Antibodies that bind to an epitope on the huntington's disease protein

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the generation and characterization of anti-huntingtin antibodies binding an epitope on the Huntington's disease protein. The invention further relates to the use of such anti-huntingtin antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of Huntington's disease.

1 . An isolated monoclonal antibody that specifically binds an epitope within a polyproline region of the huntingtin protein comprising greater than 5 consecutive proline residues and wherein the antibody is capable of inhibiting aggregation of the huntingtin protein.  
     
     
         2 . The monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , in association with a therapeutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         3 . A method for treatment of Huntington's disease, comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said monoclonal antibody is a single-chain variant fragment encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the patient is a mammalian patient.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the mammalian patient is human.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the antibody is delivered intracranially.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the antibody is injected directly into brain tissue.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the antibody is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid.  
     
     
         10 . A method for treatment of Huntington's disease, comprising expression of a monoclonal antibody of  claim 1  in cells expressing mutant huntingtin protein.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said monoclonal antibody is a single-chain variant fragment encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.