| abstract |
The present invention relates to isolated and/or recombinant nucleic acids which encode primate MAdCAMs, and to proteins or polypeptides referred to herein as isolated and/or recombinant primate MAdCAMs. The invention further relates to recombinant nucleic acid constructs, comprising a nucleic acid which encodes a primate MAdCAM of the present invention, a portion thereof, or a variant; to host cells comprising such constructs, useful for the production of recombinant proteins; the use of nucleic acids and/or proteins in assays to identify inhibitors (e.g., antagonists) of primate MAdCAM function; and to antibodies reactive with primate MAdCAM, which are useful in in vitro methods, diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications. The invention also relates to the treatment of individuals, particularly humans, suffering from a disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease) associated with leukocyte recruitment to the gastrointestinal tract or other tissues, for example, as a result of binding of leukocytes to cells expressing the molecule MAdCAM (gut-associated endothelium), comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an agent, such as an antibody which inhibits the binding of leukocytes to MAdCAM. |