Isolated nucleic acids, vectors and host cells encoding ErbB3 antibodies

Abstract

Antibodies are disclosed which bind to ErbB3 protein and further possess any one or more of the following properties: an ability to reduce heregulin-induced formation of an ErbB2-ErbB3 protein complex in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3; the ability to increase the binding affinity of heregulin for ErbB3 protein; and the characteristic of reducing heregulin-induced ErbB2 activation in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody, wherein the antibody binds to ErbB3 protein and reduces heregulin-induced formation of an ErbB2-ErbB3 protein complex in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3.  
     
     
         23 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody further increases the binding affinity of heregulin for ErbB3 protein.  
     
     
         24 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody further reduces heregulin-induced ErbB2 activation in the cell.  
     
     
         25 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         26 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody is humanized.  
     
     
         27 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody is human.  
     
     
         28 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 22  wherein the antibody is an antibody fragment comprising an antigen binding region.  
     
     
         29 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 28  wherein the antibody fragment is a Fab.  
     
     
         30 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody, wherein the antibody binds to ErbB3 protein and increases the binding affinity of heregulin for ErbB3 protein.  
     
     
         31 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody, wherein the antibody binds to ErbB3 protein and reduces heregulin-induced ErbB2 activation in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3.  
     
     
         32 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding an antibody, wherein the antibody binds to ErbB3 protein and reduces heregulin binding thereto.  
     
     
         33 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 32  wherein the antibody further reduces heregulin-induced ErbB2 activation in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3.  
     
     
         34 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         35 . A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         36 . A method for making an antibody comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 41  so that the nucleic acid is expressed and recovering the antibody from the host cell culture.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising conjugating the recovered antibody with a cytotoxic agent or enzyme.  
     
     
         38 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 31 .  
     
     
         39 . A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 31 .  
     
     
         40 . A method for making an antibody comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 45  so that the nucleic acid is expressed and recovering the antibody from the host cell culture.  
     
     
         41 . The method of claim  46  further comprising conjugating the recovered antibody with a cytotoxic agent or enzyme.  
     
     
         42 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 32 .  
     
     
         43 . A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 32 .  
     
     
         44 . A method for making an antibody comprising culturing the host cell of claim  49  so that the nucleic acid is expressed and recovering the antibody from the host cell culture.  
     
     
         45 . The method of claim  50  further comprising conjugating the recovered antibody with a cytotoxic agent or enzyme.