Methods of prevention and treatment of asthma, and allergic conditions

Abstract

The present invention relates to allergy vaccines and methods of treating and/or preventing asthma, and allergic conditions. The invention is based on the discovery that inhibiting the ligand/receptor interactions involving, e.g., IgE, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, interferon-alpha, histamine, leukotriene, and their respective receptors, inhibits production of IgE thereby treating or preventing such diseases or conditions. Competitive inhibition of such receptor/ligand interactions is accomplished by immunizing a human or veterinary patient with the interleukin, interferon-alpha, histamine, leukotriene, their receptors, in any combination. Also, the invention relates to inhibiting receptor/ligand interactions involved in IgE production by competitively inhibiting such interactions by administering antibodies to the ligands, receptors, or both, as well as by administering analogs of the receptors (e.g., soluble receptors not associated with a cell).

1 - 99 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         100 . A method of treating an allergy in a mammal, the method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of an IL-4 inhibitor and an IL-5 inhibitor.  
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein said IL-4 inhibitor is an anti-IL-4 antibody, an anti-IL-4 receptor antibody or a soluble IL-4 receptor.  
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein said IL-5 inhibitor is an anti-IL-5 antibody, an anti-IL-5 receptor antibody or a soluble IL-5 receptor.  
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 100 , said method further comprising administering gamma interferon to said human.  
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein said mammal is a human.  
     
     
         105 . A kit for treating an allergy in a mammal, said kit comprising a combination of an IL-4 inhibitor and an IL-5 inhibitor, an applicator and an instruction material for the use thereof.  
     
     
         106 . The kit of  claim 104 , wherein said IL-4 inhibitor is an anti-IL-4 antibody, an anti-IL-4 receptor antibody or a soluble IL-4 receptor.  
     
     
         107 . The kit of  claim 104 , wherein said IL-5 inhibitor is an anti-IL-5 antibody, an anti-IL-5 receptor antibody or a soluble IL-5 receptor.