Methods and compositions for the treatment of psoriasis

Abstract

This invention provides methods of treating psoriasis which entail eliciting an immune response in an individual against an antigen aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue, such as a ganglioside, in an individual. The anti-ganglioside immune response is elicited by administration of an antigen such as a ganglioside, an anti-idiotype moiety for a ganglioside, or a polynucleotide encoding an anti-idiotype moiety. Also described is a strategy for developing additional compositions for psoriasis. The compositions elicit an immunological response against a target antigen present on psoriatic tissue, which in turn can be detected using antibody affinity-purified from the serum of the treated subject. The presence of the immunological response correlates positively with control or resolution of the psoriatic symptoms.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating psoriasis in an individual, comprising administering a composition comprising an antigen that shares immunological characteristics of an antigen that is aberrantly expressed in human psoriatic tissue, wherein an immunological response specific for the aberrantly expressed antigen is elicited in the individual.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is a human.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen administered is a ganglioside, and the immune response is an anti-ganglioside immune response.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ganglioside that is administered is selected from the group consisting of GM2, GM3, GD1b, GD2, 9-O-acetyl GD2, GD3, GD3 lactone, 9-O-acetyl GD3, and GT3.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ganglioside that is administered is GD2 or 9-O-acetyl GD2.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen administered is am anti-idiotype moiety for a ganglioside.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-idiotype moiety is 1A7, 4B5, or BEC-2.  
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing a composition for use in the treatment of psoriasis, comprising: raising an anti-idiotype antibody against a monoclonal antibody that binds an antigenic determinant that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue, wherein the anti-idiotype antibody is capable of eliciting an immunological response in a human against the antigenic determinant.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the antigenic determinant is identified using the monoclonal antibody against which the anti-idiotype is raised.  
     
     
         10 . A method of screening an immunogenic composition for use in the treatment of psoriasis in humans, comprising the steps of: 
 a) administering to a plurality of human subjects having psoriasis an immunogenic composition comprising an immunogenic form of: 
 i) an antigenic determinant that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue;  
 ii) a monoclonal anti-idiotype antibody for an antigenic determinant that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue; or  
 iii) an expression vector encoding either i) or ii); and  
   b) correlating the progression of the psoriasis in the human subjects treated in step a) in relation to that in untreated human subjects having psoriasis, with the effectiveness of the immunogenic composition.    
     
     
         11 . A method of screening an immunogenic composition for use in the treatment of psoriasis in humans, comprising the steps of: 
 a) administering to a plurality of human subjects having psoriasis an immunogenic composition, comprising an immunogenic form of: 
 i) an antigenic determinant that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue;  
 ii) a monoclonal anti-idiotype antibody for an antigenic determinant that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue; or  
 iii) an expression vector encoding either i) or ii); and  
   b) determining the extent of an immunological response against the antigenic determinant in each subject treated in step a); and    c) correlating the progression of the psoriasis in relation to the extent of the immunological response against the antigenic determinant in each subject with the effectiveness of the immunogenic composition.    
     
     
         12 . The screening method according to  claim 10 , wherein the antigen that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue is a ganglioside.  
     
     
         13 . The screening method according to  claim 11 , wherein the antigen that is aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue is a ganglioside.  
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising 
 a) a composition packaged in a container and comprising an immunogenic form of a component selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) a ganglioside;  
 ii) an anti-idiotype for a ganglioside; and  
 iii) an expression vector encoding an anti-idiotype for a ganglioside; and  
   b) written instructions for using the composition in the treatment of psoriasis.    
     
     
         15 . The use of a component selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) a ganglioside;    ii) an anti-idiotype for a ganglioside; and    iii) an expression vector encoding an anti-idiotype for a ganglioside; in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of psoriasis.    
     
     
         16 . The use according to  claim 15 , wherein the psoriasis is classified within the group consisting of gluttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, plaque-type psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.  
     
     
         17 . The use according to  claim 15 , wherein the psoriasis is chronic plaque psoriasis.  
     
     
         18 . The use according to  claim 15 , wherein the component is a ganglioside selected from the group consisting of GM2, GM3, GD1b, GD2, 9-O-acetyl GD2, GD3, GD3 lactone, 9-O-acetyl GD3, and GT3.  
     
     
         19 . The use according to  claim 15 , wherein the component is an anti-idiotype selected from the group consisting of 1A7, 4B5, and BEC-2.  
     
     
         20 . A topical formulation comprising 1A7.