Patent ID: 7098002
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: C07K,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method for the production of a cytokine having a caspase-1 cleavage site from its biologically precursor comprising mutating the caspase-1 cleavage site of the cytokine to a site which is cleaved by a protease other than the caspase-1, the site having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 16 to form a mutated cytokine, and cleaving the mutated cytokine by contact with a protease, other than the caspase-1 protease, that cleaves the site to produce a biologically active cytokine, wherein the cytokine is selected from IL-1β and IL-18.