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AssigneeBolder Biotechnology, Inc.
InventorsGeorge N. Cox III, Daniel H. Doherty
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The growth hormone supergene family comprises greater than 20 structurally related cytokines and growth factors. A general method is provided for creating site-specific, biologically active conjugates of these proteins. The method involves adding cysteine residues to non-essential regions of the proteins or substituting cysteine residues for non-essential amino acids in the proteins using site-directed mutagenesis and then covalently coupling a cysteine-reactive polymer or other type of cysteine-reactive moiety to the proteins via the added cysteine residue. Disclosed herein are preferred sites for adding cysteine residues or introducing cysteine substitutions into the proteins, and the proteins and protein derivatives produced thereby. Also disclosed are therapeutic methods for using the cysteine variants of the invention.
A method to protect an animal from a disease or condition that can be treated by wild-type granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), comprising administering to an animal having said disease or condition a composition comprising a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cysteine mutein.
A method to prevent or treat the occurrence of neutropenia in an animal comprising administering to said animal a composition comprising a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cysteine mutein.
A method to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells in an animal, comprising administering to said animal a composition comprising a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cysteine mutein.
A method for stimulating the expansion and proliferation of peripheral blood progenitor cells in an animal comprising administering to said animal a composition comprising a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cysteine mutein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.