Methods for treating disease using an anti-il-21 receptor antibody

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies to the IL-21 receptor and multimeric complexes comprising the IL-21 receptor; including monoclonal antibodies to the heterodimeric receptor, IL-21/IL-2Rγ; have been prepared. The invention also describes a method of producing said antibodies. And, the invention also describes a method of treatment comprising using said antibodies to suppress an immune response.

1 . A method of treating an autoimmune disease in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-IL-21 receptor antibody, wherein said antibody is a chimeric or humanized antibody derived from the monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma designated ATCC Accession NO. PTA-7141.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of pancreatitis, type I diabetes (IDDM), Graves Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, graft vs. host disease (GVHD), cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), Sjogren's syndrome, glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, host versus graft disease, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is selected from the group consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is the humanized antibody. 
     
     
         5 . A method of inhibiting or reducing IL-21 receptor-mediated biological activity in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject an anti-IL-21 receptor antibody, wherein said antibody is a chimeric or humanized antibody derived from the monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma designated ATCC Accession NO. PTA-7141, in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce IL-21 receptor-mediated biological activity in the subject.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said antibody is the humanized antibody.