Rockville, Maryland and Glasgow, United Kingdom (Human Genome Sciences)-- A team of scientists working at Human Genome Sciences, Inc. in Rockville, Maryland, and the CRC Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, in Glasgow, Scotland, announced the discovery of a new protein that blocks a key receptor on a type of cell that induces allergic reactions. The protein is called Met-Chemokine Beta Seven, or Met-Ckb 7. The discovery of this protein is described in a paper published in the February 1, 2000 issue of the Journal of Immunology.

Met-Chemokine Beta Seven interferes with the function of a cell type, called an eosinophil, that plays a central role in asthma and allergic reactions. During allergic reactions, eosinophils migrate to the lungs and trigger many of the symptoms of asthma and allergy. The newly discovered protein blocks eosinophil migration by binding to a structure on the surface of the cells. Once blocked, the ability of eosinophils to induce asthma and allergic symptoms is greatly reduced.

Craig A. Rosen, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, at Human Genome Sciences, Inc., said, "I believe that working with our colleagues in Scotland, we have made a significant advance in understanding how the body naturally controls asthma and allergic reactions. I hope that our newly found knowledge of the body's own defense will help those who suffer from these serious diseases. Childhood asthma and allergies in children and adults are among the fastest growing diseases that affect large segments of the population worldwide."

Dr. Gerry Graham, Group Head of Stem Cell Biology at the CRC Beatson Institute, said, "It is very rewarding that our work for The Cancer Research Campaign in Scotland, which is aimed at helping cancer patients, might also benefit asthma patients."

Dr. Robert Nibbs, Senior Research Fellow at the CRC Beatson Institute, said, "This is teamwork at its best with scientists working together across different fields and countries for the common good."

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, asthma affected an estimated 17 million Americans, of whom 4.8 million are children under the age of 18. Among 5 to 24 year olds, the asthma death rate nearly doubled from 1980 to 1993. In addition, estimates from a skin test survey suggest that allergies affect more than 50 million people in the U.S.

The discovery is a result of a collaboration between HGS and the CRC Beatson Institute for Cancer Research. HGS scientists teamed up with specialists in chemokine receptor research at the CRC Beatson Institute.

Scientists around the world have long sought a substance to block a structure on the surface of asthma and allergy-inducing eosinophils. The structure, called the CCR3 receptor, is also present on other important cells implicated in allergy, including basophils, mast cells and Th2 lymphocytes. The CCR3 receptor serves to recruit, or localize, these cells during an allergic process and deliver signals to the cells resulting in cellular activation.

The discovery and description of a potent inhibitor of the CCR3 receptor -- a protein called Met-Chemokine Beta Seven, or Ckb 7 -- is contained in the newly published manuscript entitled "CCR3 Antagonism by the b-chemokine MIP-4, a property strongly enhanced by an amino-terminal alanine-methionine swap" and is published in the February 1, 2000 issue of the Journal of Immunology. This paper may be accessed at http://www.jimmunol.org.

HGS is continuing to research this protein and is evaluating possible avenues of development for a new drug based on the protein. HGS may either develop the drug in its own facilities or seek partners to share its development. Before any drug may be sold, it must undergo an extensive series of pre-clinical tests and clinical tests and be approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).