Method for treating inflammation

Abstract

A method for treating IL-20 induced inflammation. An antagonist to IL-20 is administered to treat inflammation and associated diseases. The antagonist can be an antibody that binds to IL-20 or its receptor or a soluble receptor that binds to IL-20. Examples of such diseases are adult respiratory disease, psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, septic shock, multiple organ failure, inflammatory lung injury, bacterial pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing interleukin-20 (IL-20) induced inflammation comprising: administering an antibody, antibody fragment, or single chain antibody which binds to and antagonizes IL-20, in an amount of a composition of the antibody, antibody fragment, or single chain antibody sufficient to reduce IL-20 induced inflammation, wherein the IL-20 induced inflammation is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         20 . A method of reducing interleukin-20 (IL-20) induced inflammation in a mammal comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody, antibody fragment, or single chain antibody which binds to and antagonizes IL-20 in an amount of a composition of the antibody, antibody fragment, or single chain antibody sufficient to reduce inflammation, wherein the inflammation is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating a mammal afflicted with an interleukin-20 (IL-20) induced inflammatory disease, comprising: administering an antagonist of IL-20 to the mammal such that inflammation is reduced, wherein the antagonist is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, antibody fragment, or single chain antibody, and wherein the inflammatory disease is inflammatory bowel disease. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the antagonist is in the form of a composition. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.