Use of an antibody specific for BDCA 2 for ligation and removal of dendritic cells in the treatment systemic lupus erythematosis
AssigneeMiltenyi Biotec GmbH
InventorsJuergen Schmitz, David William Buck, Andrzej Dzionek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides humanized antibody and other antigen-binding fragments that are specific for the newly identified dendritic cell marker BDCA-2. These agents may be used for treatment of conditions caused or mediated by dendritic cells, including but not limited to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions that contain a means for specifically binding BDCA-2, methods of preparing therapeutic products, and their use in therapy. Methods are also provided for screening, manufacture, and use of specific antibodies that identify other dendritic cell markers.
Claims21
-8. (canceled)
A pharmaceutical composition for treating an inflammatory disorder in a subject in need thereof,
- wherein the composition comprises an effective amount of a means for binding blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA-2) combined in a formulation with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,
- wherein the composition is formulated and prepared in a manner so as to be suitable for administration to a human, and
- wherein the amount of the means for binding BDCA-2 and the formulation of the composition configure the composition to be effective for treating the inflammatory disorder without causing undue side effects in the subject.
A method of removing dendritic cells from a subject in need thereof, comprising contacting the dendritic cells in the subject with a means for binding blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA-2).
A method of ligating BDCA-2 protein on a dendritic cell, comprising:
- contacting the dendritic cell with an antibody or antigen-binding fragment under conditions where the antibody or antigen-binding fragment will ligate to BDCA-2 protein on the dendritic cell;
- wherein said antibody or antigen-binding fragment comprises a polypeptide domain that specifically binds a BDCA-2 protein encoded by SEQ ID NO:1.
A method of determining whether an antibody or antigen binding fragment can specifically recognize a dendritic cell or a dendritic cell marker and is therefore suitable for compounding as a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2,
- wherein the method comprises contacting the antibody or antigen binding fragment with BDCA-2 protein in vitro, and determining that the antibody or antigen binding fragment can specifically recognize a dendritic cell or a dendritic cell marker if it binds to the BDCA-2 protein in preference to other proteins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.