Compositions and methods for detecting tlr3

Abstract

The present invention relates to antibodies, antibody fragments, and derivatives thereof that specifically bind to TLR3 cell receptors present on the surface of cells. The invention also relates to hybridomas producing such antibodies; methods of making such antibodies; fragments, variants, and derivatives of the antibodies; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same; methods of using the antibodies to detect TLR3 levels on the surface of cells, and the use of such antibodies and compositions for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes in subjects.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an antibody that specifically binds a TLR3 polypeptide in paraffin-embedded tissue sections, said method comprising the steps of: a) immunizing a non-human mammal with an immunogen comprising a human TLR3 polypeptide; and b) preparing antibodies from said immunized animal that compete for binding to said TLR3 polypeptide with antibody 40F9. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies prepared in step (b) are monoclonal antibodies. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step in which the ability of said antibodies to specifically bind to human TLR3 polypeptides in paraffin-embedded tissue sections is assessed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step in which the binding of said antibodies to other TLR family members is assessed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of making fragments or derivatives of the selected monoclonal antibodies. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said fragments or derivatives are selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, Fab′-SH, F(ab′) 2 , Fv, diabodies, single-chain antibody fragment, multispecific antibodies comprising multiple different antibody fragments, humanized antibodies, and chimeric antibodies. 
     
     
         7 . A method of constituting a group of patients or samples therefrom, said method comprising selecting a group of patients or samples consisting where each patient or sample in the group has tumor cells which are bound by an antibody that specifically binds a human toll like receptor 3, (TLR3)polypeptide, wherein said antibody comprises the light chain variable region sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and the heavy chain variable region sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein said antibody is designated as 40F9. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising administering to one or more of the patients, or bringing one or more of the samples into contact with a TLR3 ligand.