Treating autoimmune diseases with humanized anti-CD401 antibodies

Abstract

The present invention is directed to humanized antibodies which bind human gp39 and their use as therapeutic agents. These humanized antibodies are especially useful for treatment of autoimmune diseases; and an immunosuppressant during transplantation of heterologous cells, tissues or organs, cell therapy, and gene therapy.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method of treatment of a disease treatable by modulating gp39 expression or inhibiting the gp39/CD40 interaction which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a humanized antibody which is capable of competing with the murine 24-31 antibody for inhibiting CD40 binding to gp39.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said disease is an autoimmune disorder.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said autoimmune disorder is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus and ITP.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the disease is a non-autoimmune disorder.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the disease is graft-versus-host disease or graft rejection.  
     
     
         30 . A method of suppressing humoral and/or cellular immune responses against cells or vectors administered during cell or gene therapy comprising further administering prior, during, or after gene therapy an amount of a humanized antibody derived from murine antibody 24-31. sufficient to suppress humoral and/or cellular immune responses against the cell or vector used during cell or gene therapy.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the vector is a viral vector, a DNA or an antisense RNA.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the viral vector is an adenovirus or retrovirus.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said humanized antibody contains a sequence set forth in at least one of  FIGS. 5-8 .  
     
     
         34 . An improved method of treatment which involves the transplantation of cells, tissues or organs of the same or different species into a subject in need of such treatment, wherein the improvement comprises administering a humanized antibody derived from murine antibody 24-31; prior, during, or after transplantation; in an amount sufficient to suppress immune responses against said transplanted cell, tissue or organ or to suppress immune responses elicited by the transplanted cell, tissue or organ against the host.