MCP-1 binding nucleic acids

1. An L-nucleic acid that binds MCP-1, comprising in 5′→3′ direction, a first stretch Box B1A, a second stretch Box B2A, a third stretch Box B3, a fourth stretch Box B2B, a fifth stretch Box B4, a sixth stretch Box B5A, a seventh stretch Box B6, an eighth stretch Box B5B and a ninth stretch Box B1B, wherein

a. the first stretch Box B1A and the ninth stretch Box B1B optionally hybridize with each other to form a double-stranded structure;

b. the second strand Box B2A and the fourth Box B2B optionally hybridize with each other to form a double-stranded structure;

c. the sixth stretch Box B5A and the eighth Box B5B optionally hybridize with each other to form a double-stranded structure;

d. the first stretch Box B1A comprises GURCUGC, GKSYGC, KBBSC or BNGC;

e. the second stretch Box B2A comprises GKMGU;

f. the third stretch Box B3 comprises KRRAR;

g. the fourth stretch Box B2B comprises ACKMC;

h. the fifth stretch Box B4 comprises CURYGA, CUWAUGA, CWRMGACW or UGCCAGUG;

i. the sixth stretch Box B5A comprises GGY or CWGC;

j. the seventh stretch Box B6 comprises YAGA, CKAAU or CCUUUAU;

k. the eighth stretch Box B5B comprises GCYR or GCWG; and

l. the ninth stretch Box B1B comprises GCAGCAC, GCRSMC, GSVVM or GCNV.

2. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the third stretch Box B3 comprises GAGAA or UAAAA.

3. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the fifth stretch Box B4 comprises CAGCGACU or CAACGACU.

4. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the seventh stretch Box B6 comprises UAGA.

5. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein

a) the first stretch Box B1A comprises GURCUGC and the ninth stretch Box B1B comprises GCAGCAC;

b) the first stretch Box B1A comprises GKSYGC and the ninth stretch Box B1B comprises GCRSMC;

c) the first stretch Box B1A comprises KBBSC and the ninth stretch Box B1B comprises GSVVM; or

d) the first stretch Box B1A comprises BNGC and the ninth stretch Box B1B comprises GCNV.

6. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the second stretch Box B2A comprises GKMGU and the fourth stretch Box B2B comprises ACKMC.

7. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein

a) the sixth stretch Box B5A comprises GGY and the eighth stretch Box B5B comprises GCYR; or

b) the sixth stretch Box B5A comprises CWGC and the eighth stretch Box B5B comprises GCWG.

8. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises one of SEQ ID NOs:56 to 61, SEQ ID NOs:67 to 71 or SEQ ID NO:73.

9. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid binds eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-2 or MCP-3.

10. The nucleic acid according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a high molecular weight moiety or a modification increases residence time of said nucleic acid in an animal or a human.

11. The nucleic acid according to claim 10 , wherein the high molecular weight moiety is a HES or a PEG.

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or pharmaceutically active agent.

13. A complex comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-2 or MCP-3.

14. A method of screening for a chemokine antagonist or a chemokine agonist comprising the following steps:

providing a candidate chemokine antagonist or a candidate chemokine agonist,

providing a nucleic acid according to claim 1 ,

providing a test system which provides a signal in the presence of a chemokine antagonist or a chemokine agonist, and

determining whether the candidate chemokine antagonist is a chemokine antagonist or whether the candidate chemokine agonist is a chemokine agonist,

wherein the chemokine is eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-2 or MCP-3.

15. A method of screening for a chemokine agonist or a chemokine antagonist comprising the following steps:

providing a chemokine immobilised to a phase,

providing the nucleic acid according to claim 1 , optionally which is labelled,

adding a candidate chemokine agonist or a candidate chemokine antagonist, and

determining whether the candidate chemokine agonist is a chemokine agonist or whether the candidate chemokine antagonist is a chemokine antagonist,

wherein the chemokine is eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-2 or MCP-3.

16. A kit for detecting eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-2or MCP-3 comprising the nucleic acid according to claim 1 .

17. A method of detecting the nucleic acid according to claim 1 ; in a sample, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sample containing the nucleic acid according to claim 1 ;

b) providing a capture probe at least partially complementary to a first part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 , and a detection probe partially complementary to a second part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 , or, alternatively, the capture probe is at least partially complementary to a second part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and the detection probe is at least partially complementary to the first part of the nucleic acid according to claim 1 ;

c) allowing the capture probe and the detection probe to react either simultaneously or in any order sequentially with the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or part thereof to form a complex of the capture probe, detection probe and the nucleic acid of claim 1 ;

d) optionally detecting whether the capture probe is hybridized to the nucleic acid according to claim 1 of said sample; and

e) detecting the complex of step c).