenal ulcers and help heal by scar formation of the mucosal lining and regeneration of glandular mucosa and duodenal mucosal lining more rapidly. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are diseases which result in destruction of the mucosal surface of the small or large intestine, respectively. Thus, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to promote the resurfacing of the mucosal surface to aid more rapid healing and to prevent progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, is expected to have a significant effect on the production of mucus throughout the gastrointestinal tract and could be used to protect the intestinal mucosa from injurious substances that are ingested or following surgery. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to treat diseases associate with the under expression.

Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to prevent and heal damage to the lungs due to various pathological states. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, which could stimulate proliferation and differentiation and promote the repair of alveoli and brochiolar epithelium to prevent or treat acute or chronic lung damage. For example, emphysema, which results in the progressive loss of aveoli, and inhalation injuries, i.e., resulting from smoke inhalation and burns, that cause necrosis of the bronchiolar epithelium and alveoli could be effectively treated using polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the present invention. Also fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to stimulate the proliferation of and differentiation of type II pneumocytes, which may help treat or prevent disease such as hyaline membrane diseases, such as infant respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary displasia, in premature infants.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of hepatocytes and, thus, could be used to alleviate or treat liver diseases and pathologies such as fulminant liver failure caused by cirrhosis, liver damage caused by viral hepatitis and toxic substances (i.e., acetaminophen, carbon tetraholoride and other hepatotoxins known in the art).

In addition, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used treat or prevent the onset of diabetes mellitus. In patients with newly diagnosed Types I and II diabetes, where some islet cell function remains, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used to maintain the islet function so as to alleviate, delay or prevent permanent manifestation of the disease. Also, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, could be used as an auxiliary in islet cell transplantation to improve or promote islet cell function.

Diseases at the Cellular Level

Diseases associated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis that could be treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include cancers (such as follicular lymphomas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors, including, but not limited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, retinoblastoma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma, endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune disorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses and adenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection.

In preferred embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression, and/or metasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cell survival that could be treated or detected by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, progression, and/or metastases of malignancies and related disorders such as leukemia (including acute leukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia (including myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, and erythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias (e.g., chronic myelocytic (granulocytic) leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's disease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors including, but not limited to, sarcomas and carcinomas such as fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma.

Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could be treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognesed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, AIDS; neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Retinitis pigmentosa, Cerebellar degeneration and brain tumor of prior associated disease); autoimmune disorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes (such as aplastic anemia), graft v. host disease, ischemic injury (such as that caused by myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury), liver injury (e.g., hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cholestosis (bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-induced liver disease (such as that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexia and anorexia,

Renal Disorders

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/or prognose disorders of the renal system. Renal disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, kidney failure, nephritis, blood vessel disorders of kidney, metabolic and congenital kidney disorders, urinary disorders of the kidney, autoimmune disorders, sclerosis and necrosis, electrolyte imbalance, and kidney cancers.

Kidney diseases which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, atheroembolic renal failure, end-stage renal disease, inflammatory diseases of the kidney (e.g., acute glomerulonephritis, postinfectious glomerulonephritis, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, membranous glomerulonephritis, familial nephrotic syndrome, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis I and II, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), pyelonephritis, lupus nephritis, chronic nephritis, interstitial nephritis, and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis), blood vessel disorders of the kidneys (e.g., kidney infarction, atheroembolic kidney disease, cortical necrosis, malignant nephrosclerosis, renal vein thrombosis, renal underperfusion, renal retinopathy, renal ischemia-reperfusion, renal artery embolism, and renal artery stenosis), and kidney disorders resulting form urinary tract disease (e.g., pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis, urolithiasis (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis), reflux nephropathy, urinary tract infections, urinary retention, and acute or chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy.)

In addition, compositions of the invention can be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or neat metabolic and congenital disorders of the kidney (e.g., uremia, renal amyloidosis, renal osteodystrophy, renal tubular acidosis, renal glycosuria, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, cystinuria, Fanconi's syndrome, renal fibrocystic osteosis (renal rickets), Hartnup disease, Barrier's syndrome, Liddle's syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, medullary cystic disease, medullary sponge kidney, Alport's syndrome, nail-patella syndrome, congenital nephrotic syndrome, CRUSH syndrome, horseshoe kidney, diabetic nephropathy, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, analgesic nephropathy, kidney stones, and membranous nephropathy), and autoimmune disorders of the kidney (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Goodpasture syndrome, IgA nephropathy, and IgM mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis).

Compositions of the invention can also be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat sclerotic or necrotic disorders of the kidney (e.g., glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and renal papillary necrosis), cancers of the kidney (e.g., nephroma, hypernephroma, nephroblastoma, renal cell cancer, transitional cell cancer, renal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell cancer, and Wilm's tumor), and electrolyte imbalances (e.g., nephrocalcinosis, pyuria, edema, hydronephritis, proteinuria, hyponatremia, hypematremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hyperphosphatemia).

Compositions of the invention may be administered using any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the delivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps, oral or suppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting or topical applications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods are known in the art. Compositions of the invention may be administered as part of a Therapeutic, described in more detail below. Methods of delivering polynucleotides of the invention are described in more detail herein.

Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases, disorders, damage or injury of the brain and/or nervous system. Nervous system disorders that can be treated with the compositions of the invention (e.g., fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention), include, but are not limited to, nervous system injuries, and diseases or disorders which result in either a disconnection of axons, a diminution or degeneration of neurons, or demyelination. Nervous system lesions which may be treated in a patient (including human and non-human mammalian patients) according to the methods of the invention, include but are not limited to, the following lesions of either the central (including spinal cord, brain) or peripheral nervous systems: (1) ischemic lesions, in which a lack of oxygen in a portion of the nervous system results in neuronal injury or death, including cerebral infarction or ischemia, or spinal cord infarction or ischemia; (2) traumatic lesions, including lesions caused by physical injury or associated with surgery, for example, lesions which sever a portion of the nervous system, or compression injuries; (3) malignant lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by malignant tissue which is either a nervous system associated malignancy or a malignancy derived from non-nervous system tissue; (4) infectious lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured as a result of infection, for example, by an abscess or associated with infection by human immunodeficiency virus, herpes zoster, or herpes simplex virus or with Lyme disease, tuberculosis, or syphilis; (5) degenerative lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured as a result of a degenerative process including but not limited to, degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); (6) lesions associated with nutritional diseases or disorders, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by a nutritional disorder or disorder of metabolism including, but not limited to, vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, Wernicke disease, tobacco-alcohol amblyopia, Marchiafava-Bignami disease (primary degeneration of the corpus callosum), and alcoholic cerebellar degeneration; (7) neurological lesions associated with systemic diseases including, but not limited to, diabetes (diabetic neuropathy, Bell's palsy), systemic lupus erythematosus, carcinoma, or sarcoidosis; (8) lesions caused by toxic substances including alcohol, lead, or particular neurotoxins; and (9) demyelinated lesions in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by a demyelinating disease including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus-associated myelopathy, transverse myelopathy or various etiologies, progressive multi focal leukoencephalopathy, and central pontine myelinolysis.

In one embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to protect neural cells from the damaging effects of hypoxia. In a further preferred embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to protect neural cells from the damaging effects of cerebral hypoxia. According to this embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associated with cerebral hypoxia. In one non-exclusive aspect of this embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associated with cerebral ischemia. In another non-exclusive aspect of this embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associated with cerebral infarction.

In another preferred embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associated with a stroke. In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat or prevent cerebral neural cell injury associated with a stroke.

In another preferred embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associated with a heart attack. In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat or prevent cerebral neural cell injury associated with a heart attack.

The compositions of the invention which are useful for treating or preventing a nervous system disorder may be selected by testing for biological activity in promoting the survival or differentiation of neurons. For example, and not by way of limitation, compositions of the invention which elicit any of the following effects may be useful according to the invention: (1) increased survival time of neurons in culture either in the presence or absence of hypoxia or hypoxic conditions; (2) increased sprouting of neurons in culture or in vivo; (3) increased production of a neuron-associated molecule in culture or in vivo, e.g., choline acetyltransferase or acetylcholinesterase with respect to motor neurons; or (4) decreased symptoms of neuron dysfunction in vivo. Such effects may be measured by any method known in the art. In preferred, non-limiting embodiments, increased survival of neurons may routinely be measured using a method set forth herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, in Zhang et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:3637-42 (2000) or in Arakawa et al., J. Neurosci., 103507-15 (1990); increased sprouting of neurons may be detected by methods known in the art, such as, for example, the methods set forth in Pestronk et al., Exp. Neurol., 70:65-82 (1980), or Brown et al., Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 4:17-42 (1981); increased production of neuron-associated molecules may be measured by bioassay, enzymatic assay, antibody binding, Northern blot assay, etc., using techniques known in the art and depending on the molecule to be measured; and motor neuron dysfunction may be measured by assessing the physical manifestation of motor neuron disorder, e.g., weakness, motor neuron conduction velocity, or functional disability.

In specific embodiments, motor neuron disorders that may be treated according to the invention include, but are not limited to, disorders such as infarction, infection, exposure to toxin, trauma, surgical damage, degenerative disease or malignancy that may affect motor neurons as well as other components of the nervous system, as well as disorders that selectively affect neurons such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and including, but not limited to, progressive spinal muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, infantile and juvenile muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar paralysis of childhood (Fazio-Londe syndrome), poliomyelitis and the post polio syndrome, and Hereditary Motorsensory Neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease).

Further, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may play a role in neuronal survival; synapse formation; conductance; neural differentiation, etc. Thus, compositions of the invention (including fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention) may be used to diagnose and/or treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with these roles, including, but not limited to, learning and/or cognition disorders. The compositions of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states and/or behavioural disorders. Such neurodegenerative disease states and/or behavioral disorders include, bin are not limited to, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, compositions of the invention may also play a role in the treatment, prevention and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders.

Additionally, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be useful in protecting neural cells from diseases, damage, disorders, or injury, associated with cerebrovascular disorders including, but not limited to, carotid artery diseases (e.g., carotid artery thrombosis, carotid stenosis, or Moyamoya Disease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis (e.g., carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, or Wallenberg's Syndrome), cerebral hemorrhage (e.g., epidural or subdural hematoma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage), cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia (e.g., transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian Steal Syndrome, or vertebrobasilar insufficiency), vascular dementia (e.g., multi-infarct), leukomalacia, periventricular, and vascular headache (e.g., cluster headache or migraines).

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for utilizing fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate neurological cell proliferation and/or differentiation. Therefore, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to treat and/or detect neurologic diseases. Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, can be used as a marker or detector of a particular nervous system disease or disorder.

Examples of neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, brain diseases, such as metabolic brain diseases which includes phenylketonuria such as maternal phenylketonuria, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, Wernicke's Encephalopathy, brain edema, brain neoplasms such as cerebellar neoplasms which include infratentorial neoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexus neoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms, supratentorial neoplasms, canavan disease, cerebellar diseases such as cerebellar ataxia which include spinocerebellar degeneration such as ataxia telangiectasia, cerebellar dyssynergia, Friederich's Ataxia, Machado-Joseph Disease, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, cerebellar neoplasms such as infratentorial neoplasms, diffuse cerebral sclerosis such as encephalitis periaxialis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, metachromatic leukodystrophy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include cerebrovascular disorders (such as carotid artery diseases which include carotid artery thrombosis, carotid stenosis and Moyamoya Disease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis such as carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis and Wallenberg's Syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage such as epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia such as transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian Steal Syndrome and vertebrobasilar insufficiency, vascular dementia such as multi-infarct dementia, periventricular leukomalacia, vascular headache such as cluster headache and migraine.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include dementia such as AIDS Dementia Complex, presenile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome, senile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, vascular dementia such as multi-infarct dementia, encephalitis which include encephalitis periaxialis, viral encephalitis such as epidemic encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile Fever, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, meningoencephalitis such as uveomeningoencephalitic syndrome, Postencephalitic Parkinson Disease and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, encephalomalacia such as periventricular leukomalacia, epilepsy such as generalized epilepsy which includes infantile spasms, absence epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsy which includes MERRF Syndrome, tonic-clonic epilepsy, partial epilepsy such as complex partial epilepsy, frontal lobe epilepsy and temporal lobe epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy, status epilepticus such as Epilepsia Partialis Continua, and I Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include hydrocephalus such as Dandy-Walker Syndrome and normal pressure hydrocephalus, hypothalamic diseases such as hypothalamic neoplasms, cerebral malaria, narcolepsy which includes cataplexy, bulbar poliomyelitis, cerebri pseudotumor, Rett Syndrome, Reye's Syndrome, thalamic diseases, cerebral toxoplasmosis, intracranial tuberculoma and Zellweger Syndrome, central nervous system infections such as AIDS Dementia Complex, Brain Abscess, subdural empyema, encephalomyelitis such as Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis, Visna, and cerebral malaria.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include meningitis such as arachnoiditis, aseptic meningtitis such as viral meningtitis which includes lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Bacterial meningtitis which includes Haemophilus Meningtitis, Listeria Meningtitis, Meningococcal Meningtitis such as Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, Pneumococcal Meningtitis and meningeal tuberculosis, fungal meningitis such as Cryptococcal Meningtitis, subdural effusion, meningoencephalitis such as uvemeningoeneephalitic syndrome, myelitis such as transverse myelitis, neurosyphilis such as tabes dorsalis, poliomyelitis which includes bulbar poliomyelitis and postpoliomyelitis syndrome, prion diseases (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Gerstmann-Straussler Syndrome, Kuru, Scrapie), and cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include central nervous system neoplasms such as brain neoplasms that include cerebellar neoplasms such as infratentorial neoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexus neoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms and supratentorial neoplasms, meningeal neoplasms, spinal cord neoplasms which include epidural neoplasms, demyelinating diseases such as Canavan Diseases, diffuse cerebral sceloris which includes adrenoleukodystrophy, encephalitis periaxialis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, diffuse cerebral sclerosis such as metachromatic leukodystrophy, allergic encephalomyelitis, necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, central pontine myelinolysis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica, Scrapie, Swayback, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Visna, High Pressure Nervous Syndrome, Meningism, spinal cord diseases such as amyotonia congenita, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy such as Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, spinal card compression, spinal cord neoplasms such as epidural neoplasms, syringomyelia, Tabes Dorsalis, Stiff-Man Syndrome, mental retardation such as Angelman Syndrome, Cri-du-Chat Syndrome, De Lange's Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Gangliosidoses such as gangliosidoses G(M1), Sandhoff Disease, Tay-Sachs Disease, Hartnup Disease, homocystinuria, Laurence-Moon-Biedl Syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, mucolipidosis such as fucosidosis, neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis, oculocerebrorenal syndrome, phenylketonuria such as maternal phenylketonuria, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, WAGR Syndrome, nervous system abnormalities such as holoprosencephaly, neural tube defects such as anencephaly which includes hydrangencephaly, Arnold-Chairi Deformity, encephalocele, meningocele, meningomyelocele, spinal dysraphism such as spina bifida cystica and spina bifida occulta.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies which include Charcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary optic atrophy, Refsum's Disease, hereditary spastic paraplegia, Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies such as Congenital Analgesia and Familial Dysautonomia, Neurologic manifestations (such as agnosia that include Gerstmann's Syndrome, Amnesia such as retrograde amnesia, apraxia, neurogenic bladder, cataplexy, communicative disorders such as hearing disorders that includes deafness, partial hearing loss, loudness recruitment and tinnitus, language disorders such as aphasia which include agraphia, anomia, broca aphasia, and Wernicke Aphasia, Dyslexia such as Acquired Dyslexia, language development disorders, speech disorders such as aphasia which includes anomia, broca aphasia and Wernicke Aphasia, articulation disorders, communicative disorders such as speech disorders which include dysarthria, echolalia, mutism and stuttering, voice disorders such as aphonia and hoarseness, decerebrate state, delirium, fasciculation, hallucinations, meningism, movement disorders such as angelman syndrome, ataxia, athetosis, chorea, dystonia, hypokinesia, muscle hypotonia, myoclonus, tic, torticollis and tremor, muscle hypertonia such as muscle rigidity such as stiff man syndrome, muscle spasticity, paralysis such as facial paralysis which includes Herpes Zoster Oticus, Gastroparesis, Hemiplegia, ophthalmoplegia such as diplopia, Duane's Syndrome, Horner's Syndrome, Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia such as Kearns Syndrome, Bulbar Paralysis, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis, Paraplegia such as Brown-Sequard Syndrome, quadriplegia, respiratory paralysis and vocal cord paralysis, paresis, phantom limb, taste disorders such as ageusia and dysgeusia, vision disorders such as amblyopia, blindness, color vision defects, diplopia, hemianopsia, scotoma and subnormal vision, sleep disorders such as hypersomnia which includes Kleine-Levin Syndrome, insomnia, and somnambulism, spasm such as trismus, unconsciousness such as coma, persistent vegetative state and syncope and vertigo, neuromuscular diseases such as amyotonia congenita, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, motor neuron disease, muscular atrophy such as spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie Disease and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myotonia Atrophica, Myotonia Confenita, Nemaline Myopathy, Familial Periodic Paralysis, Multiplex Paramyloclonus, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis and Stiff-Man Syndrome, peripheral nervous system diseases such as acrodynia, amyloid neuropathies, autonomic nervous system diseases such as Adie's Syndrome, Barre-Lieou Syndrome, Familial Dysautonomia, Horner's Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Shy-Drager Syndrome, Cranial Nerve Diseases such as Acoustic Nerve Diseases such as Acoustic Neuroma which includes Neurofibromatosis 2, Facial Nerve Diseases such as Facial Neuralgia.Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, ocular motility disorders which includes amblyopia, nystagmus, oculomotor nerve paralysis, ophthalmoplegia such as Duane's Syndrome, Horner's Syndrome, Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia which includes Kearns Syndrome, Strabismus such as Esotropia and Exotropia, Oculomotor Nerve Paralysis, Optic Nerve Diseases such as Optic Atrophy which includes Hereditary Optic Atrophy, Optic Disk Drusen, Optic Neuritis such as Neuromyelitis Optica, Papilledema, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vocal Cord Paralysis, Demyelinating Diseases such as Neuromyelitis Optica and Swayback, and Diabetic neuropathies such as diabetic foot.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include nerve compression syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome such as cervical rib syndrome, ulnar nerve compression syndrome, neuralgia such as causalgia, cervico-brachial neuralgia, facial neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia, neuritis such as experimental allergic neuritis, optic neuritis, polyneuritis, polyradiculoneuritis and radiculities such as polyradiculitis, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary Optic Atrophy, Refsum's Disease, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies which include Congenital Analgesia and Familial Dysautonomia, POEMS Syndrome, Sciatica, Gustatory Sweating and Tetany).

Immune Activity

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of the immune system, by, for example, activating or inhibiting the proliferation, differentiation, or mobilization (chemotaxis) of immune cells. Immune cells develop through a process called hematopoiesis, producing myeloid (platelets, red blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) and lymphoid (B and T lymphocytes) cells from pluripotent stem cells. The etiology of these immune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer and some autoimmune diseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy or toxins), or infectious. Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as a marker or detector of a particular immune system disease or disorder.

In another embodiment, a fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention, may be used to treat diseases and disorders of the immune system and/or to inhibit or enhance an immune response generated by cells associated with the tissues) in which the polypeptide of the invention is expressed.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, diagnosing, and/or prognosing immunodeficiencies, including both congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies. Examples of B cell immunodeficiencies in which immunoglobulin levels B cell function and/or B cell numbers are decreased include: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton's disease), X-linked infantile agammaglobulinemia, X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper IgM, non X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper IgM, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), agammaglobulinemia including congenital and acquired agammaglobulinemia, adult onset agammaglobulinemia, late-onset agammaglobulinemia, dysgammaglobulinemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, unspecified hypogammaglobulinemia, recessive agammaglobulinemia (Swiss type), Selective IgM deficiency, selective IgA deficiency, selective IgG subclass deficiencies, IgG subclass deficiency (with or without IgA deficiency), Ig deficiency with increased IgM, IgG and IgA deficiency with increased IgM, antibody deficiency with normal or elevated Igs, Ig heavy chain deletions, kappa chain deficiency, B cell lymphoproliferative disorder (BLPD), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) (acquired), and transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy.

In specific a specific embodiment, ataxia-telangiectasia or conditions associated with ataxia-telangiectasia are treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosing using the fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Examples of congenital immunodeficiencies in which T cell and/or B cell function and/or number is decreased include, but are not limited to: DiGeorge anomaly, severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) (including, but not limited to, X-linked SCID, autosomal recessive SCID, adenosine deaminase deficiency, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency, Class II MHC deficiency (Rare lymphocyte syndrome), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia), thymic hypoplasia, third and fourth pharyngeal pouch syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, natural killer cell deficiency (NK), idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia, immunodeficiency with predominant T cell defect (unspecified), and unspecified immunodeficiency of cell mediated immunity.

In a specific embodiment, DiGeorge anomaly or conditions associated with DiGeorge anomaly ale treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Other immunodeficiencies that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, chronic granulomatous disease, Chédiak-Higashi syndrome, myeloperoxidase deficiency, leukocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), leukocyte adhesion deficiency, complement component deficiencies (including C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 and/or CO deficiencies), reticular dysgenesis, thymic alymphoplasia-aplasia, it with thymoma, severe congenital leukopenia, dysplasia with immunodeficiency, neonatal neutropenia, short limbed dwarfism, and Nezelof syndrome-combined immunodeficiency with Igs.

In a preferred embodiment, the immunodeficiencies and/or conditions associated with the immunodeficiencies recited above are treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among immunodeficient individuals. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among B cell and/or T cell immunodeficient individuals.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing autoimmune disorders. Many autoimmune disorders result from inappropriate recognition of self as foreign material by immune cells. This inappropriate recognition results in an immune response leading to the destruction of the host tissue. Therefore, the administration of fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention that can inhibit an immune response, particularly the proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapy in preventing autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmune diseases or disorders that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia purpura, autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, purpura (e.g., Henloch-Seoenlein purpura), autoimmunocytopenia, Goodpasture's syndrome, Pemphigus vulgaris, myasthenia gravis, Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism), and insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus.

Additional disorders that are likely in have an autoimmune component that may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, type II collagen-induced arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, dermatitis, allergic encephalomyelitis, myocarditis, relapsing polychondritis, rheumatic heart disease, neuritis, uveitis ophthalmia, polyendocrinopathies, Reiter's Disease, Stiff-Man Syndrome, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation, autism, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune inflammatory eye disorders.

Additional disorders that are likely to have an autoimmune component that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, scleroderma with anti-collagen antibodies (often characterized, e.g., by nucleolar and other nuclear antibodies), mixed connective tissue disease (often characterized, e.g., by antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (e.g., ribonucleoprotein)), polymyositis (often characterized, e.g., by nonhistone ANA), pernicious anemia (often characterized, e.g., by antiparietal cell, microsomes, and intrinsic factor antibodies), idiopathic Addison's disease (often characterized, e.g., by Immoral and cell-mediated adrenal cytotoxicity, infertility (often characterized, e.g., by antispermatozoal antibodies), glomerulonephritis (often characterized, e.g., by glomerular basement membrane antibodies or immune complexes), bullous pemphigoid (often characterized, e.g., by IgG and complement in basement membrane), Sjogren's syndrome (often characterized, e.g., by multiple tissue antibodies, and/or a specific nonhistone ANA (SS-B)), diabetes mellitus (often characterized, e.g., by cell-mediated and Immoral islet cell antibodies), and adrenergic drug resistance (including adrenergic drug resistance with asthma or cystic fibrosis) (often characterized, e.g., by beta-adrenergic receptor antibodies).

Additional disorders that may have an autoimmune component that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, chronic active hepatitis (often characterized, e.g., by smooth muscle antibodies), primary biliary cirrhosis (often characterized, e.g., by mitochondria antibodies), other endocrine gland failure (often characterized, e.g., by specific tissue antibodies in some cases), vitiligo (often characterized, e.g., by melanocyte antibodies), vasculitis (often characterized, e.g., by Ig and complement in vessel walls and/or low serum complement), post-MI (often characterized, e.g., by myocardial antibodies), cardiotomy syndrome (often characterized, e.g., by myocardial antibodies), urticaria (often characterized, e.g., by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), atopic dermatitis (often characterized, e.g., by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), asthma (often characterized, e.g., by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), and many other inflammatory, granulomatous, degenerative, and atrophic disorders.

In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disorders and/or conditions associated with the diseases and disorders recited above are treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using for example, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. In a specific preferred embodiment, rheumatoid arthritis is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In another specific preferred embodiment, systemic lupus erythematosus is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. In another specific preferred embodiment, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In another specific preferred embodiment IgA nephropathy is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disorders and/or conditions associated with the diseases and disorders recited above are treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

In preferred embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a immunosuppressive agent(s).

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, prognosing, and/or diagnosing diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of hematopoietic cells. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used to increase differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effort to treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with a decrease in certain (or many) types hematopoietic cells, including but not limited to, leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Alternatively, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used to increase differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effort to treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with an increase in certain (or many) types of hematopoietic cells, including but not limited to, histiocytosis.

Allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularly allergic asthma) or other respiratory problems, may also be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Moreover, these molecules can be used to treat, prevent, prognose, and/or diagnose anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity to an antigenic molecule, or blood group incompatibility.

Additionally, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose and/or prognose IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Such allergic reactions include, but are not limited to, asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to modulate IgE concentrations in vitro or in vivo.

Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention have uses in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions. For example, since fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may inhibit the activation, proliferation and/or differentiation of cells involved in an inflammatory response, these molecules can be used to prevent and/or treat chronic and acute inflammatory conditions. Such inflammatory conditions include, but are not limited to, for example, inflammation associated with infection (e.g., septic shock, sepsis, or systemic inflammatory response syndrome), ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotoxin lethality, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokine or chemokine induced lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, over production of cytokines (e.g., TNF or IL-1), respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma and allergy); gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease); cancers (e.g., gastric, ovarian, lung, bladder, liver, and breast); CNS disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis; ischemic brain injury and/or stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease); AIDS-related dementia; and prion disease); cardiovascular disorders (e.g., atherosclerosis, myocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and cardiopulmonary bypass complications); as well as many additional diseases, conditions, and disorders that are characterized by inflammation (e.g., hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, trauma, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, dermatitis, renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, Grave's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and allogenic transplant rejection).

Because inflammation is a fundamental defense mechanism, inflammatory disorders can effect virtually any tissue of the body. Accordingly, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, have uses in the treatment of tissue-specific inflammatory disorders, including, but not limited to, adrenalitis, alveolitis, angiocholecystitis, appendicitis, balanitis, blepharitis, bronchitis, bursitis, carditis, cellulitis, cervicitis, cholecystitis, chorditis, cochlitis, colitis, conjunctivitis, cystitis, dermatitis, diverticulitis, encephalitis, endocarditis, esophagitis, eustachitis, fibrositis, folliculitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, glossitis, hepatosplenitis, keratin's, labyrinthitis, laryngitis, lymphangitis, mastitis, media otitis, meningitis, metritis, mucitis, myocarditis, myosititis, myringitis, nephritis, neuritis, orchids, osteochondritis, otitis, pericarditis, peritendonitis, peritonitis, pharyngitis, phlebitis, poliomyelitis, prostatitis, pulpitis, retinitis, rhinitis, salpingitis, scleritis, sclerochoroiditis, scrotitis, sinusitis, spondylitis, steatitis, stomatitis, synovitis, syringitis, tendonitis, tonsillitis, urethritis, and vaginitis.

In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, are useful to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat organ transplant rejections and graft-versus-host disease. Organ rejection occurs by host immune cell destruction of the transplanted tissue through an immune response. Similarly, an immune response is also involved in GVHD, but, in this case, the foreign transplanted immune cells destroy the host tissues. Polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, that inhibit an immune response, particularly the activation, proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapy in preventing organ rejection or GVHD. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, that inhibit an immune response, particularly the activation, proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be en effective therapy in preventing experimental allergic and hyperacute xenograft rejection.

In other embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, are useful to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat immune complex diseases, including, but not limited to, serum sickness, post streptococcal glomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and immune complex-induced vasculitis.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used to treat, detect, and/or prevent infectious agents. For example, by increasing the immune response, particularly increasing the proliferation activation and/or differentiation of B and/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated, detected, and/or prevented. The immune response may be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immune response. Alternatively, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also directly inhibit the infectious agent (refer to section of application listing infectious agents, etc), without necessarily eliciting an immune response.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a vaccine adjuvant that enhances immune responsiveness to an antigen. In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance tumor-specific immune responses.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-viral immune responses. Anti-viral immune responses that may be enhanced using the compositions of the invention as an adjuvant, include virus and virus associated diseases or symptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a virus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of: AIDS, meningitis, Dengue, EBV, and hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a virus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of: HIV/AIDS, respiratory syncytial virus, Dengue, rotavirus, Japanese B encephalitis, influenza A and B, parainfluenza, measles, cytomegalovirus, rabies, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley Fever, herpes simplex, and yellow fever.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immune responses. Anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immune responses that may be enhanced using the compositions of the invention as an adjuvant, include bacteria or fungus and bacteria or fungus associated diseases or symptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a bacteria or fungus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of: tetanus, Diphtheria, botulism, and meningitis type B.

In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a bacteria or fungus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of: Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium leprae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella parutypla, Meisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B streptococcus, Shigella spp., Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Borrelia burgdorferi.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-parasitic immune responses. Anti-parasitic immune responses that may be enhanced using the compositions of the invention as an adjuvant, include parasite and parasite associated diseases or symptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a parasite. In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to Plasmodium (malaria) or Leishmania.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be employed to treat infectious diseases including silicosis, sarcoidosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; for example, by preventing the recruitment and activation of mononuclear phagocytes.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an antigen for the generation of antibodies to inhibit or enhance immune mediated responses against polypeptides of the invention.

In one embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are administered to an animal (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, pigs, micro-pig, chicken, camel, goat, horse, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate, and human, most preferably human) to boost the immune system to produce increased quantities of one or more antibodies (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE), to induce higher affinity antibody production and immunoglobulin class switching (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE), and/or to increase an immune response.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a stimulator of B cell responsiveness to pathogens.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an activator of T cells.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent that elevates the immune status of an individual prior to their receipt of immunosuppressive therapies.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to induce higher affinity antibodies.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to increase serum immunoglobulin concentrations.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to accelerate recovery of immunocompromised individuals.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among aged populations and/or neonates.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an immune system enhancer prior to, during, or after bone marrow transplant and/or other transplants (e.g., allogeneic or xenogeneic organ transplantation). With respect to transplantation, compositions of the invention may be administered prior to, concomitant with, and/or after transplantation. In a specific embodiment, compositions of the invention are administered after transplantation, prior to the beginning of recovery of T-cell populations. In another specific embodiment, compositions of the invention are first administered after transplantation after the beginning of recovery of T cell populations, but prior to full recovery of B cell populations.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individuals having an acquired loss of B cell function. Conditions resulting in an acquired loss of B cell function that may be treated (e.g., ameliorated) by administering an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, HIV Infection, AIDS, bone marrow transplant, and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individuals having a temporary immune deficiency, Conditions resulting in a temporary immune deficiency that may be treated (e.g., ameliorated) by administering an albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, recovery from viral infections (e.g., influenza), conditions associated with malnutrition, recovery from infectious mononucleosis, of conditions associated with stress, recovery from measles, recovery from blood transfusion, and recovery from surgery.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a regulator of antigen presentation by monocytes, dendritic cells, and/or B-cells. In one embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention enhance antigen presentation or antagonize antigen presentation in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, in related embodiments, this enhancement or antagonism of antigen presentation may be useful as an anti-tumor treatment or to modulate the immune system.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as an agent to direct an individual's immune system towards development of a humoral response (i.e., TH2) as opposed to a TH1 cellular response.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a means to induce tumor proliferation and thus make it more susceptible to anti-neoplastic agents. For example, multiple myeloma is a slowly dividing disease and is thus refractory to virtually all anti-neoplastic regimens. If these cells were forced to proliferate more rapidly their susceptibility profile would likely change.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a stimulator of B cell production in pathologies such as AIDS, chronic lymphocyte disorder and/or Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a therapy for generation and/or regeneration of lymphoid tissues following surgery, trauma or genetic defect. In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used in the pretreatment of bone marrow samples prior to transplant.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a gene-based therapy for genetically inherited disorders resulting in immuno-incompetence/immunodeficiency such as observed among SCID patients.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a means of activating monocytes/macrophages to defend against parasitic diseases that effect monocytes such as Leishmania.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a means of regulating secreted cytokines that are elicited by polypeptides of the invention.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used in one or more of the applications described herein, as they may apply to veterinary medicine.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a means of blocking various aspects of immune responses to foreign agents or self. Examples of diseases or conditions in which blocking of certain aspects of immune responses may be desired include autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and arthritis, as well as immunoresponsiveness to skin allergies, inflammation, bowel disease, injury and diseases/disorders associated with pathogens.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a therapy for preventing the B cell proliferation and Ig secretion associated with autoimmune diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a inhibitor of B and/or T cell migration in endothelial cells. This activity disrupts tissue architecture or cognate responses and is useful, for example in disrupting immune responses, and blocking sepsis.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a therapy for chronic hypergammaglobulinemia evident in such diseases as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), Waldenstrom's disease., related idiopathic monoclonal gammopathies, and plasmacytomas.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be employed for instance to inhibit polypeptide chemotaxis and activation of macrophages and their precursors, and of neutrophils, basophils, B lymphocytes and some T-cell subsets, e.g., activated and CD8 cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells, in certain autoimmune and chronic inflammatory and infective diseases. Examples of autoimmune diseases are described herein and include multiple sclerosis, and insulin-dependent diabetes.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be employed to treat idiopathic hyper-eosinophilic syndrome by, for example, preventing eosinophil production and migration.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to enhance or inhibit complement mediated cell lysis.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to enhance or inhibit antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be employed for treating atherosclerosis, for example, by preventing monocyte infiltration in the artery wall.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be employed to treat adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful for stimulating wound and tissue repair, stimulating angiogenesis, and/or stimulating the repair of vascular or lymphatic diseases or disorders. Additionally, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to stimulate the regeneration of mucosal surfaces.

In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to diagnose, prognose, treat, and/or prevent a disorder characterized by primary or acquired immunodeficiency, deficient serum immunoglobulin production, recurrent infections, and/or immune system dysfunction. Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to treat or prevent infections of the joints, bones, skin, and/or parotid glands, blood-borne infections (e.g., sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis, and/or osteomyelitis), autoimmune diseases (e.g., those disclosed herein), inflammatory disorders, and malignancies, and/or any disease or disorder or condition associated with these infections, diseases, disorders and/or malignancies) including, but not limited to, CVID, other primary immune deficiencies, HIV disease, CLL, recurrent bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis media, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, meningitis, herpes roster (e.g., severe herpes zoster), and/or pneumocystis carnii. Other diseases and disorders that may be prevented, diagnosed, prognosed, and/or treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, HIV infection, HTLV-BLV infection, lymphopenia, phagocyte bactericidal dysfunction anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hemoglobinuria.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat, and/or diagnose an individual having common variable immunodeficiency disease (“CVID”; also known as “acquired agammaglobulinemia” and “acquired hypogammaglobulinemia”) or a subset of this disease.

In a specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat cancers or neoplasms including immune cell or immune tissue-related cancers or neoplasms. Examples of cancers or neoplasms that may be prevented, diagnosed, or treated by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute lymphocytic anemia (ALL) Chronic lymphocyte leukemia, plasmacytomas, multiple myeloma, Buddies lymphoma, EBV-transformed diseases, and/or diseases and disorders described in the section entitled “Hyperproliferative Disorders” elsewhere herein.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a therapy for decreasing cellular proliferation of Large B-cell Lymphomas.

In another specific embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used as a means of decreasing the involvement of B cells and Ig associated with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among B cell immunodeficient individuals, such as, for example, an individual who has undergone a partial or complete splenectomy.

Blood-Related Disorders

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to modulate hemostatic (the stopping of bleeding) or thrombolytic (clot dissolving) activity. For example, by increasing hemostatic or thrombolytic activity, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used to treat or prevent blood coagulation diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., afibrinogenemia, factor deficiencies, hemophilia), blood platelet diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., thrombocytopenia), or wounds resulting from trauma, surgery, or other causes. Alternatively, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention that can decrease hemostatic or thrombolytic activity could be used to inhibit or dissolve clotting. These molecules could be important in the treatment or prevention of heart attacks (infarction), strokes, or scarring.

In specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to prevent, diagnose, prognose, and/or treat thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, unstable angina. In specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used for the prevention of occulsion of saphenous grafts, for reducing the risk of periprocedural thrombosis as might accompany angioplasty procedures, for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation including nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, for reducing the risk of embolism associated with mechanical heart valves and or mitral valves disease. Other uses for the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, the prevention of occlusions in extracorporeal devices (e.g., intravascular canulas, vascular access shunts in hemodialysis patients, hemodialysis machines, and cardiopulmonary bypass machines).

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to prevent, diagnose, prognose, and/or treat diseases and disorders of the blood and/or blood forming organs associated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the invention is expressed.

The fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to modulate hematopoietic activity (the formation of blood cells). For example, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to increase the quantity of all or subsets of blood cells, such as, for example, erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g., basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) and platelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells or subsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and/or treatment of anemias and leukopenias described below. Alternatively, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to decrease the quantity of all or subsets of blood cells, such as, for example, erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g., basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) and platelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells or subsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and/or treatment of leukocytoses such as, for example eosinophilia.

The fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to prevent, treat, or diagnose blood dyscrasia.

Anemias are conditions in which the number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in them is below normal. Anemia may be caused by excessive bleeding, decreased red blood cell production, or increased red blood cell destruction (hemolysis). The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias. Anemias that may be treated prevented or diagnosed by the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include iron deficiency anemia, hypochromic anemia, microcytic anemia, chlorosis, hereditary sideroblastic anemia, idiopathic acquired sideroblastic anemia, red cell aplasia, megaloblastic anemia (e.g., pernicious anemia, (vitamin B12 deficiency) and folic acid deficiency anemia), aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemias (e.g., autoimmune helolytic anemia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria). The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with diseases including but not limited to, anemias associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, cancers, lymphomas, chronic renal disease, and enlarged spleens. The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias arising from drug treatments such as anemias associated with methyldopa, dapsone, and/or sulfadrugs. Additionally, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with abnormal red blood cell architecture including but not limited to, hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and sickle cell anemia.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing hemoglobin abnormalities, (e.g., those associated with sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin C disease, hemoglobin S-C disease, and hemoglobin E disease). Additionally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating thalassemias, including, but not limited to, major and minor forms of alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia.

In another embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating bleeding disorders including, but not limited to, thrombocytopenia (e.g., idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), Von Willebrand's disease, hereditary platelet disorders (e.g., storage pool disease such as Chediak-Higashi and Hermansky-Pudlak syndromes, thromboxane A2 dysfunction, thromboasthenia, and Bernard-Soulier syndrome), hemolytic-uremic syndrome, hemophelias such as hemophelia A or Factor VII deficiency and Christmas disease or Factor IX deficiency, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectsia, also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, allergic purpura (Henoch Schonlein purpura) and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

The effect of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention on the cloning time of blood may be monitored using any of the clotting tests known in the art including, but not limited to, whole blood partial thromboplastin time (PTT), the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the activated clotting time (ACT), the recalcified activated clotting time, or the Lee-White Clotting time.

Several diseases and a variety of drugs can cause platelet dysfunction. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or heating acquired platelet dysfunction such as platelet dysfunction accompanying kidney failure, leukemia, multiple myeloma, cirrhosis of the liver, and systemic lupus erythematosus as well as platelet dysfunction associated with drug treatments, including treatment with aspirin, ticlopidine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (used for arthritis, pain, and sprains), and penicillin in high doses.

In another embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disorders characterized by or associated with increased or decreased numbers of white blood cells. Leukopenia occurs when the number of white blood cells decreases below normal. Leukopenias include, but are not limited to, neutropenia and lymphocytopenia. An increase in the number of white blood cells compared to normal is known as leukocytosis. The body generates increased numbers of white blood cells during infection. Thus, leukocytosis may simply be a normal physiological parameter that reflects infection. Alternatively, leukocytosis may be an indicator of injury or other disease such as cancer. Leokocytoses, include but are not limited to, eosinophilia, and accumulations of macrophages. In specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukopenia. In other specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukocytosis.

Leukopenia may be a generalized decreased in all types of white blood cells, or may be a specific depletion of particular types of white blood cells. Thus, in specific embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating decreases in neutrophil numbers, known as neutropenia. Neutropenias that may be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, infantile genetic agranulocytosis, familial neutropenia, cyclic neutropenia, neutropenias resulting from or associated with dietary deficiencies (e.g., vitamin B12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency), neutropenias resulting from or associated with drug treatments (e.g., antibiotic regimens such as penicillin treatment, sulfonamide treatment, anticoagulant treatment, anticonvulsant drugs, anti-thyroid drugs, and cancer chemotherapy), and neutropenias resulting from increased neutrophil destruction that may occur in association with some bacterial or viral infections, allergic disorders, autoimmune diseases, conditions in which an individual has an enlarged spleen (e.g., Felty syndrome, malaria and sarcoidosis), and some drug treatment regimens.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating lymphocytopenias (decreased numbers of B and/or T lymphocytes), including, but not limited to, lymphocytopenias resulting from or associated with stress, drug treatments (e.g., drug treatment with corticosteroids, cancer chemotherapies, and/or radiation therapies). AIDS infection and/or other diseases such as, for example, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic infections, some viral infections and/or hereditary disorders (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, severe combined immunodeficiency, ataxia telangiectsia).

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disorders associated with macrophage numbers and/or macrophage function including, but not limited to, Gaucher's disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Letterer-Siwe disease and Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.

In another embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disorders associated with eosinophil numbers and/or eosinophil function including, but not limited to, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, and Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.

In yet another embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukemias and lymphomas including, but not limited to, acute lymphocytic (lymphpblastic) leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid (myelocytic, myelogenous, myeloblastic, or myelomonocytic) leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (e.g., B cell leukemias, T cell leukemias, Sezary syndrome, and Hairy cell lenkenia), chronic myelocytic. (myeloid, myelogenous, or granulocytic) leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disorders of plasma cells including, but not limited to, plasma cell dyscrasias, monoclonal gammaopathies, monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance, multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemia, and Raynaud's phenomenon.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing myeloproliferative disorders, including but not limited to, polycythemia vera, relative polycythemia, secondary polycythemia, myelofibrosis, acute myelofibrosis, agnogenic myelod metaplasia, thrombocythemia, (including both primary and secondary thrombocythemia) and chronic myelocytic leukemia.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as a treatment prior to surgery, to increase blood cell production.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as an agent to enhance the migration, phagocytosis, superoxide production, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity of neutrophils, eosinophils and macrophages.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as an agent to increase the number of stem cells in circulation prior to stem cells pheresis. In another specific embodiment, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as an agent to increase the number of stem cells in circulation prior to platelet pheresis.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as an agent to increase cytokine production.

In other embodiments, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in preventing, diagnosing, and/or treating primary hematopoietic disorders.

Hyperproliferative Disorders

In certain embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used to treat or detect hyperproliferative disorders, including neoplasms. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may inhibit the proliferation of the disorder through direct or indirect interactions. Alternatively, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may proliferate other cells which can inhibit the hyperproliferative disorder.

For example, by increasing an immune response, particularly increasing antigenic qualities of the hyperproliferative disorder or by proliferating, differentiating, or mobilizing T-cells, hyperproliferative disorders can be treated. This immune response may be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immune response. Alternatively, decreasing an immune response may also be a method of treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Examples of hyperproliferative disorders that can be treated or detected by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to neoplasms located in the: colon, abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, liver, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous (central and peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thorax, and urogenital tract.

Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also be treated or detected by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Examples of such hyperproliferative disorders include, but are not limited to: Acute Childhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Adult (Primary) Hepatocellular Cancer, Adult (Primary) Liver Cancer, Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Adult Hodgkin's Disease, Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Adult Lymphocytic Leukemia, Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Adult Primary Liver Cancer, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, AIDS-Related Lymphoma, AIDS-Related Malignancies, Anal Cancer, Astrocytoma, Bile Duct Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Bone Cancer, Brain Stem Glioma, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer, Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter, Central Nervous System (Primary) Lymphoma, Central Nervous System Lymphoma, Cerebellar Astrocytoma, Cerebral Astrocytoma, Cervical Cancer, Childhood (Primary) Hepatocellular Cancer, Childhood (Primary) Liver Cancer, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Childhood Brain Stem Glioma, Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma, Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors, Childhood Hodgkin's Disease, Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Hypothalamic and Visual Pathway Glioma, Childhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Childhood Medulloblastoma, Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Pineal and Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors, Childhood Primary Liver Cancer, Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Colon Cancer, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Endocrine Pancreas Islet Cell Carcinoma, Endometrial Cancer, Ependymoma, Epithelial Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma and Related Tumors, Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer, Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor, Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor, Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer, Eye Cancer, Female Breast Cancer, Gaucher's Disease, Gallbladder Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor, Gastrointestinal Tumors, Germ Cell Tumors, Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor, Hairy Cell Leukemia, Head and Neck Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Hodgkin's Disease, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Hypergammaglobulinemia, Hypopharyngeal Cancer, Intestinal Cancers, Intraocular Melanoma, Islet Cell Carcinoma, Islet Cell Pancreatic Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Kidney Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lymphoproliferative Disorders, Macroglobulinemia, Male Breast Cancer, Malignant Mesothelioma, Malignant Thymoma, Medulloblastoma, Melanoma, Mesothelioma, Metastatic Occult Primary Squamous Neck Cancer, Metastatic Primary Squamous Neck Cancer, Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Neoplasm, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Myelogenous Leukemia, Myeloid Leukemia, Myeloproliferative Disorders, Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer, Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Neuroblastoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma During Pregnancy, Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Occult Primary Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Osteo-/Malignant Fibrous Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma, Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Hone, Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumor, Pancreatic Cancer, Paraproteinemias, Purpura, Parathyroid Cancer, Penile Cancer, Pheochromocytoma, Pituitary Tumor, Plasma Cell Neoplasm/Multiple Myeloma, Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma, Primary Liver Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Rectal Cancer, Renal Cell Cancer, Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, Retinoblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Salivary Gland Cancer, Sarcoidosis Sarcomas, Sezary Syndrome, Skin Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Intestine Cancer, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Squamous Neck Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal and Pineal Tumors, T-Cell Lymphoma, Testicular Cancer, Thymoma, Thyroid Cancer, Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter, Transitional Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, Trophoblastic Tumors, Ureter and Renal Pelvis Cell Cancer, Urethral Cancer, Uterine Cancer, Uterine Sarcoma, Vaginal Cancer, Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma, Vulvar Cancer, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, Wilms' Tumor, and any other hyperproliferative disease, besides neoplasia, located in an organ system listed above.

In another preferred embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to diagnose, propose, prevent, and/or treat premalignant conditions and to prevent progression to a neoplastic or malignant state, including but not limited to those disorders described above, Such uses are indicated in conditions known or suspected of preceding progression to neoplasia or cancer, in particular, where non-neoplastic cell growth consisting of hyperplasia metaplasia, or most particularly, dysplasia has occurred (for review of such abnormal growth conditions, see Robbins and Angell, 1976, Basic Pathology, 2d Ed., W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp. 68-79.)

Hyperplasia is a form of controlled cell proliferation, involving an increase in cell number in a tissue or organ, without significant alteration in structure or function. Hyperplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, angiofollicular mediastinal lymph node hyperplasia, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, atypical melanocytic hyperplasia, basal cell hyperplasia, benign giant lymph node hyperplasia, cementum hyperplasia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital sebaceous hyperplasia, cystic hyperplasia, cystic hyperplasia of the breast, denture hyperplasia, ductal hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, fibromuscular hyperplasia, focal epithelial hyperplasia, gingival hyperplasia, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia, nodular hyperplasia of prostate, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, senile sebaceous hyperplasia, and verrucous hyperplasia.

Metaplasia is a form of controlled cell growth in which one type of adult or fully differentiated cell substitutes for another type of adult cell. Metaplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, apocrine metaplasia, atypical metaplasia, autoparenchymatous metaplasia, connective tissue metaplasia, epithelial metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, metaplastic anemia, metaplastic ossification, metaplastic polyps, myeloid metaplasia, primary myeloid metaplasia, secondary myeloid metaplasia, squamous metaplasia, squamous metaplasia of amnion, and symptomatic myeloid metaplasia.

Dysplasia is frequently a forerunner of cancer, and is found mainly in the epithelia, it is the most disorderly form of non-neoplastic cell growth, involving a toss in individual cell uniformity and in the architectural orientation of cells. Dysplastic cells often have abnormally large, deeply stained nuclei, and exhibit pleomorphism. Dysplasia characteristically occurs where there exists chronic irritation or inflammation. Dysplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, anterofacial dysplasia, asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia, atriodigital dysplasia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cerebral dysplasia, cervical dysplasia, chondroectodermal dysplasia, cleidocranial dysplasia, congenital ectodermal dysplasia, craniodiaphysial dysplasia, craniocarpotarsal dysplasia, craniometaphysial dysplasia, dentin dysplasia, diaphysial dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia, enamel dysplasia, encephalo-ophthalmic dysplasia, dysplasia epiphysialis hemimelia, dysplasia epiphysialis multiplex, dysplasia epiphysialis punctata, epithelial dysplasia, faciodigitogenital dysplasia, familial fibrous dysplasia of jaws, familial white folded dysplasia, fibromuscular dysplasia, fibrous dysplasia of bone, florid osseous dysplasia, hereditary renal-retinal dysplasia, hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, lymphopenic thymic dysplasia, mammary dysplasia, mandibulofacial dysplasia, metaphysial dysplasia, Mondini dysplasia, monostotic fibrous dysplasia, mucoepithelial dysplasia, multiple epiphysial dysplasia, oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia, oculodentodigital dysplasia, oculovertebral dysplasia, odontogenic dysplasia, ophthalmomandibulomelic dysplasia, periapical cemental dysplasia, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, pseudoachondroplastic spondyloepiphysial dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, septo-optic dysplasia, spondyloepiphysial dysplasia, and ventriculoradial dysplasia.

Additional pre-neoplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, benign dysproliferative disorders (e.g., benign tumors, fibrocystic conditions, tissue hypertrophy, intestinal polyps, colon polyps, and esophageal dysplasia), leukoplakia, keratoses, Bowen's disease, Farmer's Skin, solar cheilitis, and solar keratosis.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to diagnose and/or prognose disorders associated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the invention is expressed.

In another embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention conjugated to a toxin or a radioactive isotope, as described herein, may be used to treat cancers and neoplasms, including, but not limited to, those described herein. In a further preferred embodiment, albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention conjugated to a toxin or a radioactive isotope, as described herein, may be used to treat acute myelogenous leukemia.

Additionally, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may affect apoptosis, and therefore, would be useful in treating a number of diseases associated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis. For example, diseases associated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis that could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include cancers (such as follicular lymphomas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors, including, but not limited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, retinoblastoma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma, endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune disorders such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses and adenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection.

In preferred embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression, and/or metastasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cell survival that could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, progression, and/or metastases of malignancies and related disorders such as leukemia (including acute leukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia (including myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, and erythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias (e.g., chronic myelocytic (granulocytic) leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's disease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors including, but not limited to, sarcomas and carcinomas such as fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, emangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma.

Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include AIDS; neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa, cerebellar degeneration and brain tumor or prior associated disease); antoimmune disorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic Input erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes (such as aplastic anemia), graft v. host disease, ischemic injury (such as that caused by myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury), liver injury (e.g., hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cholestosis (bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-induced liver disease (such as that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexia and anorexia.

Hyperproliferative diseases and/or disorders that could be diagnosed, proposed, prevented, and/or treated by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, include, but are not limited to, neoplasms located in the liver, abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous system (central and peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thorax, and urogenital tract.

Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Examples of such hyperproliferative disorders include, but are not limited to: hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphoproliferative disorders, paraproteinemias, purpura, sarcoidosis, Sezary Syndrome, Waldenstron's macroglobulinemia, Gaucher's Disease, histiocytosis, and any other hyperproliferative disease, besides neoplasia, located in an organ system listed above.

Another preferred embodiment utilizes polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention to inhibit aberrant cellular division, by gene therapy using the present invention, and/or protein fusions or fragments thereof.

Thus, the present invention provides a method for treating cell proliferative disorders by inserting into an abnormally proliferating cell a polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, wherein said polynucleotide represses said expression.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating cell-proliferative disorders in individuals comprising administration of one or more active gene copies of the present invention to an abnormally proliferating cell or cells. In a preferred embodiment, polynucleotides of the present invention is a DNA construct comprising a recombinant expression vector effective in expressing a DNA sequence encoding said polynucleotides. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the DNA construct encoding the fusion protein of the present invention is inserted into cells to be treated utilizing a retrovirus, or more preferably an adenoviral vector (See G J. Nabel, et. al., PNAS 1999 96: 324-326, which is hereby incorporated by reference). In a most preferred embodiment, the viral vector is defective and will not transform non-proliferating cells, only proliferating cells. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotides of the present invention inserted into proliferating cells either alone, or in combination with or fused to other polynucleotides, can then be modulated via an external stimulus (i.e., magnetic, specific small molecule, chemical, or drug administration, etc.), which acts upon the promoter upstream of said polynucleotides to induce expression of the encoded protein product. As such the beneficial therapeutic affect of the present invention may be expressly modulated (i.e., to increase, decrease, or inhibit expression of the present invention) based upon said external stimulus.

Polynucleotides of the present invention may be useful in repressing expression of oncogenic genes or antigens. By “repressing expression of the oncogenic genes” is intended the suppression of the transcription of the gene, the degradation of the gene transcript (pre-message RNA), the inhibition of splicing, the destruction of the messenger RNA, the prevention of the post-translational modifications of the protein, the destruction of the protein, or the inhibition of the normal function of the protein.

For local administration to abnormally proliferating cells, polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered by any method known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited to transfection, electroporation, microinjection of cells, or in vehicles such as Liposomes, lipofectin, or as naked polynucleotides, or any other method described throughout the specification. The polynucleotide of the present invention may be delivered by known gene delivery systems such as, but not limited to, retroviral vectors (Gilboa, J. Virology 44:845 (1982); Hocke, Nature 320:275 (1986); Wilson, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85:3014), vaccinia virus system (Chakrabarty et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:3403 (1985) or other efficient DNA delivery systems (Yates et al., Nature 313:812 (1985)) known to those skilled in the art. These references are exemplary only and are hereby incorporated by reference. In order to specifically deliver or transfect cells which are abnormally proliferating and spare non-dividing cells, it is preferable to utilize a retrovirus, or adenoviral (as described in the art and elsewhere herein) delivery system known to those of skill in the art. Since host DNA replication is required for retroviral DNA to integrate and the retrovirus will be unable to self replicate due to the lack of the retrovirus genes needed for its life cycle. Utilizing such a retroviral delivery system for polynucleotides of the present invention will target said gene and constructs to abnormally proliferating cells and will spare the non-dividing normal cells.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be delivered directly to cell proliferative disorder/disease sites in internal organs, body cavities and the like by use of imaging devices used to guide an injecting needle directly to the disease site. The polynucleotides of the present invention may also be administered to disease sites at the time of surgical intervention.

By “cell proliferative disease” is meant any human or animal disease or disorder, affecting any one or any combination of organs, cavities, or body parts, which is characterized by single or multiple local abnormal proliferations of cells, groups of cells, or tissues, whether benign or malignant.

Any amount of the polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered as long as it has a biologically inhibiting effect on the proliferation of the treated cells. Moreover, it is possible to administer more than one of the polynucleotide of the present invention simultaneously to the same site. By “biologically inhibiting” is meant partial or total growth inhibition as well as decreases in the rate of proliferation or growth of the cells. The biologically inhibitory dose may be determined by assessing the effects of the polynucleotides of the present invention on target malignant or abnormally proliferating cell growth in tissue culture, tumor growth in animals and cell cultures, or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Moreover, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention of the present invention are useful in inhibiting the angiogenesis of proliferative cells or tissues, either alone, as a protein fusion, or in combination with other polypeptides directly or indirectly, as described elsewhere herein. In a most preferred embodiment, said anti-angiogenesis effect may be achieved indirectly, for example, through the inhibition of hematopoietic, tumor-specific cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (See Joseph J B, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst, 90(21):1648-53 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference).

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in inhibiting proliferative cells or tissues through the induction of apoptosis. These fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides may act either directly, or indirectly to induce apoptosis of proliferative cells and tissues, for example in the activation of a death-domain receptor, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1, CD95 (Fas/APO-1). TNF-receptor-related apoptosis-mediated protein (TRAMP) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-1 and -2 (See Schulze-Osthoff K, et. al., But I Biochem 254(3):439-59 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference). Moreover, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, these fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides may induce apoptosis through other mechanisms, such as in the activation of other proteins which will activate apoptosis, or through stimulating the expression of these proteins, either alone or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuvants, such as apoptonin, galectins, thioredoxins, anti-inflammatory proteins (See for example, Mutat Res 400(1-2):447-55 (1998), Med Hypotheses 50(5):423-33 (1998), Chem Biol Interact. April 24; 111-112:23-34 (1998), J Mol Med. 76(6):402-12 (1998), Int J Tissue React; 20(1):3-15 (1998), which are all hereby incorporated by reference).

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are useful in inhibiting the metastasis of proliferative cells or tissues. Inhibition may occur as a direct result of administering these albumin fusion proteins and/or polynucleotides, or indirectly, such as activating the expression of proteins known to inhibit metastasis, for example alpha 4 integrins, (See, e.g., Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 1998; 231:125-41, which is hereby incorporated by reference). Such therapeutic affects of the present invention may be achieved either alone, or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuvants.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of delivering compositions containing the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention to targeted cells expressing the a polypeptide bound by, that binds to, or associates with an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be associated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent interactions.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention are useful in enhancing the immunogenicity and/or antigenicity of proliferating cells or tissues, either directly, such as would occur if the albumin fusion proteins of the invention ‘vaccinated’ the immune response to respond to proliferative antigens and immunogens, or indirectly, such as in activating the expression of proteins known to enhance the immune response (e.g. chemokines), to said antigens and immunogens.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/or prognose cardiovascular disorders, including, but not limited to, peripheral artery disease, such as limb ischemia.

Cardiovascular disorders include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular abnormalities, such as arterio-arterial fistula, arteriovenous fistula, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, congenital heart defects, pulmonary atresia, and Scimitar Syndrome. Congenital heart defects include, but are not limited to, aortic coarctation, cor triatriatum, coronary vessel anomalies, crisscross heart, dextrocardia, patent ductus arteriosus, Ebstein's anomaly, Eisenmenger complex, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, levocardia, tetralogy of fallot, transposition of great vessels, double outlet right ventricle, tricuspid atresia, persistent truncus arteriosus, and heart septal defects, such as aortopulmonary septal defect, endocardial cushion defects, Lutembacher's Syndrome, trilogy of Fallot, ventricular heart septal defects.

Cardiovascular disorders also include, but are not limited to, heart disease, such as arrhythmias, carcinoid heart disease, high cardiac output, low cardiac output, cardiac tamponade, endocarditis (including bacterial), heart aneurysm, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, congestive cardiomyopathy, paroxysmal dyspnea, cardiac edema, heart hypertrophy, congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, post-infarction heart rupture, ventricular septal rupture, heart valve diseases, myocardial diseases, myocardial ischemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis (including constrictive and tuberculous), pneumopericardium, postpericartliotorny syndrome, pulmonary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, ventricular dysfunction, hyperemia, cardiovascular pregnancy complications, Scimitar Syndrome, cardiovascular syphilis, and cardiovascular tuberculosis.

Arrhythmias include, but are not limited to, sinus arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, bradycardia, extrasystole, Adams-Stokes Syndrome, bundle-branch block, sinoatrial block, long QT syndrome, parasystole, Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome, Mahaim-type pre-excitation syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, tachycardias, and ventricular fibrillation. Tachycardias include paroxysmal tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, ectopic atrial tachycardia, ectopic junctional tachycardia, sinoatrial nodal reentry tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, Torsades de Pointes, and ventricular tachycardia.

Heart valve diseases include, but are not limited to, aortic valve insufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, hear murmurs, aortic valve prolapse, mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse, mitral valve insufficiency, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary atresia, pulmonary valve insufficiency, pulmonary valve stenosis, tricuspid atresia, tricuspid valve insufficiency, and tricuspid valve stenosis.

Myocardial diseases include, but are not limited to, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congestive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic subvalvular stenosis, pulmonary subvalvular stenosis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, Chagas cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroclastosis, endomyocardial fibrosis, Kearns Syndrome, myocardial reperfusion injury, and myocarditis.

Myocardial ischemias include, but are not limited to, coronary disease, such as angina pectoris, coronary aneurysm, coronary arteriosclerosis, coronary thrombosis, coronary vasospasm, myocardial infarction and myocardial stunning.

Cardiovascular diseases also include vascular diseases such as aneurysms, angiodysplasia, angiomatosis, bacillary angiomatosis, Hippel-Lindau Disease, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, angioneurotic edema, aortic diseases, Takayasu's Arteritis, aortitis, Leriche's Syndrome, arterial occlusive diseases, arteritis, enarteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, cerebrovascular disorders, diabetic angiopathies, diabetic retinopathy, embolisms, thrombosis, erythromelalgia, hemorrhoids, hepatic veno-occlusive disease, hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, peripheral vascular diseases, phlebitis, pulmonary woo-occlusive disease, Raynaud's disease, CREST syndrome, retinal vein occlusion, Scimitar syndrome, superior vena cave syndrome, telangiectasia, atacia telangiectasia, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, varicocele, varicose veins, varicose ulcer, vasculitis, and venous insufficiency.

Aneurysms include, but are not limited to, dissecting aneurysms, false aneurysms, infected aneurysms, ruptured aneurysms, aortic aneurysms, cerebral aneurysms, coronary aneurysms, heart aneurysms, and iliac aneurysms.

Arterial occlusive diseases include, but are not limited to, arteriosclerosis, intermittent claudication, carotid stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasias, mesenteric vascular occlusion, Moyamoya disease, renal artery obstruction, retinal artery occlusion, and thromboangiitis obliterans.

Cerebrovascular disorders include, but are not limited to, carotid artery diseases, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg's syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subaraxhnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia (including transient), subclavian steal syndrome, periventricular leukomalacia, vascular headache, cluster headache, migraine, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

Embolisms include, but are not limited to, air embolisms, amniotic fluid embolisms, cholesterol embolisms, blue toe syndrome, fat embolisms, pulmonary embolisms, and thromoboembolisms. Thrombosis include, but are not limited to, coronary thrombosis, hepatic vein thrombosis, retinal vein occlusion, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg's syndrome, and thrombopidebitis.

Ischemic disorders include, but are not limited to, cerebral ischemia, ischemic colitis, compartment syndromes, anterior compartment syndrome, myocardial ischemia, reperfusion injuries, and peripheral limb ischemia. Vasculitis includes, but is not limited to, aortitis, attends, Behcet's Syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, thromboangiitis obliterans, hypersensitivity vasculitis, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, allergic cutaneous vasculitis, and Wegener's granulomatosis.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be administered using any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the delivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps, oral or suppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting or topical applications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods are known in the art. Methods of delivering polynucleotides are described in more detail herein.

Respiratory Disorders

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/or prognose diseases and/or disorders of the respiratory system.

Diseases and disorders of the respiratory system include, but are not limited to, nasal vestibulitis, nonallergic rhinitis (e.g., acute rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis), nasal polyps, and sinusitis, juvenile angiofibromas, cancer of the nose and juvenile papillomas, vocal cord polyps, nodules (singer's nodules), contact ulcers, vocal cord paralysis, laryngoceles, pharyngitis (e.g., viral and bacterial), tonsillitis, tonsillar cellulitis, parapharyngeal abscess, laryngitis, laryngoceles, and throat cancers (e.g., cancer of the nasopharynx, tonsil cancer, larynx cancer), lung cancer (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, small cell (oat cell) carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma), allergic disorders (eosinophilic pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (e.g., extrinsic allergic alveolitis, allergic interstitial pneumonitis, organic dust pneumoconiosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, asthma, Wegener's granulomatosis (granulomatous vasculitis), Goodpasture's syndrome)), pneumonia (e.g., bacterial pneumonia (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumoncoccal pneumonia), Staphylococcus aureus (staphylococcal pneumonia), Grant-negative bacterial pneumonia (caused by, e.g., Klebsiella and Pseudomas spp.), Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, Hemophilia influenzae pneumonia, Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires' disease), and Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis)), and viral pneumonia (e.g., influenza, chickenpox (varicella).

Additional diseases and disorders of the respiratory system include, but are not limited to bronchiolitis, polio (poliomyelitis), croup, respiratory syncytial viral infection, mumps, erythema infectiosum (fifth disease), roseola infantum, progressive rubella panencephalitis, german measles, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), fungal pneumonia (e.g., Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Blastomycosis, fungal infections in people with severely suppressed immune systems (e.g., cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans; aspergillosis, caused by Aspergillus spp.; candidiasis, caused by Candida; and mucormycosis)), Pneumocystis carinii (pneumocystis pneumonia), atypical pneumonias (e.g., Mycoplasma and Chlamydia spp.), opportunistic infection pneumonia, nosocomial pneumonia, chemical pneumonitis, and aspiration pneumonia, pleural disorders (e.g., pleurisy, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax (e.g., simple spontaneous pneumothorax, complicated spontaneous pneumotharax, tension pneumothorax)), obstructive airway diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic or acute bronchitis), occupational lung diseases (e.g., silicosis, black lung (coal workers' pneumoconiosis), asbestosis, berylliosis, occupational asthma, byssinosis, and benign pneumoconioses), Infiltrative Lung Disease (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis (e.g., fibrosing alveolitis, usual interstitial pneumonia), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, lymphoid interstitial pneumonia, histiocytosis X (e.g., Letterer-Siwe disease, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease, eosinophilic granuloma), idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, sarcoidosis and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis), Acute respiratory distress syndrome (also called, e.g., adult respiratory distress syndrome), edema, pulmonary embolism, bronchitis (e.g., viral, bacterial), bronchiectasis, atelectasis, lung abscess (caused by, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus or Legionella pneumophila), and cystic fibrosis.

Anti-Angiogenesis Activity

The naturally occurring balance between endogenous stimulators and inhibitors of angiogenesis is one in which inhibitory influences predominate. Rastinejad et al., Cell 56:345-355 (1989). In those rare instances in which neovascularization occurs under normal physiological conditions, such as wound healing, organ regeneration, embryonic development, and female reproductive processes, angiogenesis is stringently regulated and spatially and temporally delimited. Under conditions of pathological angiogenesis such as that characterizing solid tumor growth, these regulatory controls fail. Unregulated angiogenesis becomes pathologic and sustains progression of many neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. A number of serious diseases are dominated by abnormal neovascularization including solid tumor growth and metastases, arthritis, some types of eye disorders, and psoriasis. See, e.g., reviews by Moses et al., Biotech. 9:630-634 (1991); Folkman et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 333:1757-1763 (1995); Auerbach et al., J. Microvasc. Res. 29:401-411 (1985); Folkman, Advances in Cancer Research, eds. Klein and Weinhouse Academic Press, New York, pp. 175-203 (1985); Patz, Am. J. Opthatmol. 94:715-743 (1982); and Folkman et al. Science 221:719-725 (1983). In a number of pathological conditions, the process of angiogenesis contributes to the disease state. For example, significant data have accumulated which suggest that the growth of solid tumors is dependent on angiogenesis. Folkman and Klagsbrun, Science 235:442-447 (1987).

The present invention provides for treatment of diseases or disorders associated with neovascularization by administration of fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Malignant and metastatic conditions which can be treated with the polynucleotides and polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention include, but are not limited to, malignancies, solid tumors, and cancers described herein and otherwise known in the art (for a review of such disorders, see Fishman et al., Medicine, 2d Ed., J.B. Lippincott Co Philadelphia (1985)). Thus, the present invention provides a method of treating an angiogenesis-related disease and/or disorder, comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention. For example, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be utilized in a variety of additional methods in order to therapeutically treat a cancer or tumor. Cancers which may be treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to solid tumors, including prostate, lung, breast, ovarian, stomach, pancreas, larynx, esophagus, testes, liver, parotid, biliary tract, colon, rectum, cervix, uterus, endometrium, kidney, bladder, thyroid cancer; primary tumors and metastases; melanomas; glioblastoma; Kaposi's sarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; non-small cell lung cancer; colorectal cancer; advanced malignancies; and blood born tumors such as leukemias. For example, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be delivered topically, in order to treat cancers such as skin cancer, head and neck tumors, breast tumors, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Within yet other aspects, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be utilized to treat superficial forms of bladder cancer by, for example, intravesical administration. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be delivered directly into the tumor, or near the tumor site, via injection or a catheter. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, the appropriate mode of administration will vary according to the cancer to be treated. Other modes of delivery are discussed herein.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful in treating other disorders, besides cancers, which involve angiogenesis. These disorders include, but are not limited to: benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artheroscleric plaques; ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, uvietis and Pterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) of the eye; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing; endometriosis; vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars (keloids); nonunion fractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascular adhesions; myocardial angiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebral collaterals; arteriovenous malformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis; Osier-Webber Syndrome; plaque neovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma; fibromuscular dysplasia; wound granulation; Crohn's disease; and atherosclerosis.

For example, within one aspect of the present invention methods are provided for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids, comprising the step of administering albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention to a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

Within one embodiment of the present invention fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are directly injected into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, in order to prevent the progression of these lesions. This therapy is of particular value in the prophylactic treatment of conditions which are known to result in the development of hypertrophic scars and keloids (e.g., burns), and is preferably initiated after the proliferative phase has had time to progress (approximately 14 days after the initial injury), but before hypertrophic scar or keloid development. As noted above, the present invention also provides methods for treating neovascular diseases of the eye, including for example, corneal neovascularization, neovascular glaucoma, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasia and macular degeneration.

Moreover, Ocular disorders associated with neovascularization which can be treated with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to: neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinoblastoma, retrolental fibroplasia, uveitis, retinopathy of prematurity macular degeneration, corneal graft neovascularization, as well as other eye inflammatory diseases, ocular tumors and diseases associated with choroidal or iris neovascularization. See, e.g., reviews by Waltman et al., Am. J. Ophthal. 85:704-710 (1978) and Gartner et al., Surv. Ophthal. 22:291-312 (1978).

Thus, within one aspect of the present invention methods are provided for treating neovascular diseases of the eye such as corneal neovascularization (including corneal graft neovascularization), comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound (e.g., fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention) to the cornea, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. Briefly, the cornea is a tissue which normally lacks blood vessels. In certain pathological conditions however, capillaries may extend into the cornea from the pericorneal vascular plexus of the limbus. When the cornea becomes vascularized, it also becomes clouded, resulting in a decline in the patient's visual acuity. Visual loss may become complete if the cornea completely opacitates. A wide variety of disorders can result in corneal neovascularization, including for example, corneal infections (e.g., trachoma, herpes simplex keratitis, leishmaniasis and onchocerciasis), immunological processes (e.g., graft rejection and Stevens-Johnson's syndrome), alkali burns, trauma, inflammation (of any cause), toxic and nutritional deficiency states, and as a complication of wearing contact lenses.

Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, may be prepared for topical administration in saline (combined with any of the preservatives and antimicrobial agents commonly used in ocular preparations), and administered in eyedrop form. The solution or suspension may be prepared in its pure form and administered several times daily. Alternatively, anti-angiogenic compositions, prepared as described above, may also be administered directly to the cornea. Within preferred embodiments, the anti-angiogenic composition is prepared with a muco-adhesive polymer which binds to cornea. Within further embodiments, the anti-angiogenic factors or anti-angiogenic compositions may be utilized as an adjunct to conventional steroid therapy. Topical therapy may also be useful prophylactically in corneal lesions which are known to have a high probability of inducing an angiogenic response (such as chemical burns). In these instances the treatment, likely in combination with steroids, may be instituted immediately to help prevent subsequent complications.

Within other embodiments, the compounds described above may be injected directly into the corneal stroma by an ophthalmologist under microscopic guidance. The preferred site of injection may vary with the morphology of the individual lesion, but the goal of the administration would be to place the composition at the advancing front of the vasculature (i.e., interspersed between the blood vessels and the normal cornea). In most cases this would involve perilimbic corneal injection to “protect” the cornea from the advancing blood vessels. This method may also be utilized shortly after a corneal insult in order to prophylactically prevent corneal neovascularization. In this situation the material could be injected in the perilimbic cornea interspersed between the corneal lesion and its undesired potential limbic blood supply. Such methods may also be utilized in a similar fashion to prevent capillary invasion of transplanted corneas. In a sustained-release form injections might only be required 2-3 times per year. A steroid could also be added to the infection solution to reduce inflammation resulting from the injection itself.

Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating neovascular glaucoma, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention to the eye, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. In one embodiment, the compound may be administered topically to the eye in order to treat early forms of neovascular glaucoma. Within other embodiments, the compound may be implanted by injection into the region of the anterior chamber angle. Within other embodiments, the compound may also be placed in any location such that the compound is continuously released into the aqueous humor. Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention to the eyes, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited.

Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, proliferative diabetic retinopathy may be treated by injection into the aqueous humor or the vitreous, in order to increase the local concentration of the polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist in the retina. Preferably, this treatment should be initiated prior to the acquisition of severe disease requiring photocoagulation.

Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating retrolental fibroplasia, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention to the eye, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. The compound may be administered topically, via intravitreous injection and/or via intraocular implants.

Additionally, disorders which can be treated with fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but are not limited to, hemangtoma, arthritis, psoriasis, angiofibroma, atherosclerotic plaques, delayed wound healing, granulations, hemophilic joints, hypertrophic scars, nonunion fractures, Osier-Weber syndrome, pyogenic granuloma, scleroderma, trachoma, and vascular adhesions.

Moreover, disorders and/or states, which can be treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed with the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention of the invention include, but are not limited to, solid tumors, blood born tumors such as leukemias, tumor metastasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, and uvietis, delayed wound healing, endometriosis, vascluogenesis, granulations, hypertrophic scars (keloids), nonunion fractures, scleroderma, trachoma, vascular adhesions, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary collaterals, cerebral collaterals, arteriovenous malformations, ischemic limb angiogenesis, Osler-Webber Syndrome, plaque neovascularization, telangiectasia, hemophiliac joints, angiofibroma fibromuscular dysplasia, wound granulation, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, birth control agent by preventing vascularization required for embryo implantation controlling menstruation, diseases that have angiogenesis as a pathologic consequence such as cat scratch disease (Rochele minalia quintosa), ulcers (Helicobacter pylori), Bartonellosis and bacillary angiomatosis.

In one aspect of the birth control method, an amount of the compound sufficient to block embryo implantation is administered before or after intercourse and fertilization have occurred, thus providing an effective method of birth control, possibly a “morning after” method. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be used in controlling menstruation or administered as either a peritoneal lavage fluid or for peritoneal implantation in the treatment of endometriosis.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be incorporated into surgical sutures in order to prevent stitch granulomas.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be utilized in a wide variety of surgical procedures. For example, within one aspect of the present invention a compositions (in the form of, for example, a spray or film) may be utilized to coat or spray an area prior to removal of a tumor, in order to isolate normal surrounding tissues from malignant tissue, and/or to prevent the spread of disease to surrounding tissues. Within other aspects of the present invention, compositions (e.g., in the form of a spray) may be delivered via endoscopic procedures in order to coat tumors, or inhibit angiogenesis in a desired locate. Within yet other aspects of the present invention, surgical meshes which have been coated with anti-angiogenic compositions of the present invention may be utilized in any procedure wherein a surgical mesh might be utilized. For example, within one embodiment of the invention a surgical mesh laden with an anti-angiogenic composition may be utilized during abdominal cancer resection surgery (e.g., subsequent to colon resection) in order to provide support to the structure, and to release an amount of the anti-angiogenic factor.

Within further aspects of the present invention, methods are provided for treating tumor excision sites, comprising administering albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention to the resection margins of a tumor subsequent to excision, such that the local recurrence of cancer and the formation of new blood vessels at the site is inhibited. Within one embodiment of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compound is administered directly to the tumor excision site (e.g., applied by swabbing, brushing or otherwise coating the resection margins of the tumor with the anti-angiogenic compound). Alternatively, the anti-angiogenic compounds may be incorporated into known surgical pastes prior to administration. Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compounds are applied after hepatic resections for malignancy, and after neurosurgical operations.

Within one aspect of the present invention, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be administered to the resection margin of a wide variety of tumors, including for example, breast, colon, brain and hepatic tumors. For example, within one embodiment of the invention, anti-angiogenic compounds may be administered to the site of a neurological tumor subsequent to excision, such that the formation of new blood vessels at the site are inhibited.

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be administered along with other anti-angiogenic factors. Representative examples of other anti-angiogenic factors include: Anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid and derivatives thereof, paclitaxel, Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalioproteinase-2, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2, and various forms of the lighter “d group” transition metals.

Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species. Such transition metal species may form transition metal complexes. Suitable complexes of the above-mentioned transition metal species include oxo transition metal complexes.

Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxo vanadium complexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitable vanadate complexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes such as, for example, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodium orthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadyl acetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydrates such as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes also include oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstate and tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes include ammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, and tungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide and tungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes include molybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitable molybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodium molybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates. Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum (VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include, for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten and molybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, for example, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also be utilized within the context of the present invention. Representative examples include platelet factor 4; protamine sulphate; sulphated chitin derivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murata et al., Cancer Res. 51:22-26, 1991); Sulphated Polysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex (SP-PG) (the function of this compound may be enhanced by the presence of steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine; modulators of matrix metabolism, including for example, proline analogs, cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4-dehydroproline, Thiaproline, alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate; 4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone; Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J. Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, (1992)); Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al., Biochem J. 286:475480, (1992)); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate; Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557, 1990); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin. Invest. 79:1440-1446, (1987)); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin (Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664, (1987)); Bisantrene (National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium (N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”; Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, (1992)); Thalidomide; Angostatic steroid; AGM-1470; carboxynaminohnidazole; and metalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

Reproductive System Disorders

The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the reproductive system. Reproductive system disorders that can be treated by the compositions of the invention, include, but are not limited to, reproductive system injuries, infections, neoplastic disorders, congenital defects, and diseases or disorders which result in infertility, complications with pregnancy, labor, or parturition, and postpartum difficulties.

Reproductive system disorders and/or diseases include diseases and/or disorders of the testes, including testicular atrophy, testicular feminization, cryptorchism (unilateral and bilateral), anorchia, ectopic testis, epididymitis and orchids (typically resulting from infections such as, for example, gonorrhea, mumps, tuberculosis, and syphilis), testicular torsion, vasitis nodosa, germ cell tumors (e.g., seminomas, embryonal cell carcinomas, teratocarcinomas, choriocarcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and teratomas), stromal tumors (e.g., Leydig cell tumors), hydrocele, hematocele, varicocele, spermatocele, inguinal hernia, and disorders of sperm production (e.g., immotile cilia syndrome, aspermia, asthenozoospermia, azoospermia, oligospermia, and teratozoospermia).

Reproductive system disorders also include disorders of the prostate gland, such as acute non-bacterial prostatitis, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, prostatodystonia, prostatosis, granulomatous prostatitis, malacoplakia, benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia, and prostate neoplastic disorders, including adenocarcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas, ductal carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas.

Additionally, the compositions of the invention may be useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of disorders or diseases of the penis and urethra, including inflammatory disorders, such as balanoposthitis, balanitis xerotica obliterans, phimosis, paraphimosis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis, chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas, HIV, AIDS, Reiter's syndrome, condyloma acuminatum, condyloma latum, and pearly penile papules; urethral abnormalities, such as hypospadias, epispadias, and phimosis, premalignant lesions, including Erythroplasia of Qucyrat, Bowen's disease, Bowenoid paplosis, giant condyloma of Busekc-Lowenstein, and varrucous carcinoma; penile cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas, carcinoma in situ, verrucous carcinoma, and disseminated penile carcinoma; urethral neoplastic disorders, including penile urethral carcinoma, bulbomembranous urethral carcinoma, and prostatic urethral carcinoma; and erectile disorders, such as priapism, Peyronie's disease, erectile dysfunction, and impotence.

Moreover, diseases and/or disorders of the vas deferens include vasculititis and CBAVD (congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens); additionally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the seminal vesicles, including hydatid disease, congenital chloride diarrhea, and polycystic kidney disease.

Other disorders and/or diseases of the male reproductive system include, for example, Klinefelter's syndrome, Young's syndrome, premature ejaculation, diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, Kartagener's syndrome, high fever, multiple sclerosis, and gynecomastia.

Further, the polynucleotides, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the vagina and vulva, including bacterial vaginosis, candida vaginitis, herpes simplex virus, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, scabies, human papillomavirus, vaginal trauma, vulvar trauma, adenosis, chlamydia vaginitis, gonorrhea, trichomonas vaginitis, condyloma acuminatum, syphilis, molluscum contagiosum, atrophic vaginitis. Paget's disease, lichen sclerosus, lichen planes, vulvodynia, toxic shock syndrome, vaginismus, vulvovaginitis, vulvar vestibulitis, and neoplastic disorders, such as squamous cell hyperplasia, clear cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanomas, cancer of Bartholin's gland, and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia.

Disorders and/or diseases of the uterus include dysmenorrhea, retroverted uterus, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, anovulatory bleeding, amenorrhea, Cushing's syndrome, hydatidiform moles, Asherman's syndrome, premature menopause, precocious puberty, uterine polyps, dysfunctional uterine bleeding (e.g., due to aberrant hormonal signals), and neoplastic disorders, such as adenocarcinomas, keiomyosarcomas, and sarcomas. Additionally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be useful as a marker or detector of, as well as in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of congenital uterine abnormalities, such as bicornuate uterus, septate uterus, simple unieornuate uterus, unicornuate uterus with a noncavitary rudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus with a non-communicating cavitary rudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus with a communicating cavitary horn, arcuate uterus, uterine didelfus, and T-shaped uterus.

Ovarian diseases and/or disorders include anovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome), ovarian cysts, ovarian hypofunction, ovarian insensitivity to gonadotropins, ovarian overproduction of androgens, right ovarian vein syndrome, amenorrhea, hirutism, and ovarian cancer (including, but not limited to, primary and secondary cancerous growth, Sertoli-Leydig tumors, endometziod carcinoma of the ovary, ovarian papillary serous adenocarcinoma, ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma, and Ovarian Krukenberg tumors).

Cervical diseases and/or disorders include cervicitis, chronic cervicitis, mucopurulent cervicitis, cervical dysplasia, cervical polyps, Nabothian cysts, cervical erosion, cervical incompetence, and cervical neoplasms (including, for example, cervical carcinoma, squamous metaplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous cell neoplasia, and columnar cell neoplasia).

Additionally, diseases and/or disorders of the reproductive system include disorders and/or diseases of pregnancy, including miscarriage and stillbirth, such as early abortion, late abortion, spontaneous abortion, induced abortion, therapeutic abortion, threatened abortion, missed abortion, incomplete abortion, complete abortion, habitual abortion, missed abortion, and septic abortion; ectopic pregnancy, anemia, Rh incompatibility, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation, polyhydramnios, HELLP syndrome, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, hyperemesis, preeclampsia, eclampsia, herpes gestationis, and urticaria of pregnancy. Additionally, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of diseases that can complicate pregnancy, including heart disease, heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure, anemia, kidney disease, infectious disease (e.g., rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, infectious hepatitis, chlamydia, HIV, AIDS, and genital herpes), diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, primary biliary cirrhosis, asthma, systemic lupus eryematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, appendicitis, ovarian cysts, gallbladder disorders, and obstruction of the intestine.

Complications associated with labor and parturition include premature rupture of the membranes, pre-term labor, post-term pregnancy, postmaturity, labor that progresses ton slowly, fetal distress (e.g., abnormal heart rate (fetal or maternal), breathing problems, and abnormal fetal position), shoulder dystocia, prolapsed umbilical cord, amniotic fluid embolism, and aberrant uterine bleeding.

Further, diseases and/or disorders of the postdelivery period, including endometritis, myometritis, parametritis, peritonitis, pelvic thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, endotoxemia, pyelonephritis, saphenous thrombophlebitis, mastitis, cystitis, postpartum hemorrhage, and inverted uterus.

Other disorders and/or diseases of the female reproductive system that may be diagnosed, treated, and/or prevented by the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, for example, Turner's syndrome, pseudohermaphroditism, premenstrual syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic congestion (vascular engorgement), frigidity, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, ruptured fallopian tube, and Mittelschmerz.

Infectious Disease

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used to treat or detect infectious agents. For example, by increasing the immune response, particularly increasing the proliferation and differentiation of B and/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated. The immune response may be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immune response. Alternatively, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also directly inhibit the infectious agent, without necessarily eliciting an immune response.

Viruses are one example of an infectious agent that can cause disease or symptoms that can be treated or detected by albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to the following DNA and RNA viruses and viral families: Arbovirus, Adenoviridae, Arenaviridae, Arterivirus, Birnaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Caliciviridae, Circoviridae, Coronaviridae, Dengue, EBV, HIV, Flaviviridae, Hepadnaviridae (Hepatitis), Herpesviridae (such as, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster), Mononegavirus (e.g., Paramyxoviridae, Morbillivirus, Rhabdoviridae), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., Influenza A. Influenza B, and parainfluenza), Papiloma virus, Papovaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Poxyiridae (such as Smallpox or Vaccinia), Reoviridae (e.g., Rotavirus), Retroviridae (HTLV-I, HTLV-II, Lentivirus), and Togaviridae (e.g., Rubivirus). Viruses falling within these families can cause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: arthritis, bronchiollitis, respiratory syncytial virus, encephalitis, eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis, keratitis), chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis (A, B. C, F, Chronic Active, Delta), Japanese B encephalitis, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, meningitis, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS), pneumonia, Burkitt's Lymphoma, chickenpox, hemorrhagic fever, Measles, Mumps, Parainfluenza, Rabies, the common cold, Polio, leukemia, Rubella, sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases (e.g., Kaposi's, warts), and viremia. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat: meningitis, Dengue. EBV, and/or hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In an additional specific embodiment fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat patients nonresponsive to one or more other commercially available hepatitis vaccines. In a further specific embodiment fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat AIDS.

Similarly, bacterial and fungal agents that can cause disease or symptoms and that can be treated or detected by albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but not limited to, the following Grain-Negative and Gram-positive bacteria, bacterial families, and fungi: Actinomyces Norcardia), Acinetobacter, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus, Bacillaceae Bacillus anthrasis), Bacteroides (e.g., Bacteroides fragilis), Blastomycosis, Bordetella, Borrelia (e.g., Borrelia burgdorferi). Brucella, Candidia, Campylobacter, Chlamydia, Clostridium (e.g., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium dificile, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani), Coccidioides, Corynebacterium (e.g., Corynebacterium diptheriea), Cryptococcus, Dermatocycoses, E. coli (e.g., Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Bnterohemorrhagic E. coli), Enterobacter (e.g. Enterobacter aerogenes), Enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella, Salmonella (e.g., Sahnonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi), Serratia, Yersinia, Shigella), Erysipelothrix, Haemophilus (e.g., Haemophilus influenza type B), Helicobacter, Legionella (e.g., Legionella pneumophila), Leptospira, Listeria (e.g., Listeria monocytogenes), Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium (e.g., Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Vibrio (e.g., Vibrio cholerae), Neisseriaceae (e.g., Neisseria gonorrhea, Neisseria meningitidis), Pasteurellacea, Proteus, Pseudomonas (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Rickettsiaceae, Spirochetes (e.g., Treponema spp., Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp.), Shigella spp., Staphylococcus (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), Meningiococcus, Pneumococcus and Streptococcus (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Groups A, B, and C Streptococci), and Ureaplasmas. These bacterial, parasitic, and fungal families can cause diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: antibiotic-resistant infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, septicemia, eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis), uveitis, tuberculosis, gingivitis, bacterial diarrhea, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS related infections), paronychia, prosthesis-related infections, dental caries, Reiter's Disease, respiratory tract infections, such as Whooping Cough or Empyema, sepsis, Lyme Disease, Cat-Scratch Disease, dysentery, paratyphoid fever, food poisoning, Legionella disease, chronic and acute inflammation, erythema, yeast infections, typhoid, pneumonia, gonorrhea, meningitis (e.g., mengitis types A and B), chlamydia, syphillis, diphtheria, leprosy, brucellosis, peptic ulcers, anthrax, spontaneous abortions, birth defects, pneumonia, lung infections, ear infections, deafness, blindness, lethargy, malaise, vomiting, chronic diarrhea, Crohn's disease, colitis, vaginosis, sterility, pelvic inflammatory diseases, candidiasis, paratuberculosis, tuberculosis, lupus, botulism, gangrene, tetanus, impetigo, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases (e.g., cellulitis, dermatocycoses), toxemia, urinary tract infections, wound infections, noscomial infections. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat: tetanus, diptheria, botulism, and/or meningitis type B.

Moreover, parasitic agents causing disease or symptoms that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention include, but not limited to, the following families or class: Amebiasis, Babesiosis, Coccidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Dientamoebiasis, Dourine, Ectoparasitic, Giardias, Helminthiasis, Leishmaniasis, Schistisoma, Theileriasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, and Trichomonas and Sporozoans (e.g., Plasmodium virax, Plasmodium fulciparium, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale). These parasites can cause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: Scabies, Trombiculiasis, eye infections, intestinal disease (e.g., dysentery, giardiasis), liver disease, lung disease, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS related), malaria, pregnancy complications, and toxoplasmosis. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention, can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose malaria.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could either be by administering an effective amount of an albumin fusion protein of the invention to the patient, or by removing cells from the patient, supplying the cells with a polynucleotide of the present invention, and returning the engineered cells to the patient (ex vivo therapy). Moreover, the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention can be used as an antigen in a vaccine to raise an immune response against infectious disease.

Chemotaxis

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may have chemotaxis activity. A chemotaxis molecule attracts or mobilizes cells (e.g., monocytes, fibroblasts, neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils, epithelial and/or endothelial cells) to a particular site in the body, such as inflammation, infection, or site of hyperproliferation. The mobilized cells can then fight off and/or heal the particular trauma or abnormality.

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may increase chemotaxic activity of particular cells. These chemotactic molecules can then be used to treat inflammation, infection, hyperproliferative disorders, or any immune system disorder by increasing the number of cells targeted to a particular location in the body. For example, chemotaxis molecules can be used to treat wounds and other trauma to tissues by attracting immune cells to the injured location. Chemotactic molecules of the present invention can also attract fibroblasts, which can be used to treat wounds.

It is also contemplated that fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may inhibit chemotactic activity. These molecules could also be used to treat disorders. Thus, fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention could be used as an inhibitor of chemotaxis.

Binding Activity

Albumin fusion proteins of the invention may be used to screen for molecules that bind to the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein or for molecules to which the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein binds. The binding of the fusion protein and the molecule may activate (agonist), increase, inhibit (antagonist), or decrease activity of the fusion protein or the molecule bound. Examples of such molecules include antibodies, oligonucleotides, proteins (e.g., receptors), or small molecules.

Preferably, the molecule is closely related to the natural ligand of the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein of the invention, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or a natural substrate, a ligand, a structural or functional mimetic. (See, Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991)). Similarly, the molecule can be closely related to the natural receptor to which the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion plinth of the invention binds, or at least, a fragment of the receptor capable of being hound by the Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., active site). In either case, the molecule can be rationally designed using known techniques.

Preferably, the screening for these molecules involves producing appropriate cells which express the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Preferred cells include cells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila, or E. coli.

The assay may simply test binding of a candidate compound to an albumin fusion protein of the invention, wherein binding is detected by a label, or in an assay involving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, the assay may test whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated by binding to the fusion protein.

Alternatively, the assay can be carried out using cell-free preparations, fusion protein/molecule affixed to a solid support, chemical libraries, or natural product mixtures. The assay may also simply comprise the steps of mixing a candidate compound with a solution containing an albumin fusion protein, measuring fusion protein/molecule activity or binding, and comparing the fusion protein/molecule activity or binding to a standard.

Preferably, an ELISA assay can measure fusion protein level or activity in a sample (e.g., biological sample) using a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody. The antibody can measure fusion protein level or activity by either binding, directly or indirectly, to the albumin fusion protein or by competing with the albumin fusion protein for a substrate.

Additionally, the receptor to which a Therapeutic protein portion of an albumin fusion protein of the invention binds can be identified by numerous methods known to those of skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting (Coligan, et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2). Chapter 5, (1991)). For example, in cases wherein the Therapeutic protein portion of the fusion protein corresponds to FGF, expression cloning may be employed wherein polyadenylated RNA is prepared from a cell responsive to the albumin fusion protein, for example, NIH3T3 cells which are known to contain multiple receptors for the FGF family proteins, and SC-3 cells, and a cDNA library created from this RNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cells that are not responsive to the albumin fusion protein. Transfected cells which are grown on glass slides are exposed to the albumin fusion protein of the present invention, after they have been labeled. The albumin fusion proteins can be labeled by a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognition site for a site-specific protein kinase.

Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected to auto-radiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-pools are prepared and re-transfected using an iterative sub-pooling and re-screening process, eventually yielding a single clones that encodes the putative receptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, a labeled albumin fusion protein can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane or extract preparations that express the receptor molecule for the Therapeutic protein component of an albumin fusion protein of the invention, the linked material may be resolved by PAGE analysis and exposed to X-ray film. The labeled complex containing the receptors of the fusion protein can be excised, resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to protein microsequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencing would be used to design a set of degenerate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identify the genes encoding the putative receptors.

Moreover, the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”) may be employed to modulate the activities of the fusion protein, and/or Therapeutic protein portion or albumin component of an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, thereby effectively generating agonists and antagonists of an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793, 5,811,238, 5,830,721, 5,834,252, and 5,837,458, and Patten, P. A. et al., Curr. Opinion Biotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama. S. Trends Biotechnol. 16(476-82 (1998); Hansson, L. O., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287; 265-76 (1999); and Lorenzo, M. M. and Blasco, R. Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998); each of these patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference). In one embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention and thus, the albumin fusion proteins encoded thereby, may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involves the assembly of two or more DNA segments into a desired molecule by homologous, or site-specific, recombination. In another embodiment, polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention and thus, the albumin fusion proteins encoded thereby, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior to recombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of an albumin fusion protein of the present invention may be recombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules. In preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecules are family members. In further preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecule is a growth factor such as, for example, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FOP), TOP-beta, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-7, activins A and B, decapentaplegic(dpp), 60A, OP-2, dorsalin, growth differentiation factors (GDFs), nodal, MIS, inhibin-alpha, TGF-petal, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-beta5, and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments of the Therapeutic protein portion and/or albumin component of the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of a Therapeutic protein portion and/or albumin component of the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention. The biological activity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable activity.

Additionally, this invention provides a method of screening compounds to identify those which modulate the action of an albumin fusion protein of the present invention. An example of such an assay comprises combining a mammalian fibroblast cell, an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, and the compound to be screened and 3[H] thymidine under cell culture conditions where the fibroblast cell would normally proliferate. A control assay may be performed in the absence of the compound to be screened and compared to the amount of fibroblast proliferation in the presence of the compound to determine if the compound stimulates proliferation by determining the uptake of 3[H] thymidine in each case. The amount of fibroblast cell proliferation is measured by liquid scintillation chromatography which measures the incorporation of 3[H] thymidine. Both agonist and antagonist compounds many be identified by this procedure.

In another method, a mammalian cell or membrane preparation expressing a receptor for the Therapeutic protein component of a fusion protein of the invention is incubated with a labeled fusion protein of the present invention in the presence of the compound. The ability of the compound to enhance or block this interaction could then be measured. Alternatively, the response of a known second messenger system following interaction of a compound to be screened and the receptor is measured and the ability of the compound to bind to the receptor and elicit a second messenger response is measured to determine if the compound is a potential fusion protein. Such second messenger systems include but are nor limited to, cAMP guanylate cyclase, ion channels or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

All of these above assays can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers. The molecules discovered using these assays can be used to treat disease or to bring about a particular result in a patient (e.g., blood vessel growth) by activating or inhibiting the fusion protein/molecule. Moreover, the assays can discover agents which may inhibit or enhance the production of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention from suitably manipulated cells or tissues.

Therefore, the invention includes a method of identifying compounds which bind to an albumin fusion protein of the invention comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidate binding compound with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention; and (b) determining if binding has occurred. Moreover, the invention includes a method of identifying agonists antagonists comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidate compound with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, (b) assaying a biological activity, and (b) determining if a biological activity of the fusion protein has been altered.

Targeted Delivery

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of delivering compositions to targeted cells expressing a receptor for a component of an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

As discussed herein, fusion proteins of the invention may be associated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent interactions. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific delivery of compositions of the invention to cells by administering fusion proteins of the invention (including antibodies) that are associated with heterologous polypeptides or nucleic acids. In one example, the invention provides a method for delivering a Therapeutic protein into the targeted cell. In another example, the invention provides a method for delivering a single stranded nucleic acid (e.g., antisense or ribozymes) or double stranded nucleic acid (e.g., DNA that can integrate into the cell's genome or replicate episomally and that can be transcribed) into the targeted cell.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering an albumin fusion protein of the invention (e.g., polypeptides of the invention or antibodies of the invention) in association with toxins or cytotoxic prodrugs.

By “toxin” is meant compounds that bind and activate endogenous cytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins, modified toxins, catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules or enzymes not normally present in or on the surface of a cell that under defined conditions cause the cell's death. Toxins that may be used according to the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes known in the art, compounds such as, for example, antibodies (or complement fixing containing portions thereof) that bind an inherent or induced endogenous cytotoxic effector system, thymidine kinase, endonuclease, RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheria toxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweed antiviral protein, alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. By “cytotoxic prodrug” is meant a non-toxic compound that is converted by an enzyme, normally present in the cell, into a cytotoxic compound. Cytotoxic prodrugs that may be used according to the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, glutamyl derivatives of benzoic acid mustard alkylating agent, phosphate derivatives of etoposide or mitomycin C, cytosine arabinoside, daunorubisin, and phenoxyacetamide derivatives of doxorubicin.

Drug Screening

Further contemplated is the use of the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention, or the polynucleotides encoding these fusion proteins, to screen for molecules which modify the activities of the albumin fusion protein of the present invention or proteins corresponding to the Therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion protein. Such a method would include contacting the fusion protein with a selected compound(s) suspected of having antagonist or agonist activity, and assaying the activity of the fusion protein following binding.

This invention is particularly useful for screening therapeutic compounds by using the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention, or binding fragments thereof, in any of a variety of drug screening techniques. The albumin fusion protein employed in such a test may be affixed to a solid support, expressed on a cell surface, free in solution, or located intracellularly. One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the albumin fusion protein. Drugs are screened against such transformed cells or supernatants obtained from culturing such cells, in competitive binding assays. One may measure, for example, the formulation of complexes between the agent being tested and an albumin fusion protein of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs or any other agents which affect activities mediated by the albumin fusion proteins of the present invention. These methods comprise contacting such an agent with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention or a fragment thereof and assaying for the presence of a complex between the agent and the albumin fusion protein or a fragment thereof, by methods well known in the art. In such a competitive binding assay, the agents to screen are typically labeled. Following incubation, free agent is separated from that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measure of the ability of a particular agent to bind to the albumin fusion protein of the present invention.

Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screening for compounds having suitable binding affinity to an albumin fusion protein of the present invention, and is described in great detail in European Patent Application 84/03564, published on Sep. 13, 1984, which is incorporated herein by reference herein. Briefly stated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The peptide test compounds are reacted with an albumin fusion protein of the present invention and washed. Bound peptides are then detected by methods well known in the art. Purified albumin fusion protein may be coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies may be used to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.

This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding an albumin fusion protein of the present invention specifically compete with a test compound for binding to the albumin fusion protein or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies are used to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or more antigenic epitopes with an albumin fusion protein of the invention.

Binding Peptides and Other Molecules

The invention also encompasses screening methods for identifying polypeptides and nonpolypeptides that bind albumin fusion proteins of the invention, and the binding molecules identified thereby. These binding molecules are useful, for example, as agonists and antagonists of the albumin fusion proteins of the invention. Such agonists and antagonists can be used, in accordance with the invention, in the therapeutic embodiments described in detail, below.

This method comprises the steps of:

(a) contacting an albumin fusion protein of the invention with a plurality of molecules; and

(b) identifying a molecule that binds the albumin fusion protein.

The step of contacting the albumin fusion protein of the invention with the plurality of molecules may be effected in a number of ways. For example, one may contemplate immobilizing the albumin fusion protein on a solid support and bringing a solution of the plurality of molecules in contact with the immobilized polypeptides. Such a procedure would be akin to an affinity chromatographic process, with the affinity matrix being comprised of the immobilized albumin fusion protein of the invention. The molecules having a selective affinity for the albumin fusion protein can then be purified by affinity selection. The nature of the solid support, process for attachment of the albumin fusion protein to the solid support, solvent, and conditions of the affinity isolation or selection are largely conventional and well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Alternatively, one may also separate a plurality of polypeptides into substantially separate fractions comprising a subset of or individual polypeptides. For instance, one can separate the plurality of polypeptides by gel electrophoresis, column chromatography, or like method known to those of ordinary skill for the separation of polypeptides. The individual polypeptides can also be produced by a transformed host cell in such a way as to be expressed on or about its outer surface (e.g., a recombinant phage). Individual isolates can then be “probed” by an albumin fusion protein of the invention, optionally in the presence of an inducer should one be required for expression, to determine if any selective affinity interaction takes place between the albumin fusion protein and the individual clone. Prior to contacting the albumin fusion protein with each fraction comprising individual polypeptides, the polypeptides could first be transferred to a solid support for additional convenience. Such a solid support may simply be a piece of filter membrane, such as one made of nitrocellulose or nylon. In this manner, positive clones could be identified from a collection of transformed host cells of an expression library, which harbor a DNA construct encoding a polypeptide having a selective affinity for an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide having a selective affinity for an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be determined directly by conventional means or the coding sequence of the DNA encoding the polypeptide can frequently be determined more conveniently. The primary sequence can then be deduced from the corresponding DNA sequence. If the amino acid sequence is to be determined from the polypeptide itself, one may use microsequencing techniques. The sequencing technique may include mass spectroscopy.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to wash away any unbound polypeptides from a mixture of an albumin fusion protein of the invention and the plurality of polypeptides prior to attempting to determine or to detect the presence of a selective affinity interaction. Such a wash step may be particularly desirable when the albumin fusion protein of the invention or the plurality of polypeptides are bound to a solid support.

The plurality of molecules provided according to this method may be provided by way of diversity libraries, such as random or combinatorial peptide or nonpeptide libraries which can be screened for molecules that specifically bind an albumin fusion protein of the invention. Many libraries are known in the art that can be used, e.g., chemically synthesized libraries, recombinant (e.g., phage display libraries), and in vitro translation-based libraries. Examples of chemically synthesized libraries are described in Fodor et al., Science 251:767-773 (1991); Houghten et al., Nature 354:84-86 (1991); Lam et al., Nature 354:82-84 (1991); Medynski, Bio/Technology 12:709-710 (1994); Gallop et al., J. Medicinal Chemistry 37(9):1233-1251 (1994); Ohlmeyer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10922-10926 (1993); Erb et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11422-11426 (1994); Houghten et al., Biotechniques 13:412 (1992); Jayawickreme et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:1614-1618 (1994); Salmon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:11708-11712 (1993); PCT Publication No. WO 93/20242; and Brenner and Lamer, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5381-5383 (1992).

Examples of phage display libraries are described in Scott et al., Science 249:386-390 (1990); Devlin et al., Science, 249:404-406 (1990); Christian et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 227:711-718 1992); Lenstra, J. Immunol. Meth. 152:149-157 (1992); Kay et al., Gene 128:59-65 (1993); and per Publication No. WO 94/18318 dated Aug. 18, 1994.

In vitro translation-based libraries include but are not limited to those described in PCT Publication No. WO 91/05058 dated Apr. 18, 1991; and Mattheakis et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:9022-9026 (1994).

By way of examples of nonpeptide libraries, a benzodiazepine library (see e.g., Bunin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:4708-4712 (1994)) can be adapted for use. Peptoid libraries (Simon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:9367-9371 (1992)) can also be used. Another example of a library that can be used, in which the amide functionalities in peptides have been permethylatecl to generate a chemically transformed combinatorial library, is described by Ostresh et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11138-11142 (1994)).

The variety of non-peptide libraries that are useful in the present invention is great. For example, Ecker and Crooke (Bio/Technology 13:351-360 (1995) list benzodiazepines, hydantoins, piperazinediones, biphenyls, sugar analogs, beta-mercaptoketones, arylacetic acids, acylpiperidines, benzopyrans, cubanes, xanthines, aminimides, and oxazolones as among the chemical species that form the basis of various libraries.

Non-peptide libraries can be classified broadly into two types: decorated monomers and oligomers. Decorated monomer libraries employ a relatively simple scaffold structure upon which a variety functional groups is added. Often the scaffold will be a molecule with a known useful pharmacological activity. For example, the scaffold might be the benzodiazepine structure.

Non-peptide oligomer libraries utilize a large number of monomers that are assembled together in ways that create new shapes that depend on the order of the monomers. Among the monomer units that have been used are carbamates, pyrrolinones, and morpholinos. Peptoids, peptide-like oligomers in which the side chain is attached to the alpha amino group rather than the alpha carbon, form the basis of another version of non-peptide oligomer libraries. The first non-peptide oligomer libraries utilized a single type of monomer and thus contained a repeating backbone. Recent libraries have utilized more than one monomer, giving the libraries added flexibility.

Screening the libraries can be accomplished by any of a variety of commonly known methods. See, e.g., the following references, which disclose screening of peptide libraries: Parmley et al., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 251:215-218 (1989); Scott et al., Science 249:386-390 (1990); Fowlkes et al., BioTechniques 13:422-427 (1992); Oldenburg et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5393-5397 (1992); Yu et al., Cell 76:933-945 (1994); Staudt et al., Science 241:577-580 (1988); Bock et al., Nature 355:564-566 (1992); Tuerk et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6988-6992 (1992); Ellington et al., Nature 355:850-852 (1992); U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,815, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,346, all to Ladner et al.; Rebar et al., Science 263:671-673 (1993); and PCT Publication No. WO 94/18318.

In a specific embodiment, screening to identify a molecule that binds an albumin fusion protein of the invention can be carried out by contacting the library members with an albumin fusion protein of the invention immobilized on a solid phase and harvesting those library members that bind to the albumin fusion protein. Examples of such screening methods, termed “panning” techniques are described by way of example in Parmley et al., Gene 73:305-318 (1988); Fowlkes et al., BioTechniques 13:422-427 (1992); PCT Publication No, WO 94/18318; and in references cited herein.

In another embodiment, the two-hybrid system for selecting interacting proteins in yeast (Fields et al., Nature 340:245-246 (1989); Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9578-9582 (1991) can be used to identify molecules that specifically bind to polypeptides of the invention.

Where the binding molecule is a polypeptide, the polypeptide can be conveniently selected from any peptide library, including random peptide libraries, combinatorial peptide Libraries, or biased peptide libraries. The term “biased” is used herein to mean that the method of generating the library is manipulated so as to restrict one or more parameters that govern the diversity of the resulting collection of molecules, in this case peptides.

Thus, a truly random peptide library would generate a collection of peptides in which the probability of finding a particular amino acid at a given position of the peptide is the same for all 20 amino acids. A bias can be introduced into the library, however, by specifying, for example, that a lysine occur every fifth amino acid or that positions 4, 8, and 9 of a decapeptide library be fixed to include only arginine. Clearly, many types of biases can be contemplated, and the present invention is nut restricted to any particular bias. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates specific types of peptide libraries, such as phage displayed peptide libraries and those that utilize a DNA construct comprising a lambda phage vector with a DNA insert.

As mentioned above, in the case of a binding molecule that is a polypeptide, the polypeptide may have about 6 to less than about 60 amino acid residues, preferably about 6 to about 10 amino acid residues, and most preferably, about 6 to about 22 amino acids. In another embodiment, a binding polypeptide has in the range of 15-100 amino acids, or 20-50 amino acids.

The selected binding polypeptide can be obtained by chemical synthesis or recombinant expression.

Other Activities

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention, may be employed in treatment for stimulating re-vascularization of ischemic tissues due to various disease conditions such as thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascular conditions. The albumin fusion proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotides encoding albumin fusion proteins of the invention may also be employed to stimulate angiogenesis and limb regeneration, as discussed above.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be employed for treating wounds due to injuries, burns, post-operative tissue repair, and ulcers since they are mitogenic to various cells of different origins, such as fibroblast cells and skeletal muscle cells, and therefore, facilitate the repair or replacement of damaged or diseased tissue.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be employed stimulate neuronal growth and to treat and prevent neuronal damage which occurs in certain neuronal disorders or neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and AIDS-related complex. An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may have the ability to stimulate chondrocyte growth, therefore, they may be employed to enhance bone and periodontal regeneration and aid in tissue transplants or bone grafts.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be also be employed to prevent skin aging due to sunburn by stimulating keratinocyte growth.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be employed for preventing hair loss, since FOP family members activate hair-forming cells and promotes melanocyte growth. Along the same lines, an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be employed to stimulate growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and bone marrow cells when used in combination with other cytokines.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be employed to maintain organs before transplantation or for supporting cell culture of primary tissues. An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be employed for inducing tissue of mesodermal origin to differentiate in early embryos.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also increase or decrease the differentiation or proliferation of embryonic stem cells, besides, as discussed above, hematopoietic lineage.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be used to modulate mammalian characteristics, such as body height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin, percentage of adipose tissue, pigmentation, size, and shape (e.g., cosmetic surgery). Similarly, an albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be used to modulate mammalian metabolism affecting catabolism, anabolism, processing, utilization, and storage of energy.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may be used to change a mammal's mental state or physical state by influencing biorhythms, caricadic rhythms, depression (including depressive disorders), tendency for violence, tolerance for pain, reproductive capabilities (preferably by Activin or Inhibin-like activity), hormonal or endocrine levels, appetite, libido, memory, stress, or other cognitive qualities.

An albumin fusion protein of the invention and/or polynucleotide encoding an albumin fusion protein of the invention may also be used as a food additive or preservative, such as to increase or decrease storage capabilities, fat content, lipid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors or other nutritional components.

The above-recited applications have uses in a wide variety of hosts. Such hosts include, but are not limited to, human, murine, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, mouse, rat, hamster, pig, micro-pig, chicken, goat, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate, and human. In specific embodiments, the host is a mouse, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, chicken, rat, hamster, pig, sheep, dog or cat. In preferred embodiments, the host is a mammal. In most preferred embodiments, the host is a human.

Having generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting.

Without further description, it is believed that one of ordinary skill in the all can, using the preceding description and the following illustrative examples, make and utilize the alterations detected in the present invention and practice the claimed methods. The following working examples therefore, specifically point out preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting in any way the remainder of the disclosure.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Generation Of pScNCHSA And pScCHSA

The vectors pScNHSA (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-3279) and pScCHSA (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-3276) are derivatives of pPPC0005 (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-3278) and are used as cloning vectors into which polynucleotides encoding a therapeutic protein or fragment or variant thereof is inserted adjacent to and in translation frame with polynucleotides encoding human serum albumin “HSA”. pScCHSA may be used for generating Therapeutic protein-HSA fusions, while pScNHSA may be used to generate HSA-Therapeutic protein fusions.

Generation of pScCHSA: Albumin Fusion with the Albumin Moiety C-Terminal to the Therapeutic Portion.

A vector to facilitate cloning DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein N-terminal to DNA encoding the mature albumin protein was made by altering the nucleic acid sequence that encodes the chimeric HSA signal peptide in pPPC0005 to include the Xho I and Cla I restriction sites.

First, the Xho I and Cla I sites inherent to pPPC0005 (located 3′ of the ADHI terminator sequence) were eliminated by digesting pPPC0005 with Xho I and Cla I, filling in the sticky ends with T4 DNA polymerase, and mitigating the blunt ends to create pPPC0006.

Second, the Xho I and Cla I restriction sites were engineered into the nucleic acid sequence that encodes the signal peptide of HSA (a chimera of the HSA leader and a kex2 site from mating factor alpha, “MAF”) in pPPC0006 using two rounds of PCR. In the first round of PCR, amplification with primers shown as SEQ ID NO:328 and SEQ ID NO:329 was performed. The primer whose sequence is shown as SEQ ID NO:328 comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes part of the signal peptide sequence of HSA, a kex2 site from the mating factor alpha leader sequence, and part of the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA. Four point mutations were introduced in the sequence, creating the Xho I and Cla I sites found at the junction of the chimeric signal peptide and the mature form of HSA. These four mutations are underlined in the sequence shown below. In pPPC0005 the nucleotides at these four positions from 5′ to 3′ are T, G, T, and G.

(SEQ ID NO: 328) 5′-GCCTCGAGAAAAGAGATGCACACAAGAGTGAGGTTGCTCATCGATTTAAAGATTTGGG-3′ and (SEQ ID NO: 329) 5′-AATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATCTCTTTTCTCGAGGCTCCTGGAATAAGC-3′.

A second round of PCR was then performed with an upstream flanking primer, 5′-TACAAACTTAAGAGTCCAATTAGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:330) and a downstream flanking primer 5′-CACTTCTCTAGAGTGG111 CATATGTCTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:331). The resulting PCR product was then purified and digested with Afl II and Xba I and ligated into the same sites in pPPC0006 creating pScCHSA. The resulting plasmid has Xho I and au I sites engineered into the signal sequence. The presence of the Xho I site creates a single amino acid change in the end of the signal sequence from LDKR to LEKR. The D to E change will not be present in the final albumin fusion protein expression plasmid when a nucleic acid sequence comprising a polynucleotide encoding the Therapeutic portion of the albumin fusion protein with a 5′ Sal I site (which is compatible with the Xho I site) and a 3′ Cla 1 site is ligated into the Xho I and Cla I sites of pScCHSA. Ligation of Sal I to Xho I restores the original amino acid sequence of the signal peptide sequence. DNA encoding the Therapeutic portion of the albumin fusion protein may be inserted after the Kex2 site (Kex2 cleaves after the dibasic amino acid sequence KR at the end of the signal peptide) and prior to the Cla I site.

Generation pScNHSA; Albumin Fusion with the Albumin Moiety N-Terminal to the Therapeutic Portion.

A vector to facilitate cloning DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein portion C-terminal to DNA encoding the mature albumin protein, was made by adding three, eight-base-pair restriction sites to pScCHSA. The Asc I, Fse I, and Pmc I restriction sites were added in between the Bsu36 I and Hind III sites at the end of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the mature HSA protein. This was accomplished through the use of two complementary synthetic primers containing the Asc I, Fse I, and Pmc I restriction sites underlined (SEQ ID NO:332 and SEQ ID NO:333).

(SEQ ID NO: 332) 5′-AAGCTGCCTTAGGCTTATAATAAGGCGCGCCGGCCGGCCGTTTAAACTAAGCTTAATTCT-3′ and (SEQ ID NO: 114) 5′-AGAATTAACCTTAGTTTAAACGGCCGGCCGGCGCGCCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTT-3′,

These primers were annealed and digested with Bsu36 I and Hind III and ligated into the same sites in pScCHSA creating pScNHSA.

Example 2 General Construct Generation for Yeast Transformation

The vectors pScNHSA and pScCHSA may be used as cloning vectors into which polynucleotides encoding a therapeutic protein or fragment or variant thereof is inserted adjacent to polynucleotides encoding mature human serum albumin “HSA”. pScCHSA is used for generating Therapeutic protein-HSA fusions, while pScNHSA may be used to generate HSA-Therapeutic protein fusions.

Generation of Albumin Fusion Constructs Comprising NSA-Therapeutic Protein Fusion Products.

DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein (e.g., sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:X or known in the art) may be PCR amplified using the primers which facilitate the generation of a fusion construct (e.g., by adding restriction sites, encoding seamless fusions, encoding linker sequences, etc.) For example, one skilled in the art could design a 5′ primer that adds polynucleotides encoding the last four amino acids of the mature form of HSA (and containing the Bsu36I site) onto the 5′ end of DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein; and a 3′ primer that adds a STOP codon and appropriate cloning sites onto the 3′ end of the Therapeutic protein coding sequence. For instance, the forward primer used to amplify DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein might have the sequence, 5′-aagctGCCTTAGGCTTA(N)15-3′ (SEQ ID NO:334) where the underlined sequence is a Bsu36I site, the upper case nucleotides encode the last four amino acids of the mature HSA protein (ALGL), and (N)15 is identical to the first 15 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. Similarly, the reverse primer used to amplify DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein might have the sequence,

where the italicized sequence is a Pme I site, the double underlined sequence is an Fse I site, the singly underlined sequence is an Asc I site, the boxed nucleotides are the reverse complement of two tandem stop codons, and (N),3 is identical to the reverse complement of the last 15 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. Once the PCR product is amplified it may be cut with Bsu36I and one of (Arc I, Fse I, or Pme I) and ligated inks pScNHSA.

The presence of the Xho I site in the HSA chimeric leader sequence creates a single amino acid change in the end of the chimeric signal sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal sequence, from LDKR to LEKR.

Generation of Albumin Fusion Constructs Comprising Gene-HSA Fusion Products.

Similar to the method described above, DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein may be PCR amplified using the following primers; A 5′ primer that adds polynucleotides containing a Sal I site and encoding the last three amino acids of the HSA leader sequence, DKR, onto the 5′ end of DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein; and a 3′ primer that adds polynucleotides encoding the first few amino acids of the mature HSA containing a Cla I site onto the 3′ end of DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein. For instance, the forward primer used to amplify the DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein might have the sequence, 5′-aggagcgtcGACAAAAGA(N)15-3′ (SEQ ID NO:336) where the underlined sequence is a Sal I site, the upper case nucleotides encode the last three amino acids of the HSA leader sequence (DKR), and (N)15 is identical to the first 15 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. Similarly, the reverse primer used to amplify the DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein might have the sequence, 5′-CTTTAAATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATC(N)15-3′ (SEQ ID NO:337) where the italicized sequence is a Cla I site, the underlined nucleotides are the reverse complement of the DNA encoding the first 9 amino acids of the mature form of HSA (DAHKSEVAH, SEQ ID NO:391), and (N)15 is identical to the reverse complement of the last 15 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. Once the PCR product is amplified it may be cut with Sal I and au I and ligated into pScCHSA digested with Xho I and Cla I. A different signal or leader sequence may be desired, for example, invertase “INV” (Swiss-Prot Accession P00724), mating factor alpha “MAF” (Genbank Accession AAA18405), MPIF (Geneseq AAF82936), Fibulin B (Swiss-Prot Accession P23142), Clusterin (Swiss-Prot Accession P10909), Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 4 (Swiss-Prot Accession P22692), and permutations of the HSA leader sequence can be subcloned into the appropriate vector by means of standard methods known in the art.

Generation of Albumin Fusion Construct Compatible for Expression in Yeast S. cerevisiae.

The Not I fragment containing the DNA encoding either an N-terminal or C-terminal albumin fusion protein generated from pScNHSA or pScCHSA may then be cloned into the Not I site of pSAC35 which has a LEU2 selectable marker. The resulting vector is then used in transformation of a yeast S. cerevisiae expression system.

Example 3 General Expression in Yeast S. Cerevisiae

An expression vector compatible with yeast expression can be transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by lithium acetate transformation, electroporation, or other methods known in the at and or as described in part in Sambrook, Fritsch, and Maniatis. (1989). “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition”, volumes 1-3, and in Ausubel et al. (2000). Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, volumes 1-4. The expression vectors are introduced into S. cerevisiae strains DXY1, D88, or BXP10 by transformation, individual transformants can be grown, for example, for 3 days at 30° C. in 10 mL YEPD (1% w/v yeast extract, 2% w/v, peptone, 2% w/v, dextrose), and cells can be collected at stationary phase after 60 hours of growth. Supernatants are collected by clarifying cells at 3000 g for 10 minutes.

pSAC35 (Sleep et al., Biotechnology 8:42 (1990) and see FIG. 4) comprises, in addition to the LEU2 selectable marker, the entire yeast 2 μm plasmid to provide replication functions, the PRB1 promoter, and the ADH1 termination signal.

Example 4 General Purification of an Albumin Fusion Protein Expressed from an Albumin Fusion in Yeast S. Cerevisiae

In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprise the mature form of HSA fused to either the N- or C-terminus of the mature form of a therapeutic protein or portions thereof (e.g., the mature form of a therapeutic protein listed in Table 1, or the mature form of a therapeutic protein shown in Table 2 as SEQ ID NO:Z). In one embodiment of the invention, albumin fusion proteins of the invention further comprise a signal sequence which directs the nascent fusion polypeptide in the secretory pathways of the host used for expression. In a preferred embodiment, the signal peptide encoded by the signal sequence is removed, and the mature albumin fusion protein is secreted directly into the culture medium. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention preferably comprise heterologous signal sequences (e.g., the non-native signal sequence of a particular therapeutic protein) including, but not limited to, MAF, INV, Ig, Fibulin B, Clusterin, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4, variant HSA leader sequences including, but not limited to, a chimeric HSA/MAF leader sequence, or other heterologous signal sequences known in the art. In preferred embodiments, the fusion proteins of the invention further comprise an N-terminal methionine residue. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, including fragments and/or variants, are also encompassed by the invention.

Albumin fusion proteins expressed in yeast as described above can be purified on a small-scale over a Dyax peptide affinity column as follows. Supernatants from yeast expressing an albumin fusion protein is diafiltrated against 3 mM phosphate buffer pH 6.2, 20 mM NaCl and 0.01% Tween 20 to reduce the volume and to remove the pigments. The solution is then filtered through a 0.22 μm device. The filtrate is loaded onto a Dyax peptide affinity column. The column is eluted with 100 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.2 buffer. The peak fractions containing protein are collected and analyzed on SDS-PAGE after concentrating 5-fold.

For large scale purification, the following method can be utilized. The supernatant in excess of 2 L is diafiltered and concentrated to 500 mL in 20 mM Tris/HCl pH 8.0. The concentrated protein solution is loaded onto a pre-equilibrated 50 ml. DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column, the column is washed, and the protein is eluted with a linear gradient of NaCl from 0 to 0.4 M NaCl in 20 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8.0. Those fractions containing the protein are pooled, adjusted to pH 6.8 with 0.5 M sodium phosphate (NaH2PO4). A final concentration of 0.9 M (NH4)2SO4 is added to the protein solution and the whole solution is loaded onto a pre-equilibrated 50 mL Butyl650S column. The protein is eluted with a linear gradient of ammonium sulfate (0.9 to 0 M (NH4)2SO4). Those fractions with the albumin fusion are again pooled, diafiltered against 10 mM Na2HPO4/citric acid buffer pH 5.75, and loaded onto a 50 mL pre-equilibrated SP-Sepharose. Fast Flow column. The protein is doted with a NaCl linear gradient from 0 to 0.5 M. The fractions containing the protein of interest are combined, the buffer is changed to 10 mM Na2HPO4/citric acid pH 6.25 with an Amicon concentrator, the conductivity is <2.5 mS/cm. This protein solution is loaded onto a 15 mL pre-equilibrated Q-Sepharose high performance column, the column is washed, and the protein is eluted with a NaCl linear gradient from 0 to 0.15 M NaCl. The purified protein can then be formulated into a specific buffer composition by buffer exchange.

Example 5 General Construct Generation For Mammalian Cell Transfection

Generation of albumin fusion construct compatible for expression in mammalian cell-lines.

Albumin fusion constructs can be generated in expression vectors for use in mammalian cell culture systems. DNA encoding a therapeutic protein can be cloned N-terminus or C-terminus to HSA in a mammalian expression vector by standard methods known in the art (e.g., PCR amplification, restriction digestion, and ligation). Once the expression vector has been constructed, transfection into a mammalian expression system can proceed. Suitable vectors are known in the art including, but not limited to, for example, the pC4 vector, and/or vectors available from Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Portsmouth, N.H.).

The DNA encoding human serum albumin has been cloned into the pC4 vector which is suitable for mammalian culture systems, creating plasmid pC4:HSA (ATCC Deposit # PTA-3277). This vector has a DiHydroFolate Reductase, “DHFR”, gene that will allow for selection in the presence of methotrexate.

The pC4:HSA vector is suitable for expression of albumin fusion proteins in CHO cells. For expression, in other mammalian cell culture systems, it may be desirable to subclone a fragment comprising, or alternatively consisting of, DNA which encodes for an albumin fusion protein into an alternative expression vector. For example, a fragment comprising, or alternatively consisting, of DNA which encodes for a mature albumin fusion protein may be subcloned into another expression vector including, but not limited to, any of the mammalian expression vectors described herein.

In a preferred embodiment, DNA encoding an albumin fusion construct is subcloned into vectors provided by Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Portsmouth, N.H.) by procedures known in the art for expression in NS0 cells.

Generation of Albumin Fusion Constructs Comprising HSA-Therapeutic Protein Fusion Products.

Using pC4:HSA (ATCC Deposit # PTA-3277), albumin fusion constructs can be generated in which the Therapeutic protein portion is C terminal to the mature albumin sequence. For example, one can clone DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein of fragment or variant thereof between the Bsu 36I and Ase I restriction sites of the vector. When cloning into the Bsu 36I and Asc I, the same primer design used to clone into the yeast vector system (SEQ ID NO:334 and 335) may be employed (see Example 2).

Generation of Albumin Fiction Constructs Comprising Gene-HSA Fusion Products.

Using pC4:HSA (ATCC Deposit # PTA-3277), albumin fusion constructs can be generated in which a Therapeutic protein portion is cloned N terminal to the mature albumin sequence. For example, one can clone DNA encoding a Therapeutic protein that has its own signal sequence between the Bam HI (or Hind III) and Cla I sites of pC4:HSA. When cloning into either the Bam HI or Hind III site, it is preferable to include a Kozak sequence (CCGCCACCATG, SEQ ID NO:392) prior to the translational start codon of the DNA encoding the Therapeutic protein. If a Therapeutic protein does not have a signal sequence, DNA encoding that Therapeutic protein may be cloned in between the Xho I and Cla I sites of pC4:HSA. When using the Xho I site, the following 5′ (SEQ ID NO:338) and 3′ (SEQ ID NO:339) exemplary PCR primers may be used:

(SEQ ID NO: 338) 5′-CCGCCGCTCGAGGGGTGTGTTTCGTCGA(N)18-3′; and (SEQ ID NO: 339) 5′-AGTCCCATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATC(N)18-3′.

In the 5′ primer (SEQ ID NO:338), the underlined sequence is a Xho I site and the Xho I site and the DNA following the Xho I site code for the last seven amino acids of the leader sequence of natural human serum albumin. In SEQ ID NO:338, “(N)18” is DNA identical to the first 18 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. In the 3′ primer (SEQ ID NO:339), the underlined sequence is a Cla I site; and the Cla I site and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of the DNA encoding the first 10 amino acids of the mature HSA protein (SEQ ID NO:327). In SEQ ID NO:339 “(N),5” is the reverse complement of DNA encoding the last 18 nucleotides encoding the Therapeutic protein of interest. Using these two primers, one may PCR amplify the Therapeutic protein of interest, purify the PCR product, digest it with Xho I and Cla I restriction enzymes and clone it into the Xho I and Cla I sites in the pC4:HSA vector.

If an alternative leader sequence is desired, the native albumin leader sequence can be replaced with the chimeric albumin leader, i.e., the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, or an alternative leader by standard methods known in the art. (For example, one skilled in the art could routinely PCR amplify an alternate leader and subclone the PCR product into an albumin fusion construct in place of the albumin leader while maintaining the reading frame).

Example 6 General Expression in Mammalian Cell-Lines

An albumin fusion construct generated in an expression vector compatible with expression in mammalian cell-lines can be transferred into appropriate cell-lines by calcium phosphate precipitation, lipofectamine, electroporation, or other transfection methods known in the art and/or as described in Sambrook, Fritsch, and Maniatis. 1989. “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition” and in Ausubel et al. 2000. Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, volumes 1-4. The transfected cells are then selected for by the presence of a selecting agent determined by the selectable marker in the expression vector.

The pC4 expression vector (ATCC Accession No. 209646) is a derivative of the plasmid pSV2-DI (ATCC Accession No. 37146). pC4 contains the strong promoter Long Terminal Repeats “LTR” of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (Cullen et al., March 1985, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 438-447) and a fragment of the CytoMegaloVirus “CMV”-enhancer (Boshart et al., Cell 41: 521-530 (1985)). The vector also contains the 3′ intron, the polyadenylation and termination signal of the rat preproinsulin gene, and the mouse DHFR gene under control of the SV40 early promoter. Chinese hamster ovary “CHO” cells or other cell-lines lacking an active DHFR gene are used for transfection. Transfection of an albumin fusion construct in pC4 into CHO cells by methods known in the art will allow for the expression of the albumin fusion protein in CHO cells, followed by leader sequence cleavage, and secretion into the supernatant. The albumin fusion protein is then further purified from the supernatant.

The pEE12.1 expression vector is provided by Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Portsmouth, N.H.) and is a derivative of pEE6 (Stephens and Cockett, Nucl. Acids Res. 17: 7110 (1989)). This vector comprises a promoter, enhancer and complete 5′-untranslated region of the Major Immediate Early gene of the human CytoMegaloVirus, “hCMV-MIE” (International Publication # WO89/01036), upstream of a sequence of interest, and a Glutamine Synthetase gene (Murphy et al., Biochem J. 227: 277-279 (1991): Bebbington et al., Bio/Technology 10; 169-175 (1992); U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,464) for purposes of selection of transfected cells in selective methionine sulphoximine containing medium. Transfection of albumin fusion constructs made in pEE12.1 into NS0 cells (International Publication # WO86/05807) by methods known in the art will allow for the expression of the albumin fusion protein in NS0 cells, followed by leader sequence cleavage, and secretion into the supernatant. The albumin fusion protein is then further purified from the supernatant using techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art.

Expression of an albumin fusion protein may be analyzed, for example, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, reversed phase HPLC analysis, or other methods known in the art.

Stable CHO and NS0 transfected with albumin fusion constructs are generated by methods known in the art (e.g., lipofectamine transfection) and selected, for example, with 100 nM methotrexate for vectors having the DiHydroFolate Reductase ‘DHFR’ gene as a selectable marker or through growth in the absence of glutamine. Expression levels can be examined for example, by immunoblotting, primarily, with an anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody, or, secondarily, with serum containing antibodies directed to the Therapeutic protein portion of a given albumin fusion protein as the primary antibody.

Expression levels are examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody. The specific productivity rates are determined via ELISA in which the capture antibody can be a monoclonal antibody towards the therapeutic protein portion of the albumin fusion and the detecting antibody can be the monoclonal anti-HSA-biotinylated antibody (or vice versa), followed by horseradish peroxidase/streptavidin binding and analysis according to the manufacturer's protocol.

Example 7 General Purification of an Albumin Fusion Protein Expressed from an Albumin Fusion Construct in Mammalian Cell-Lines

In preferred embodiments, albumin fusion proteins of the invention comprise the mature form of HSA fused to either the N- or C-terminus of the mature form of a therapeutic protein or portions thereof (e.g., the mature form of a therapeutic protein listed in Table 1, or the mature form of a therapeutic protein shown in Table 2 as SEQ ID NO:Z). In one embodiment of the invention, albumin fusion proteins of the invention further comprise a signal sequence which directs the nascent fusion polypeptide in the secretory pathways of the host used for expression. In a preferred embodiment, the signal peptide encoded by the signal sequence is removed, and the mature albumin fusion protein is secreted directly into the culture medium. Albumin fusion proteins of the invention preferably comprise heterologous signal sequences (e.g., the non-native signal sequence of a particular therapeutic protein) including, but not limited to, MAF, INV, Ig, Fibulin B, Clusterin, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4, variant HSA leader sequences including, but not limited to, a chimeric HSA/MAF leader sequence, or other heterologous signal sequences known in the art. In preferred embodiments, the fusion proteins of the invention further comprise an N-terminal methionine residue. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, including fragments and/or variants, are also encompassed by the invention.

Albumin fusion proteins from mammalian cell-line supernatants are purified according to different protocols depending on the expression system used.

Purification from CHO and 293T Cell-Lines.

Purification of an albumin fusion protein from CHO cell supernatant or from transiently transfected 293T cell supernatant may involve initial capture with an anionic HQ resin using a sodium phosphate buffer and a phosphate gradient elution, followed by affinity chromatography on a Blue Sepharose FF column using a salt gradient elution. Blue Sepharose FF removes the main BSA/feruin contaminants. Further purification over the Poros PI 50 resin with a phosphate gradient may remove and lower endotoxin contamination as well as concentrate the albumin fusion protein.

Purification from NS0 Cell-Line.

Purification of an albumin-fusion protein from NS0 cell supernatant may involve Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography, followed by SP-sepharose purification with a step elation, followed by Phenyl-650M purification with a step elution, and, ultimately, diafiltration.

The purified protein may then be formulated by buffer exchange.

Example 8 Construct Id 2448, Glp1-Hsa, Generation

Construct ID 2448, pSAC35:GLP1.H98-R127.HSA, encodes for a GLP1-HSA fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, the mature GLP1 protein, i.e. H198-R127, fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35.

Cloning of GLP1 cDNA for Construct 2448

The DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized GLP1 was generated with two overlapping primers GLP1-1 and GLP1-2, described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, cut with SalI/ClaI, and ligated into XhoI/ClaI cut pScCHSA. After sequence confirmation, the NotI fragment encompassing the GLP1 albumin fusion was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #2448 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence of HSA, the mature form of GLP1, followed by the mature HSA protein (SEQ ID NO:327).

Two overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of GLP1, GLP1-1 and GLP1-2, are:

GLP1-1: (SEQ ID NO: 312) 5′-AGGACCGTCGACAAAAGACACGCTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTGATGT TTCTTCTTACTTGGAAGGTCAAGCTGCTAAGGAATTCATTGCT-3′ GLP1-2: (SEQ ID NO: 313) 5′-CTTTAAATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATCTCTACCCTTA ACCAACCAAGCAATGAATTCCTTAGCAG -3′

GLP1-1 incorporates a Sail cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 24 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Ala-121. In GLP1-2, the italicized sequence is a ClaI site; and the ClaI site and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the first 10 amino acids of the mature HSA protein. In GLP1-2, the bolded sequence is the reverse complement of the 38 nucleotides encoding the last 12 amino acid residues Ala-116 to Arg-127 of the mature form of GLP1. Using these two primers, the mature GLP1 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with SalI and ClaI, and subcloning into XhoI/ClaI digested pScCHSA. The Nod fragment from this clone was then ligated into the Nod site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 24-48. Construct ID #2448 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence, the mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Arg-127, and the mature form of HSA.

Expression And Purification of Construct ID 2448.

Expression in Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2448 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (see Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the secreted GLP1-HSA fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2448 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Specifically, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.0 and 2 M NaCl, loaded onto a POROS HP2 resin (phenyl) column, washed with Tris pH 7.0/2 M NaCl and eluted with a linear gradient from 2 M to 0 M NaCl at pH 7.0. The albumin fusion eluted with >1 M NaCl and was ˜90% pure. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. HAEGT) of the mature form of GLP1.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2448.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2448 can be carried out as described below in Example 28.

Result

At all concentrations including 1 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, the GLP1 albumin fusion encoded by construct 2448 demonstrated enhanced glucose uptake by the 3T3-L1 adipocytes and, consequently, greater insulin sensitivity as compared to the GLP1 protein.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2448.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIP cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2448 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2448 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2448 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 9 Construct Id 2455, Hsa-Glp1, Generation

Construct ID 2455, pSAC35:HSA.GLP1.H98-R127, comprises DNA encoding for a GLP1 albumin fusion protein which has the HSA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, followed by the mature form of HSA fused to the amino terminus of the mature form of GLP1, cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35.

Cloning of GLP1 cDNA Far Construct 2455

The DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1. The polynucleotide encoding the cotton optimized GLP1 was generated with two overlapping primers GLP1-3 and GLP1-4, described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, that were annealed, extended, cut with Hsu36I/AscI, and ligated into Bsu36I/AscI cut pScNHSA. After sequence confirmation, the NotI fragment encompassing the GLP1 albumin fusion was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #2455 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence and mature form of HSA and the mature form of GLP1, His-98 to Arg-127.

Two overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of GLP1, GLP1-3 and GLP1-4, are:

GLP1-3: (SEQ ID NO: 314) 5′- AAGCTGCCTTAGGCTTACACGCTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTGATGT TTCTTCTTACTTGGAAGGTCAAGCTGCTAAGGAA TTCATTGCT -3′ GLP1-4: (SEQ ID NO: 315) 5′- GGCGCGCCTCATCTACCCTTAACCAACCAAGCAATGAATTCCTTAG CAG -3′

GLP1-3 incorporates a Bsu36I cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 24 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the Mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Ala-121. In GLP1-4, the italicized sequence is an AscI site and the last 38 nucleotides in bold are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the last 12 amino acid residues Ala-116 to Arg-127 of the mature form of GLP1 (for general construct cloning see Example 2). Using these two primers, the mature GLP1 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with Bsu36I and AscI, and subcloning into Bsu36I/AscI digested pScNHSA. The NotI fragment from this clone was then ligated into the Nod site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 2455.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2455.

Expression Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2455 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (see Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the secreted HSA-GLP1 fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2455 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Specifically, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.0 and 2 M NaCl, loaded onto a POROS HP2 resin (phenyl) column, washed with Tris pH 7.0/2 M NaCl and eluted with a linear gradient from 2 M to 0 M NaCl at pH 7.0. The albumin fusion eluted with >1 M NaCl and was ˜90% pure. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. DAHKS) of the mature form of HSA.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2455.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2455 can be carried out as described below in Example. 28.

Result

At all concentrations including 1 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, the GLP1 albumin fusion encoded by construct 2455 demonstrated enhanced glucose uptake by the 3T3-L1 adipocytes and, consequently, greater insulin sensitivity as compared to the GLP1 protein.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2455.

Method

The in vitro assay in measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARID cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2455 can be carried out as described below under heading “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2455 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2455 can be measured using NOD and/o NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 10 Construct Id 2456, GLP1-HSA, Generation

Construct ID 2456, pSAC35:GLP1.H98-R127,HSA, encodes for a GLP1-HSA fusion protein which comprises the VISA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, the mature GLP1 protein, i.e. H98-R127, with the exception of Ala-99 mutated to Gly, fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35. Construct ID #2456 is designed to produce a GLP-1 albumin fusion protein that will be resistant to cleavage by Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV, “DIV” (Hildebrandt et al., Scand J. Gastroenterol, 36(10): 1067-72 (2001)), in vivo.

Cloning Of GLP1 cDNA for Construct 2456

The DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized GLP1 was generated with two overlapping primers GLP1-5 and GLP1-6, described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, cut with SalI/ClaI, and ligated into XhoI/ClaI cut pScCHSA. After sequence confirmation, the NotI fragment encompassing the GLP1 albumin fusion was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #2456 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence of HSA, the mature form of GLP1 with the exception of Ala-99 mutated to Gly, followed by the mature HSA protein

Two overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of GLP1, GLP1-5 and GLP1-6, are:

GLP1-5: (SEQ ID NO: 316) 5′-AGGAGCGTCGACAAAAGACACGGTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTGATGT TTCTTCTTACTTGGAAGGTCAAGCTGCTAAGGAATTCATTGCT-3′ GLP1-6: (SEQ ID NO: 317) 5′-CTTTAAATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATCTCTACCCTTA ACCAACCAAGCAATGAATTCCTTAGCAG -3′

GLP1-5 incorporates a SalI cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 24 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Ala-121, with the exception of Ala-99 mutated to Gly. In GLP1-6, the italicized sequence is a ClaI site; and the ClaI site and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the first 10 amino acids of the mature HSA protein. In GLP1-6, the bolded sequence is the reverse complement of the 38 nucleotides encoding the last 12 amino acid residues Ala-116 to Arg-127 of the mature form of GLP1. Using these two primers, the mature GLP1 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with SalI and ClaI, and subcloning into XhoI/ClaI digested pScCHSA. The NotI fragment from this clone was then ligated into the NotI site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 2456. Construct ID #2456 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence, the mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Arg-127, with the exception of Ala-99 mutated to Gly, and the mature form of HSA.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2456.

Expression Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2456 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (see Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant

The cell supernatant containing the secreted GLP1-HSA fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2456 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Specifically, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.0 and 2 M NaCl, loaded onto a POROS HP2 resin (phenyl) column, washed with Tris pH 7.0/2 M NaCl and eluted with a linear gradient from 2 M to 0 M NaCl at pH 7.0. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. HAEGT) of the mature form of GLP 1.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2456.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2456 can be carried out as described below in Example 28.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2456.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIP cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2456 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2456 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2456 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32. Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: in vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 11 Construct ID 2457, HSA-GLP1, Generation

Construct ID 2457, pSAC35:HSA.GLP1.H98-R127, comprises DNA encoding for a GLP1 albumin fusion protein which has the HSA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, followed by the mature form of HSA fused to the amino terminus of the mature form of GLP1 with the exception of the Ala-99 to Gly mutation, cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35. Construct ID 42457 is designed to produce a GLP-1 albumin fusion protein that will be resistant to cleavage by Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV, “DIV” (Hildebrandt et al., Scand J Gastroenterol, 36(10): 1067-72 (2001)), in vivo.

Cloning of GLP1 cDNA for Construct 2457

The DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of GLP1. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized GLP1 was generated with two overlapping primers GLP1-7 and GLP1-8, described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, that were annealed, extended, cut with Bsu 36I/Asc I, and ligated into Bsu36I/Asc I cut pScNHSA. After sequence confirmation, the Nod fragment encompassing the GLP1 albumin fusion with the Ala-99 to Gly mutation was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #2457 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence and mature form of HSA and the mature form of GLP1, His-98 to Arg-127, with the exception of the Ala-99 to Gly mutation.

Two overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of GLP1, GLP1-7 and GLP1-8, are:

GLP1-7: (SEQ ID NO: 318) 5′- AAGCTGCCTTAGGCTTACACGGTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTGATGT TTCTTCTTACTTGGAAGGTCAAGCTGCTAAGGAA TTCATTGCT -3′ GLP1-8: (SEQ ID NO: 319) 5′- GGCGCGCCTCATCTACCCTTAACCAACCAAGCAATGAATTCCTTAG CAG -3′

GLP1-7 incorporates a Bsu36I cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 24 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of GLP1, i.e. His-98 to Ala-121 with the exception of the Ala-99 to Gly mutation. In GLP1-8, the italicized sequence is an AscI site and the last 38 nucleotides in bold are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the last 12 amino acid residues of the mature form of GIP1, i.e. Ala-116 to Arg-127 (for general construct cloning see Example 2). Using these two primers, the mature GLP1 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with Bsu 36I and Asc I, and subcloning into Bsu 36I/Asc I digested pScNHSA. The NotI fragment from this clone was then ligated into the NotI site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 2457.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2457.

Expression Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2457 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (see Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA scrum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the secreted HSA-GLP1 fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2457 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Specifically, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.0 and 2 M NaCl, loaded onto a POROS HP2 resin (phenyl) column, washed with Tris pH 7.012 M NaCl and eluted with a linear gradient from 2 M to 0 M NaCl at pH 7.0. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. DAHKS) of the mature form of HSA.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2457.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2457 can be carried out as described below in Example 28.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2457.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIA cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2457 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2457 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the GLP1 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2457 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 12 Construct ID 2470, Exendin-4-HSA, Generation

Construct ID 2470, pSAC35:exendin.H48-S86.HSA, encodes for an EXENDIN4-HSA fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, the mature EXENDIN4 protein, i.e. H48-S86, fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35.

Cloning of EXENDIN4 cDNA for Construct 2470

The DNA encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized EXENDIN4 was generated with four overlapping primers EXTC-1, EXTC-2, EXTC-3, and EXTC-4 described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, cut with SalI/ClaI, and ligated into XhoI/ClaI cut pScCHSA. After sequence confirmation, the NotI fragment encompassing the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #2470 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence of HSA, the mature form of EXENDIN4, followed by the mature HSA protein.

Four overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4, EXTC-1, EXTC-2, EXTC-3, and EXTC-4, are:

EXTC-1: (SEQ ID NO: 850) 5′- TCCAGGAGCGTCGACAAAAGACACGGTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTG ATTTGTCTAAGCAAATGG-3′ EXTC-2: (SEQ ID NO: 851) 5′- TCTTCAACCATTCAATGAACAATCTAACAGCTTCTTCTTCCATTTG CTTAGACAAATCAGAAGT-3′ EXTC-3: (SEQ ID NO: 852) 5′- AGATTGTTCATTGAATGGTTGAAGAACGGTGGTCCATCTTCTGGTG CTCCACCACCATCTGATG-3′ EXTC-4: (SEQ ID NO: 853) 5′-AGACTTTAAATCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATCAGATGGT GGTGGAGCACCAGAAGA-3′

EXTC-1 incorporates a SalI cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 14 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of EXENDIN4, i.e. His-48 to Met-61. In EXTC-4, the italicized sequence is a ClaI site; and the ClaI site and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the first 10 amino acids of the mature HSA protein. In EXTC-4, the bolded sequence is the reverse complement of the 24 nucleotides encoding the last 8 amino acid residues Ser-79 to Ser-86 of the mature form of EXENDIN4, Using these two primers along with EXTC-2 and EXTC-3, the mature EXENDIN4 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with SalI and ClaI, and subcloning into XhoI/ClaI digested pScCHSA. The NotI fragment from this clone was then ligated into the NotI site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 2470. Construct ID #2470 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence, the mature form of EXENDIN4, i.e. His-48 to Ser-86, and the mature form of HSA.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2470.

Expression in Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2470 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (see Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the secreted EXENDIN4-HSA fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2470 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Briefly, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.4 and loaded onto Pharmacia's Blue Sepharose 6 Fast Flow column. The column was washed in 20 mM Tris pH 7.4/200 mM NaCl. The EXENDIN4 albumin fusion was eluted via step elution with NaCl from 0.2 M to 2M. Proteins were ˜90% pure. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. HGEGT) of the mature form of EXENDIN4.

In vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2470.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2470 was carried out as described below in Example 28.

Result

At all concentrations including 1 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion encoded by construct 2470 demonstrated glucose uptake activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2470.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIP cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2470 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2470 can be Assayed In Vivo Urine Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion potent encoded by construct 2470 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34; In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 13 Construct ID 2469, HSA-Exendin4, Generation

Construct ID 2469, pSAC35:HSA.EXENDIN4.H48-S86, comprises DNA encoding for a EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein which has the HSA chimeric leader sequence, i.e. the HSA-kex2 signal peptide, followed by the mature form of HSA fused to the amino terminus of the mature form of EXENDIN4, cloned into the S. cerevisiae yeast expression vector pSAC35.

Cloning of EXENDIN4 cDNA for Construct 2469

The DNA encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4 was codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized EXENDIN4 was generated with four overlapping primers EXTN-1, EXTN-2, EXTN-3, and EXTN-4, described below, with optimal codon usage for yeast S. cerevisiae, that were annealed, extended, cut with Bsu36I/AscI, and ligated into Bsu36I/AscI cut pScNHSA. After sequence confirmation, the NotI fragment encompassing the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion was subcloned into pSAC35. Construct ID #24-69 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence and mature form of HSA and the mature form of EXENDIN4, His-48 to Ser-86.

Four overlapping oligonucleotides suitable for synthesis of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of EXENDIN4, EXTN-1, EXTN-2, EXTN-3, and EXTN-4, are:

EXTN-1: (SEQ ID NO: 854) 5′GTCAAGCTGCCTTAGGCTTACACGGTGAAGGTACTTTCACTTCTGATT TGTCTAAGCAAA-3′ EXTN-2: (SEQ ID NO: 855) 5′-CCATTCAATGAACAATCTAACAGCTTCTTCTTCCATTTGCTTAGACA AATCAGAAGTGAA-3′ EXTN-3: (SEQ ID NO: 856) 5′-AGCTGTTAGATTGTTCATTGAATGGTTGAAGAACGGTGGTCCATCTT CTGGTGCTCCACC-3′ EXTN-4: (SEQ ID NO: 857) 5′-ATCGCATATGGCGCGCCCTATTAAGATGGTGGTGGAGCACCAGAAGA TGGACCACCGTT-3′

EXTN-1 incorporates a Bsu36I cloning site (shown in italics) and the DNA encoding the first 13 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of EXENDIN4, i.e. His-48 to Gln-60. In EXTN 4, the italicized sequence is an AscI site and the last 36 nucleotides in bold are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the last 12 amino acid residues Asn-75 to Ser-86 of the mature form of EXENDIN4 (for general construct cloning see Example 2). Using these two primers along with EXTN-2 and EXTN-3, the mature EXENDIN4 protein was generated by annealing, extension of the annealed primers, digestion with Bsu36I and AscI, and subcloning into Bsu36I/AscI digested pScNHSA. The Nod fragment from this clone was then ligated into the NotI site of pSAC35 to generate construct ID 2469.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2469.

Expression Yeast S. cerevisiae.

Construct 2469 was transformed into yeast S. cerevisiae by methods known in the art (sec Example 3). Expression levels can be examined by immunoblot detection with anti-HSA serum as the primary antibody.

Purification from Yeast S. cerevisiae Cell Supernatant

The cell supernatant containing the secreted HSA EXENDIN4 fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2469 in yeast S. cerevisiae was purified as described below (also see Example 4). Specifically, the yeast supernatant was equilibrated to pH 7.4 and loaded directly onto Pharmacia's Blue Sepharose 6 Fast Flow column. The column was washed in 20 mM Tris pH 7.4+200 mM NaCl and dined via step elution with NaCl from 0.2 M to 2 M. Proteins were ˜90% pure. N-terminal sequencing should generate the amino-terminus sequence (i.e. DAHKS) of the mature form of HSA.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2469.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2469 was carried out as described below in Example 28.

Result

At all concentrations including 1 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion encoded by construct 2469 demonstrated glucose uptake activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2469.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIP cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2469 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2469 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM, Mouse Models.

The activity of the EXENDIN4 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2469 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 14 Construct ID 2328 and 2359, HLDOU18-HSA, Generation

Construct ID 2328, pC4.HLDOU18:K23-R429.HSA, encodes for an HLDOU18-HSA fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence and the mature bone-morphogenic protein 9, “HLDOU18”, protein, i.e. K3-R429, fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA cloned into the mammalian expression vector pC4.

Construct ID 2359, pEE12.1.HLODU18:K23-R429.HSA, encodes for an HLDOU18-HSA fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence and the mature bone-morphogenic protein 9, “HLDOU18”, protein, i.e. K23-R429, fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of BSA cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEE12.1.

Cloning of HLDOU18 cDNA, for Constructs 2328 and 2359

The DNA encoding HLDOU18 was amplified with primers HLDOU18-1 and HLDOU18-2, described below, cut with XhoI/ClaI, and ligated into XhoI/ClaI cut pC4:HSA. Construct ID #2328 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence of HSA and the mature form of HLDOU18, followed by the mature HSA protein.

Two oligonucleotides suitable for PCR amplification of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of HLDOU18, HLDOU18-1 and HLDOU18-2, were synthesized.

HLDOU18-1:5′-CCGCCGCTCGAGGGGTGTGTTTCGTCGAAAAGCACTGCAGAGCTGGGGGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:286) HLDOU18-2:5′-AGTCCCA TCGATGAGCAACCTCACTCTTGTGTGCATCCCTGCACCCACACTCTGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:287) HLDOU18-1 incorporates a XhoI cloning site (shown in italics), DNA encoding for the last seven amino acids of the chimeric leader sequence of HSA, and DNA encoding the first 7 amino acids of the ORF of the mature form of HLDOU18 (shown in bold). In HLDOU18-2, the ClaI site (shown in italics) and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the first 10 amino acids of the mature HSA protein. In HLDOU18-2, the bolded sequence is the reverse complement of the last 18 nucleotides encoding amino acid residues Ala-424 to Arg-429 of the mature form of HLDOU18. Using these two primers, the mature form of HLDOU18 protein was PCR amplified. Annealing and extension temperatures and times must be empirically determined for each specific primer pair and template.

The PCR product was purified (for example, using Wizard PCR Preps DNA Purification System (Promega Corp)) and then digested with XhoI and CIA After further purification of the XhoI-ClaI fragment by gel electrophoresis, the product was cloned into XhoI/ClaI digested pC4:HSA to give construct ID #2328.

A HindIIII/EcoRI fragment encompassing the HLDOU18 albumin fusion was also subcloned from construct 2328 into the mammalian expression vector pEE12.1 generating construct ID #2359 to be used in the NS0 expression system.

The DNA encoding the mature form of HLDOU18 can also be codon optimized so as not to hybridize to the wild-type DNA encoding the mature form of HLDOU18. The polynucleotide encoding the codon optimized HLDOU18 can be generated with overlapping synthetic primers that take advantage of optimal codon usage for mammalian cell-line expression. After PCR amplification and digestion of the codon optimized DNA encoding the mature form of HLDOU18 with the desired restriction enzymes, subsequent construction of appropriate expression vectors comprising the chimeric leader sequence of HSA fused to this codon optimized DNA encoding the mature form of HLDOU18 fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HSA can be carried out as previously described in Example 5 and as described above.

Further analysis of the N-terminus of the expressed albumin fusion protein by amino acid sequencing should confirm the presence of the expected HLDOU18 sequence.

Expression and Purification of Construct ID 2328 and 2359.

Expression in Either 293T, CHO or NS0 Cells.

Construct 2328 can be transfected into either 293T cells or CHO cells by methods known in the art (e.g., lipofectamine transfection) and selected with 100 nM methotrexate (see Example 5). Construct 2359 can be transfected into NS0 cells also by methods known in the art.

Purification from 293T Cell Supernatant.

The 293T cell supernatant containing the secreted HLDOU18-albumin fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2328 in 293T cells can be purified as described in Example 6.

Purification from CHO Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the HLDOU18-albumin fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2328 in CHO cells can be purified as described in Example 7.

Purification from NS0 Cell Supernatant.

The cell supernatant containing the HLDOU18-albumin fusion protein expressed from construct ID #2359 in NS0 cells can be purified as described in Example 7.

In Vitro [3H]-2-Deoxyglucose Uptake Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2328 and 2359.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of the HLDOU18 albumin fusion protein encoded by either construct 2328 or construct 2359 can be carried out as described below in Example 28. Other assays known in the art used to test HLDOU18's involvement in insulin action can also be employed including, but not limited to, L6 Rat Myoblast Proliferation Assay via glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and H4IIe reporter assays (see Example 35) including the rat Malic Enzyme Promoter (rMEP)-SEAP, Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein (SREBP)-SEAP, Fatty Acid Synthetase (FAS)-SEAP, PhosphoEnolPyruvate CarboxyKinase (PEPCK)-SEAP reporters.

In Vitro Pancreatic Cell-Lines Proliferation Assay in the Presence of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2328 and 2359.

Method

The in vitro assay to measure the differentiation and proliferation of ductal epithelium pancreatic ARIP cell-line into insulin-producing beta cells and/or to measure the proliferation of the insulin-producing RIN-M beta cell-line in the presence of the HLDOU18 albumin fusion protein encoded by either constructs 2328 or 2359 can be carried out as described below under heading: “Example 29: In vitro Assay of [3H]-Thymidine Incorporation into Pancreatic Cell-lines”.

The Activity of the Albumin Fusion Protein Encoded by Construct 2328 or by Construct 2359 can be Assayed In Vivo Using Diabetic NOD and/or NIDDM Mouse Models.

The activity of the HLDOU18 albumin fusion protein encoded by construct 2328 or by construct 2359 can be measured using NOD and/or NIDDM mouse models described below under the headings, “Example 31: Occurrence of Diabetes in NOD Mice”, “Example 32: Histological Examination of NOD Mice”, and “Example 34: In vivo Mouse Model of NIDDM”.

Example 15 Construct ID 2340 and 2362, HSA-HLDOU18, Generation

Construct ID 2340, pC4.HSA.HLDOU18:K23-R429, encodes for an HSA-HLDOU18 fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence and the mature form of HSA fused to the amino-terminus of the mature bone-morphogenic protein 9, “HLDOU18”, protein, i.e. K23-R429, cloned into the mammalian expression vector pC4.

Construct ID 2362, pEE12.1.HSA.HIDOU18:K23-R429, encodes for an HSA-HLDOU18 fusion protein which comprises the HSA chimeric leader sequence and the mature form of HSA fused to the amino-terminus of the mature bone-morphogenic protein 9, “HLDOU18”, protein, i.e. K23-R429, cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEE12.1.

Cloning of HLDOU18 cDNA for Constructs 2340 and 2362

The DNA encoding the mature form of HLDOU18 was amplified with primers HLDOU18-3 and HLDOU18-4, described below, cut with Bsu36I/Asp718, and ligated into Bsu36I/Asp718 cut pC4:HSA. Construct ID #2340 encodes an albumin fusion protein containing the chimeric leader sequence and the mature form of HSA fused to the amino-terminus of the mature form of HLDOU18 protein.

Two oligonucleotides suitable for PCR amplification of the polynucleotide encoding the mature form of HLDOU18, HLDOU18-3 and HLDOU18-1, were synthesized.

HLDOU18-3: (SEQ ID NO: 288) 5′- AAGCTGCCTTAGGCTTAAAGCCACTGCAGAGCTGG -3′ HLDOU18-4: (SEQ ID NO: 289) 5′- GCGCGGGTACCTTACTACCTGCACCCACACTCTG -3′

HLDOU18-3 incorporates a Bsu36I cloning site (shown in italics) and encodes the first 6 amino acids (shown in bold) of the ORF of the mature form of HLDOU18. In HLDOU18-4, the italicized sequence is an Asp718 site; the Asp718 site and the DNA following it are the reverse complement of DNA encoding the last 6 amino acids (shown in hold) of the mature HLDOU18 protein. In HLDOU18-4, the bolded sequence is the reverse complement of the last 22 nucleotides encoding amino acid residues Glu-425 to Arg-429 of the mature form of HLDOU18. Using these two primers, the mature HLDOU18 protein was PCR amplified. Annealing and extension temperatures and times must be empirically determined for each specific primer pair and template.

The PCR product was purified (for example, using Wizard PCR Preps DNA Purification System (Promega Corp)) and then digested with Bsu36I and Asp718. After further purification of the Bsu36I-Asp718 fragment by gel electrophoresis, the product was cloned into Bsu361I/Asp718 digested pC4:HSA to give construct ID #2340.