Immune cell cytokine

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptide of the present invention has been putatively identified as a cytokine, more particularly, the polypeptide of the present invention has been identified as an immune cell cytokine-like potential hormone, sometimes hereinafter referred to as "HLHDC84". The invention also relates to inhibiting the action of such polypeptides. Human Immune Cell Cytokine-like Hormone polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide in a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells of the immune system. Antagonists against such polypeptides are also disclosed. The antagonists include antibodies which may be employed as a therapeutic to treat leukemia and lymphoblastoma, may also be used as imaging agents and diagnostic agents for detecting expression levels of the protein. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting diseases related to mutations in the nucleic acid sequences and altered concentrations of the polypeptides.