Antibodies against CTLA4 and uses therefor
The invention provides an antibody-toxic moiety conjugates comprising an antibody that specifically recognizes a molecule expressed on the surface of a T cell which is expressed only on T cells and is only expressed transiently on T cells upon T cell activation. Preferably, the T cell molecule is CTLA4. The invention further provides anti-CTLA4 antibodies and humanized forms thereof.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A method of modulating the immune response comprising contacting a cell with an antibody-toxic moiety conjugate comprising an antibody that specifically recognizes a molecule expressed only on activated T cells and a toxic moiety, and further wherein the antibody is specifically reactive with CTLA4.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the antibody-toxic moiety conjugate is administered to a subject and the step of contacting is performed in vivo.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the subject is suffering from a disorder or condition that would benefit from downmodulation of an ongoing immune response wherein the disorder or condition is selected from the group consisting of:
an autoimmune disorder, an immune response to a graft, an allergic response, an immune response to a therapeutic protein.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of contacting is performed in vitro.
20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of modulating the immune response comprising contacting a cell with an antibody specifically reactive with human CTLA 4 .
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10.
23 . A method of downmodulating the immune response comprising contacting a cell with an antibody-toxic moiety conjugate, wherein the antibody specifically recognizes CTLA4.
24 . The method of claim 21 wherein the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8.