CD163-binding conjugates
The present invention relates to haptoglobin-haemoglobin (Hp-Hb) complex or a part thereof or a mimic thereof being operably linked to a substance and capable of binding a CD163 receptor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a CD163 variant, membrane bound or soluble, capable of binding at least one haptoglobin-haemoglobin (Hp-Hb) complex, and the use of the Hp-Hb complex and the CD163 receptor for therapy.
1. An antibody operably linked to a substance, wherein the antibody is capable of binding CD163 and wherein the substance is a prophylactic or therapeutic medicament, wherein the antibody is capable of activating uptake into a CD163-presenting cell, and wherein the antibody is capable of binding to a region in one or more of the SRCR domains D1-D9 of CD163.
2. An antibody according to claim 1 wherein the antibody is a Fab antibody.
3. An antibody according to claim 1 wherein binding of the antibody to CD163 elicits uptake of the antibody-linked substance into a CD163-presenting cell.
4. An antibody according to claim 1 , wherein said antibody is capable of binding to a region in one or more of the SRCR domains D1-D9 of CD163, wherein said domains corresponds to the following amino acids in a translated cDNA sequence with Genbank accession no Z22968 (SEQ ID NO:26 and 27): D1: aa 46-146, D2: aa 154-253, D3: aa 261-360, D4: aa 368-467, D5: aa 473-572, D6: aa 578-677, D7: aa 714-814, D8: aa 819-920 and D9: aa 924-1023.
5. The antibody of claim 1 wherein the substance is a therapeutic medicament.
6. The antibody of claim 1 wherein the substance is an anti-inflammatory medicament.
7. An antibody according to claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic or therapeutic medicament is selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial agent, an anti-cancer drug, an anti-HIV drug, a medicament against lymphomas and an antigen.
8. An antibody according to claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic or therapeutic medicament is an antibody.
9. An antibody according to claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic or therapeutic medicament binds a target desired to be cleared from plasma.
10. An antibody according to claim 9 , wherein the target desired to be cleared from plasma is myoglobin.
11. The antibody according to claim 4 wherein the antibody is capable of binding to a region in SRCR domains I-IV of CD163.
12. The antibody of claim 1 , which is capable of binding to SRCR domain D3 or D4 of CD163.
13. The antibody of claim 1 wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
14. The antibody of claim 1 which is capable of inhibiting the binding of the Hp-Hb complex to CD163.