Inventors:
Richard Ransohoff - Shaker Heights OH
Sandhya Rani - South Euclid OH
Assignee:
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation - Cleveland OH
International Classification:
C07K 1400
US Classification:
530350, 435 691, 4352523, 4353201, 536 2351, 536 234
Abstract:
The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide, designated Beta R1, whose production is selectively induced by IFN- as compared to IFN-. The Beta R1 polypeptide is a chemokine whose expression is stimulated in T cells, astrocytes, and fibroblasts that have beenâexposed to IFN-. The present invention also provides an isolated polynucleotide that encodes the Beta R1 polypeptide and an isolated polynucleotide that encodes the Beta R1 promoter. The present invention also provides a method of identifying putative IFN- mimics. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing cultured cells transfected with a polynucleotide construct that comprises a DNA sequence that encodes the Beta R1 promoter operatively linked to a reporter gene that encodes an assayable product; treating the transfected cells with the putative IFN- mimic; and detecting the assayable product produced by the treated cells. Synthesis of the assayable product by the cells treated with the putative IFN- mimic is indicative of the IFN- response. In another embodiment, the method comprises the steps of treating cultured cells with the putative IFN- mimic and detecting the presence of the Beta R1 transcript in the treated cells; wherein the presence of the Beta R1 transcript in the treated cells is indicative of the IFN- response.