Compositions and methods for manipulating levels of antigen-specific antibodies in a mammal

A method for decreasing the levels of a circulating autoantigen in a mammal comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a composition comprising an unmodified autoantigen and an antigen-specific multi-valent antibody, wherein the multi-valent antibody is specific for the autoantigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the autoantigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the multi-valent antibody;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal an amount of the composition sufficient to increase the levels of an antigen-specific IgM antibody in the individual, thereby decreasing the levels of circulating autoantigen in the mammal.

A method for ameliorating an autoimmune disease in a mammal comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a composition comprising an unmodified autoantigen and an antigen-specific multi-valent antibody, wherein the multi-valent antibody is specific for the autoantigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the autoantigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the multi-valent antibody;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal an amount of the composition sufficient decrease the levels of the circulating autoantigen in the mammal, thereby ameliorating the autoimmune disease in the mammal.

6-9. (canceled)

11-18. (canceled)

20-32. (canceled)

34-36. (canceled)

39-42. (canceled)

A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

• (a)(i) an unmodified autoantigen and an antigen-specific multi-valent antibody, wherein the multi-valent antibody is specific for the autoantigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the autoantigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the multi-valent antibody, and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
• (b) the composition of (a), wherein the multi-valent antibody comprises an IgM;
• (c) the composition of (a), wherein the multi-valent antibody comprises an isolated antibody, a synthetically generated antibody, a recombinantly generated antibody, a humanized antibody, or a human antibody generated in a transgenic mouse.

44-48. (canceled)

50-57. (canceled)

59-65. (canceled)

67-71. (canceled)

73-75. (canceled)

78-81. (canceled)

A method for increasing the levels of an antigen-specific IgG antibody in a mammal comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a composition comprising a modified antigen and an antigen-specific bi-valent antibody, wherein the bi-valent antibody is specific for the antigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the modified antigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the bi-valent antibody;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal an amount of the composition sufficient to increase the levels of the antigen-specific IgG antibody in the individual.

A method for decreasing the levels of a circulating antigen in a mammal comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a composition comprising a modified antigen and an antigen-specific bi-valent antibody, wherein the bi-valent antibody is specific for the antigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the modified antigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the bi-valent antibody;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal an amount of the composition sufficient to increase the levels of an antigen-specific IgG antibody in the individual, thereby decreasing the levels of the circulating antigen in the mammal.

A method for ameliorating a disease or condition in a mammal comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a composition comprising a modified antigen and an antigen-specific bi-valent antibody, wherein antigen is associated with the disease or condition, the bi-valent antibody is specific for the antigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the modified antigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the bi-valent antibody;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal an amount of the composition sufficient increase the level of antigen-specific bi-valent antibody in the mammal, thereby ameliorating the disease or condition in the mammal.

87-90. (canceled)

92-99. (canceled)

101-107. (canceled)

109-116. (canceled)

119-120. (canceled)

122-127. (canceled)

129-130. (canceled)

A pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) a modified antigen and an antigen-specific bi-valent antibody, wherein the bi-valent antibody is specific for the antigen and is native to the mammal or is non-immunogenic to the mammal, and the modified antigen is present in the composition in molar excess to the bi-valent antibody, and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

133-136. (canceled)

138-145. (canceled)

147-162. (canceled)

165-166. (canceled)

168-173. (canceled)