Antibodies against il-7r alpha subunit and uses thereof

An isolated antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof, which specifically binds to an alpha-chain of a human IL-7 receptor (“anti-IL-7R antibody”), said anti-IL-7R antibody and antigen-binding portion thereof comprising a heavy chain (HC) CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, and a light chain (LC) CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, wherein:

• (i) the heavy chain CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• (ii) the heavy chain CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• (iii) the heavy chain CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 15;
• (iv) the light chain CDR1 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 16;
• (v) the light chain CDR2 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 17;
• and
• (vi) the light chain CDR3 comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 18.

A method of treating a disease or condition in a subject in need thereof, by inhibiting IL-7 activity, inhibiting proliferation of effector T-cells, and/or increasing survival of regulatory T cells, the method comprising administering an isolated antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof to the subject, wherein said isolated antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof specifically binds to an alpha-chain of a human IL-7 receptor and comprises a heavy chain (HC) CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, and a light chain (LC) CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, and wherein:

• (i) the heavy chain CDR1 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• (ii) the heavy chain CDR2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• (iii) the heavy chain CDR3 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 15;
• (iv) the light chain CDR1 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 16;
• (v) the light chain CDR2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 17;
• and
• (vi) the light chain CDR3 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 18.