Antibodies that bind interleukin-4 receptor

Abstract

The present invention relates to antibodies that bind to the IL-4 receptor, fragments, muteins, and derivatives of such antibodies, nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, fragments, muteins and derivatives, and methods of making and using such antibodies, fragments, muteins, derivatives and nucleic acids. Methods for treating medical conditions induced by interleukin-4 involve administering an IL-4 receptor binding antibody, or an IL-4 receptor binding fragment, mutein, or derivative of an IL-4 receptor binding antibody, to a patient afflicted with such a condition. Particular antibodies provided herein include human monoclonal antibodies. Certain of the antibodies inhibit both IL-4-induced and IL-13-induced biological activities.

1 . A method of inhibiting an IL-4 receptor comprising contacting a cell expressing an IL-4 receptor with an isolated antibody, or an antigen binding fragment of said isolated antibody, under conditions that allow said isolated antibody or said fragment to bind to said IL-4 receptor, wherein said isolated antibody or said fragment comprises either
 a. the light chain variable domain of SEQ ID NO:6, or   b. the heavy chain variable domain of SEQ ID NO:42, or   c. said light chain variable domain of a) and said heavy chain variable domain of b), and the binding of said isolated antibody or said fragment to said IL-4 receptor inhibits signal transduction through said IL-4 receptor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said human cell is in a human. 
     
     
         4 . A method of treating a condition in a subject comprising administering to said subject an isolated antibody, or an antigen binding fragment of said isolated antibody, in an amount effective for treating said condition, wherein said isolated antibody or said fragment comprises either
 a. the light chain variable domain of SEQ ID NO:6, or   b. the heavy chain variable domain of SEQ ID NO:42, or   c. said light chain variable domain of a) and said heavy chain variable domain of b).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said condition is an immunological, inflammatory or cancerous condition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said condition is asthma, septic arthritis, dermatitis herpetiformis, chronic idiopathic urticaria, ulcerative colitis, scleroderma, hypertrophic scarring, Whipple's Disease, benign prostate hyperplasia, a lung disorder in which IL-4 receptor plays a role, condition in which IL-4 receptor-mediated epithelial barrier disruption plays a role, a disorder of the digestive system in which IL-4 receptor plays a role, an allergic reaction to a medication, Kawasaki disease, sickle cell disease, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Grave's disease, pre-eclampsia, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Barrett's esophagus, autoimmune uveitis, tuberculosis, cyctic fibrosis, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bleomycin-induced pneumopathy and fibrosis, radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, sarcoidosis, hyper IgE syndrome, idiopathic hypereosinophil syndrome, an autoimmune blistering disease, pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, myasthenia gravis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or nephrosis.