Treatment for asthma

Abstract

A method for the treatment of asthma is disclosed. The method comprises administration of an antibody, polypeptide or other molecule recognizing VLA-4, a protein expressed on the surface of certain leukocytes such as eosinophils.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method for the treatment of asthma comprising administering to a mammal suffering from asthma a composition comprising a chimeric molecule comprising a fibronectin polypeptide and a toxin moiety.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the toxin moiety is selected from the group consisting of Diphtheria toxin A, Pseudomonas Exotoxin, Ricin A, Abrin A, Schigella toxin, and Gelonin.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the toxin moiety is selected from the group consisting of a radionucleotide and a chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is administered intravenously.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is administered in the form of an aerosol by inhalation.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is administered at a dosage so as to provide from 0.05 to 5.0 mg/kg of the chimeric molecule, based on the weight of the mammal.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal at a dosage so as to provide 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg of chimeric molecule, based on the weight of the mammal.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal prior to exposure to an allergen to which the mammal is hypersensitive.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal after exposure to an allergen to which the mammal is hypersensitive.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fibronectin polypeptide comprises an EILDV motif (SEQ ID NO:16).  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fibronectin polypeptide comprises an alternatively spliced non-type III connecting segment.  
     
     
         38 . A chimeric molecule comprising a fibronectin polypeptide and a toxin moiety.  
     
     
         39 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 38 , wherein the toxin moiety is selected from the group consisting of Diphtheria toxin A,  Pseudomonas  Exotoxin, Ricin A, Abrin A,  Schigella  toxin, and Gelonin.  
     
     
         40 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 38 , wherein the toxin moiety is selected from the group consisting of a radionucleotide and a chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         41 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 38 , wherein the fibronectin polypeptide comprises an EILDV motif (SEQ ID NO:16).  
     
     
         42 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 38 , wherein the fibronectin polypeptide comprises an alternatively spliced non-type III connecting segment.