Novel composition and methods for the treatment of psoriasis

A method of treating psoriasis in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that binds to the PRO polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:20.

A method for determining the presence of a PRO polypeptide in a sample suspected of containing said polypeptide, said method comprising exposing said sample to an antibody that binds to the PRO polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:20 and determining binding of said antibody to a component of, said sample.

A method of diagnosing psoriasis in a mammal, said method comprising detecting the level of expression of a gene encoding PRO19600 (a) in a test sample of tissue cells obtained from the mammal, and (b) in a control sample of known normal tissue cells of the same cell type, wherein a higher or lower level of expression of said gene in the test sample as compared to the control sample is indicative of the presence of psoriasis in the mammal from which the test tissue cells were obtained.

A method of diagnosing an psoriasis in a mammal, said method comprising (a) contacting an anti-PRO19600 antibody with a test sample of tissue cells obtained from said mammal and (b) detecting the formation of a complex between the antibody and the polypeptide in the test sample, wherein formation of said complex is indicative of the presence of psoriasis in the mammal from which the test tissue cells were obtained.

A method of stimulating the immune response in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of the PRO19600 polypeptide, wherein said immune response is stimulated.

A method of inhibiting the immune response in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an antibody to the PRO19600 polypeptide, wherein said immune response is inhibited.