Antibodies to MASP-2

Abstract

The invention relates to antibodies to MASP-2 and functional equivalents thereof. In particular, the invention relates to MASP-2 antibodies capable of inhibiting the function of MASP-2. The invention furthermore discloses MASP-2 epitopes, wherein antibodies recognizing said epitopes are in particularly useful for inhibiting MASP-2 activity. The invention also relates to methods of producing said antibodies, methods of inhibiting MASP-2 activity as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the MASP-2 antibodies.

1 . An antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof specifically recognizing and binding a polypeptide fragment of human MASP-2-consisting of the CCP1, CCP2 and serine protease domains (aa 293 to 686 of SEQ ID 1) wherein the antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, is capable of inhibiting MASP-2 catalyzed C4 deposition 
     
     
         2 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody specifically recognizes and binds an epitope within a MASP-2 fragment that comprises aa 293 to 431 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody specifically recognizes and binds an epitope within a MASP-2 fragment that consists of aa 293 to 362 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is capable of displacing the reference monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited under the deposition numbers DSMACC2658 and DSMACC2659, or DSMACC2660 in a competitive ELISA assay. 
     
     
         5 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a murine antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a human antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody has been humanized. 
     
     
         8 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antigen-binding fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 and Fv fragments. 
     
     
         9 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         10 . The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is capable of inhibiting C4 deposition in full serum.