摘要 |
An isolated chemokine is disclosed. The isolated chemokine is expressed preferentially in breast tissue or can be detected in breast milk. It includes from about 100 to about 132 amino acids, has a deduced molecular weight of from about 10 to about 16 kDa, and has a deduced isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7. Antibodies and binding portions thereof recognizing the subject chemokine and peptides which include the antigenic portions of the subject chemokines are described. DNA molecules which encode the subject chemokines as well as nucleic acid molecules which, under stringent conditions, hybridize to nucleic acid molecules encoding the subject chemokines or to a complement thereof are also disclosed. The chemokines, peptides, antibodies and binding portions thereof, and nucleic acid molecules can be used to detect and treat breast disease, such as inflammations, infections, mastitis, benign cystitis, benign hyperplasias, cancer and other malignancies as well as other pathological states of the mammary gland.
|