Amgen Inc.

Other

Charles Frederick Morris

Glenn Francis Pierce

Regina Mae Housley

Larry B Tsai

Shi-Yuan Meng

Based on extensive in vivo studies in animals, it has now been discovered that KGF stimulates proliferation, growth and differentiation in various cells of epithelial tissue, besides keratinocytes. This better understanding of the biological effects of KGF in vivo enables the use of this polypeptide as a therapeutic agent, suitably formulated in a pharmaceutical composition, for the specific treatment of disease states and medical conditions afflicting tissues and organs such as the dermal adnexae, the liver, the lung, and the gastrointestinal tract.

Therapeutic uses of keratinocyte growth factor

Disclosed are novel circular DNA plasmids useful as vectors in recombinant methods to secure high levels of E.coli expression of exogenous genes. Plasmids of the invention comprise discrete DNA sequences operative to: (1) confer upon the plasmid the capacity for autonomous replication in a host cell; (2) control autonomous plasmid replication in relation to the temperature at which host cell cultures are maintained; (3) stabilize maintenance of the plasmid in host cell populations; (4) direct synthesis of a protein product indicative of plasmid maintenance in a host cell population; (5) provide, in series, a plurality of restriction endonuclease recognition sites, unique to the plasmid and facilitative of exogenous gene DNA sequence insertion; and (6) terminate mRNA transcription of adjacent DNA sequences and situated so as to terminate transcription of exogenous gene sequences inserted within the plasmid at said unique restriction endonuclease restriction sites. Plasmids preferably have a size of less than 5.0 kilobases (exclusive of any inserted exogenous gene) and optionally include a DNA sequence operative to provide a strong promoter of mRNA transcription functionally associated with a temperature sensitive repressor sequence. A presently preferred embodiment of novel plasmids of the invention is plasmid pCFM414 (A.T.C.C. No. 40076).

DNA plasmids

A signal peptide sequence and nucleic acids encoding this sequence which are useful for improving the secretion efficiency of NGF polypeptides are provided. Also provided is a method for preparing Met-less NGF polypeptides.

Growing community of inventors

Newbury Park, CA, United States of America

Charles Frederick Morris