Janus family kinases and identification of immune modulators

US7070972B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• John J. O'Shea · Silver Spring, US
• Warren J. Leonard · Bethesda, US
• James A. Johnston · Windham, US
• Sarah M. Russell · Melbourne, AU
• Daniel W. McVicar · Charles Town, US
• Masaru Kawamura · Tokyo, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 13, 1995
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2006
• Expiry date: Jan 13, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K48/00
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An isolated polynucleotide encodes JAK-3 protein. JAK-3 protein is a protein tyrosine kinase having a molecular weight of approximately 125 kDa which has tandem non-identical catalytic domains, lacks SH2 or SH3 domains, and is expressed in NK cells and stimulated or transformed T cells, but not in resting T cells. The protein itself and antibodies to this protein are also presented. Further, methods of identifying therapeutic agents for modulating the immune system make use of the foregoing.