Hybrid cytokines

A DNA molecule that encodes a hybrid cytokine, the hybrid cytokine comprising:

• 1) four α-helical sequences selected from an α-helical sequence derived from a cytokine, the cytokine being selected from the group consisting of L, G, I, E, C and O;
• and 2) three linking sequences selected from at least a portion of a linking sequence from any of the foregoing cytokines, wherein at least one of the four α-helical sequences is from a different cytokine than at least one other of the four α-helical sequences, said DNA molecule comprising:
• (A) complementary strands;
• (B) DNA molecules which hybridize, under conditions of high stringency, to a probe consisting of any of the foregoing DNA molecules or their complementary sequences;
• and
• (C) DNA molecules which would hybridize to the DNA molecules set forth above or a probe derived from a DNA molecule encoding any of the foregoing hybrid cytokines, but for a degeneracy of genetic code.

A DNA molecule that encodes a hybrid cytokine, the hybrid cytokine comprising:

• 1) three α-helical sequences selected from an α-helical sequence derived from a cytokine, the cytokine being selected from the group consisting of L, G, I, E, C, O;
• and 2) three linking sequences selected from at least a portion of a linking sequence from any of the foregoing cytokines, wherein at least one of the three α-helical sequences is from a different cytokine than at least one other of the three α-helical sequences, said DNA molecule comprising:
• (A) complementary strands;
• (B) DNA molecules which hybridize, under conditions of high stringency, to a probe consisting of any of the foregoing DNA molecules or their complementary sequences;
• and
• (C) DNA molecules which would hybridize to the DNA molecules set forth above, but for a degeneracy of genetic code.

A DNA molecule that encodes a hybrid cytokine, the hybrid cytokine comprising 1) four α-helical sequences selected from an α-helical sequence derived from a cytokine, the cytokine being selected from the group consisting of L, G, I, E, C and O;

• and 2) three linking sequences selected from at least a portion of a linking sequence from any of the foregoing cytokines wherein at least one of the four α-helical sequences is from a different cytokine than at least one other of the four α-helical sequences, said DNA molecule comprising:
• (A) complementary strands;
• (B) DNA molecules which hybridize, under conditions of high stringency, to a probe consisting of any of the foregoing DNA molecules or their complementary sequences;
• and
• (C) DNA molecules which would hybridize to the DNA molecules set forth above or a probe derived from a DNA molecule encoding any of the foregoing hybrid cytokines, but for a degeneracy of genetic code, and
• wherein, said hybrid cytokine encoded by said DNA has the ability to stimulate the proliferation of the IL-6 dependent cell line 7TD1.