Compositions and methods involving endogenous retrovirus proteins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878002-B2
Application number	US-201414762856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

This disclosure describes methods and compositions that involve endogenous retrovirus proteins as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic agents. The detection of endogenous retrovirus envelope proteins on a cell surface can indicate early neoplasticity of the cell. Antibody compositions that specifically bind to cell-surface-expressed endogenous retrovirus proteins may be used in such diagnostic methods. Overexpression of the endogenous retrovirus proteins can slow cell growth and decrease cell viability.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of slowing cellular growth, the method comprising: overexpressing an endogenous HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus envelope protein in at least one cell, wherein the cell expresses p53 and expression of the retrovirus envelope protein is controlled by p53; and exposing the cell to conditions that upregulate expression of p53.

2. A method of decreasing cell viability, the method comprising: overexpressing an endogenous HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus envelope protein in at least one cell, wherein the cell expresses p53 and expression of the retrovirus envelope protein is controlled by p53; and exposing the cell to conditions that upregulate expression of p53.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conditions that upregulate expression of p53 comprise cellular stress.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein overexpressing the HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus endogenous envelope protein comprises introducing into the cell a polynucleotide that comprises a coding region that encodes a functional portion of the endogenous HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus envelope protein operably linked to a p53 response element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mammal is a human.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conditions that upregulate expression of p53 comprise cellular stress.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein overexpressing the HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus endogenous envelope protein comprises introducing into the cell a polynucleotide that comprises a coding region that encodes a functional portion of the HR1-HR2 superfamily retrovirus endogenous envelope protein operably linked to a p53 response element.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject is a mammal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the mammal is a human.

Assignees

• Univ Minnesota

Inventors

• Leary Robyn Lynn
• Bagchi Anindya
• Sarver Aaron Lyman

Classifications

• C12N2740/10033

  Use of viral protein as therapeutic agent other than vaccine, e.g. apoptosis inducing or anti-inflammatory · CPC title

• A61K48/00

  Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy · CPC title

• C12Q1/702

  for retroviruses · CPC title

• C12Q1/68

  involving nucleic acids · CPC title

• A61K38/162 Primary

  from virus · CPC title