Osteoarthritis treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of osteoarthritis (OA). In accordance with the present invention, an antagonist of GM-CSF can be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis. An antagonist of GM-CSF includes, but is not limited to, an antibody that is specific for GM-CSF or the GM-CSF receptor. The present invention further provides transgenic animals, such as a GM-CSF knock-out mouse, useful for testing antagonists in certain disease models.

1 . A method for decreasing or preventing cartilage damage, osteophyte formation and joint deformation in a human subject with osteoarthritis, comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody specific for GM-CSF or the GM-CSF Receptor. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises the heavy chain variable region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or the light chain variable region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a H-CDR3 sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 5-16, a H-CDR1 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, a H-CDR2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18, a L-CDR1 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, a L-CDR2 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20 and a L-CDR3 sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a H-CDR3 sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 28-46.