Antibodies against the rgm a protein and uses thereof

Abstract

The subject invention relates to isolated proteins, particularly monoclonal antibodies, which bind and neutralize RGM A protein. Specifically, these antibodies have the ability to inhibit the binding of RGM A to its receptor and/or coreceptors. These antibodies or portions thereof of the invention are useful for detecting RGM A and for inhibiting RGM A activity, for example in a human suffering from a disorder including but nor limited to multiple sclerosis, mammalian brain trauma, spinal cord injury, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and schizophrenia.

1 .- 84 . (canceled) 
     
     
         85 . A method for reducing human RGM A activity comprising contacting human RGM A with an isolated antibody comprising an antigen binding domain, said antibody capable of binding an epitope of a RGM molecule such that human RGA activity is reduced, said antigen binding domain comprising:
 a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain each having at least three complementary determining regions, wherein the at least three complementary determining regions of the heavy chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 and the at least three complementary determining regions of the light chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67 and SEQ ID NO:68.   
     
     
         86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A method for decreasing hRGM A binding to bone morphogenetic protein-2 and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-2 and BMP-4) in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering to the subject an isolated antibody comprising an antigen binding domain, said antibody capable of binding an epitope of a RGM molecule, said antigen binding domain comprising:
 a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain each having at least three complementary determining regions, wherein the at least three complementary determining regions of the heavy chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 and the at least three complementary determining regions of the light chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67 and SEQ ID NO:68.   
     
     
         88 . A method of treating a subject for a disorder associated with RGM A activity comprising the step of administering alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents an isolated antibody comprising an antigen binding domain, said antibody capable of binding an epitope of a RGM molecule, said antigen binding domain comprising:
 a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain each having at least three complementary determining regions, wherein the at least three complementary determining regions of the heavy chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 and the at least three complementary determining regions of the light chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67 and SEQ ID NO:68.   
     
     
         89 . A method for reducing RGM A activity in a subject suffering from a disorder in which RGM A activity is detrimental, comprising administering to the subject an isolated antibody comprising an antigen binding domain, said antibody capable of binding an epitope of a RGM molecule, said antigen binding domain comprising:
 a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain each having at least three complementary determining regions, wherein the at least three complementary determining regions of the heavy chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 and the at least three complementary determining regions of the light chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67 and SEQ ID NO:68,   alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents.   
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88  or  89 , wherein the disorder comprises neurological diseases selected from the group consisting of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Brachial Plexus Injury, Brain Injury, including traumatic brain injury, Cerebral Palsy, Guillain Barre, Leukodystrophies, Multiple Sclerosis, Post Polio, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injury, Spinal Muscle Atrophy, Spinal Tumors, Stroke, Transverse Myelitits; dementia, senile dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer-related dementia, Huntington's chorea, tardive dyskinesia, hyperkinesias, manias, Morbus Parkinson, steel-Richard syndrome, Down's syndrome, myasthenia gravis, nerve trauma, vascular amyloidosis, cerebral hemorrhage I with amyloidosis, brain inflammation, acute confusion disorder, glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claims 85 ,  87 ,  88  or  89 , wherein the antibody further comprises a human acceptor framework, wherein said human acceptor framework comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 88  or  89 , wherein the other therapeutic agents are selected from the group consisting of: Therapeutic agent, imaging agent, cytotoxic agent, angiogenesis inhibitors; kinase inhibitors; co-stimulation molecule blockers; adhesion molecule blockers; anti-cytokine antibody or functional fragment thereof; methotrexate; cyclosporin; rapamycin; FK506; detectable label or reporter, a TNF antagonist; an antirheumatic; a muscle relaxant, a narcotic, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), an analgesic, an anesthetic, a sedative, a local anesthetic, a neuromuscular blocker, an antimicrobial, an antipsoriatic, a corticosteriod, an anabolic steroid, an erythropoietin, an immunization, an immunoglobulin, an immunosuppressive, a growth hormone, a hormone replacement drug, a radiopharmaceutical, an antidepressant, an antipsychotic, a stimulant, an asthma medication, a beta agonist, an inhaled steroid, an epinephrine or analog, a cytokine, and a cytokine antagonist. 
     
     
         94 . A method of treating a subject suffering from multiple sclerosis, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject an isolated antibody comprising an antigen binding domain, said antibody capable of binding an epitope of a RGM molecule, said antigen binding domain comprising:
 a heavy chain variable domain and a light chain variable domain each having at least three complementary determining regions, wherein the at least three complementary determining regions of the heavy chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 and the at least three complementary determining regions of the light chain variable domain have the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67 and SEQ ID NO:68.