William K Baldwin

US Patent:

56793456, Oct 21, 1997

Filed:

Jun 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/253279

Inventors:

Alfred P. Sanfilippo - Baltimore MD
William M. Baldwin - Baltimore MD
Robert B. Brauer - Baltimore MD

Assignee:

The Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

C07K 1618
C07K 14435
A61K 39395
A61K 3817

US Classification:

4241301

Abstract:

Interference with formation of the complement-based membrane attack complex (MAC) will mitigate or even prevent tissue injury associated with the effects of complement in inflammation and graft rejection. Passive treatment of xenograft recipients at the time of and after transplantation with antibody against C-6, which interrupts the sequence of binding steps that form MAC, has been observed to suppress hyperacute xenograft rejection with no adverse signs or symptoms in the xenograft recipient. The present invention provides a method for interfering with MAC formation in transplant recipients, by administering compounds which interrupt one or more of the binding reactions between C5b and C6-C9, so that the MAC cannot form.

US Patent:

61404721, Oct 31, 2000

Filed:

Nov 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/201075

Inventors:

Ariella M. Rosengard - Gladwyne PA
Joseph M. Ahearn - Baltimore MD
Alfred P. Sanfilippo - Baltimore MD
William M. Baldwin - Baltimore MD

Assignee:

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

C07K 1646

US Classification:

5303873

Abstract:

Disclosed are chimeric proteins that are useful for inhibiting complement. The chimeric protein termed VCPFc is a fusion protein in which (i) an immunoglobulin Fc region is fused to (ii) a polypeptide that comprises a portion of a vaccinia virus complement control protein which binds complement components C4b and C3b, but not iC3b rosettes. This protein can be used in xenograft transplantation methods (e. g. , by treating the donor mammal or organ) and in methods for treating complement-mediated disorders (e. g. , inflammation) generally. In a second chimeric protein, a transmembrane anchoring domain is fused to a polypeptide that comprises a portion of a vaccinia virus complement control protein which binds complement components C4b and C3b, but not iC3b rosettes. The transmembrane anchoring domain can be, for example, short consensus regions 3 through 15 of human complement receptor 2 protein. Expression of the transmembrane-anchored fusion protein in a transgenic animal provides a well-suited organ donor for xenograft transplantation.

US Patent:

58437789, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Jun 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/874978

Inventors:

Ariella M. Rosengard - Gladwyne PA
Joseph M. Ahearn - Baltimore MD
Alfred P. Sanfilippo - Baltimore MD
William M. Baldwin - Baltimore MD

Assignee:

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

C12P 2100
C12N 1539
C12N 510
C07H 2104

US Classification:

435325

Abstract:

Disclosed are chimeric proteins that are useful for inhibiting complement. The chimeric protein termed VCPFc is a fusion protein in which (i) an immunoglobulin Fc region is fused to (ii) a polypeptide that comprises a portion of a vaccinia virus complement control protein which binds complement components C4b and C3b, but not iC3b rosettes. This protein can be use in xenograft transplantation methods (e. g. , by treating the donor mammal or organ) and in methods for treating complement-mediated disorders (e. g. , inflammation) generally. In a second chimeric protein, a transmembrane anchoring domain is fused to a polypeptide that comprises a portion of a vaccinia virus complement control protein which binds complement components C4b and C3b, but not iC3b rosettes. The transmembrane anchoring domain can be, for example, short consensus regions 3 through 15 of human complement receptor 2 protein. Expression of the transmembrane-anchored fusion protein in a transgenic animal provides a well-suited organ donor for xenograft transplantation.