Method for the treatment of fibrosis

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of treating fibrosis in a human or animal subject. The method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody to an integrin or fragment thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating fibrosis in a subject with a fibrotic condition, comprising administering to a patient a pharmaceutical composition, the pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of an antibody molecule comprising antigen binding regions derived from the light and heavy chain variable regions of an antibody to an integrin and fragment thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting essentially of an anti-α1β1 antibody, anti-α2β1 antibody, and anti-α6β1 antibody.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is an anti-β antibody.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is an anti-alpha I domain antibody.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the antibody is ______ (ATCC deposit no. ______).  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the alpha I domain comprises an amino acid sequence of at least 6 contiguous amino acids, wherein said contiguous sequence is found within the sequence of FIG. 5.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the contiguous sequence is Val-Gln-Arg-Gly-Gly-Arg.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrotic condition is pulmonary fibrosis.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of a human antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody and fragments thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , wherein the antibody is monoclonal.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , wherein the antibody is polyclonal.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , wherein the composition is administered parenterally.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for said pharmaceutical composition.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to any one of claims  1 - 8 , wherein the subject is a human or animal subject.