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, or a binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds an epitope within a polyproline region of the huntingtin protein comprising greater than 5 consecutive proline residues and wherein the antibody, or the binding fragment thereof, is capable of inhibiting aggregation of the huntingtin protein. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody, or the binding fragment thereof, specifically binds an epitope within a polyproline region of the huntingtin protein comprising greater than 10 consecutive proline residues. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody, or the binding fragment thereof, is human. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody, or the binding fragment thereof, belongs to the immunoglobulin class of IgM. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody, or the binding fragment thereof, is derived from a transgenic non-human mammal having the ability to produce human antibodies. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 5 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the transgenic non-human mammal is a transgenic mouse. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated monoclonal antibody is a full-length antibody. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the binding portion comprises an antibody fragment selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′) 2 , and Fv fragments. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 8 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the binding portion comprises an Fab fragment. 
     
     
         10 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the binding fragment comprises a single-chain antibody fragment. 
     
     
         11 . The isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 , or the binding fragment thereof, wherein the fragment comprises a diabody. 
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated monoclonal antibody, or a binding fragment thereof, according to  claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein said composition is formulated for injection. 
     
     
         14 . An isolated cell producing the isolated monoclonal antibody of  claim 1  or a binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The cell of  claim 14 , wherein said cell is a hybridoma.