Methods of treating autoimmune diseases using il-21

Abstract

Administration of IL-21 results in decreasing autoimmune responses and thereby provides a beneficial treatment for autoimmune diseases. Specific autoimmune diseases that may be treated include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondilitis, scleroderma, Type I diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis and asthma. Pharmaceutical compositions can include IL-21 polypeptides and active fragments thereof.

1 . A method of decreasing an autoimmune response in mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an IL-21 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residue 30 to 162, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a mammal with autoimmune disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an IL-21 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residue 30 to 162, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondilitis, scleroderma, Type I diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis and asthma.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein treatment results in delayed onset of disease.  
     
     
         5 . The method of claims  2 , wherein treatment results in a reduction in severity of disease.  
     
     
         6 . The method of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
     
     
         7 . A method of decreasing an autoimmune response in mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide that is at least 14 contiguous amino acid residues of the a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residue 30 to 162, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a mammal with autoimmune disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition composition comprising a polypeptide that is at least 15 contiguous amino acid residues of the a sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residue 30 to 162, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondilitis, scleroderma, Type I diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis and asthma.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein treatment results in delayed onset of disease.  
     
     
         11 . The method of claims  8 , wherein treatment results in a reduction in severity of disease.  
     
     
         12 . The method of claims  7  or  8 , wherein the mammal is a human.