Composition and method for trating inflammatory disorders

Abstract

Inhibitors of IL-22 are disclosed as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using same. The inhibitors include IL-22 antibodies and are useful for treating inflammatory disorders.

1 . An antibody which immunologically reacts with an IL 22 protein.  
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a neutralizing antibody.  
     
     
         3 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         4 . The antibody of  claim 3 , wherein the monoclonal is a human monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         5 . The antibody of  claim 3 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         6 . The antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds specifically to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an IL-22 antibody which immunologically reacts with an IL 22 protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein said antibody is a neutralizing antibody.  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a pathological condition in a subject associated with IL-22 activity comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that inhibits levels of IL-22 activity, thereby treating said pathological condition.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said pathological condition is selected from the group consisting of septicemia, autoimmune disorders and the regulation of inflammation and acute phase responses.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said autoimmune disorders is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, diabetes and psoriasis.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said regulation of inflammation and acute phase responses is selected from the group consisting of wound healing processes, cholesterol metabolism, oxygen free radical injury, ischemia, atherosclerosis and allergies.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said agent is a neutralizing IL-22 antibody.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said agent is a small molecule.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said subject is a human.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating symptoms associated with arthritis, said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an IL-22 antibody.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said IL-22 antibody is administered therapeutically.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said IL-22 antibody is administered prophylactically.  
     
     
         21 . A method of enhancing a subject's immune response to an antigen, comprising the steps of administering to said subject an immunogenic amount of said antigen and an immunogenicity-augmenting amount of IL-22 in concurrent or sequential combination with said antigen such that said subject's immune response is enhanced.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said subject is a human.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said administration of IL-22 is concurrent.  
     
     
         24 . A method of treating a pathological condition in a subject in need of IL-22 modulation, comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that modulates IL-22 activity, such that the pathological condition in said subject is treated.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said pathological condition is an infectious disease state.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said infectious disease state is initiated by an organism selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.  
     
     
         27 . A method of treating inflammatory pathology in the kidney of a subject comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that modulates IL-22 activity, such that said inflammatory pathology of said subject is treated.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said inflammatory pathology is a result of necrosis due to ischemia.  
     
     
         29 . A method of treating cancer in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that modulates IL-22 activity, such that cancer is treated.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said cancer is renal cell carcinoma.  
     
     
         31 . A method of remodeling kidney tissue comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that modulates IL-22 activity such that remodeling of kidney tissue occurs.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said remodeling is performed ex vivo.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said remodeling is performed in vivo.