Use of interleukin-22 in treating viral hepatitis
This invention relates to a use of IL-22 in the treatment of viral hepatitis. As illustrated in the examples of this invention, IL-22 can significantly reduce liver damage caused by hepatitis virus, and can significantly reduce the increase of transaminase ALT/AST induced by hepatitis virus. In addition, the IL-22 dimer of this invention can effectively treat viral hepatitis.
1. A polypeptide comprising interleukin 22 (IL-22) and an Fc-fragment of human IgG2, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
2. A polypeptide comprising interleukin 22 (IL-22) and an Fc-fragment of human IgG2, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
3. A polypeptide comprising interleukin 22 (IL-22) and an Fc-fragment of human IgG2, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
4. An interleukin 22 (IL-22) dimer comprising two IL-22 monomers of a polypeptide comprising IL-22 and an Fc fragment of human IgG2, wherein the Fc fragment comprises amino acid residues 163-385 of SEQ ID NO:2.
5. The interleukin 22 (IL-22) dimer of claim 4 , wherein the IL-22 monomers are connected via a disulfide bond.
6. The interleukin 22 (IL-22) dimer of claim 5 , wherein the IL-22 monomers are connected by two to four disulfide bonds.
7. The interleukin 22 (IL-22) dimer of claim 6 , wherein the IL-22 dimer retains the biological activity of IL-22 and has a serum half-life of at least twice of the half-life of the IL-22 monomer.
8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the interleukin 22 (IL-22) dimer of claim 4 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.