Methods of treating diseases which are mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cell. In particular, diseases or disorders including contact dermatitis, drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia aereata, vitiligo, acne rosacea, prurigo nodularis, and herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof will benefit from the administration of an IL-31 antagonist. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

1 . A method of treating diseased skin comprising administering an antagonist molecule to a mammal with the diseased skin wherein the diseased skin is characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells and the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and whereby administration of the antagonist molecule improves, prevents, inhibits or reduces the diseased skin.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient has a skin disorder selected from Contact dermatitis, Drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma, Bullous pemphigoid, Alopecia aereata, Vitiligo, Acne Rosacea, Prurigo nodularis, and Herpes simplex virus.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the diseased skin is pruritic.  
     
     
         7 . A method for treating pruritis comprising administering an antagonist molecule to a mammal with the pruritis wherein the pruritis is characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells and wherein the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or in SEQ ID NO: 4, and whereby administration of the antagonist molecule improves, prevents, inhibits or reduces the pruritis.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the pruritis is associated with a skin disorder selected from Contact dermatitis, Drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma, Bullous pemphigoid, Alopecia aereata, Vitiligo, Acne Rosacea, Prurigo nodularis, and Herpes simplex virus.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         12 . A method for predicting therapeutic response to an IL-31 antagonist in an individual in need of IL-31 antagonist therapy comprising obtaining a biological sample from the patient, isolating circulating cutaneous lymphocyte positive T cells from the biological sample, and detecting IL-31 production from the isolated cutaneous lymphocyte positive T cells.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the IL-31 is detected by specifically binding to an IL-31 antagonist.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the IL-31 antagonist is an anti-IL-31 antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the individual in need of IL-31 antagonist therapy has a skin disorder selected from Contact dermatitis, Drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma, Bullous pemphigoid, Alopecia aereata, Vitiligo, Acne Rosacea, Prurigo nodularis, and Herpes simplex virus.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , comprising the additional step of stimulating or activating the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the IL-31 is detected by specifically binding to an IL-31 antagonist.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the IL-31 antagonist molecule is an anti-IL-31 antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.