Anti-il-22ra antibodies

Abstract

The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-22, IL-20, or both IL-20 and IL-22 polypeptide molecules. IL-20 and IL-22 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-22RA (zcytor11) is a common receptor for IL-20 and IL-22. The present invention includes anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-22 or both IL-20 and IL-22 using such antibodies and binding partners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated monoclonal antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by a hybridoma selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the hybridoma clone 280.46.3.4 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6284);   (b) the hybridoma clone 281.73.49.1.1 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6285);   (c) the hybridoma clone 283.4.1.2 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6287);   (d) the hybridoma clone 283.52.5.4 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6311); and   (e) the hybridoma clone 283.108.2.3 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6286).   
     
     
         2 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, reduces or neutralizes the pro-inflammatory activity of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, is pegylated. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, further comprises a radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, fluorescent marker, chemiluminescent marker, peptide tag, magnetic particle, drug, or toxin. 
     
     
         5 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma clone 280.46.3.4 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6284). 
     
     
         6 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma clone 281.73.49.1.1 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6285). 
     
     
         7 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma clone 283.4.1.2 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6287). 
     
     
         8 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma clone 283.52.5.4 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6311). 
     
     
         9 . The antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment, binds to the same epitope on the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 as a monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma clone 283.108.2.3 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6286). 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating a human afflicted with an IL-22RA-mediated inflammatory disease, the method comprising administering to the human an effective amount of the antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the disease is a chronic inflammatory disease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chronic inflammatory disease is arthritis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chronic inflammatory disease is atopic dermatitis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chronic inflammatory disease is psoriasis.