Methods for treating rheumatoid arthritis using IL-17 antagonists

1 . A method of treating an individual afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis comprising administering to the individual IL-17 receptor.

2 . A method of treating an individual afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis comprising administering to the individual a therapeutic comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the extracellular domain of human IL-17 receptor and a fragment of the extracellular domain of human IL-17 receptor, wherein the fragment inhibits the binding of IL-17 receptor and IL-17.

3 . A method of treating an individual afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutic comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having amino acids 33 through 322 of SEQ ID NO:1;

(b) a polypeptide that is at least about 70% identical to the polypeptide of (a) and that binds IL-17; and

(c) fragments of the proteins of (a) or (b), that bind IL-17.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the therapeutic is a chimeric fusion protein that further comprises an immunoglobulin Fc.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising administering, one or more therapeutics selected from the group consisting of a TNF antagonist and an IL-1 antagonist.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the IL-1 antagonist is selected from the group consisting of soluble IL-1 receptor type II, IL-IR type I antibody, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and fusion protein comprising soluble IL-1 receptor type I, and soluble IL-1 receptor accessory protein.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the TNF antagonist is selected from the group consisting of TNF antibodies, soluble TNF receptor p75, and soluble TNF receptor p55.