Patent ID: 6479632
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: A61K,C07K

Abstract:
A protein or a fragment thereof capable of inhibiting the binding of TNF to cells and of inhibiting the cytotoxic effect of TNF, wherein said protein is obtainable from human urine and has the following features:(a) it is a non-proteolytic protein capable of interacting with TNF so as to inhibit the binding of TNF to cell surface receptors and to inhibit the cytotoxic effect of TNF; (b) the major peak of TNF inhibiting activity elutes slightly before the majority of the protein and shows an apparent molecular weight of about 40-80 kDa when measured as a crude urine concentrate chromatographed on an Ultrogel AcA 44 filtration column; and (c) the isoelectric point of the active protein is between pH 6 and 8, when measured as a crude urine concentrate analyzed by electro-focusing.