| 摘要 |
This invention concerns the molecular cloning and characterization of nucleic acids encoding molecules, referred to as relaxin-related factors, that are related to the hormone relaxin and to the insulin family of ligands. More specifically, this invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding relaxin-related factor-1. The invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding relaxin-related factor-2. The present invention also provides a nucleotide sequence that encodes a relaxin-related factor, as well as cells which are genetically engineered to produce the relaxin-related factor. The invention further provides for an isolated relaxin-related factor substantially free of other proteins, as well as for an antibody which specifically binds the relaxin-related factor. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising a relaxin-related factor, or an antibody which specifically binds the relaxin-related factor, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as for methods of treatment of a human or animal body. The invention further provides for a relaxin-related factor ligandbody which comprises a relaxin-related factor fused to an immunoglobulin constant region. The invention further provides for a method of treatment comprising administering a relaxin-related factor ligandbody to a human or animal body. |
