# Patent

## Title
T cell differentiation of CD34+ stem cells in cultured thymic epithelial

## Abstract

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/931,142 filed Aug. 17, 1992, now abandoned.

## Background
The present invention relates generally to the manipulation of genetic materials and, more particularly, to the discovery, isolation, and purification of a DNA sequence which codes upon expression a soluble form of the regulatory protein CD23, making possible the production of proteins possessing one or more of the biological properties of naturally-occurring soluble CD23.

Genetic materials are broadly defined as the chemicals which program for and guide the manufacture of the constituents and direct the responses of cells. A long chain composed of nucleotides called deoxyribonucleic (DNA) comprises this genetic material. DNA consists of repeating units of four different nucleotides, adenine, guanine, thymine or cytosine which are bound to a deoxyribose sugar to which a phosphate group is attached. Functional DNA occurs in the form of a stable double-stranded association of single-strands of nucleotides. The associations occur by means of hydrogen bonding between "complimentary" nucleotide basis existing between adenine (A) and thymine (T) or guanine, (G) and cytosine (C). The manufacture of cell components and proteins is effected through a process where the DNA nucleotide sequences are "transcribed" into relatively unstable messenger RNA (mRNA) by hydrogen pairing of complimentary bases of adenine, uracil, guanine and cytosine to an unhybridized coding strand of DNA. The double-stranded DNA disassociates into single strands and only one strand of the DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA.

The mRNA in turn serves as a template for the formation of proteins in the ribosomes. This is the process of mRNA translation. All DNA sequences do not all necessarily code for proteins. There are several noncoding regions of DNA which control transcription such as promoter regions, regulator regions, and control sequences, which are not transcribed into the mRNA.

These sequences are called introns and are disbursed between the coding segments of the DNA. Those segments which do encode proteins are termed exons. It is these exons that are transcribed into the messenger for the RNA for translation into proteins. Thus the mRNA more directly codes the protein due to the omission of intron sequences. By alternative exon usage, different forms of proteins may be translated. Therefore an analysis of the mRNA transcripts transcribed from DNA will identify what proteins are being translated or expressed by the cell, including any isoforms due to alternative exon usage.

The glycoprotein CD23 has generated much interest among molecular immunologists due to its immuno-regulatory functions. Evidence of this interest is reflected by the fact that almost simultaneously three laboratories published the nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA. (Kikutani et al., 1986, Molecular Structure of Human Lymphocyte Receptor for Immunoglobulin, E. Cell 47: 657-65); (Ikuta, K. et al., 1987, Human Lymphocyte Fc Receptor for IgE; Sequence Homology of its Cloned cDNA With Animal Lectins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 819-23) both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

CD23 or Fc.epsilon.rII has been demonstrated to be an integral membrane protein on human and rodent B lymphocytes, the precursors of plasma cells, which create antibodies (or immunoglobulins) responsible for the humoral immune response. (Fritsche, R., and Spiegelberg, 1978, Fc Receptors for IgE on Normal Rat Lymphocytes, J. Immunol. 121.471-478); (Yodoi, J., Ishizaka, K. 1980, Induction of Fce-Receptor Bearing Cells in vitro in Human Peripheral Lymphocytes, J. Immunol. 124: 934-938); Kotona, et al, 1984, Characterization of Murine Lymphocyte IgE Receptors by Flor Microfluorometry, J. Immunol. 133: 1521-28); Bonnefoy et al, 1987, Production and Characterization of a Monoclonal Antibody Specific for the Human Lymphocyte Low Affinity Receptor for IgE: CD23 is a Low Affinity Receptor for IgE, J. Immunol, 138: 2970-2978); Yukawa et al, 1987, A B Cell-Specific Differentiation Antigen, CD23 is a Receptor for IgE(FceR) on Lymphocytes, J. Immunol, 138: 2576-1580). Additionally, CD23 has been found to be present on membranes of T-cells, or T lymphocytes, which regulate .beta.-lymphocytes. In humans, CD23 has been found to be expressed in several types of hemopoietic cells, including platelets, dendritic cells, thymic epithelium, eosinophils, and monocytes (Caprin et al. 1977, Interaction Between IgE Complexes and Macrophages in the Rat: a New Mechanism of Macrophage Activation, Eur. J. Immunol. 7: 315-30); (Vercelli, D. et al, 1988, Human Recombinant Interleukin-4 Induces Fc-R2/CD23 in Normal Human Monocytes, J. Exp. Med. 167: 1406-16); (Beiber, et al, 1989, Induction of FcR2/CD23 on Human Epidermal Langerhan's Cells by Recombinant Interleukin 4 and .alpha.-Interferon, J. Exp. Med. 170: 309-14); (Hosoda, et al, 1989, Differential Regulation of the low affinity Fc Receptor for IgE (FcR2/CD23) and the H-2 Receptor (Tac/p55) on Eosinophilic Leukemia Cell Line (Eol-1 and Eol-3), J. Immunol. 143: 147-52). CD23 acts as a low affinity receptor on the surface of these cells which binds a type of specific immunoglobulin, immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Immunoglobulin E is responsible for the pathology of allergy. While this antibody is essential in conferring protection against parasites, the presence of excess IgE seems to result in the characteristic allergic response. People with allergies traditionally have abnormalities in CD23. Thus, it appears that CD23 is an important regulatory tool in controlling the amount of IgE present in the blood stream.

The amino acids of CD23 in both mice and humans are divided into three regions or domains: cytoplasmic, transmembrane and extra-cellular. The cytoplasmic segment containing the amino terminus consists of a series of amino acids encoded by a protein coding segment of the gene termed exon 2. Some remaining amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain and all amino acids of the transmembrane segment are encoded by exon 3. The transmembrane segment contains a series of hydrophilic residues after a heavily charged region which firmly anchors the protein in the bi-lipid membrane. The amino acids of the extra-cellular domain are encoded by exons 4-12 (Gollnick, et al, Isolation, Characterization and Expression of cDNA Clones Encoding the Mouse Fc Receptor for IgE (Fc.epsilon.rII), J. Immunol. 144: 1974) SEQ ID NO:1 (position 151-1156) Ikuta, et al, Human Lymphocyte Fc Receptor for IgE sequence Homology of its Cloned cDNA, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 84, 819 1987. (see FIG. No. 1). The extra-cellular domain contains the IgE binding region.

Recently it was discovered that a smaller form of CD23, soluble CD23, was present in the supernatant of B lymphocytes. This smaller soluble form contained the IgE binding extra-cellular segment of the traditional membrane bound CD23 and still binds IgE. It was later concluded that proteolytic cleavage of the membrane bound CD23 gave rise to the soluble IgE binding factors, soluble CD23. (Fridman, et al, 1980, Interferon Enhances the Expression of Fc Receptors, J. Immunol. 124: 2436-2441).

This invention is based on the discovery that contrary to earlier thought, the smaller soluble form of CD23 present in the supernatant of centrifuged beta cells is not enzymatically cleaved from traditional membrane bound CD23, but is in fact, a protein translated from a transcript generated by alternative exon usage and mRNA splicing of the traditional CD23 gene. mRNA for different isoforms of CD23 were discovered and isolated from several hemeopoietic cells of mice and humans.

These mRNA transcripts omitted exon 3 of the CD23 gene, the exon which coded for the anchor and hydrophilic segments allowing tight association with the membrane. The resulting translated soluble CD23 contained the extra-cellular binding region and the intra-cellular region which interacts with the machinery of the cell, contrary to a segment generated by cleavage which would only contain the extra-cellular region.

The presence of mRNA for soluble CD23 is of great significance in that it demonstrates that the cell itself is actually manufacturing the smaller soluble CD23, and that the mRNA can be cloned as cDNA by use of reverse transcriptase, a polymerase chain reaction, (PCR) resulting in a nucleotide sequence of cDNA and thus the key to large scale synthesis of the molecules, CD23 which is without the hydrophilic segments which is encoded by exon 3.

It is an objective of the present invention to make possible the manufacture of large scale synthesis of the soluble form of CD23 which maintains its IgE binding capacity as it retains the region known to be responsible for IgE binding. Such a protein has a wide variety of uses, including a model for study of the properties of CD23, its IgE binding characteristics, use to study differentiation of B lymphocytes and ultimately the CD23 can also be used to identify compounds which would have the same binding characteristics as IgE for use as a pharmacologic and therapeutic agent in allergic diseases and other immunological disorders, due to the properties of soluble CD23 to bind and regulate IgE.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an extra-cellular means of regulating IgE production in humans.

Another objective of the invention is to isolate and purify the DNA sequences for soluble forms of CD23, which through cloning can make possible the generation of large amounts of soluble CD23.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vector containing the soluble CD23 gene sequence which may be cloned into virus or bacteria for amplification or the gene product.

The method and manner of accomplishing these and other objectives will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows.

The present invention provides for the first time novel purified and isolated nucleotide sequences which code upon translation soluble forms of the protein CD23. The sequences are disclosed. The invention also contemplates sequences which hybridize under stringent conditions to the disclosed sequences. Stringent hybridization conditions are known to those of skill in the art. The invention provides the means to produce protein products without the amino acids encoded by exon 3, the product retains the IgE binding function of traditional membrane bound CD23 in addition to the intra-cellular cell interaction machinery portion of CD23. Synthesis of these products will allow for production of CD23 forms which have one or more of the biologic properties of naturally occurring soluble CD23 including allelic variants thereof.

According to the present invention, DNA sequences which code upon expression part or all of the amino acid sequence of human and mouse soluble isoform of CD23 have been isolated and characterized. These isolated DNA sequences may then be transformed into compatible unicellular host organisms resulting in the expression of exogenous DNA providing large scale synthesis of this protein. The protein may then be harvested and used in pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of IgE mediated diseases, such as asthma, and other allergic responses or as a model for further study of CD23 binding mechanisms and its functional characteristics.

Analysis and cloning of mRNA molecules as cDNA produced gene sequences which had omitted exon 3, which codes for the transmembrane hydrophilic region, and the highly charged membrane anchor region, leading to production of a truncated soluble isoform of the CD23 protein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of mouse CD23 isoforms: Isoform A-SEQ ID NO:2, residues 1-55; Isoform B-SEQ ID NO:4, residues 1-15; Isoform C-SEQ ID NO:6, residues 1-28.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the primers used for isolation of mouse cDNA sequences and expected PCR products.

FIG. 3(a) and (b) is the cDNA sequence for Isoform A of mouse CD23 SEQ ID NO:1. For all sequences, Exon 3 is shown in bold. Splice junction sites are shown with arrows and underlined bases illustrate changes in sequence due to alternative Exon usage.

FIG. 4(a) and (b) is the cDNA sequence for Isoform B of mouse CD23 SEQ ID NO:3.

FIG. 5(a) and (b) is the cDNA sequence for Isoform C of mouse CD23 SEQ ID NO:5.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of human CD23 isoforms: Isoform A-SEQ ID NO:8, residues 1-55; Isoform B-SEQ ID NO:10, residues 1-54; Isoform C-SEQ ID NO:12, residues 1-17; Isoform D-SEQ ID NO:14, residues 1-16.

FIG. 7 is the sequence alignment for the A and B forms of human CD23. Sequence from the line forward is identical for both types.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating the primers and expected PCR products for human CD23.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating the probes used to detect human CD23 alpha and beta isoforms.

FIG. 10(a) and (b) is the cDNA sequence for the Alpha form of human CD23 position 186-800 for the region surrounding exon 3 (Isoform A) SEQ ID NO:7.

FIG. 11(a) and (b) iS the cDNA sequence for the Beta form of human CD23 B form position 66 to A form position 800 (B form position 686) for the region surrounding exon 3 (Isoform 13) SEQ ID NO:9.

FIG. 12 is the cDNA sequence for Isoform C of human (CD23 position 186-800 for the region surrounding exon 3, the splice site is indicated SEQ ID NO:11.

FIG. 13 is the cDNA sequence for Isoform D of human CD23 B form position 66 to A form position 800 (B form position 686) for the region surrounding exon 3, the splice site is indicated SEQ ID NO:13.

FIG. 14(a) and (b) is the hydrophilicity plot of Isoforms A and B of mouse CD23.

FIG. 15 depicts the de-teEction of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII isoform proteins produced in vitro Lane 1; negative control (no RNA), Lane 2: positive control (Xenopus elongation factor 1-.alpha. RNA, 50 kDa), lane 3: molecular size marker, Lane 4: CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII type a, Lane 5: CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII type a', Lane 6: CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII type b, Lane 7: CD23/Fc.epsilon.PII type b'. The molecular sizes are indicated on the left.

FIG. 16 is a Western blot analysis of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII isoforms expressed in COS-7 cells lane 1: control vector, lane 2: CD23 type a, lane 3: CD23 type a', lane 4: CD23 type b, lane 5: CD23 type b', The molecular size markers are indicated on the left.

Applicant's invention relates to the unexpected discovery that the smaller soluble form of CD23 known to bind IgE exists not as an excised portion of the extra-cellular membrane bound CD23 but as a separately transcribed protein resulting from a mRNA transcript which omitted the exon coding for the transmembrane and a portion of the cytoplasmic segment CD23.

According to the present invention DNA sequences encoding on expression part or all of the amino acid sequences of human and mouse species soluble isoforms of CD23 have been isolated and characterized.

The DNA of human and mouse species origins were both subjected to similar procedures. For the mouse, cell lines of T and B lymphocytes were gathered from the thymus and spleen. From the human cells, cell lines were used from the American Type Culture Collection and from a gift of Dr. Junji Yodoi, from Kyoto University in Japan.

The cell lines were checked by staining with antibodies to detect the presence of CD23 and IgE binding activity. Then CD23 probes were synthesized from known sequences of CD23 and the known probes disclosed therein (Ikuta, et al, 1987, Cloning of cDNA for Human Lymphocyte Fce Receptor; Homology with Animal Lectins, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 84: 819-823); (Ludin, et al, 1987, Cloning and Expression of the cDNA Coding for a Human Lymphocyte IgE Receptor, EMBO J. 6: 109-114), and cellular mRNA was isolated and denatured. The denatured RNA was placed in solution along with the CD23 probe to identify CD23 mRNA. Finally a series of primers were constructed based on published sequences of CD23 and upon hybridization of the primer to the RNA template, reverse transcriptase was used to generate a cDNA copy of the mRNA. Isolation of the desired cDNA clone containing CD23 encoding DNA was accomplished through use of DNA-colony hybridization employing 32-P labeled CD23 probe earlier described. The resulting isolated DNA segments were then analyzed to determine DNA sequences. These isolated sequences provide the vehicles for large scale production of soluble CD23 which may be harvested for use in treatment of IgE mediated diseases such as asthma or other allergic responses as well as for models of study of IgE binding activity.

The following examples are presented by way of illustration of the invention and are specifically directed to procedures carried out prior to identification of CD23 encoding mouse cDNA clones and human genomic cDNA clones, to procedures resulting in such identification, and finally to the sequencing and to resulting development of expression systems and pharmaceutical carriers for therapeutic and in vitro use of produced soluble CD23.

Cell line of adult mice B, T and macrophage lineage from the thymus and spleen were used for analysis, and mouse and monkey fibroblasts were used as controls. The cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 or Dulbecco media with 10% of Bovine calf serum at 37.degree. C. with 7% of CO.sub.2, and no mitogen was added to the culture.

Fresh preparations of thymocytes from AKR mice, and thymocyte and spleen cells from Balb/c mice were examined. WEHI 279, EL-4, CTL-2, J774, MC57, P388, 3T3, and COS, were obtained from ATCC, Gaithesburg, MD. R1.1 and Th9 was generously provided for D. Spinella, D10, was a gift from C. Janeway. CDC35 was a gift from D. Parker. CH1 was provided from 2C11 was provided from J. Bluestone. B53 was provided by Z Ovary. 1C9 is a clone isolated in this laboratory, in vitro--adapted and derived from the Balb/c thymic lymphoma Balentl-8. The cell lines used are listed in Table 1. ______________________________________ Murine cell lines ______________________________________ WEHI 279       B cell lymphoma CH1            B cell Ly 1b D10            Th2 cell CDC35          Th2 cell IC9            Thymic lymphoma line EL4            T lymphoma CTL2           T cell clone R1.1           T cell clone Th9            T cell clone J774           Macrophage cell line MC57           Myelomonocyte cell line P388           Macrophage cell line B53            Mouse Hybridoma anti-TNP IgE C11            Hamster Hybridoma anti-T3 T3             Mouse Fibroblast OS             Monkey kidney Fibroblast ______________________________________

T cell and B cell lines were stained on the surface and in the cytoplasm with monoclonal antibodies in order to detect CD23 and IgE binding activity. Biotinylated B3B4 (Rat IgG2a anti-murine CD23), FITC A3B1 (monoclonal IgEk murine anti-DNP), Biotinylated B53 (monoclonal IgEk murine anti-DNP) and 53-6.72, a non-related antibody (rat IgG2a) were used. The labeled cells were analyzed by FACS (Becton Dickinson FACS 440), and also manually observed in an Olympus microscope equipped with filters for fluorescein.

CD23 probes were synthesized by PCR using as template 10 ng of a Bluescript plasmid construction, containing the cDNA pL23.6 isolated by Kevin Moore, Bettler et al 1989 Molecular Structure and Expression of the Murine Lymphocyte Fc.epsilon.RII PNAS 86: 7566-70, incorporated herein by reference.

Total cellular RNA was isolated by lysis of cells with denaturing solution (4M guanidium isothiocyanate, 24 mM sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.5% sodium lauryl sarcosine, 0.1M 2-mercaptoethanol) in a ratio of 20 .mu.l of denaturing solution per million cells. Sequentially additions were 0.1 volume of 2M Na acetate, 1 volume of phenol and 0.2 volumes of chloroform:isoamyl alcohol. After centrifugation at 10000 g the upper aqueous phase was precipitated with 1 volume of isopropanol, the pellet was resuspended in 0.3 initial volume of denaturing solution and an equal volume of isopropanol. The pellet was resuspended in 75% ethanol and sedimented. The dry RNA was dissolved in DEPC water, the OD measured, and a ratio A 260/A 280 of at least 1.7 was required for the RNA to be used.

Poly(a) mRNA was isolated with the Fastrack mRNA isolation kit (invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.).

Total or poly (A) mRNA, was spotted onto Hybond membranes, with a 2 through 10 .mu.g of RNA sample size being used, followed by dilutions. The membrane was baked at 80.degree. C. for 2 hours, or UV crosslinked (Stratagene crosslinker), then put in Pre- and hybridization solution along with a CD23 probe. The washes were made with high stringency (0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 30' at 62.degree. C.) and the filter was placed with an X-ray film in a cassette with an intensifying screen, at -70.degree. C. for variable periods of time. The signal intensity was measured by densitometry.

Primers

Eleven oligonucleotides were synthesized based on the published sequences of human and murine CD23 cDNA. Richard et al, J. Immunol. 147: 1067-1074 (1991) incorporated herein by reference. The primers were designed in order that each one had the highest homology in the 3' region between the cDNA of human and mouse B cells. The primers were used both for human and mouse experiments. None of the pairs formed primer dimers or exhibited self-annealing as determined by computer analysis of the sequences. The primer sequences are shown in Table 2. The primers were synthesized with an Applied Biosystem model 391 automated DNA synthesizer (Foster City, Calif.). __________________________________________________________________________ Sequence of Primers Nucleotide Position in the murine cDNA SEQ ID NO:1 Nucleotide sequence of primer # __________________________________________________________________________ 164    5' CAAGACTGCCATGGAA 3' (2)SEQ ID NO:1, residues 14-30 151    5' GGAAGGATCCAAACAAGACTGCCATGG 3' (1)SEQ ID NO:1, residues 1-27 220    5' CGTTGCTGCTGTGCAAGACGTGGGACA 3' (3)SEQ ID NO:1, residues 69-95 622    5' GGCTTGAATGAGAAGCGCACAGCCTCC 3' SEQ ID NO:1, residues 471-497 850    5' AGCCAAAAGGAACAGGACTTCCTGATG 3' SEQ ID NO:1, residues 699-725 1156   5' TTGGGGTGGGCCTTGTTGGAGTCACG 3' (6)SEQ ID NO:1, residues 980-1005 (antisense) 867    5' GTCCTGTTCCTTTTGGCTGTGGATGC 3' (5)SEQ ID NO:1, 691-716 (antisense) 786    5' GGAGCCCTTGCCAAAATAGTAGCAC 3' (4)SEQ ID NO:1, residues 611-635 (antisense) 448    5' GTGACATCTGAACAACCTGG 3' SEQ ID NO:1, residues 278-297 (antisense) SEQ ID NO:7 __________________________________________________________________________ # denotes the identification number of the primer.

The first six primers are identical with the coding (sense) strand and the last four primers match the complementary (anti-sense) strand. An additional primer homologous with the B-isoform of human CD23 was also synthesized and used, (5'GCGGGGACGCAATAGAGTCAGAGGC 3'). The primers used and expected product sizes are depicted in FIG. 2 for murine and 8 for human.

The PCR reactions were set up with Ampli-Taq DNA Polymerase (Perkin Elmer), dNTPs, and 10X PCR buffer. The RNA template for the cDNA synthesis was 1 .mu.g, but in some samples only 0.2 .mu.g were used. M-MLV Reverse transcriptase and random hexamers were used for the first strand cDNA synthesis.

Immediately after the cDNA synthesis, 80 .mu.l of PCR reaction mixture was added to the cDNA reaction along with 5 U. of Taq polymerase and 50 pM each of the 5'- and 3' primer. The mixture was put in a thermal cycler, (3 minutes at 94.degree. C., annealing for 1 minute at 55 through 62.degree. C., extension for 1 minute at 72.degree. C., then 25 to 40 cycles, depending on the experiment, 1 minute 94.degree. C., 1 minute 62.degree. C. and 1 minute at 72.degree. C. with 3 minutes of final extension. 10 to 20 .mu.l of each amplification were separated by electrophoresis through agarose gel (1.5 to 3% in TBE), followed by staining with ethidium bromide. All the gels were blotted to Hybond membranes and then probed with a specific CD23 probe.

In some experiments a "nested" second round of PCR was performed using a template 10 .mu.l of a 1:100 water dilution of the first PCR reaction. In most of the experiments two new internal primers were used to improve the specificity of the amplification. The second round of nested PCR was carried out for 25 to 30 cycles. In some samples only one internal primer was used. 10 to 20 .mu.l of each reaction mixture was separated on agarose gels, stained with ethidium bromide and then the gels were blotted before being probed with a CD23 probe.

PCR products were electrophoresed in 1.5 to 3% agarose in 1X TBE buffer. The concentration of agarose was varied depending on the size of the fragments to be analyzed. The gels were put in depurinating and denaturing solution, then transferred overnight to Hybond membranes, and then crosslinked by Stratagene Crosslinker. The filters were prehybridized and then hybridized with the 32-P labeled CD23 probe. The Random hexamer priming kit was used to label the CD23 probes.

The Applied Biosystems 373A automated DNA sequencer (Foster City, Calif.) was used to determine the DNA sequence of the PCR fragments generated. Both strands were sequenced by a Sanger-based dideoxy sequencing strategy, which used the taq polymerase as the enzyme and used fluorescent dye labeled terminators incorporated into the reaction. The use of different dye labels for each of the four bases allowed the sequences to be determined in a single lane, and detected as they migrated past a scanning argon laser positioned near the bottom of the polyacrylamide gel. Lines

Culture cells (10.times.10) were grown for 30 minutes in methionine-free RPMI 1640 without fetal calf serum, after discard this medium 10.times.106 cells/ml were grown for 6 hours in methionine free RPMI 1640 without fetal calf serum and supplemented with 100 uCi/ml (35S) methionine, the viability at the end was always greater than 90%. The cultures were spun and the supernatant and the cellular pellet processed in parallel experiments. The cells were washed 3X in PBS. 800 .mu.l of boiling lysis buffer (2% SDS, 10x Tris, EDTA, 1.2M. NaCl, Triton 100) was added to the pellet, the DNA were sheared by repetitive passing through syringe. A column of 2 ml was completed with buffer (Tris, EDTA, NaCl, Triton). At 4.degree. C., the lysate and the supernatant were precleared with agarose-streptavidin beads and with a non-related biotinylated antibody with same isotype (1:1000 dilution). Biotinylated B3B4 and IgE were used for the immunoprecipitation and the beads eluted with buffer Tris-Glycine pH 2.3, after neutralization the samples were boiled for 5 minutes in SDS-PAGE sample buffer, and loaded in a 15% PAGE. The dry gel or blotted to a nitrocellulose filter was exposed to autoradiographic films for variable periods of time.

Cellular RNA was analyzed with two different techniques: 1) Dot blot of total or Poly A RNA, and 2) cDNA synthesis through a Reverse Transcriptase procedure with amplification by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

The dot blot used serial dilutions of the samples, and hybridization with specific CD23 probes. The procedure used washing at very stringent conditions (0.1.times.SSC, 0.1 SDS, 30' at 62.degree. C.). CD23 transcripts were detected in all the T cell samples examined except CTL2. The control samples (liver RNA, and 3 macrophage cell lines) were found to be negative for CD23 transcripts.

After 30 cycles of RT-PCR the polyA RNA from CDC35, a T cell clone, which can be induced to express CD23 on its surface yielded a 622 bp product that was visualized on an ethidium bromide stained, agarose minigel. Under the same conditions, the macrophage cell lines were negative for CD23 and the PCR control that was run without template also was negative. The 622 bp product is the expected finding in murine B cells, but is a novel finding in murine T cells.

RT-PCR using primers 3 and 6 (See Table 2 for primer sequences), in a single round of PCR reaction (40 cycles), yielded a fragment of 936 bp, in 6 of 7 T cell samples visualized by Southern blot. Hybridization conditions and washes were very stringent (0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 30' at 62.degree. C.), and for detection a CD23 B cell cDNA probe was used.

To determine the structure of the 936 bp PCR product generated from T cells, it was initially isolated as the PCR product from CDC35, a T cell clone and in a series of nested amplifications, overlapping fragments were generated that spanned the full length of the 936 bp. These fragments were isolated and their nucleotide sequences were determined. A similar approach was taken with the RT-PCR products of the other T cell samples.

The cytoplasmic and transmembrane regions of CD23 from T and B cells were studied to discover any heterogenity in the 5' region as in human CD23. Specific primers for these regions were generated, and parallel experiments were carried using the same templates and experimental conditions. Primers 1 and 5 from Table 2 were used in an initial PCR reaction and 25 cycles of PCR were conducted.

The resulting T cell CD23-related products were shown to be heterogeneous on ethidium bromide stained gel electrophoresis. In 2 T cell sources (1C9 and THYMUS) up to 3 different PCR products were present, while in the other 2 samples (CDC35 and EL4), only a single PCR product was detected. The difference in molecular weight between the expected upper band of 716 bp (band 1) and the lower unexpected band of 596 bp (band 3) is 120 base pairs. The middle product (band 2) is approximately 50 base pairs smaller than the product in the expected upper band. Of the B cells, one line (WEHI 279) showed 3 bands, but the other B cell sample (B53), an IgE hybridoma, had a single band.

It is clear from these results (a) CD23-related transcripts are present in murine T cells as well as B cells; and (b) the patterns of CD23 transcripts observed are heterogeneous.

DNA sequence analysis were performed on bands 1, 2, and 3 of the PCR products generated from T and B cells. Band 1 from several murine T cell sources yielded a sequence that was identical to the published sequence of the B cell cDNA from nucleotide 1156 through 175 (amino acids 327 through 1) see FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3A and 3B, exon 3 is shown SEQ ID NO:1.

The DNA sequence was determined for the 3 cell lines producing the lower band (AKR, 1C9, and WEHI 279) (band 3). These three samples were found to be identical to each other. Compared to the published DNA sequence of B cell CD23, the sequence of each of these 3 samples showed a deletion of 120 bases. This was shown to be a deletion of exon 3, (nucleotide position 197 through 316). Because of the creation of a new splicing joint, between exon 2 and 4, there is a predicted change in amino acid from Histidine (cDNA position 48) to Aspartic Acid. (FIG. 1) Sequence at FIG. 4A and 4B SEQ ID NO:3.

Based upon the known sequence and function of the regions of CD23, deletion of exon 3 in some T- and B cells generated a transcript that no longer encoded the transmembrane segment or the anchor region of the cytoplasmic segment. This truncated transcript encodes on expression only the original amino acids 1 through 7 of the cytoplasmic tail which now is spliced to the original extra-cellular domain with the additional difference that position 48 changes from Histidine to Aspartic acid.

The Hydrophilicity profile of this truncated CD23-related product (FIG. 14) confirms that it is a soluble, secretory form of CD23. Soluble CD23, previously thought to occur by proteolysis has a number of functions including regulation if IgE, progression of B lymphocytes from G0 through G1 and in the differentiation of both early human myeloid precursors and Prothymocyte to Thymocyte. Purification and ultimately production of this protein would aid in the study of all of these processes.

The intermediate sized PCR product (band 2 FIGS. 1 and 5A and 5B) SEQ ID NO:5 has been characterized by DNA sequence analysis, PCR mapping and Molecular Weight analysis. The results of these studies show that this product lacks the anchor region of the cytoplasmic domain and the 5' half of the transmembrane segment. This transcript is generated by use of a cryptic splicing site at nucleotide positions 273 through 278 in the middle of exon 3. This truncated transcript contains the 3' portion of exon 3 that encodes the 13 hydrophobic amino acids of the membrane spanning segment of CD23. The predicted molecular weight of a product with such a splice fits well with the observed product generated in band 2 (FIGS. 1 and 5A and 5) SEQ ID NO:5. The physiological significance of this transcript is unknown, but it could encode a protein that assumes a different orientation, possibly that of a type I membrane protein.

The human cell lines which were used in the present study were obtained from Dr. Junji Yodoi, Kyoto University, and from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, Md.).

The cell lines are listed in Table 2. ______________________________________ Human Cell Lines Cell Line   Characteristics ______________________________________ 8866        B cell line, Epstein Barr Virus Transformed, Lamson et al. J. Immunol. 125:293 (1980) MT-2        T cell line, CD4+, HTLV+, Cord Origin, Miyoshi et al., Nature 294:770-771 (1981) MT-1        T cell line, CD4+, HTLV+, Miyoshi et al Gann 72:978-81 (1981) ED          T cell line, HTLV+, Maeda et al J. Exp. Med. 162:2169-74 (1986) ATL-2       T cell line, HTLV+, Maeda et al J. Exp. Med. 162:2169-74 (1986) MOLT4       T cell line, ALL, HTLV-, Sugamara et al Int. J. Cancer 34:221-28 (1984) JURKAT      T cell line, ALL, HTLV-, Sugamara et al Int. J. Cancer 34:221-28 (1984) U937        Monocyte Like Cell Line, Ralph et al. J. Exp. Med. 143:1528 (1976) ______________________________________

There are A and B forms of CD23 in human B lymphocytes and these differ in amino acid sequence in only the first six amino acids of their intraplasmic portions, due to alternate exon usage. (See FIG. 6). The A form encodes the first 7 amino acids different while the B form's first 6 amino acids are different. The remainder of the amino acid and cDNA sequence is identical. The cDNA's of the two forms differ not only in the first 6 amino acids they encode but also in the 5' non-translated region of cDNA. The A form non-translated region is significantly longer, approximately 185 non translated bases with the coding region beginning at position 186. The B form has 65 non-translated bases and the coding region begins at position 66. FIG. 7 depicts the cDNA's of the A and B forms aligned for comparison SEQ ID NOS:7 and 9, respectively. The sequences downstream of the vertical line of both cDNA's are identical. The Alpha form is constitutively expressed on B lymphocytes, whereas the Beta form is induced by Interleukin 4 of B lymphocytes and other cells.

Soluble CD23--(defined as CD23 not cell-bound and present in culture supernate)--was detected by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A sandwich procedure was used with two monoclonal anti-CD23 antibodies specific for different epitopes on CD23.

The cell lines 8866 and MT-2 in a concentration of 1.times.10 cells/ml were cultured in media, at 37.degree. C. for 72 hours. The cell viability at 72 hours of culture was below 50% then 80 ml of the supernatant was collected, cooled to 4.degree. C., and concentrated by ultra centrifugation using a Millipore filter (exclusion cut-off, 10,000). The concentrate was fractionated with a millipore filter (exclusion cut-off, 30,000), and the retentate was refiltered through a new 30,000 cut-off filter. Immediately after concentration, 2 ml of concentrate was analyzed for the presence of CD23 by immunoassay.

A 96-well plate (Immunolon II, Dynatech Laboratories, Inc.) was coated with 100 .mu.l/well of 2 .mu.g/ml of purified anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody in 0.1M carbonate buffer (pH 9.6) at 4.degree. C. overnight. The wells were then washed with PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20, 0.1% bovine serum and coated with PBS containing 2% BSA for 3 hours at 37.degree. C. The wells were washed and samples were added to each well. Each sample was processed in triplicate undiluted or at dilutions of 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8. 50 .mu.l of sample was added to each well and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 3 hours. The plates were washed, and 50 .mu.l of bio-conjugated anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody was added to each well. The plates were incubated 3 hours at 37.degree. C, washed and incubated with 50 .mu.l of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated avidin (Cappel, West Chester, Pa.), incubated at 4.degree. C. for 3 hours, washed and incubated with 1 mg/ml phosphatase substrate (Sigma Diagnostics, St. Louis, Mont.) for 45 minutes at room temperature. The A 405 was determined with a Microplate Autoreader (Biotech Instruments), the data were analyzed with Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows Release 1.0 (Lotus, Cambridge, Mass.), and the graphics were developed with Lotus Freelance Graphics for Windows, Release 1.0 (Lotus). Recombinant human soluble CD23 was used as the reference standard and for quality control. The sensitivity of this assay was determined to be 2 ng/ml.

CD23 probes were synthesized by PCR using a template 10ng of a Bluescript plasmid construction containing cDNA pL23.6. One probe specific for the A and B form and each truncated product was used. See FIG. 9 SEQ ID NOS:7 and 9.

The poly A mRNA of the cell lines was extracted using either, the Fastrack kit (Invitrogen) or QuickPrep kit (Pharmacia). Synthesis of first strand and PCR were done in the same manner as for the mouse experiments. The only difference was that in the human studies, a "hot start" protocol was used. Briefly, the tubes with a mixture of CR buffer, primers, and dNTP, were put at 80.degree. C., the template was added, and then the taq Polymerase was added. The cycle program and conditions were the same as described for the murine studies.

The procedure was the same as for the mouse analysis; the primers used for the human studies were synthesized as discussed based on the published cDNA sequence of the Human A and B form of CD23 as earlier described and homology with the mouse forms. Yokota et al, Two Species of Human Fce Receptor H (Fc.epsilon.rII/CD23): Tissue-Specific and I1-4 Specific Regulation of Gene Expression 65 Cell 611-18 (1988), incorporated herein by reference, and in Genbank Accession number M23562 SEQ ID NO:7 (position 112-1037) A form and SEQ ID NO:5 (position 7-1025) B form.

The primers used for the human studies are listed in Table 4, along with their hybridization position in the A for cDNA. __________________________________________________________________________ Sequence of Primers Nucleotide Hybridization Position (cDNA) Nucleotide sequence of primer # __________________________________________________________________________ 7 (B form) 5' GCGGGGACGCAATAGAGTCAGAGGC 3' B(SEQ ID NO:9, residues 1-25 163 (A form) 5' GGAAGGATCCAAACAAGACTGCCATGG 3' 1 hybridizes with SEQ ID NO:7, residues 52-78 5' GTGACATCTGAACAACCTGG 3' hybridizes with SEQ ID NO:7, residues 323-342 (antisense) 728 (A form) 5' GGAGCCCTTGCCAAAATAGTAGCAC 3' 4 hybridizes with SEQ ID NO:7, residues 593-617 (antisense) 784 (A form) 5' GTCCTGTTCCTTTTGGCTGTGGATGC 3' 5 hybridizes with SEQ ID NO:7, residues 1-25 (antisense) __________________________________________________________________________

The first two primers are identical with the coding (sense) strand and the last three primers match the complementary (anti-sense) strand. Primer #3 was only used for sequence purposes. The (#) denotes the identification number of the primer and its site of binding is shown. See FIG. 8 for PCR primers and expected amplification products.

RT-PCR of B- and T-cell line mRNA with the primers previously discussed that identify the A and B forms of human CD23 (FIG. 6): hybridizes to sequence position 163-189 of the A form cDNA SEQ ID NO:7 and common 3' primer, primer 5 which hybridizes to sequence position 784-809 of the A form cDNA, the B cell line 8866 yielded a product of 647 bp, which is the expected amplification size with the primers for a CD23 product including exon 3. However, two additional and unexpected products were detected, one of 533 bp and the second of approximately 570/580 (not shown in FIG. 6). The PCR products were visualized in the agarose ethidium bromide stained gel. Using the same primers and experimental conditions, the T cell samples MT-1, MT-2, ATL-2, ED, MOLT4, and the eosinophil cell line EOL3 were negative. hybridizes to cDNA position 1-25 of the B form cDNA and the same 3' primer, primer 5 (which hybridizes to position 784-809 of the A form which corresponds to position 661 and 686 of the B form), the B cell line 8866 yielded a product of 686 bp, which is the expected size. However, two additional and unexpected products were generated, and were approximately 572 bp and 610/620 bp in size (not shown in FIG. 6). novel result, because it is the first time that by RT-PCT, the B form of CD23 has been identified in human eosinophil cells. line MT-2 yielded a product of 686 bp, which is the expected result for B cells, but is a novel finding in T cells, and another band of 572 bp.

These results show that mRNA of the A form of human CD23 is expressed in the human B cell line 8866 and that two additional A form related transcripts are also present.

These results also show that mRNA of the B form of human CD23 is expressed in the B cell line 8866, the T cell line MMT-2 and the eosinophil line EOL-3. Additional B form-related transcripts were identified in the B cell line 8866, and in the T cell line MT-2, MT-1.

In order to improve the specificity and sensitivity of the PCR technique, a "nested" PCR technique was also used. A new 3' primer, primer 4 (which hybridizes cDNA position 704-728 of the A form), located 71 bp upstream of the 3' primer used for the first round of PCR, was used in the nested second round. The results of the nested experiments for the A form of the human CD23 are the following: line yielded four PCR products. The expected 576 bp product (647-71) for the human CD23 A form was generated, but additional products were present of 462 bp, and 500 bp. These products are as expected 71 bp shorter than the other truncated products generated by the single round of PCR. This smaller size reflected that the priming site of the new internal 3' primer was 71 bp upstream of the original 3' priming site. yielded a single product of 462 bp. The products of 501 and 576 bp detected in B cells were not detected in the eosinophil cell line.

The result for the B form of human CD23 in the nested PCR experiments are as follows: expected amplified size). In addition 501 bp and 540/550 bp fragments were present and correlate with the observation of the two additional products generated during 25 cycles of a single round of PCR (533 and 570/580). The smaller size reflects that the priming site in the nested PCR for the internal 3' primer is 71 bp upstream from the original priming site. product of 615 bp, and unexpected products of 501 bp and 540/550 bp. This result is the same as the result with the B cell line. amplified size for B cell CD23, but a novel result in T cells. One T cell line also showed two additional products of 501 bp and 540/550 bp. the nested PCR.

Thus the presence of truncated CD23 products correlates with RT-PCR an assay 100 times more sensitive than RNA protection assays and nested PCR which is up to 10 times more sensitive than RT-PCR. Table 5 depicts the PCR products as they correlate through both tests. See also FIGS. 8 and 6. ______________________________________ Isoform C Isoform D Isoform A Isoform B  A form   B form A form B form     minus    minus expected expected   exon 3   exon 3 ______________________________________ RT-PCR   647 bp   686 bp     533 bp 572 bp Nested PCR 576 bp   615 bp     462 bp 501 bp (X-71) ______________________________________

The sequences of the 647 bp and 576 bp PCR generated products from the B cell line 8866 were found to be identical to the published sequence of the A form of CD23. See FIG. 10 illustrating this sequence position 186-800. The 533 and 462 bp product was also identical to CD23 sequence from which the full length of exon 3 had been deleted. The newly formed splicing site between exon 2 and 4, resulted in a change in the predicted amino acid sequence encoded by this transcript, with a substitution of Histidine for Aspartic acid. See FIGS. 10 and 12.

In 8866 and EOL 3, a 462 bp nested PCR generated product also was shown to be a truncated transcript from which had been deleted all of exon 3. This truncated form of CD23 lacked all of the transmembrane segment and a portion of the cytoplasmic tail. These exon 3-deleted, truncated transcripts encode proteins that are a soluble form of CD23.

The sequences of the fragments generated with primers specific for the B form of human CD23 showed that, the 686 bp product from the 8866, EOL 3, and MT-2 were identical to the sequence published for the B form of CD23. These findings are expected for the B cells, but the eosinophil cell line, and for the T cell line are novel.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 615 bp nested PCR products generated from the B cell line (8866), the eosinophil cell line (EOL-3), and the T cell lines (MT-2 and ED) showed that these products are identical with the published sequence of the B form of CD23. See FIG. 11 (B form cDNA position 66 through A form position 800). This is the expected result for a B cell, but is a new finding for eosinophil and T cell lines.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 572 bp fragments from the B cell line and from one T cell line, and the 501 bp nested PCR generated fragment from the B cell line, the eosinophil cell line, and the T cell lines, all showed that this transcript has a deletion of the entire exon 3. See FIG. 13. In addition to the exon 3 deletion, there is a predicted Histidine .fwdarw. Aspartic change at position 45.

Evidence for the heterogeneity of human CD23 beyond the presence of A and B forms, is suggested by the RT-PCR experiments and sequence analysis. Those findings show that the B cell line as well as the T cell lines and the eosinophil line, all have additional CD23-related transcripts. One of these transcripts is a truncated form of CD23 with complete deletion of exon 3. The deletion of exon 3 would result in a transcript, which encodes a CD23 protein that would not be membrane bound and is released as soluble CD23.

Once the gene sequence for CD23 had been purified and isolated a number of recombination techniques generally known and commonly practiced in the art of molecular biology can be used to produce mass quantities of this polypeptide. The first technique involves creating plasmid shuttle vector. In this technique a bacterial plasmid such as PBR 322 which contains ampicillin and tetracycline resistance genes is cut with restriction enzymes and the desired foreign DNA fragments, here the soluble form CD23 DNA segments, are taken up by the plasmid. The plasmid vectors can then be transformed into the recipient bacterial hosts such as E. coli in the presence of PEG to allow expression by the bacteria of the inserted foreign DNA fragments.

Another integrative strategy involves placement of the foreign DNA desired sequence into a bacteria phage lambda vector. Once the foreign gene is inserted the phage is allowed to infect and transform a desired host cell, once again allowing the host to express the foreign DNA soluble CD23 gene.

Through use of these integrative strategies, bacterial host cells can be transformed to contain the human or mouse form of soluble CD23 and can express and produce this protein. Because of the very high replication rate for bacteria, great quantities of the desired protein can be reproduced by these methods.

Four types of CD23 /Fc.epsilon.RII cDNA's (Isoform A, B, C and D) were subcloned in Bluescript II at EcoRI site. These vectors were linearized by XhoI digestion and in vitro transcription reactions were performed using T3 RNA polymerase. The uncapped transcripts were translated with .sup.35 S! methionine using "Ambion Retic Lysate IVT.TM. Kit in vitro Translation Kit" following the manufacturer's instructions. 2.5 .mu.l of the samples diluted with 10 .mu.l of 2.5% SDS sample buffer were subject to SDS-PAGE analysis. The gel was dried on Whatman chromatography paper and subjected to autradiography. The four types of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII protein were detected at expected sizes.

1.0 mg of recombinant 25 kDa CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant was subcutaneously injected to three rabbits as immunogen. Moreover, twice boosts were performed every 2 weeks using the same amount of antigen emulsified with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Seven days after the final boost, their blood were collected through the catheters placed in the carotid arteries. polyclonal antibody

Fifty microliters of 5 .mu.g/ml recombinant 25 kDa CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII was added to each well of a 96-well E1A plate (Corstor 3590, Corstor) and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. After washing, each well was incubated with 200 .mu.l of PBS containing 3% skim milk (Morinaga) at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. The rabbit sera were serially diluted with PBS containing 1% of skim-milk and added to the antigen-coated plates. After incubation at 37.degree. C. for 2 hours, 50 .mu.l of 2,000-fold diluted alkaline phosphatase (ALP) conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG was added and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. The enzyme reaction was initiated by adding 50 .mu.l of 1.0 mg/ml of o-Phenylene diamine solution. The titer of captured anti-recombinant 25 kDa CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII polyclonal antibodies was assessed at OD 490 nm by microplate reader (Molecular Devices, Wako). The sear from the 3 rabbits were all found to react with the recombinant 25 kDa CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII even after the 270,000-fold dilutions.

The four types of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII cDNA's were subcloned under the control of SV40 promoter. COS-7 cells were transfected with 10 .mu.g of each expression vector by electroporation using GenePulser (BioRad). After 72 hours, the cells were harvested and assayed for the level of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII expression. Lysates of COS-7 cells solubilized in 0.5% Nonidet P 40 were electrophoresed on a 10% polyacrylamide gel under non-reduced conditions. After electro-transfer to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane (Millipore), the membrane was blocked with PBS containing 3% skim-milk, and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 2 hours with 2,000-fold diluted anti-CD23Fc.epsilon.RII serum. Horseradish peroxidase labeled anti-rabbit IgG was used as the secondary antibody. The bands reactive with the serum were visualized by horseradish peroxidase-ECL method (Amersham). The four types of CD23/Fc.epsilon.RII isoforms were detected at expected sizes.

Based upon the known activity of CD23 and the encoded regions harvested soluble form CD23 could be used in treatment of IgE mediated diseases such as asthma, allergic responses, and reaction to some parasites. As previously discussed the soluble CD23 contains the entire binding region and merely omits the membrane anchoring region. An appropriate pharmaceutical vehicle would be selected from such forms as a pill, isotonic injection, or saline solution form which may be introduced into the system of the affected patient.

Pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles are materials useful for the purpose of administering the harvested CD23, which may be solid, liquid or gaseous materials, which are otherwise inert and medically acceptable and are compatible with the active ingredients.

These pharmaceutical compositions may be given orally, intravenously, through injections of IV solutions, or subcutaneously. Recommended dosages of IgE would likely be a very small quantity of a nanogram or less. The dose would be commensurate with an effective amount to achieve the desired regulatory response, depending on the amount of excess IgE in the patients septum. Since this protein is soluble and naturally occurring it will likely exhibit no toxicity to humans. Depending on the nature of the disease it is likely that more than one dosage will be needed, perhaps on a regular basis to regulate IgE.

Additional soluble form CD23 present in the system could then interact to turn off IgE thereby relieving the patients from the allergic responses mediated by IgE. This process of interaction of IgE with membrane bound CD23 has been demonstrated in the art, (Nelms et al, Enhanced Medeated Suppression of Epsilon Heavy Chain Gene Expression and a Murine IgE Producing Hybridoma, Molecular Immun. vol. 28 pp. 599-606 (1991)). In this paper a cancel cell was used with an IgE cell to make a hybridoma which produces IgE. This hybridoma was then exposed to T cells containing CD23. The T cells interacted with the hybridoma resulting in turning off heavy chain of IgE demonstrating that CD23 can react to suppress IgE synthesis. Thus, introduction of the soluble CD23 into the system of affected patients will likely generate a similar response and shut off synthesis of IgE.

Additional uses for this protein include models to study mechanisms of IgE binding, as also to screen other molecules for their biological activity with soluble CD23 both in vivo and in vitro as earlier described. SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 14 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 1005 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 24..1004 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1: GGAAGGATCCAAACAAGACTGCCATGGAAGAAAATGAATACTCAGGATAC50 MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerGlyTyr 15 TGGGAACCTCCTAGAAAGCGTTGCTGCTGTGCAAGACGTGGGACACAG98 TrpGluProProArgLysArgCysCysCysAlaArgArgGlyThrGln 10152025 CTCATGTTGGTGGGGCTGCTGAGCACAGCAATGTGGGCTGGCCTGCTG146 LeuMetLeuValGlyLeuLeuSerThrAlaMetTrpAlaGlyLeuLeu 303540 GCCCTGCTTCTTCTGTGGCACTGGGAAACGGAGAAGAATCTAAAACAG194 AlaLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrpGluThrGluLysAsnLeuLysGln 455055 CTGGGAGACACTGCAATTCAGAATGTCTCTCATGTTACCAAGGACTTA242 LeuGlyAspThrAlaIleGlnAsnValSerHisValThrLysAspLeu 606570 CAAAAATTCCAGAGTAATCAATTGGCCCAGAAGTCCCAGGTTGTTCAG290 GlnLysPheGlnSerAsnGlnLeuAlaGlnLysSerGlnValValGln 758085 ATGTCACAAAACTTGCAAGAACTCCAAGCTGAACAGAAGCAAATGAAA338 MetSerGlnAsnLeuGlnGluLeuGlnAlaGluGlnLysGlnMetLys 9095100105 GCTCAGGACTCTCGGCTCTCCCAGAACCTGACCGGACTCCAGGAGGAT386 AlaGlnAspSerArgLeuSerGlnAsnLeuThrGlyLeuGlnGluAsp 110115120 CTAAGGAACGCCCAATCCCAGAACTCAAAACTCTCCCAGAACCTGAAC434 LeuArgAsnAlaGlnSerGlnAsnSerLysLeuSerGlnAsnLeuAsn 125130135 AGACTCCAAGACGATCTAGTCAACATCAAATCCCTGGGCTTGAATGAG482 ArgLeuGlnAspAspLeuValAsnIleLysSerLeuGlyLeuAsnGlu 140145150 AAGCGCACAGCCTCCGATTCTCTAGAGAAACTCCAGGAAGAGGTGGCA530 LysArgThrAlaSerAspSerLeuGluLysLeuGlnGluGluValAla 155160165 AAGCTGTGGATAGAGATACTGATTTCAAAGGGAACTGCATGCAACATA578 LysLeuTrpIleGluIleLeuIleSerLysGlyThrAlaCysAsnIle 170175180185 TGTCCCAAGAACTGGCTCCATTTCCAACAGAAGTGCTACTATTTTGGC626 CysProLysAsnTrpLeuHisPheGlnGlnLysCysTyrTyrPheGly 190195200 AAGGGCTCCAAGCAGTGGATCCAGGCCAGGTTCGCCTGCAGTGACCTG674 LysGlySerLysGlnTrpIleGlnAlaArgPheAlaCysSerAspLeu 205210215 CAAGGGCGACTAGTCAGCATCCACAGCCAAAAGGAACAGGACTTCCTG722 GlnGlyArgLeuValSerIleHisSerGlnLysGluGlnAspPheLeu 220225230 ATGCAACACATCAACAAGAAGGATTCCTGGATTGGCCTCCAGGATCTC770 MetGlnHisIleAsnLysLysAspSerTrpIleGlyLeuGlnAspLeu 235240245 AATATGGAGGGAGAGTTTGTATGGTCGGACGGGAGCCCTGTGGGTTAT818 AsnMetGluGlyGluPheValTrpSerAspGlySerProValGlyTyr 250255260265 AGCAACTGGAATCCAGGGGAGCCCAATAACGGGGGCCAGGGTGAGGAC866 SerAsnTrpAsnProGlyGluProAsnAsnGlyGlyGlnGlyGluAsp 270275280 TGTGTGATGATGCGGGGATCCGGCCAGTGGAACGACGCCTTCTGCCGC914 CysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyGlnTrpAsnAspAlaPheCysArg 285290295 AGCTACTTGGATGCATGGGTGTGTGAGCAGCTGGCAACATGTGAGATA962 SerTyrLeuAspAlaTrpValCysGluGlnLeuAlaThrCysGluIle 300305310 TCTGCCCCCTTAGCCTCTGTGACTCCAACAAGGCCCACCCCAA1005 SerAlaProLeuAlaSerValThrProThrArgProThrPro 315320325 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 327 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerGlyTyrTrpGluProProArgLysArg 151015 CysCysCysAlaArgArgGlyThrGlnLeuMetLeuValGlyLeuLeu 202530 SerThrAlaMetTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuAlaLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHis 354045 TrpGluThrGluLysAsnLeuLysGlnLeuGlyAspThrAlaIleGln 505560 AsnValSerHisValThrLysAspLeuGlnLysPheGlnSerAsnGln 65707580 LeuAlaGlnLysSerGlnValValGlnMetSerGlnAsnLeuGlnGlu 859095 LeuGlnAlaGluGlnLysGlnMetLysAlaGlnAspSerArgLeuSer 100105110 GlnAsnLeuThrGlyLeuGlnGluAspLeuArgAsnAlaGlnSerGln 115120125 AsnSerLysLeuSerGlnAsnLeuAsnArgLeuGlnAspAspLeuVal 130135140 AsnIleLysSerLeuGlyLeuAsnGluLysArgThrAlaSerAspSer 145150155160 LeuGluLysLeuGlnGluGluValAlaLysLeuTrpIleGluIleLeu 165170175 IleSerLysGlyThrAlaCysAsnIleCysProLysAsnTrpLeuHis 180185190 PheGlnGlnLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlySerLysGlnTrpIle 195200205 GlnAlaArgPheAlaCysSerAspLeuGlnGlyArgLeuValSerIle 210215220 HisSerGlnLysGluGlnAspPheLeuMetGlnHisIleAsnLysLys 225230235240 AspSerTrpIleGlyLeuGlnAspLeuAsnMetGluGlyGluPheVal 245250255 TrpSerAspGlySerProValGlyTyrSerAsnTrpAsnProGlyGlu 260265270 ProAsnAsnGlyGlyGlnGlyGluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySer 275280285 GlyGlnTrpAsnAspAlaPheCysArgSerTyrLeuAspAlaTrpVal 290295300 CysGluGlnLeuAlaThrCysGluIleSerAlaProLeuAlaSerVal 305310315320 ThrProThrArgProThrPro 325 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 885 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 24..884 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: GGAAGGATCCAAACAAGACTGCCATGGAAGAAAATGAATACTCAGACTGG50 MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerAspTrp 15 GAAACGGAGAAGAATCTAAAACAGCTGGGAGACACTGCAATTCAGAAT98 GluThrGluLysAsnLeuLysGlnLeuGlyAspThrAlaIleGlnAsn 10152025 GTCTCTCATGTTACCAAGGACTTACAAAAATTCCAGAGTAATCAATTG146 ValSerHisValThrLysAspLeuGlnLysPheGlnSerAsnGlnLeu 303540 GCCCAGAAGTCCCAGGTTGTTCAGATGTCACAAAACTTGCAAGAACTC194 AlaGlnLysSerGlnValValGlnMetSerGlnAsnLeuGlnGluLeu 455055 CAAGCTGAACAGAAGCAAATGAAAGCTCAGGACTCTCGGCTCTCCCAG242 GlnAlaGluGlnLysGlnMetLysAlaGlnAspSerArgLeuSerGln 606570 AACCTGACCGGACTCCAGGAGGATCTAAGGAACGCCCAATCCCAGAAC290 AsnLeuThrGlyLeuGlnGluAspLeuArgAsnAlaGlnSerGlnAsn 758085 TCAAAACTCTCCCAGAACCTGAACAGACTCCAAGACGATCTAGTCAAC338 SerLysLeuSerGlnAsnLeuAsnArgLeuGlnAspAspLeuValAsn 9095100105 ATCAAATCCCTGGGCTTGAATGAGAAGCGCACAGCCTCCGATTCTCTA386 IleLysSerLeuGlyLeuAsnGluLysArgThrAlaSerAspSerLeu 110115120 GAGAAACTCCAGGAAGAGGTGGCAAAGCTGTGGATAGAGATACTGATT434 GluLysLeuGlnGluGluValAlaLysLeuTrpIleGluIleLeuIle 125130135 TCAAAGGGAACTGCATGCAACATATGTCCCAAGAACTGGCTCCATTTC482 SerLysGlyThrAlaCysAsnIleCysProLysAsnTrpLeuHisPhe 140145150 CAACAGAAGTGCTACTATTTTGGCAAGGGCTCCAAGCAGTGGATCCAG530 GlnGlnLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlySerLysGlnTrpIleGln 155160165 GCCAGGTTCGCCTGCAGTGACCTGCAAGGGCGACTAGTCAGCATCCAC578 AlaArgPheAlaCysSerAspLeuGlnGlyArgLeuValSerIleHis 170175180185 AGCCAAAAGGAACAGGACTTCCTGATGCAACACATCAACAAGAAGGAT626 SerGlnLysGluGlnAspPheLeuMetGlnHisIleAsnLysLysAsp 190195200 TCCTGGATTGGCCTCCAGGATCTCAATATGGAGGGAGAGTTTGTATGG674 SerTrpIleGlyLeuGlnAspLeuAsnMetGluGlyGluPheValTrp 205210215 TCGGACGGGAGCCCTGTGGGTTATAGCAACTGGAATCCAGGGGAGCCC722 SerAspGlySerProValGlyTyrSerAsnTrpAsnProGlyGluPro 220225230 AATAACGGGGGCCAGGGTGAGGACTGTGTGATGATGCGGGGATCCGGC770 AsnAsnGlyGlyGlnGlyGluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGly 235240245 CAGTGGAACGACGCCTTCTGCCGCAGCTACTTGGATGCATGGGTGTGT818 GlnTrpAsnAspAlaPheCysArgRerTyrLeuAspAlaTrpValCys 250255260265 GAGBAGCTGGCAACATGTGAGATATCTGCCCCCTTAGCCTCTGTGACT866 GluGlnLeuAlaThrCysGluIleSerAlaProLeuAlaSerValThr 270275280 CCAACAAGGCCCACCCCAA885 ProThrArgProThrPro 285 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 287 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4: MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerAspTrpGluThrGluLysAsnLeuLys 151015 GlnLeuGlyAspThrAlaIleGlnAsnValSerHisValThrLysAsp 202530 LeuGlnLysPheGlnSerAsnGlnLeuAlaGlnLysSerGlnValVal 354045 GlnMetSerGlnAsnLeuGlnGluLeuGlnAlaGluGlnLysGlnMet 505560 LysAlaGlnAspSerArgLeuSerGlnAsnLeuThrGlyLeuGlnGlu 65707580 AspLeuArgAsnAlaGlnSerGlnAsnSerLysLeuSerGlnAsnLeu 859095 AsnArgLeuGlnAspAspLeuValAsnIleLysSerLeuGlyLeuAsn 100105110 GluLysArgThrAlaSerAspSerLeuGluLysLeuGlnGluGluVal 115120125 AlaLysLeuTrpIleGluIleLeuIleSerLysGlyThrAlaCysAsn 130135140 IleCysProLysAsnTrpLeuHisPheGlnGlnLysCysTyrTyrPhe 145150155160 GlyLysGlySerLysGlnTrpIleGlnAlaArgPheAlaCysSerAsp 165170175 LeuGlnGlyArgLeuValSerIleHisSerGlnLysGluGlnAspPhe 180185190 LeuMetGlnHisIleAsnLysLysAspSerTrpIleGlyLeuGlnAsp 195200205 LeuAsnMetGluGlyGluPheValTrpSerAspGlySerProValGly 210215220 TyrSerAsnTrpAsnProGlyGluProAsnAsnGlyGlyGlnGlyGlu 225230235240 AspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyGlnTrpAsnAspAlaPheCys 245250255 ArgSerTyrLeuAspAlaTrpValCysGluGlnLeuAlaThrCysGlu 260265270 IleSerAlaProLeuAlaSerValThrProThrArgProThrPro 275280285 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 924 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 24..923 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5: GGAAGGATCCAAACAAGACTGCCATGGAAGAAAATGAATACTCAGCAATG50 MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerAlaMet 15 TGGGCTGGCCTGCTGGCCCTGCTTCTTCTGTGGCACTGGGAAACGGAG98 TrpAlaGlyLeuLeuAlaLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrpGluThrGlu 10152025 AAGAATCTAAAACAGCTGGGAGACACTGCAATTCAGAATGTCTCTCAT146 LysAsnLeuLysGlnLeuGlyAspThrAlaIleGlnAsnValSerHis 303540 GTTACCAAGGACTTACAAAAATTCCAGAGTAATCAATTGGCCCAGAAG194 ValThrLysAspLeuGlnLysPheGlnSerAsnGlnLeuAlaGlnLys 455055 TCCCAGGTTGTTCAGATGTCACAAAACTTGCAAGAACTCCAAGCTGAA242 SerGlnValValGlnMetSerGlnAsnLeuGlnGluLeuGlnAlaGlu 606570 CAGAAGCAAATGAAAGCTCAGGACTCTCGGCTCTCCCAGAACCTGACC290 GlnLysGlnMetLysAlaGlnAspSerArgLeuSerGlnAsnLeuThr 758085 GGACTCCAGGAGGATCTAAGGAACGCCCAATCCCAGAACTCAAAACTC338 GlyLeuGlnGluAspLeuArgAsnAlaGlnSerGlnAsnSerLysLeu 9095100105 TCCCAGAACCTGAACAGACTCCAAGACGATCTAGTCAACATCAAATCC386 SerGlnAsnLeuAsnArgLeuGlnAspAspLeuValAsnIleLysSer 110115120 CTGGGCTTGAATGAGAAGCGCACAGCCTCCGATTCTCTAGAGAAACTC434 LeuGlyLeuAsnGluLysArgThrAlaSerAspSerLeuGluLysLeu 125130135 CAGGAAGAGGTGGCAAAGCTGTGGATAGAGATACTGATTTCAAAGGGA482 GlnGluGluValAlaLysLeuTrpIleGluIleLeuIleSerLysGly 140145150 ACTGCATGCAACATATGTCCCAAGAACTGGCTCCATTTCCAACAGAAG530 ThrAlaCysAsnIleCysProLysAsnTrpLeuHisPheGlnGlnLys 155160165 TGCTACTATTTTGGCAAGGGCTCCAAGCAGTGGATCCAGGCCAGGTTC578 CysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlySerLysGlnTrpIleGlnAlaArgPhe 170175180185 GCCTGCAGTGACCTGCAAGGGCGACTAGTCAGCATCCACAGCCAAAAG626 AlaCysSerAspLeuGlnGlyArgLeuValSerIleHisSerGlnLys 190195200 GAACAGGACTTCCTGATGCAACACATCAACAAGAAGGATTCCTGGATT674 GluGlnAspPheLeuMetGlnHisIleAsnLysLysAspSerTrpIle 205210215 GGCCTCCAGGATCTCAATATGGAGGGAGAGTTTGTATGGTCGGACGGG722 GlyLeuGlnAspLeuAsnMetGluGlyGluPheValTrpSerAspGly 220225230 AGCCCTGTGGGTTATAGCAACTGGAATCCAGGGGAGCCCAATAACGGG770 SerProValGlyTyrSerAsnTrpAsnProGlyGluProAsnAsnGly 235240245 GGCCAGGGTGAGGACTGTGTGATGATGCGGGGATCCGGCCAGTGGAAC818 GlyGlnGlyGluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyGlnTrpAsn 250255260265 GACGCCTTCTGCCGCAGCTACTTGGATGCATGGGTGTGTGAGCAGCTG866 AspAlaPheCysArgSerTyrLeuAspAlaTrpValCysGluGlnLeu 270275280 GCAACATGTGAGATATCTGCCCCCTTAGCCTCTGTGACTCCAACAAGG914 AlaThrCysGluIleSerAlaProLeuAlaSerValThrProThrArg 285290295 CCCACCCCAA924 ProThrPro 300 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 300 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6: MetGluGluAsnGluTyrSerAlaMetTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuAlaLeu 151015 LeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrpGluThrGluLysAsnLeuLysGlnLeuGly 202530 AspThrAlaIleGlnAsnValSerHisValThrLysAspLeuGlnLys 354045 PheGlnSerAsnGlnLeuAlaGlnLysSerGlnValValGlnMetSer 505560 GlnAsnLeuGlnGluLeuGlnAlaGluGlnLysGlnMetLysAlaGln 65707580 AspSerArgLeuSerGlnAsnLeuThrGlyLeuGlnGluAspLeuArg 859095 AsnAlaGlnSerGlnAsnSerLysLeuSerGlnAsnLeuAsnArgLeu 100105110 GlnAspAspLeuValAsnIleLysSerLeuGlyLeuAsnGluLysArg 115120125 ThrAlaSerAspSerLeuGluLysLeuGlnGluGluValAlaLysLeu 130135140 TrpIleGluIleLeuIleSerLysGlyThrAlaCysAsnIleCysPro 145150155160 LysAsnTrpLeuHisPheGlnGlnLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGly 165170175 SerLysGlnTrpIleGlnAlaArgPheAlaCysSerAspLeuGlnGly 180185190 ArgLeuValSerIleHisSerGlnLysGluGlnAspPheLeuMetGln 195200205 HisIleAsnLysLysAspSerTrpIleGlyLeuGlnAspLeuAsnMet 210215220 GluGlyGluPheValTrpSerAspGlySerProValGlyTyrSerAsn 225230235240 TrpAsnProGlyGluProAsnAsnGlyGlyGlnGlyGluAspCysVal 245250255 MetMetArgGlySerGlyGlnTrpAsnAspAlaPheCysArgSerTyr 260265270 LeuAspAlaTrpValCysGluGlnLeuAlaThrCysGluIleSerAla 275280285 ProLeuAlaSerValThrProThrArgProThrPro 290295300 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 1037 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 75..1037 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7: ATTGTGCCCGCTGAGTGGACTGCGTTGTCAGGGAGTGAGTGCTCCATCATCGGGAGAATC60 CAAGCAGGACCGCCATGGAGGAAGGTCAATATTCAGAGATCGAGGAGCTT110 MetGluGluGlyGlnTyrSerGluIleGluGluLeu 1510 CCCAGGAGGCGGTGTTGCAGGCGTGGGACTCAGATCGTGCTGCTGGGG158 ProArgArgArgCysCysArgArgGlyThrGlnIleValLeuLeuGly 152025 CTGGTGACCGCCGCTCTGTGGGCTGGCCTGCTGACTCTGCTTCTCCTG206 LeuValThrAlaAlaLeuTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuThrLeuLeuLeuLeu 303540 TGGCACTGGGACACCACACAGAGTCTAAAACAGCTGGAAGAGAGGGCT254 TrpHisTrpAspThrThrGlnSerLeuLysGlnLeuGluGluArgAla 45505560 GCCCGGAACGTCTCTCAAGTTTCCAAGAACTTGGAAAGCCACCACGGT302 AlaArgAsnValSerGlnValSerLysAsnLeuGluSerHisHisGly 657075 GACCAGATGGCGCAGAAATCCCAGTCCACGCAGATTTCACAGGAACTG350 AspGlnMetAlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThrGlnIleSerGlnGluLeu 808590 GAGGAACTTCGAGCTGAACAGCAGAGATTGAAATCTCAGGACTTGGAG398 GluGluLeuArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeuLysSerGlnAspLeuGlu 95100105 CTGTCCTGGAACCTGAACGGGCTTCAAGCAGATCTGAGCAGCTTCAAG446 LeuSerTrpAsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAspLeuSerSerPheLys 110115120 TCCCAGGAATTGAACGAGAGGAACGAAGCTTCAGATTTGCTGGAAAGA494 SerGlnGluLeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAlaSerAspLeuLeuGluArg 125130135140 CTCCGCGAGGAGGTGACAAAGCTAAGGATGGAGTTGCAGGTCTCCAGC542 LeuArgGluGluValThrLysLeuArgMetGluLeuGlnValSerSer 145150155 GGCTTTGTGTGCAACACGTGCCCTGAAAAGTGGATCAATTTCCAACGC590 GlyPheValCysAsnThrCysProGluLysTrpIleAsnPheGlnArg 160165170 AAGTGCTACTACTTCGGCAAGGGCACCAAGCAGTGGGTCCACGCCCGG638 LysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLysGlnTrpValHisAlaArg 175180185 TATGCCTGTGACGACATGGAAGGGCAGCTGGTCAGCATCCACAGCCCG686 TyrAlaCysAspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeuValSerIleHisSerPro 190195200 GAGGAGCAGGACTTCCTGACCAAGCATGCCAGCCACACCGGCTCCTGG734 GluGluGlnAspPheLeuThrLysHisAlaSerHisThrGlySerTrp 205210215220 ATTGGCCTTCGGAACTTGGACCTGAAGGGAGAGTTTATCTGGGTGGAT782 IleGlyLeuArgAsnLeuAspLeuLysGlyGluPheIleTrpValAsp 225230235 GGGAGCCATGTGGACTACAGCAACTGGGCTCCAGGGGAGCCCACCAGC830 GlySerHisValAspTyrSerAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluProThrSer 240245250 CGGAGCCAGGGCGAGGACTGCGTGATGATGCGGGGCTCCGGTCGCTGG878 ArgSerGlnGlyGluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyArgTrp 255260265 AACGACGCCTTCTGCGACCGTAAGCTGGGCGCCTGGGTGTGCGACCGG926 AsnAspAlaPheCysAspArgLysLeuGlyAlaTrpValCysAspArg 270275280 CTGGCCACATGCACGCCGCCAGCCAGCGAAGGTTCCGCGGAGTCCATG974 LeuAlaThrCysThrProProAlaSerGluGlySerAlaGluSerMet 285290295300 GGACCTGATTCAAGACCAGACCCTGACGGCCGCCTGCCCACCCCCTCT1022 GlyProAspSerArgProAspProAspGlyArgLeuProThrProSer 305310315 GCCCCTCTCCACTCT1037 AlaProLeuHisSer 320 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 321 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8: MetGluGluGlyGlnTyrSerGluIleGluGluLeuProArgArgArg 151015 CysCysArgArgGlyThrGlnIleValLeuLeuGlyLeuValThrAla 202530 AlaLeuTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuThrLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrpAsp 354045 ThrThrGlnSerLeuLysGlnLeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnVal 505560 SerGlnValSerLysAsnLeuGluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAla 65707580 GlnLysSerGlnSerThrGlnIleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArg 859095 AlaGluGlnGlnArgLeuLysSerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsn 100105110 LeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAspLeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeu 115120125 AsnGluArgAsnGluAlaSerAspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGlu 130135140 ValThrLysLeuArgMetGluLeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCys 145150155160 AsnThrCysProGluLysTrpIleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyr 165170175 PheGlyLysGlyThrLysGlnTrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAsp 180185190 AspMetGluGlyGlnLeuValSerIleHisSerProGluGluGlnAsp 195200205 PheLeuThrLysHisAlaSerHisThrGlySerTrpIleGlyLeuArg 210215220 AsnLeuAspLeuLysGlyGluPheIleTrpValAspGlySerHisVal 225230235240 AspTyrSerAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluProThrSerArgSerGlnGly 245250255 GluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyArgTrpAsnAspAlaPhe 260265270 CysAspArgLysLeuGlyAlaTrpValCysAspArgLeuAlaThrCys 275280285 ThrProProAlaSerGluGlySerAlaGluSerMetGlyProAspSer 290295300 ArgProAspProAspGlyArgLeuProThrProSerAlaProLeuHis 305310315320 Ser (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 1025 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 66..1025 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9: GCGGGGACGCAATAGAGTCAGAGGCCAAATAGAACAGGAACTTGGAACAAGCAGAATTTA60 GCATAATGAATCCTCCAAGCCAGGAGATCGAGGAGCTTCCCAGGAGG107 MetAsnProProSerGlnGluIleGluGluLeuProArgArg 1510 CGGTGTTGCAGGCGTGGGACTCAGATCGTGCTGCTGGGGCTGGTGACC155 ArgCysCysArgArgGlyThrGlnIleValLeuLeuGlyLeuValThr 15202530 GCCGCTCTGTGGGCTGGCCTGCTGACTCTGCTTCTCCTGTGGCACTGG203 AlaAlaLeuTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuThrLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrp 354045 GACACCACACAGAGTCTAAAACAGCTGGAAGAGAGGGCTGCCCGGAAC251 AspThrThrGlnSerLeuLysGlnLeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsn 505560 GTCTCTCAAGTTTCCAAGAACTTGGAAAGCCACCACGGTGACCAGATG299 ValSerGlnValSerLysAsnLeuGluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMet 657075 GCGCAGAAATCCCAGTCCACGCAGATTTCACAGGAACTGGAGGAACTT347 AlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThrGlnIleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeu 808590 CGAGCTGAACAGCAGAGATTGAAATCTCAGGACTTGGAGCTGTCCTGG395 ArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeuLysSerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrp 95100105110 AACCTGAACGGGCTTCAAGCAGATCTGAGCAGCTTCAAGTCCCAGGAA443 AsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAspLeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGlu 115120125 TTGAACGAGAGGAACGAAGCTTCAGATTTGCTGGAAAGACTCCGCGAG491 LeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAlaSerAspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGlu 130135140 GAGGTGACAAAGCTAAGGATGGAGTTGCAGGTCTCCAGCGGCTTTGTG539 GluValThrLysLeuArgMetGluLeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheVal 145150155 TGCAACACGTGCCCTGAAAAGTGGATCAATTTCCAACGCAAGTGCTAC587 CysAsnThrCysProGluLysTrpIleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyr 160165170 TACTTCGGCAAGGGCACCAAGCAGTGGGTCCACGCCCGGTATGCCTGT635 TyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLysGlnTrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCys 175180185190 GACGACATGGAAGGGCAGCTGGTCAGCATCCACAGCCCGGAGGAGCAG683 AspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeuValSerIleHisSerProGluGluGln 195200205 GACTTCCTGACCAAGCATGCCAGCCACACCGGCTCCTGGATTGGCCTT731 AspPheLeuThrLysHisAlaSerHisThrGlySerTrpIleGlyLeu 210215220 CGGAACTTGGACCTGAAGGGAGAGTTTATCTGGGTGGATGGGAGCCAT779 ArgAsnLeuAspLeuLysGlyGluPheIleTrpValAspGlySerHis 225230235 GTGGACTACAGCAACTGGGCTCCAGGGGAGCCCACCAGCCGGAGCCAG827 ValAspTyrSerAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluProThrSerArgSerGln 240245250 GGCGAGGACTGCGTGATGATGCGGGGCTCCGGTCGCTGGAACGACGCC875 GlyGluAspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyArgTrpAsnAspAla 255260265270 TTCTGCGACCGTAAGCTGGGCGCCTGGGTGTGCGACCGGCTGGCCACA923 PheCysAspArgLysLeuGlyAlaTrpValCysAspArgLeuAlaThr 275280285 TGCACGCCGCCAGCCAGCGAAGGTTCCGCGGAGTCCATGGGACCTGAT971 CysThrProProAlaSerGluGlySerAlaGluSerMetGlyProAsp 290295300 TCAAGACCAGACCCTGACGGCCGCCTGCCCACCCCCTCTGCCCCTCTC1019 SerArgProAspProAspGlyArgLeuProThrProSerAlaProLeu 305310315 CACTCT1025 HisSer 320 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 320 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10: MetAsnProProSerGlnGluIleGluGluLeuProArgArgArgCys 151015 CysArgArgGlyThrGlnIleValLeuLeuGlyLeuValThrAlaAla 202530 LeuTrpAlaGlyLeuLeuThrLeuLeuLeuLeuTrpHisTrpAspThr 354045 ThrGlnSerLeuLysGlnLeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnValSer 505560 GlnValSerLysAsnLeuGluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAlaGln 65707580 LysSerGlnSerThrGlnIleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArgAla 859095 GluGlnGlnArgLeuLysSerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsnLeu 100105110 AsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAspLeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeuAsn 115120125 GluArgAsnGluAlaSerAspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGluVal 130135140 ThrLysLeuArgMetGluLeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCysAsn 145150155160 ThrCysProGluLysTrpIleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyrPhe 165170175 GlyLysGlyThrLysGlnTrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAspAsp 180185190 MetGluGlyGlnLeuValSerIleHisSerProGluGluGlnAspPhe 195200205 LeuThrLysHisAlaSerHisThrGlySerTrpIleGlyLeuArgAsn 210215220 LeuAspLeuLysGlyGluPheIleTrpValAspGlySerHisValAsp 225230235240 TyrSerAsnTrpAlaProGlyGluProThrSerArgSerGlnGlyGlu 245250255 AspCysValMetMetArgGlySerGlyArgTrpAsnAspAlaPheCys 260265270 AspArgLysLeuGlyAlaTrpValCysAspArgLeuAlaThrCysThr 275280285 ProProAlaSerGluGlySerAlaGluSerMetGlyProAspSerArg 290295300 ProAspProAspGlyArgLeuProThrProSerAlaProLeuHisSer 305310315320 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 501 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 1..501 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11: ATGGAGGAAGGTCAATATTCAGACTGGGACACCACACAGAGTCTAAAA48 MetGluGluGlyGlnTyrSerAspTrpAspThrThrGlnSerLeuLys 151015 CAGCTGGAAGAGAGGGCTGCCCGGAACGTCTCTCAAGTTTCCAAGAAC96 GlnLeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnValSerGlnValSerLysAsn 202530 TTGGAAAGCCACCACGGTGACCAGATGGCGCAGAAATCCCAGTCCACG144 LeuGluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThr 354045 CAGATTTCACAGGAACTGGAGGAACTTCGAGCTGAACAGCAGAGATTG192 GlnIleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeu 505560 AAATCTCAGGACTTGGAGCTGTCCTGGAACCTGAACGGGCTTCAAGCA240 LysSerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAla 65707580 GATCTGAGCAGCTTCAAGTCCCAGGAATTGAACGAGAGGAACGAAGCT288 AspLeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAla 859095 TCAGATTTGCTGGAAAGACTCCGCGAGGAGGTGACAAAGCTAAGGATG336 SerAspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGluValThrLysLeuArgMet 100105110 GAGTTGCAGGTCTCCAGCGGCTTTGTGTGCAACACGTGCCCTGAAAAG384 GluLeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCysAsnThrCysProGluLys 115120125 TGGATCAATTTCBAACGCAAGTGCTACTACTTCGGCAAGGGCACCAAG432 TrpIleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLys 130135140 CAGTGGGTCCACGCCCGGTATGCCTGTGACGACATGGAAGGGCAGCTG480 GlnTrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeu 145150155160 GTCAGCATCCACAGCCCGGAG501 ValSerIleHisSerProGlu 165 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 167 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: MetGluGluGlyGlnTyrSerAspTrpAspThrThrGlnSerLeuLys 151015 GlnLeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnValSerGlnValSerLysAsn 202530 LeuGluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThr 354045 GlnIleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeu 505560 LysSerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAla 65707580 AspLeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAla 859095 SerAspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGluValThrLysLeuArgMet 100105110 GluLeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCysAsnThrCysProGluLys 115120125 TrpIleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLys 130135140 GlnTrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeu 145150155160 ValSerIleHisSerProGlu 165 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 498 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucldic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 1..498 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13: ATGAATCCTCCAAGCCAGGACTGGGACACCACACAGAGTCTAAAACAG48 MetAsnProProSerGlnAspTrpAspThrThrGlnSerLeuLysGln 151015 CTGGAAGAGAGGGCTGCCCGGAACGTCTCTCAAGTTTCCAAGAACTTG96 LeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnValSerGlnValSerLysAsnLeu 202530 GAAAGCCACCACGGTGACCAGATGGCGCAGAAATCCCAGTCCACGCAG144 GluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThrGln 354045 ATTTCACAGGAACTGGAGGAACTTCGAGCTGAACAGCAGAGATTGAAA192 IleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeuLys 505560 TCTCAGGACTTGGAGCTGTCCTGGAACCTGAACGGGCTTCAAGCAGAT240 SerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAsp 65707580 CTGAGCAGCTTCAAGTCCCAGGAATTGAACGAGAGGAACGAAGCTTCA288 LeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAlaSer 859095 GATTTGCTGGAAAGACTCCGCGAGGAGGTGACAAAGCTAAGGATGGAG336 AspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGluValThrLysLeuArgMetGlu 100105110 TTGCAGGTCTCCAGCGGCTTTGTGTGCAACACGTGCCCTGAAAAGTGG384 LeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCysAsnThrCysProGluLysTrp 115120125 ATCAATTTCCAACGCAAGTGCTACTACTTCGGCAAGGGCACCAAGCAG432 IleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLysGln 130135140 TGGGTCCACGCCCGGTATGCCTGTGACGACATGGAAGGGCAGCTGGTC480 TrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeuVal 145150155160 AGCATCCACAGCCCGGAG498 SerIleHisSerProGlu 165 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 166 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14: MetAsnProProSerGlnAspTrpAspThrThrGlnSerLeuLysGln 151015 LeuGluGluArgAlaAlaArgAsnValSerGlnValSerLysAsnLeu 202530 GluSerHisHisGlyAspGlnMetAlaGlnLysSerGlnSerThrGln 354045 IleSerGlnGluLeuGluGluLeuArgAlaGluGlnGlnArgLeuLys 505560 SerGlnAspLeuGluLeuSerTrpAsnLeuAsnGlyLeuGlnAlaAsp 65707580 LeuSerSerPheLysSerGlnGluLeuAsnGluArgAsnGluAlaSer 859095 AspLeuLeuGluArgLeuArgGluGluValThrLysLeuArgMetGlu 100105110 LeuGlnValSerSerGlyPheValCysAsnThrCysProGluLysTrp 115120125 IleAsnPheGlnArgLysCysTyrTyrPheGlyLysGlyThrLysGln 130135140 TrpValHisAlaArgTyrAlaCysAspAspMetGluGlyGlnLeuVal 144150155160 SerIleHisSerProGlu 165 __________________________________________________________________________

## Claims

1. A purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule which codes upon expression a soluble isoform of CD23, said nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

2. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said nucleic acid molecule has a sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:3.

3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said nucleic acid molecule has a sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:5.

4. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said nucleic acid molecule has a sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:11.

5. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 wherein said nucleic acid molecule has a sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:13.

6. A procaryotic or eucaryotic host cell transformed or transfected with the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 in a manner allowing the host cell to express soluble CD23.

7. A biologically functional circular plasmid or viral DNA vector including the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.

8. A procaryotic or eucaryotic host cell stably transformed or transfected with a DNA vector according to claim 7.