Humanized antibodies that recognize beta amyloid peptide

1. A method for reducing neuritic burden in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective dose of a humanized immunoglobulin which binds to an epitope within amino acids 3-7 of beta amyloid peptide (Aβ), wherein the immunoglobulin is of the IgG1 isotype, such that neuritic burden is reduced, wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises:

(i) a light chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light chain; and

(ii) a heavy chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin heavy chain,

provided that at least one framework residue in the light or heavy chain is substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12B4 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, wherein the framework residue is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a residue that non-covalently binds antigen directly;

(b) a residue adjacent to a CDR;

(c) a CDR-interacting residue; and

(d) a residue participating in the VL-VH interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has an amyloidogenic disease.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the amyloidogenic disease is Alzheimer's disease.

4. A method for treating an amyloidogenic disease in a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective dose of a humanized immunoglobulin capable of reducing beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) burden and neuritic dystrophy in the patient, wherein the immunoglobulin binds to an epitope within amino acids 3-7 of Aβ and is of the IgG1 isotype, such that a beneficial therapeutic response in said patient is generated, wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises:

(i) a light chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light chain; and

(ii) a heavy chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin heavy chain,

provided that at least one framework residue in the light or heavy chain is substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12B4 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, wherein the framework residue is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a residue that non-covalently binds antigen directly;

(b) a residue adjacent to a CDR;

(c) a CDR-interacting residue; and

(d) a residue participating in the VL-VH interface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the amyloidogenic disease is Alzheimer's disease.

6. A method for reducing beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) burden and neuritic dystrophy in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective dose of a humanized immunoglobulin capable of reducing beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) burden and neuritic dystrophy, wherein the immunoglobulin binds to an epitope within amino acids 3-7 of Aβ and is of the IgG1 isotype, such that Aβ burden and neuritic dystrophy are reduced, wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises:

(i) a light chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light chain; and

(ii) a heavy chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin heavy chain,

provided that at least one framework residue in the light or heavy chain is substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12B4 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, wherein the framework residue is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a residue that non-covalently binds antigen directly;

(b) a residue adjacent to a CDR;

(c) a CDR-interacting residue; and

(d) a residue participating in the VL-VH interface.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mammal is a human.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7 , wherein the mammal has an amyloidogenic disease.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the amyloidogenic disease is Alzheimer's disease.

10. A method for treating an amyloidogenic disease in a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective dose of a humanized immunoglobulin which binds to soluble beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) and reduces neuritic dystrophy in the patient, wherein the immunoglobulin binds to an epitope within amino acids 3-7 of Aβ and is of the IgG1 isotype, such that a beneficial therapeutic response in said patient is generated, wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises:

(i) a light chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin light chain; and

(ii) a heavy chain comprising the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the 12B4 immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, and a variable framework region from a human acceptor immunoglobulin heavy chain,

provided that at least one framework residue in the light or heavy chain is substituted with the corresponding amino acid residue from the mouse 12B4 light or heavy chain variable region sequence, wherein the framework residue is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a residue that non-covalently binds antigen directly;

(b) a residue adjacent to a CDR;

(c) a CDR-interacting residue; and

(d) a residue participating in the VL-VH interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amyloidogenic disease is Alzheimer's disease.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , 6 and 10 , wherein the framework residue in the light or heavy chain is selected from the group consisting of a residue capable of interacting with antigen, a residue proximal to the antigen binding site, a residue capable of interacting with a CDR, a residue adjacent to a CDR, a residue within 6 Å of a CDR residue, a canonical residue, a vernier zone residue, an interchain packing residue, a rare residue, and a glycosylation site residue on the surface of the three-dimensional model.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , 6 and 10 , wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 light chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2 and variable region framework residue L2 (Kabat numbering convention) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 light chain, wherein the remainder of the light chain is from a human immunoglobulin, and a heavy chain selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a heavy chain comprising three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4 and variable framework residues H2, H24, H27, H29, H48, H49, H67, H71, and H78 (Kabat numbering convention) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the remainder of the heavy chain is from a human immunoglobulin,

(ii) a heavy chain comprising three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4 and variable framework residues H24, H27, H29 and H71 (Kabat numbering convention) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the remainder of the heavy chain is from a human immunoglobulin, and

(iii) a heavy chain comprising three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4 and variable framework residues H24, H27, H29, H48, H71 and H78 (Kabat numbering convention) from the monoclonal antibody 12B4 heavy chain variable region sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the remainder of the heavy chain is from a human immunoglobulin.

14. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , 6 and 10 , wherein the humanized immunoglobulin comprises a heavy and a light chain selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a heavy chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-123 of SEQ ID NO:8 and a light chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-112 of SEQ ID NO:6;

(b) a heavy chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-123 of SEQ ID NO:10, and a light chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-112 of SEQ ID NO:6; and

(c) a heavy chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-123 of SEQ ID NO:12 and a light chain variable region sequence as set forth in residues 1-112 of SEQ ID NO:6.

15. The method of any one of claims 1 , 4 , 6 and 10 , wherein the humanized immunoglobulin or an antigen binding fragment thereof binds to beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) with a binding affinity of at least 10 7 M −1 .