The University of Texas System

Zymogenetics, Inc.

Robert S Munford

Catherine L Hall

Eric J Hansen

Jussi Mertsola

Francis J Grant

Patrick J O'Hara

Frederick S Hagen

The present invention describes methods of controlling and regulating the inflammatory reaction generated in response to various toxins, immunogens, pathogens and autoimmune insults. The method employs a vector that includes an anti-cytokine protein or antibacterial protein gene under the control of a cytokine responsive promoter. In animal models, adenoviral vectors successfully delivered the vectors to hepatic cells and were subsequently shown to respond only to stimulation by induced cytokines.

Inflammation-induced expression of a recombinant gene

Method for detection of gram-negative bacterial liposaccharides in

Methods are disclosed for producing acyloxyacyl hydrolase. The protein is produced from eukaryotic host cells transformed or transfected with DNA construct(s) containing information necessary to direct the expression of acyloxyacyl hydrolase. The DNA constructs generally include the following operably linked elements: a transcriptional promoter; DNA sequence encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase, the small subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase or the large subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase; and a transcriptional terminator. In addition, isolated DNA sequences encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase and isolated DNA sequences encoding the small or large subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase are disclosed.

Method for producing acyloxyacyl hydrolase

An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids from their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being bound in turn to LPS glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography between about 50,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons. Altered bacterial LPS substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of LPS lipid A are produced. Since the structure of the lipid A moiety is highly conserved, ac

Lipopolysaccharides of reduced toxicity and the production thereof

The invention relates to a method of detecting gram-negative bacterial endotoxin using antibody capture combined with amoebocyte lysate chromogenic detection. The method is highly sensitive and rapid and may be used for detection of specific endotoxin. In a particular application, picogram levels of Haemophilus influenzae are detected in plasma taken from previously infected mammals.

Method for detection of gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides in

An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids from their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being being bound in turn to lipopolysaccharide glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography between about 50,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons, and a molecular weight by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecylsulphate, using reduced molecular weight standards, of approximately 54,000 to 60,000 Daltons. Altered bacterial lipopolysaccharide substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of lipopolysaccharide lipid A are produced. Since the structure of the lipid A moiety is highly conserved, acyloxyacyl hydrolase may act on lipopolysaccharide of many different pathogenic bacteria (for example Salmonella, Escherichia, Hemophilus, and Neisseria). Such altered bacterial lipopolysaccharide, having toxicity reduced more than immunostimulatory activity, may be therapeutically useful: (1) as vaccines to prevent Gram-negative bacterial diseases by inducing antibodies to lipopolysaccharide O-polysaccharide or R-core antigens, (2) as antidotes to treat or prevent Gram-negative bacterial sepsis ('septic shock'), or (3) as adjuvants to enhance formation of antibodies to other antigens. the acyloxyacyl hydrolase itself may be prophylactically or therapeutically useful to detoxify endogenous lipopolysaccharide in patients with Gram-negative bacterial diseases. The enzyme may also be used to remove toxic lipopolysaccharide from therapeutic injectants.

Lipopolysaccharide-specific acyloxyacyl hydrolase

An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids form their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being bound in turn to LPS glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight between about 50,000 daltons and about 70,000 daltons. Altered bacterial LPS substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of LPS lipid A are produced. Since the structure of the lipid A moiety is highly conserved, acyloxyacyl hydrolase may act on LPS of many different pathogenic bacteria (for example Salmonella, Escherichia, Hemophilus, and Neisseria). Such altered bacterial LPS, having toxicity reduced more than immunostimulatory activity, may be therapeutically useful: (1) as vaccines to prevent Gram-negative bacterial diseases by inducing antibodies to LPS 0-polysaccharide or R-core antigens, (2) as antidotes to treat or prevent gram-negative bacterial sepsis ('septic shock'), or (3) as adjuvants to enhance formation of antibodies to other antigens. The acyloxyacyl hydrolase itself may be therapeutically useful to detoxify endogenous LPS in patients with gram-negative bacterial diseases or to remove toxic LPS from therapeutic injectants.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

Robert S Munford