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 a skin disorder characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells comprising administering an antibody or antibody fragment to a mammal with the skin disorder wherein the antibody or antibody fragment specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the skin disorder is selected from 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 and whereby the skin disorder is improved, inhibited, or reduced. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is monoclonal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is neutralizing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the antibody or antibody fragment is (a) a murine monoclonal antibody, (b) a humanized antibody derived from (a), (c) a chimeric antibody fragment, (d) a human monoclonal antibody; or (e) a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a Fab fragment;   b) a Fab′ fragment;   c) a Fv fragments;   d) a F(ab′)2 fragment; and   e) a single chain antibody fragment.   
     
     
         7 . A method of improving, inhibiting, or reducing at least one symptom associated with a skin disorder characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells comprising administering an antibody or antibody fragment to a mammal wherein the at least one symptom is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) blisters;   b) acne;   c) lichenified or excoriated nodules; and   d) erythematopapular skin lesions and hypereosinophilia   
       and wherein the antibody or antibody fragment specifically binds to the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the blister are selected from the group consisting of:
 a) epidermal blisters infiltrated with lymphocytes that are cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells;   b) subepidermal blisters with a dermal infiltrate of neutrophils and eosinophils.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the blisters are a symptom of Toxic epidermal necrolysis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the blisters are a symptom of Bullous pemphigoid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the acne is a symptom of Acne vulgaris or Acne rosacea. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lichenified or excoriated nodules are a symptom of Prurigo nodularis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the erythematopapular skin lesions and hypereosinophilia are symptoms of a viral infection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is monoclonal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is neutralizing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein in the antibody or antibody fragment is (a) a murine monoclonal antibody, (b) a humanized antibody derived from (a), (c) a chimeric antibody fragment, (d) a human monoclonal antibody; or (e) a single chain antibody. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a Fab fragment;   b) a Fab′ fragment;   c) a Fv fragments;   d) a F(ab′)2 fragment; and   e) a single chain antibody fragment.