Methods of treating a disease mediated by sensitized T cells
A preventive or therapeutic agent for sensitized T cell-mediated diseases comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist, for example an antibody directed against IL-6 receptor, an antibody directed against IL-6, an antibody directed against gp130, and the like.
1. A method for treating a disease mediated by a sensitized T cell, which comprises:
(a) providing a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody that binds to interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor (IL-6R) and inhibits the binding of IL-6 to IL-6R to block the transduction of the biological activity of IL-6 into the cell, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and
(b) systemically administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition,
wherein the disease mediated by the sensitized T cell is uveitis, chronic thyroiditis, delayed hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis, or atopic dermatitis.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody directed against the IL-6R is a recombinant antibody.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor is a monoclonal antibody.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6R is a recombinant monoclonal antibody.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a recombinant antibody comprising a constant region of a human antibody.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the patient is human and wherein the monoclonal antibody is directed against the human IL-6 receptor.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a PM-1 antibody and the patient in need thereof is a human.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the monoclonal antibody comprises a constant region of a human antibody.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric or humanized antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a chimeric or a humanized PM-1 antibody.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by intravenous injection.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by subcutaneous injection.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease mediated by a sensitized T cell is uveitis.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease mediated by a sensitized T cell is chronic thyroiditis.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease mediated by a sensitized T cell is delayed hypersensitivity.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease mediated by a sensitized T cell is contact dermatitis.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease mediated by a sensitized T cell is atopic dermatitis.
18. A method for ameliorating atopic dermatitis comprising:
(a) providing a pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) an antibody that binds to interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor (IL-6R) and inhibits the binding of IL-6 to IL-6R to block the transduction of the biological activity of IL-6 into the cell, and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and
(b) systemically administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by intravenous injection.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by subcutaneous injection.