Methods of predicting therpeutic response in atopic dermatitis to IL-31 antagonists

Abstract

The present invention relates to predicting therapeutic response of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells in atopic dermatitis. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

1 . A method of treating atopic dermatits skin comprising administering an antagonist molecule to a mammal with the atopic dermatitis skin wherein the 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 mammal is a human.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the atopic dermatitis skin is pruritic.  
     
     
         6 . A method for treating pruritis from atopic dermatitis 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.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the antagonist is an antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         10 . A method for predicting therapeutic response to an IL-31 antagonist in an individual with atopic dermatitis 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.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the IL-31 is detected by specifically binding to an IL-31 antagonist.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the IL-31 antagonist is an anti-IL-31 antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         13 . 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.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , comprising the additional step of stimulating or activating the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the IL-31 is detected by specifically binding to an IL-31 antagonist.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the IL-31 antagonist molecule is an anti-IL-31 antibody or antibody fragment.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherin the antagonist molecule specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2.