Use of interleukin-4 antagonists and compositions thereof

Abstract

Methods for treating medical conditions induced by interleukin-4 involve administering an IL-4 antagonist to a patient afflicted with such a condition. Suitable IL-4 antagonists include, but are not limited to, IL-4 receptors (such as a soluble human IL-4 receptor), antibodies that bind IL-4, antibodies that bind IL-4R, IL-4 muteins that bind to IL-4R but do not induce a biological response, molecules that inhibit IL-4-induced signal transduction, and other compounds that inhibit a biological effect that results from the binding of IL-4 to a cell surface IL-4R. Particular antibodies provided herein include human monoclonal antibodies generated by procedures involving immunization of transgenic mice. Such human antibodies may be raised against human IL-4 receptor. Certain of the antibodies inhibit both IL-4-induced and IL-13-induced biological activities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated anti-IL4 receptor antibody comprising a light-chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 and a heavy-chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody:
 a) antagonizes IL-4; or   b) antagonizes IL-13; or   c) antagonizes IL-4 and IL-13.   
     
     
         3 . The isolated antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated antibody of  claim 1 , wherein said antibody is an IgG antibody. 
     
     
         5 . A nucleic acid that encodes the light-chain, the heavy-chain, or the light-chain and the heavy-chain of the antibody of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . An isolated cell comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 5 . The isolated cell of  claim 6 , wherein said cell is a hybridoma. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated cell of  claim 6 , wherein said cell is a recombinant cell. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing an antibody, comprising incubating the isolated cell of  claim 6  under conditions that allow it to express an anti-IL4 receptor antibody comprising a light-chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 and a heavy-chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 and isolating said antibody. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating an allergic disease, comprising administering said antibody of  claim 1  to a patient with said allergic disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said allergic disease is allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, or contact dermatitis.