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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a skin disorder characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment thereof which specifically binds to a polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues 27-164 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the skin disorder is pruritis associated with cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and wherein after administration the skin disorder is improved. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal 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. 
     
     
         3 . 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.   
     
     
         4 . A method of treating a skin disorder characterized by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a neutralizing monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment specifically binds to a polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues 27-164 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the skin disorder is pruritis associated with cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and wherein after administration the skin disorder is improved. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal 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 4 , 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.